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.
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
