free science fiction short stories

Memories From Earth | A Science Fiction Short Story

Her parent’s world was green, cool, wet with rain and more often than not with blood, as well.…
short stories about friendship

Cool Kid | Flash Fiction

The characters in her book didn't laugh at her. They took her on adventures much more fun than the drudgery of classes and homework and gossip and keeping her head low. She fought villains with D'Artagnan and plotted her revenge with Edmond Dantes. She couldn't ask for better…
vignette literature

5 Vignette Examples That Will Leave You Wanting More

She liked mornings too much for someone living in obscurity. Maybe the sun caressed her skin more tenderly than any lover ever did. Maybe the birds didn't hide knives under their tongues. Maybe the ghosts didn't haunt her in broad daylight.…
what is speculative fiction

Journey into the Unknown: What Is Speculative Fiction?

Explore the evolution of speculative fiction -- from its early roots in science fiction to its current status as a broader category that includes not only literature but also film, television, and video games.…
best short story books

10 best short stories you need to read right now

Short stories have a unique ability to capture the essence of a moment or an idea in just a few pages. In only a few thousand words or less, they can convey entire fictional worlds, complete narrative arcs, complex characters, and vivid imagery. Over the years, many authors…

The Box | A Short Story

What kind of man would he grow up to be? Would he have the adventures he dreamt of? He longed for an ocean he had never seen, for the worlds he had only read about in books, for the brotherhood from the old stories of soldiers and explorers.…
suspense short story

The Rapture | Suspense short story

Without a word, Albert sprinted toward the lake and back to the campsite. His boots made it difficult to run on the muddy ground, but the pounding in his chest and the sound of furious steps behind him kept him going. The heady mix of adrenaline and terror…

Mirror

With every new campaign, his home felt less and less like a home. His wife's arms were just another cold, muddy field, and his children's laughter merged with the screams of the slain.…
short stories online

The Sacrifice | A short story

A sense of resolute stillness filled his days after the initial shock of finding himself removed from his old home and his friends and into council meetings and court gatherings. Pray and work sustained him. When the time came, only the faithful would remain to build the new…
what is fiction writing

Two vignettes and how writing vignettes helps writers improve

The day is warm and beautiful and for the first time this year, I don't hate my life. The cool autumn breeze brings out an unexpected softness within me. The eyes that meet my gaze in the mirror are no longer harsh or punishing. The ambition is still…
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