The science fiction genre is uniquely suited to short fiction. Historically, great science fiction writers have used stories as a medium to communicate elegant ideas without complicated characters. Stories like Isaac Asimov’s “Nightfall” and Arthur C. Clarke’s “Nine Billion Names of God” work because the ideas are so powerful, even though the characters can be anyone. In the last 30 years, a new generation of writers have used science fiction short stories to introduce characters that share integral parts and organic ideas. Below I have selected seven paintings that I found powerful and moving beyond me to think “wow, what a cool.” All are also award winners or nominees and regularly appear in collections of the best science fiction. Obviously, I haven’t read every science fiction story written and I couldn’t include everything on this list. If you like science fiction and are looking for stories that can make you feel differently; You really can’t go wrong with these seven. If you have other science fiction short stories you’d like to recommend, leave me a comment below.
“Sandkings” George R R Martin (1979) Hugo Winner, Nebula Nomineus
Perhaps the best science fiction story of all time – at least in the top ten. A rich and cruel colonist buys a colony of exotic pet Sandking insects. There are four different factions of these semi-animals, and they fight with each other for food and for the amusement of their master. They also worship the teacher, although he is cruel and punishing. This is a great science fiction short story in the classic vein of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, driven by plot and ideas and featuring a last-minute twist. It is addictive and powerful.
“Speech Sounds,” Octavia Butler (1983) Hugo Winner
The disease is ravaging the United States, reducing most of the population to mute animals. One woman tries to travel across Los Angeles to see if her relative is still alive. It is a fast-paced, post-apocalyptic science fiction short story exploring alienation and human nature. Pincerna writes with a depth rarely seen in science fiction.
“Snow,” John Crowley (1985) named Hugo and the Mist
A wealthy, fun-loving woman returns to having her life glimpsed by a mechanized bee. After her death, her lover reviews the footage. Unfortunately, it can only be viewed sporadically and degrades over time. Caught in the snow on the carpet, the husband begins to suspect that football is not random after all. A survival story whose disparate elements fit together like a perfect crystal. A science fiction short story that lingers in your mind and soul long after you’ve read it.
“Out of All the Bright Stars” Nancy Kress (1985) Nebula Nominee
A science fiction short story that doesn’t focus on the big picture or the big ideas, it focuses on the little guy who runs into a stranger upstairs. In short story, aliens came to Earth for unknown reasons a few years ago and are treated with distrust. and contempt. This is a beautiful short story that uses the genre of science fiction to explore deeper human themes. Alien and adventure stories are equally essential as characters in traditional classics such as Asimov’s “Nightfall” are not.
“Rachel In Love” Pat Murphy (1987) Nebula Victor
This short story is a perfect example of character-driven science. A scientist, in an attempt to save his son, imprints his personality on the chimpanzee’s brain. So Rachel is both a little girl and a chimpanzee, and she has to deal with the prejudices of the human world and the animal nature of the chima world. Murphy has created a science fiction short story full of hope, humor and warmth.
“Fire Brings Discover” Terry Bisson (1990) Hugh and the Mist Victor
This is an unusual, quirky science fiction short story. It happens that the title is clearly those who find the bear fire. Unfortunately, when they cannot speak, they gather around the fire and remain silent, much to the astonishment of those who see them. This short story is genre fiction that transcends science and could just as easily appear on a list of the best literary short fiction of the last 30 years .
“Magic for Beginners” Kelly Link (2005) Hugo and Nebula Nomineus
Link is an author who blurs the boundaries between science fiction and literary fiction and this is one of his best short stories. The characters involved in this story and too much with the silly TV show are known to be the same characters in uncertain times and seasons, but with different actors playing the roles of each other. It is a story of change and growth, with levels of complexity beyond my power to explain. Literary without being ambitious, it is still entertaining and readable in the tradition of great science fiction short stories.
If you are interested in finding these stories and other great works of short fiction studies, here are some collections you need. Customer:
Future on Fire, ed. Orson Scott Card. Tor Books, 1991
The Future of Ice, ed. Orson Scott Card. Tor Books, 2000
Magic For Beginners, Kelly Link. Small Beer Press, 2006
Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century, ed. Orson Scott Card. Ace Trade, 2004
