Short Science Fiction Fantasy Stories

The Tronik Gambit is the story of a rag-tag group of air pirates. Like their older, sea-borne brethren, they spent years terrorizing aerial shipping, raiding ships on the seas with float-planes, and robbing towns and remote outposts on land, and using their machines to make the fastest getaways imaginable. Operating from a massive flying aircraft carrier and using clouds, mist, and forbidding terrain to hide their presence and move around with impunity, their weapons and machines are makeshift and purchased from corrupt industrialists and created entirely from scratch.

Archer, a hunting dog bred solely to devote his abilities to catch his prey at any cost, is taken on the strangest hunt he’s ever experienced. Hagar, his master, is set on catching the elusive legendary creature, the unicorn. Once caught, Hagar plans to cut off her horn and use its magic for his own purposes. Archer gives chase and corners the beast in a cavern, and unforeseen danger gives way to a cave in, leaving both creatures alone together.

An innocent Human child is murdered by an Elven artisan in the village of Foxglove Falls, under Lorewyn's jurisdiction as Constable. With the child's parents and the rest of the village outraged - and rightfully so - the administration of justice falls into the hands of a divided Elven tribunal...with Lorewyn's reputation and a promise she made on the line. Tristyn Caelbryn, a young novice Mage, is faced with a dilemma when the Nullification Act is passed in New Sylestia by the Elven council, preventing humans from continuing to practice the magical arts.

In this dark, paranormal short story and coming-of-age tale, Scott and his family move into their new home in the middle of summer. On the surface, they are settling into your typical quaint lower-middle-class suburban neighborhood. We follow Scott’s exploration of the place as he battles to make friends, gains acquaintances, and goes on to discover that his new home harbors a dark secret. Can one tell the difference between imagination and actually talking to a non-human entity?

An anthology of exceptional Science Fiction short stories. Volume 4: The Earth is a non-renewable resource, overpopulation is problematic, when only the war machines are left. Stories include "The Dwindling Sphere" by Willard Hawkins, "Billennium" by J. G. Ballard, and "Rust" by Joseph E. Kelleam.

Mermaids, mermen, treacherous villagers, and a Nix: these are some of the exciting things in store for you with the latest Natashiah Jansen story entitled Pearl Port Singer. You’ll be taken on a dive into the magical world of merpeople...If you love humorous stories, you will love Pearl Port Singer.

The reenactment of the iconic battle of the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg, is in its second day, and the paramedics at Aid Station Three have seen their share of cuts and scrapes and heat exhaustion. With 20 minutes until the start of the next battle scenario, Eric, the senior EMT, sends the minor injury cases on their way. Suddenly, a cannon shot booms, followed by more in quick succession, followed by thunder. Has the battle started early? Strangely, it sounds more like the sounds of battle are coming from the actual site of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Fifteen science fiction short stories by Scott Reeves.

In a future where Mother Earth has cast her children to the distant starts to begin anew and colonize the cosmos, the planet remains depleted of natural resources. Its air polluted by caustic iron and belching smoke, Earth faces her last desperate days in the grip of global environmental collapse. In one final and feeble effort, Earth’s Grand President Mankin musters the dregs of his fleet and sends three separate missions to the deepest reaches of space. Their mission: solicit help from far-flung colonial civilizations, or watch the planet die.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s tough not to get freaked out when you’re alone and you hear something bump in the night or even hear a voice. The stories below will freak you out so it’s best to read these with someone. Preferably a friend and not a stranger you’ve decided to creep up behind on the street. My house was built in 1904. It is a single family home, wood frame setting on a concrete block foundation. I have been living here for about 12 years. Of all the weird things that my siblings and me have seen or heard in this house this one event is my favorite.

The Land of Monsters isn't a very big place, but it has many different characters that Kieran meets. In this collection of short stories, we learn how Kieran first travels to the Land of Monsters, the friends he meets, how he ended up in the human world, and many more!

Collected here are the stories, poems, and religious writings that preceded and helped form the science fiction and fantasy genres. The collection explores the key imaginative roots and their later literary permutations. The author list alone reads like a literary who’s who and includes many writers not primarily known for their forays into the fantastic. Organized by topic rather than simple chronology, this volume allows the listener to trace the history of robots, aliens, and apocalypses up to some of their most recent manifestations.

An anthology of exceptional Science Fiction short stories. Volume 3. It could happen to our Sun; To whom does the future belong? We attempt it because it's there.

In a future time, well after all the countries of the world have engaged in a global nuclear event, a select few have survived The Great War and reorganized civilization within a sealed Bubble. In this day and time, there are only a handful of people remaining who ever lived and breathed outside the Bubble; most habitants were born within its sealed plexi-interior. The Bubble is a monarchy with one ruler, Arch Sedric. He has commissioned an intimidating army of police called the SAC, or Security Advisor Cadre.

“Hello, my name is Aura Smith; we are here to take you back to your time. I do not exactly why you think killing, what was his name again...oh yes, Stalin was a great idea, but you can’t just go around fixing things like that. Without Stalin, the world would have been a very different place, you see. I understand he was evil for whatever the historical context is, but we just can’t go altering all the bad things in history. The Fates do not like it."

An aged, decrepit old woman wanders the quiet hallways of her home. She remembers a day when they were brighter, more kinetic with anticipation of life within their walls. Family was a regular occurrence, and the tinkling laughter of grandchildren used to echo through the house. Oh, how she missed those times, as she now hobbles oh-so-slowly with her cane through the archaic old home. And as the old woman wanders, reminiscing through the halls, she comes upon a door. Rusty hinges amplify groan of age as the door swings slowly open, and she balances herself in the doorway.

Tub the ogre is tired. Tired of the unfounded stereotypes placed upon ogres by humans. He also happens to be bored. Bored of the same menial tasks day in and day out. As we have found throughout history, being tired and bored is not an ideal state of mind for coming up with great decisions. And so, Tub comes up with a bad decision. Tub decides to become a hired killer for a mysterious contact. Alas, Tub ends up a mere pawn in the hands of someone who doesn't have his best interests at heart. The ogre finds all the excitement he could ask for, and more, but will he survive?

Emilia was a normal teenage girl on the verge of elopement when her entire world was turned upside down by a catastrophic accident. Left miserable and deformed, Emilia uncovers a magical family secret that promises to bring her salvation and eventually...her destruction. In this small town, in a land far away, the people are being preyed upon by an unknown presence, and many have been abducted. Fear and ignorance ensue, and blame is soon set at the doorstep of a disfigured and reclusive Emilia, and she is hunted as a witch.

The Amerind heritage of the author is clearly reflected in this unique collection of stories. They range from the representative science fiction of "Into Every Rain, a Little Life Must Fall" in which "wombcops" plugged into computer consoles monitor city streets, to the phantasmagoric, prophetic quality of the title story. There is a wry humor and folk wisdom in "A Sunday Visit with Great-Grandfather", and the influence of Indian lore and legend is powerfully evident in "White Brothers from the Place Where No Man Walks".

Many people died when the end times came. Those who survived did so by building bubbles - protective domes that protected them from the radioactive ash beyond. Keeping one running takes a village. It's for this reason that everyone has their role to play. Except the Elders. Their only job is to remind the ones born after the End that life is about more than mere survival.