The problem of separating the friends from the enemies was a major one in the conquest of space as many a dead spacer could have testified. A tough job when you could see an alien and judge appearances; far tougher when they were only whispers on the wind.
Classic Sci-Fi Short Stories
“The World That Couldn’t Be” by Clifford D. Simak
The tracks went up one row and down another, and in those rows the vua plants had been sheared off an inch or two above the ground. The raider had been methodical; it had not wandered about haphazardly, but had done an efficient job of harvesting the first ten rows on the west side of the field.
“The Tunnel Under The World” by Frederik Pohl
Pinching yourself is no way to see if you are dreaming. Surgical instruments? Well, yes—but a mechanic’s kit is best of all!
“The Lost Kafoozalum” by Pauline Ashwell
One of the beautiful things about a delusion is that no matter how mad someone gets at it … he can’t do it any harm. Therefore a delusion can be a fine thing for prodding angry belligerents…
“The Holes Around Mars” by Jerome Bixby
Science said it could not be, but there it was.
And whoosh—look out—here it is again!
“The Holes Around Mars” is a classic science fiction short story by Jerome Bixby.
“A Little Journey ” by Ray Bradbury
She’d paid good money to see the inevitable …and then had to work to make it happen! A sci-fi short story by Ray Bradbury.
“Wall of Crystal, Eye of Night” by Algis Budrys
He was a vendor of dreams, purveying worlds beyond imagination to others. Yet his doom was this: He could not see what he must learn of his own!
“Youth” by Isaac Asimov
Red and Slim found the two strange little animals the morning after they heard the thunder sounds. They knew that they could never show their new pets to their parents. “Youth” is a short story by Isaac Asimov in the public domain.
“The Day Time Stopped Moving” by Bradner Buckner
All Dave Miller wanted to do was commit suicide in peace. He tried, but the things that happened after he’d pulled the trigger were all wrong. Like everyone standing around like statues. No St. Peter, no pearly gate, no pitchforks or halos. He might just as well have saved the bullet!
“Sentiment, Inc.” by Poul Anderson
Read the sci-fi short story “Sentiment, Inc.” by Poul Anderson. A classic science fiction story about psychologists with too much power. With text provided by Project Gutenberg.