Science Fiction Shortish Stories

Longer Short Science Fiction Stories

All these are available from Project Gutenberg. The advantage of using PG texts is that they have already been carefully copyright checked, so unlikely to give us legal problems in that respect! (Though a few books there are copyrighted - double-check the licence text found at the start of the book, or the Copyright Status in the “Bibliographic Record” section of the book's home page BEFORE recording.)

In Cori's opinion, the stories listed on this page may be from 1-3 hours in finished recording duration, depending on how quickly you read, and on the language used in the story. If the story turns out to be less than 70 mins, please submit it to the Short Sci-fi Collection (found in the Short Works forum.) If it is longer than 70 mins, try to find a suitable point in the story to divide it into 2-5 shorter files. Use the "Solo Template" to help you post into a new thread in the Launchpad. Once this is claimed, you'll be able to upload all the files, and it's done! Each file will need its own disclaimer adding - the first part should have the full LibriVox disclaimer, and subsequent sections can use the short-form (see the template for more details.) This will create a short (but perfectly formed) solo!

Multiple versions of any story are Very Welcome! If you want to read something for the first time, cross-reference your choice with the LibriVox catalogue.

Time estimates are VERY VERY approximate. Please also note that my (Cori's) code for selecting these is a little whimsical, so may also include 'Military Science' and 'Precursors to Science Fiction'. Have fun :)

Last edited: May '12 (including all Gutenberg titles to 34999.) There are 176 sci-fi novellas listed.

See also Science Fiction Short Stories and Science Fiction Novels. 

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Industrial Revolution by Poul William Anderson (approx. 108 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30971

Security by Poul William Anderson (approx. 83 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22239

The Sensitive Man by Poul William Anderson (approx. 133 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31501

The Lost Kafoozalum by Pauline Ashwell (approx. 131 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30427

Under Arctic Ice by Harry Bates (approx. 100 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29475

Card Trick by John Berryman (approx. 75 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24277

Modus Vivendi by John Berryman (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30311

The Right Time by John Berryman (approx. 76 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30770

The Trouble with Telstar by John Berryman (approx. 84 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30679

Vigorish by John Berryman (approx. 75 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24382

The Thing in the Attic by James Blish (approx. 83 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32447

The Dueling Machine by Ben Bova and Myron R. Lewis (approx. 140 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30796

Black Amazon of Mars by Leigh Douglass Brackett (approx. 145 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32664

The Einstein See-Saw by Miles John Breuer (approx. 64 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29060

The Barbarians by Algis Budrys (approx. 65 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30828

Lords of the Stratosphere by Arthur J. Burks (approx. 144 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29466

R.U.R. by Karel Capek (approx. 141 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13083

A Woman's Place by Mark Clifton (approx. 65 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32833

Sense from Thought Divide by Mark Clifton (approx. 86 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22513

Alarm Clock by Everett B. Cole (approx. 80 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24180

Final Weapon by Everett B. Cole (approx. 130 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24723

Millennium by Everett B. Cole (approx. 118 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24779

The Players by Everett B. Cole (approx. 122 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22426

The Weakling by Everett B. Cole (approx. 108 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28486

The World Beyond by Ray Cummings (approx. 85 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29059

Victory by Lester Del Rey (approx. 112 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24196

The Pirate Planet by Charles W. Diffin(Part 2 of 4) (approx. 100 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30691

The Hammer of Thor by Charles Willard Diffin (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29202

The Short Life by Francis Donovan (approx. 133 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23928

The Red Hell of Jupiter by Paul Ernst (approx. 149 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30214

Deadly City by Paul W. Fairman (approx. 100 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32705

A Spaceship Named McGuire by Randall Garrett (approx. 101 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24198

Anchorite by Randall Garrett (approx. 117 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23561

But, I Don't Think by Randall Garrett (approx. 77 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24005

By Proxy by Randall Garrett (approx. 92 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24707

Damned If You Don't by Randall Garrett (approx. 106 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24064

Dead Giveaway by Randall Garrett (approx. 65 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24054

Despoilers of the Golden Empire by Randall Garrett (approx. 108 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24091

Hail to the Chief by Randall Garrett (approx. 87 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26109

Hanging by a Thread by Randall Garrett (approx. 63 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30308

Psichopath by Randall Garrett (approx. 63 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30304

The Destroyers by Randall Garrett (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24166

The Foreign Hand Tie by Randall Garrett (approx. 80 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30497

The Highest Treason by Randall Garrett (approx. 142 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24302

The Judas Valley by Randall Garrett and Robert Silverberg (approx. 82 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25713

The Penal Cluster by Randall Garrett (approx. 115 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25061

What The Left Hand Was Doing by Randall Garrett (approx. 72 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25166

Hawk Carse by Anthony Gilmore (approx. 116 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30307

The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore (approx. 86 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29298

-And Devious the Line of Duty by Tom Godwin (approx. 88 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22585

Unthinkable by Roger Phillips Graham (approx. 70 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27491

A World Called Crimson by Darius John Granger (approx. 95 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25684

The War of the Wenuses by Charles L. Graves and E. V. Lucas (approx. 77 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14678

Breaking Point by James E. Gunn (approx. 107 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21988

Raiders Invisible by Desmond Winter Hall (approx. 85 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29053

The Stars, My Brothers by Edmond Hamilton (approx. 96 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24870

The K-Factor by Harry Harrison (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22540

The Misplaced Battleship by Harry Harrison (approx. 74 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22541

We're Friends, Now by Henry Hasse (approx. 131 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29488

In the Clutch of the War-God by Milo M. Hastings (approx. 100 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13526

Charley de Milo by Laurence M. Janifer (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23889

Hex by Laurence M. Janifer (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24397

Get Out of Our Skies! by E. K. Jarvis (approx. 73 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26795

Cubs of the Wolf by Raymond F. Jones (approx. 109 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22526

Human Error by Raymond F. Jones (approx. 86 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32403

The Colonists by Raymond F. Jones (approx. 104 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32687

The Memory of Mars by Raymond F. Jones (approx. 86 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26093

The Unlearned by Raymond F. Jones (approx. 98 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32745

With The Night Mail by Rudyard Kipling (approx. 94 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29135

The Floating Island of Madness by Jason Kirby (approx. 72 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29421

Blind Man's Lantern by Allen Kim Lang (approx. 83 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24567

Greylorn by Keith Laumer (approx. 123 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23028

It Could Be Anything by Keith Laumer (approx. 94 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26782

No Great Magic by Fritz Leiber (approx. 111 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23162

The Creature from Cleveland Depths by Fritz Leiber (approx. 113 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23164

A Matter of Importance by Murray Leinster (approx. 92 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23636

Invasion by Murray Leinster (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29455

Morale by Murray Leinster (approx. 74 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20920

Sand Doom by Murray Leinster (approx. 110 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22467

The Aliens by Murray Leinster (approx. 93 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24104

The Hate Disease by Murray Leinster (approx. 119 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30815

The Invaders by Murray Leinster (approx. 137 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31343

The Machine That Saved The World by Murray Leinster (approx. 97 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26174

The Runaway Skyscraper by Murray Leinster (approx. 104 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17355

Next Door, Next World by Robert Donald Locke (approx. 74 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26205

The Scarlet Plague by Jack London (approx. 124 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21970

Hunter Patrol by John Joseph McGuire and H. Beam Piper (approx. 80 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18641

The Return by John Joseph McGuire and H. Beam Piper (approx. 75 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18855

The Sea Terror by Captain S. P. Meek (approx. 75 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30691

Poisoned Air by S. P. Meek (approx. 71 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29069

The Solar Magnet by S. P. Meek (approx. 70 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29401

The Stutterer by R. R. Merliss (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22512

Omega, the Man by Lowell Howard Morrow (approx. 90 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26882

The People of the Crater by Andre Norton (approx. 98 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30960

Voodoo Planet by Andre Norton (approx. 148 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18846

Bear Trap by Alan Edward Nourse (approx. 122 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31094

Infinite Intruder by Alan Edward Nourse (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31223

Martyr by Alan Edward Nourse (approx. 122 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31236

The Happy Man by Gerald W. Page (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30705

The Chamber of Life by Green Peyton (approx. 74 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25862

A Slave is a Slave by H. Beam Piper (approx. 141 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20726

Day of the Moron by H. Beam Piper (approx. 77 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18949

Ministry of Disturbance by H. Beam Piper (approx. 110 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20659

Naudsonce by H. Beam Piper (approx. 109 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19076

Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper (approx. 108 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19445

Oomphel in the Sky by H. Beam Piper (approx. 114 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20649

Police Operation by H. Beam Piper (approx. 84 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19067

Temple Trouble by H. Beam Piper (approx. 83 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18861

The Edge of the Knife by H. Beam Piper (approx. 106 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18584

The Return by John Joseph McGuire and H. Beam Piper (approx. 79 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19158

The Knights of Arthur by Frederik Pohl (approx. 94 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32004

The Tunnel Under The World by Frederik Pohl (approx. 78 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31979

Anthem by Ayn Rand (approx. 109 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1250

Anthem by Ayn Rand (approx. 118 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1249

Code Three by Rick Raphael (approx. 138 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19111

Make Mine Homogenized by Rick Raphael (approx. 112 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24119

The Thirst Quenchers by Rick Raphael (approx. 114 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30797

Combat by Mack Reynolds (approx. 117 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30712

Freedom by Mack Reynolds (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30338

Medal of Honor by Mack Reynolds (approx. 71 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27393

Mercenary by Mack Reynolds (approx. 136 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24370

Revolution by Mack Reynolds (approx. 81 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23929

The Common Man by Mack Reynolds (approx. 98 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23194

The Case of Summerfield by W. H. Rhodes (approx. 73 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5191

Prologue to an Analogue by Leigh Richmond (approx. 70 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30242

I Was a Teen-Age Secret Weapon by Richard Sabia (approx. 84 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23591

Pirates of the Gorm by Nathan Schachner (approx. 70 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29299

Gone Fishing by James H. Schmitz (approx. 107 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30140

Lion Loose by James H. Schmitz (approx. 140 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30493

Novice by James H. Schmitz (approx. 85 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30458

The Star Hyacinths by James H. Schmitz (approx. 103 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26292

The Winds of Time by James H. Schmitz (approx. 81 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24395

The Moon Metal by Garrett Putman Serviss (approx. 147 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8199

Hellhounds of the Cosmos by Clifford D. Simak (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27013

Project Mastodon by Clifford D. Simak (approx. 75 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22216

Subspace Survivors by E. E. Smith (approx. 89 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21647

The Winged Men of Orcon by David R. Sparks (approx. 96 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22176

In the Orbit of Saturn by Roman Frederick Starzl (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29038

The Monster by S. M. Tenneshaw (approx. 91 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24913

Wanted-7 Fearless Engineers! by Frederick Orlin Tremaine (approx. 119 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26941

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 1. by Mark Twain (approx. 82 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7242

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 2. by Mark Twain (approx. 73 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7243

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3. by Mark Twain (approx. 74 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7244

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 4. by Mark Twain (approx. 116 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7245

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 5. by Mark Twain (approx. 90 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7246

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 6. by Mark Twain (approx. 81 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7247

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 7. by Mark Twain (approx. 83 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7248

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 8. by Mark Twain (approx. 73 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7249

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 9. by Mark Twain (approx. 74 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7250

Equation of Doom by Gerald Vance (approx. 93 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29146

Sjambak by Jack Vance (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30002

Creatures of Vibration by Harl Vincent (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22154

Vulcan's Workshop by Harl Vincent (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29321

Wanderer of Infinity by Harl Vincent (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29408

Accidental Flight by F. L. Wallace (approx. 138 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32597

Forget Me Nearly by F. L. Wallace (approx. 90 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32025

Mezzerow Loves Company by F. L. Wallace (approx. 77 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22319

Tangle Hold by F. L. Wallace (approx. 125 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32161

Attrition by Jim Wannamaker (approx. 69 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24282

A Martian Odyssey by Stanley Grauman Weinbaum (approx. 68 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23731

Valley of Dreams by Stanley Grauman Weinbaum (approx. 65 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22301

The Seed of the Toc-Toc Birds by George Henry Weiss (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23831

The Devil's Asteroid by Manly Wade Wellman (approx. 69 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22538

Devil Crystals of Arret by Hal K. Wells (approx. 64 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28628

The End of Time by Wallace West (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29410

The Risk Profession by Donald E. Westlake (approx. 71 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27089

Cat and Mouse by Ralph Williams (approx. 67 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24392

The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29177

Teams by Ann Wilson (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25744

Zeta Exchange by Ann Wilson (approx. 96 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25748

The Whispering Spheres by R. R. Winterbotham (approx. 66 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22226

Jordens Inre by Otto Witt (in Swedish) (approx. 124 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29707

Priestess of the Flame by Sewell Peaslee Wright (approx. 78 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29293

The Death-Traps of FX-31 by Sewell Peaslee Wright (approx. 64 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29309

The Servant Problem by Robert F. Young (approx. 72 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23232

When the Sleepers Woke by Arthur Leo Zagat (approx. 77 mins reading time) -- http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29322