Hello everyone! Welcome back to another TBR post. I try to create one of these once a month, especially since I’ve found more time to read in the past couple of months. For my reading, I recently started reading science fiction short stories, so I thought I would create a list of ones I plan on reading next. I already finished Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” and Ray Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder”! Check out my Short Story TBR below!
Nightfall – Isaac Asimov
This is considered the greatest science fiction short story of all time, so I had to include it to give my thoughts on it in a later post! Originally a short story before being converted into a novella, the story focuses on a planet whose five suns are slowly going out, leaving the world in darkness.
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Billennium – J. G. Ballard
I just started reading this one! It deals with themes of overpopulation, so it definitely feels like an important read. In this dystopia, two friends try to navigate the cramped city in a world where the population is 20 billion. I also haven’t read anything by J. G. Ballard yet, so I’m looking forward to it!
The Last Question – Isaac Asimov
Another Asimov story, this one is sort of a counterpoint to Frederic Brown’s “Answer,” another story I absolutely love. I chose to add this one to my short story TBR since Asimov stated that this was his favorite story he wrote. It tells the story of a supercomputer who attempts to answer humanity’s questions about chaos.
The Veldt – Ray Bradbury
I’ve been trying to read more of Ray Bradbury’s work (I recently finished The Martian Chronicles, which I highly recommend). This story tells of a family living in a smart home and the parent’s relationship with their children living in a technologically advanced world.
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream – Harlan Ellison
Pretty sure this one is going to give me nightmares. This story focuses on a supercomputer that destroys humanity, leaving only five people left alive. This one often tops best of all time lists too, so I’m really looking forward to it.
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—All You Zombies— – Robert A. Heinlein
Since I recently started getting into time travel stories, I thought I would check this one out. Fun fact, this story was written by Robert A. Heinlein in ONE DAY. Through a time travel paradox, a man realizes that he has become his own parents after traveling through time.
The Nine Billion Names of God – Arthur C. Clarke
This one is fairly short, so I should be able to read it over the weekend or on a slow night. The story focuses on a group of monks who plan to use a machine to list all nine billion names of God, believing the end of the world will occur when they finish. I’ve seen these on a couple of the greatest science fiction short story lists, so I thought I would include them in my short story TBR.
So that’s it! See you all this Saturday for another post. Also, as an announcement, I’m working on a new author website, which should be completed soon. You’ll be able to find my published pieces and guest posts, as well as my editorial services.
Want to contact me now? Find the contact page here and my home page here. Happy writing!
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