"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." – George R. R. Martin
An AI learns about emotions and independence.
To Sail Beyond the Botnet by Suzanne Palmer (2023) — 21,920 words (about 87 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Clarkesworld magazine issue 200, May 2023.
A classical tale of a difficult decision.
A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry (1903) — 2,800 words (about 11 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published The Cosmopolitan Magazine, April 1903.
Continuing this week’s theme of AI, what happens to a robot that reaches the end of its useful life?
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert (2023) — 3,370 words (about 13 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Clarkesworld magazine issue 202, July 2023.
Is this where AI storytelling is taking us? I certainly hope not.
Tell Them a Story to Teach Them Kindness by B. Pladek (2025) — 4,146 words (about 16 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Lightspeed magazine issue #176, January 2025.
A touching story of a mother caring for her teenage son with ALS.
Still Water by Zhang Ran translated from Chinese by Jay Zhang (2025) — 9,090 words (about 22 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #223, April 2025.
A classic tale with a clever twist at the end.
Youth by Isaac Asimov (1952) — 9,485 words (about 38 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Space Science Fiction magazine, May 1952.
I listened to this wonderful time travel story on the first episode of Wil Wheaton’s new podcast, It’s Story Time with Wil Wheaton.
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Love, Death by Caroline M. Yoachim (2015) — 5,385 words (about 22 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Lightspeed magazine issue #66, November 2015.
A story at the crossroads of family and technology, winner of the Nebula award for best short story.
Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200 by R.S.A. Garcia (2023) — 6,861 words (about 27 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Uncanny Magazine issue #53, July/August 2023.
This amazing story captures the feeling of trying to say the things that you feel when emotionally overwhelmed and there just aren’t the words. A marvelous experience.
Junebug by Sarah Hollowell (2023) — 6,700 words (about 27 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Apex Magazine issue #140, September 2023.
This is one of the stories I read as a kid in a volume of Hugo winners that kindled my love for short science fiction.
Or All the Seas with Oysters by Avram Davidson (1958) — 3,539 words (about 14 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, May 1958.