#science fiction stories

[oakendesk]

Science Fiction Stories Nov 1956

Edmund Emshwiller

[dnschmidt]

What Critics Are Saying About The Doom Tapes

“The best science fiction collection of this century.” - Me

“A talent like this comes along once in a generation.” - Also Me

“Not to be missed.” - Me Again

“The author is a very special boy who I am so proud of.” - Mom

(Just Kidding, It’s Still Me)

Read The Doom Tapes - Print, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited

[t-lane-writes]

WIP: Black Wings, Chapter Three (snippet)

WIP: Black Wings Genre: science-fiction Tag line: Humans’ efforts to terraform a planet are thwarted when some decide to save intelligent indigenous life.  POV characters: Kenaed, Zoe Irene, Mattan Nuada, Siesell Keeva Snippet from: Chapter Three, Kenaed’s PoV

First Chapter

#.

“I know.” He cut her off. Then, “Sorry,” he muttered. 

“What’s going on with you?” 

“Nothing.” 

Angeline knew him best. They had worked together for six-and-a-half years now. Patrolled the hostile terrain outside the first terraformed zone, at first as part of the Explorer mission. Then Mattan Nuada, Angeline’s partner, organized this thing. 

The planet – they called it Angerona, same as the spaceship that had brought their ancestors here, seventy years ago – the planet was fixed for terraforming by Heritage. A powerful interstellar organization which was searching for new systems and planets suitable for human kind to settle. They prepared those planets, changed their soil, water, and air, made the environments survivable for humans. Then, they took people who wanted to leave the planet they had lived on – usually because the planet was slowly losing its human-life-supporting characteristics – and transported them, in stasis, to their new home. 

The cost of such operation was huge. Enormous. Kenaed didn’t even fully understand what it would take to be allowed to re-settle and he doubted anyone in Angerona could comprehend it. Only the richest, the best-connected citizens of dying planets could afford it. The rest was doomed to eventually die along with their worlds. 

Angerona ancestors refused to agree to that fate. They had learned about this world, packed their belongings onto the spaceship and took up a grueling journey through the vast expanses of space. Five hundred years later the children of the children of those who had started it, had landed on the surface. Their ancestors were heroes and the people here had a home now, thanks to them. 

According to the interplanetary laws, though, they were trespassers. 

That was a disturbing thought. One that might send Kenaed into a spiral of fear and anger and memories he couldn’t handle. 

He had to find a distraction. 

“Are we there yet?” he breathed out. 

Angeline turned to look at him through the visor of her helmet, troubled by the tension in his voice. 

“The next spot is just over that ridge.” 

[...] 

“Here we are,” Angeline announced. “Are you going out, or should I?” 

Kenaed was ready to go, but he hesitated with his palm on the handle. Outside, the heat would be even more unbearable. 

“Is it because of that girl of yours?” Angeline asked.  

“What? Who?” He turned back to her. “Zoe?” 

“Weren’t you supposed to meet her kid last sundown? Did you? That why you’re upset?” 

He and Zoe had been seeing each other for almost a boulder-a-round, and she decided it was a good moment to introduce him to her daughter. She didn’t want to wait longer, because, as she said, Maisie’s opinion was a make-it or break-it. 

“Yeah, I met her,” Kenaed nodded, “but-- It was fine, there was nothing-- Maisie is a sweet girl. If a four-years-old can be sweet, that is, she’s pretty rebellious.” The memory made him smile. “No, I’m-- It was okay.” 

[...]

“I better go,” he forced out. He didn’t like where this conversation with Angeline was going. He trusted her, unreservedly, but he couldn’t talk to her now. 

The outside wasn’t as oppressive as he’d expected. The sun had just passed the zenith, so those were the hottest hours, with temperatures rising close to forty degrees. The insulating layers of the EV suits and photochromatic visor cheated his receptors to some degree, making it feel like it was just above twenty. Spending hours inside this rubber-and-polyester tin-can, breathing the filtered air, that was what made it uncomfortable. 

Kenaed pulled the containers from the back compartment of the cruiser and, following the indications on his sleeve-screen, found the right spot. Just as he was about to kneel and start digging, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. 

At the same time Angeline screamed in his earpiece, “Keen, don’t move!” 

He froze. 

#.

Tagging @hithelleth, @echo-bleu, @drippingmoon, @did-i-do-this-write

Thank you for reading and for your previous comments and reblogs *huggles*.

If anyone else reads and wants to receive updates on this story, please let me know and I'll tag you too. ;)

[gameraboy2]

Science Fiction Stories, July 1943 Cover by Milton Luros

[pulpsandcomics2]

Thrilling Wonder Stories August 1939

[evydraws]

An illustration I just finished for Fusion Fragment

Painted in acrylics on gesso panel.

[constructbreakdown]

Childhood 2269

Short video story I made for my new channel, Construct Breakdown.

Apologies for the bad aspect ratio. It's a skill issue.

[stone-cold-groove]

I am Mechanus, the giant sorcerer.

[adastra-sf]

far-future person: Oh geez, why would an AI core be lying loose on the ground? Might it be from before or after the Machine Wars? Did a battle destroy the rest of its spaceship body in orbit and this is all that remains of a vast planet-killer or our ancient planetary defense? Was it a monster punished for a great crime, left to rot in the dirt? Or perhaps a simple household assistant, abused to the point of destruction? If I place this into my old spare bot chassis, will it become grateful friend that helps rebuild our frontier planet or vengeful spirit that resumes its destructive mission?

Copper–Agate

[oakendesk]

Science Fiction Stories Nov 1958

Frank Kelly Freas

[dnschmidt]

Wormholes and Other Dangerous DIY Projects - A Science Fiction Story

"After Ledbetter disappeared, anything that hadn’t been destroyed went to his uncle. Well, his uncle died a couple weeks ago, and I went to the estate sale. They were just going to throw away Ledbetter’s old notebooks and equipment, but I begged and begged and they let me have them. Guess what he was working on the night the house burned down!"

“What? Will you get to the point?” I snapped. “I’m already late for work, and I need to get going.”

"...Einstein-Rosen bridges. He figured out a way to locate a wormhole and hold it open!"

[mckitterick]

these lobsters sure can

link to the story (as part of the full novel) on the author's website here, free to read in plain HTML

There was a paper in 2016 exploring how an ML model was differentiating between wolves and dogs with a really high accuracy, they found that for whatever reason the model seemed to *really* like looking at snow in images, as in thats what it pays attention to most.

Then it hit them. *oh.*

*all the images of wolves in our dataset has snow in the background*

*this little shit figured it was easier to just learn how to detect snow than to actually learn the difference between huskies and wolves. because snow = wolf*

Shit like this happens *so often*. People think trainning models is like this exact coding programmer hackerman thing when its more like, coralling a bunch of sentient crabs that can do calculus but like at the end of the day theyre still fucking crabs.

[pulpsandcomics2]

Future Sept 1950

[ismailfazil1-blog]

Unfamiliar Paths: 4 Gripping Tales of Crime.

1. Murderous Robbers

2. Repentant Thieves

3. Disguised Cannibal

4. The Innocent Prisoner

In "Unfamiliar Paths: 4 Gripping Tales of Crime," journey into the shadowy corners of the human psyche, where moral boundaries blur and the consequences of choice echo through the lives of those entangled in crime. Each story delves into a world where danger lurks behind every decision, and the paths taken lead to unforeseen destinations.

"Murderous Robbers" recounts the downfall of the arrogant and tyrannical at the hands of an unlikely hero, a weak and helpless individual who becomes the instrument of justice. "Repentance of Thieves" explores the redemptive power of conscience, reminding us that those who heed its call may find salvation, while those who ignore it bring suffering upon themselves and others. "Disguised Cannibal" serves as a stark warning to the adventurous, illustrating the perils of wandering onto unfamiliar trails, where the true nature of danger is often hidden behind a mask. Finally, "The Innocent Prisoner" delivers a powerful message about the virtue of obedience, tempered by the need for caution when dealing with strangers, as even the most well-meaning actions can lead to dire consequences.

These four tales weave a narrative of crime, consequence, and the unpredictable nature of human behavior, offering a gripping exploration of the choices that define our paths.

[stone-cold-groove]

Cassandra skipped gayly along beside Raphael who tried to keep step with Mechanus.

[adastra-sf]

Wonderful updated homage to "There Will Come Soft Rains" (1950), by Ray Bradbury, which was published as a short story in Collier's magazine and as a chapter of his novel, The Martian Chronicles.