Menu

More apps built by Reedsy

Assemble a team of professionals

The writing app for authors

Writing courses, events and memberships

Get your book reviewed

Weekly writing prompts and contests

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Featured stories
Activity feed

Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of science fiction short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

150+ Science fiction Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Whether you’re looking for daring space battles or chilling “what if” glimpses of the future, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our collection of free science fiction short stories.

Science fiction Short Stories – Page 5 of 10

A Little Arm-Tearing Should Do the Trick

Submitted to Contest #334

The three of us stood on the deck of the Praveen, looking as uncomfortable as a stone pillow. We had to do it, but if Captain Cleeber gets mad about our accusations, there won’t be a happily ever after for us. “Treason? Not possible!” Captain Cleeber said. “This planet isn’t technologically advanced enough to manufacture a magnetic disruptor,” Alora said. “I refuse to believe it. None of my men would share our technology with a primitive race. It’s against the law.” Alora and I looked at each other, shocked by his Pollyanna view of his crew....

38 likes 28 comments 28
Read story

Horsewoman of the Wastes

Submitted to Contest #334

Journal Entry #1: 12/3/2067 Hello, my name is Claire Eastroad, and I am a horsewoman of the Eastern wastelands. It has been three decades since the bombs fell causing the apocalypse, and those who remain struggle to survive everyday. My job is to bring food and medicine to enclaves who continue to survive despite the harsh conditions. Everyday, I brave dust storms and raiders who try to steal my cargo. I have just been given a new task where I am to deliver a vital package across a ruined forest to an enclave bui...

10 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Time

Submitted to Contest #335

“There is still twenty-four hours in a day, your theory is preposterous!” “I’m telling you, the units we use to measure time have been manipulated! The result is the same because the instruments used for calculation have been altered as well!” “Are you seriously suggesting the space-time continuum is being altered?” “Yes.” Uproarious laughter was the only response, but Sheila DePreist would not be deterred. “You are hardly an astrophysicist; your simple degree is not up to the Ivy League status of your naysayers.” “Look, I’m not a mech...

5 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

MEETING BEETHOVEN

Submitted to Contest #335

The Silence Between Seconds Dr. Helena Arendt had always believed that time was less a river and more a lattice. She envisioned threads stretching in every direction, waiting for the right resonance to pry them open. After thirty years of theoretical physics, collaboration with the most brilliant minds, many sleepless nights, and one miraculous breakthrough involving quantum-entangled chronons, she finally had a machine that could do it. The device was quite large but its appearance was misleadingly simple. It consisted of a dark, vault-like...

17 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Alpha

Submitted to Contest #335

Alpha stared at the boy across from him and they locked eyes. “Rook to H-7”. The other boy moved the rook and captured Alpha’s pawn. Having already lost the rook that’s usually there he was wide open, but Alpha was better at other things than chess.“Pawn to G-6.” The other boy smirked at Alpha’s move.“Rook to F-6. Checkmate.” The boy said with a cruel grin on his face. Alpha however looked bored.“You were supposed to teach me Chess, not attempt to make me look dumb.” He lazily produced an odd looking machine with a bulbous body and a dish at...

7 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Fairy Tales for Today

Submitted to Contest #334

Full dark had fallen when the trekcar hummed onto the gravel pad outside the FairShare cabin, slotting in next to Peach’s trekcar. Rachel thought it was strange to see a car sitting there, just waiting, with nobody in it. Citycars just whisked off to pick up their next passenger, but of course it was dangerous to be stranded in the country without transportation, so trekcars were programmed to linger for the length of your trip. It was almost like owning her own car.Rachel carried her warm, sleeping daughter Rose into the cabin.Her sister Pe...

20 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Like Them

Submitted to Contest #334

Glass from the framed photo lies scattered across the floor."This damn cat." He stares at the unapologetic beast as it flees the room, leaving him alone. He kneels and gathers the frame, brushing away the debris. The photo, at least, is still intact.He never liked cats. She did. And he would do earnest things to please her.Happily ever after- That was supposed to be how the story goes, and ends. There was a time, though, when that was not the case.He stares at the image. Its black and white tones. Just another reminder of time and its curse....

10 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Murder in the Alien Glass

Submitted to Contest #334

Timeborn Magazine, June 15th, 1835 - “Heiress Passing, Parisian Tragedy” ‘Sadly one of the leading ladies of fine French-American home decor was killed today, outside her summer home on the Rue de le Paix. Janette Le Comte, known better by her American business nomen, Jane Comney, was found dead in less than decent state propped between the light post and post box by a local crier just before the dawn, Saturday. We all express our sincerest regrets. Lady Comney was the beloved mother of three boys, Peter, Jacob, and Edney Comney, their fat...

19 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Bip

Submitted to Contest #334

Bip Bip still didn’t understand humans. Despite now having been here for two full orbits of this planet around the rather minor star they liked to call “the Sun” so much of the behavior of this world’s allegedly apex species left him nothing if not mystified. “C’mon, Clancy, time to eat!” ‘That’s the young female, Nellie. She will prepare a meal for me now’ Bip thought. “While she is a human, she caters to the want’s and needs of a subservient species, a canine, like it is I that is the master. She and the rest of this group provide me w...

9 likes 3 comments 3
Read story

She Doesn't Do Dishes

Submitted to Contest #333

Targon licked his plate clean, throwing it on top of a pile of dirty plates. Alora came from the kitchen and grabbed the stack. I could hardly believe my eyes. Alora doesn’t do dishes. I slowly breathed in through my nose and exhaled through my mouth, as Drock taught me. I couldn’t allow myself to burst out in anger. The Knock-Woks counted on me to signal them when Targon retired to his room. I continued to spy through the window, wondering how Targon got Alora to serve tables. He had to have some power over her, but what? She’s stronger tha...

33 likes 12 comments 12
Read story

Dinner Party

Submitted to Contest #333

I looked down at my phone to see that James had texted me, “Soooo 7 o'clock is good?” I replied, “Yeah, that's great!” ​To which he said, “Awesome, I'll round up the troops and bring a bottle!”…​It was most definitely NOT great! Oh my gosh, are they on to me? Is that why they suggested a “dinner party?” What on this earth even IS a dinner party? Throwing a party for dinner? I think not. Why celebrate such a taxing chore as EATING? He said he’ll bring a bottle. Am I supposed to bring a baby? I can't stand eating. Humans spend a lot of time ...

11 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Edge of Creation: The God Particle Expedition

Submitted to Contest #334

May 13th, 2050 I will attempt to recreate yesterday’s events, though I am uncertain I can truly convey what we experienced. The day began at 0700. A quiet and somber atmosphere enveloped the galley as the team gathered for breakfast. Each member sat lost in thought, contemplating their role in the upcoming experiment. Anticipation and worry were etched on their faces. Some had been part of the Hadro project before, witnessing failures and the loss of colleagues in the pursuit of understanding the universe. Others harbored doubts about the e...

7 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

In the Matter Of

Submitted to Contest #334

From: Junior Attaché for Insignificant Annoyances, Glik-NikTo: Supreme Überlord of Galactic Proportions, Yzz-VoraxSubject: This EarthSubmitted: Cycle: 4,728th Spin of the Great Galactic Gear CyclePlanetary Local Time: Solar Rotation 26, Earth Year 2025Your Excellency, The Supreme Überlord of Galactic Proportions, Yzz-Vorax the Magnificent, I, Glik-Nik, who is as insignificant comet dust beneath your thousand appendages, well remember your admonition from my swearing-in during the 4,727th Spin of the Great Galactic Gear Cycle.At the time, as ...

7 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Rootbound

Submitted to Contest #333

Day 3 Seneca sat in the dimly lit canteen, her long white hair, now loosely tied back, framed her striking red eyes as she slumped forward in exhaustion. Across from her, Hitori—smaller in frame, younger, with a softness Seneca had long since lost—absently prodded at her plate with a fork, her short purple hair slightly disheveled.The canteen was quiet except for the distant thrum of engines as they cruised back toward Jupiter Station under a constant one ’g’ deceleration. Walking around the deck of the Abysmal felt ‘normal’.Except for the b...

14 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Do Aliens Eat Steak?

Submitted to Contest #333

“This is Rachel Robinette here at the White House where what I can only describe, Curtis, is a Flying Saucer that has landed on the south lawn? You can see there on the other side of the fencing that some sort of ramp has come down from the saucer and the doors to the White House have opened as well.” “Incredible Rachel, have you seen anything come out of the saucer yet? Any idea what the aliens look like?”“Not yet Curtis. No aliens have poked their heads out, but I’m sure that any moment now we will see our first signs of non-earth-based li...

11 likes 1 comment 1
Read story
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. All for free.