# Best Science Fiction short story ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891 "2005-01-27T06:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/61 "2005-01-27T22:33:19Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Allow me a related question about tracking these stories down and enjoying them. How can a non sci-fi buff like me to read as many of these suggested stories as possible, while paying for the smallest number of different books, compilations, anthologies and so on? > > With the exception of Asimov’s ‘The Last Question’, absolutely all the other stories mentioned thus far are new to me, and I’d like to sample them. I trust the Dopers’ judgement! You read my mind ianzin… ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/62 "2005-01-27T22:46:34Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Allow me a related question about tracking these stories down and enjoying them. How can a non sci-fi buff like me to read as many of these suggested stories as possible, while paying for the smallest number of different books, compilations, anthologies and so on? > > With the exception of Asimov’s ‘The Last Question’, absolutely all the other stories mentioned thus far are new to me, and I’d like to sample them. I trust the Dopers’ judgement! I’m not as fond of hard SF, so I can’t speak to **Exapno’s** recommendations. My tastes run more toward the so-called speculative fiction that gets lumped in with the “real” SF. That said, your library should have anthologies of each decade’s Hugo and/or Nebula award winners for short stories. That might be a good place to start. Otherwise, I would recommend [Dangerous Visions](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743452615/qid=1106866051/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-1343809-0553750?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) for a great sample of the Big Names in SF. Good luck! Once you find out what kind of SF you like, let us know so we can give you better info. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/63 "2005-01-27T22:53:20Z")
This probably isn’t on anyones list of “best SF short stories EVER,” but it is really good, and it won a Hugo. “Eurema’s Dam,” by R. A. Lafferty It can be found in one of the many anthologies of Hugo-winning science fiction edited by Isaac Asimov (Vol. III, as I learn upon searching, published 1977, not apparently out of print. ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/64 "2005-01-27T23:01:51Z")
I nean _now_ apparently out of print. ☹ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/65 "2005-01-27T23:19:53Z")
Personal Favorite: Flowers for Algernon The short story, not the novel. I think it’s a crying shame that most people’s experience with it is with the novel. ---
**Author:** ![Iacob\_Matthew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Iacob\_Matthew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iacob_Matthew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/66 "2005-01-28T00:00:48Z")
“Flowers for Algernon” was the first thing which popped into my mind upon readin the title. Anything from Sturgeon’s anthology _A Saucer of Loneliness_, most especially the title story, would be in my top 50. His “Baby is Three” wins my award for “most creative use of telepathy” when, forty or fifty pages later, you realize Lone wasn’t making polite chatter. “Aye, and Gomorrah,” by Delany, if for no other reason than the title. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/67 "2005-01-28T00:02:19Z")
By the way, the full text of **Light of Other Days** by Bob Shaw, which truly is a fantastic story, can be found [here.](http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/shaw/shaw1.html) ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/68 "2005-01-28T00:15:53Z")
The story that first came to my mind was _The Cold Equations_. The only other title I’ve seen mentioned by others that I know I recognize is _Flowers for Algernon_. I wasn’t aware there was a novel(la) version. I got in trouble for reading the short story in English class because I had finished the assigned reading and was flipping through the text book for something else to read. I don’t recall viewing it as science fiction, but I did like it. To join in the Sci-Fi eText linkfest: [The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect](http://www.kuro5hin.org/prime-intellect/mopi1.html) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/69 "2005-01-28T00:26:36Z")
> [@1010011010](#): > > I don’t recall viewing it as science fiction, but I did like it. That’s probably because you were taught that if it’s good, it’s not science fiction. Science fiction was about spaceships, and creatures from outer space, and monorails and flying cars. So, same to **SusanStoHelit**. Speculative fiction is as much part of the overall field of science fiction as “real” sf, whatever that is. If you want some good examples of it, let me refer you to my list of stories. Each and every one is speculative fiction. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/70 "2005-01-28T00:53:51Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > That’s probably because you were taught that if it’s good, it’s not science fiction. > > Science fiction was about spaceships, and creatures from outer space, and monorails and flying cars. And robots. Don’t forget the robots! :rolleyes: > [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > So, same to **SusanStoHelit**. Speculative fiction is as much part of the overall field of science fiction as “real” sf, whatever that is. If you want some good examples of it, let me refer you to my list of stories. Each and every one is speculative fiction. I was actually responding to this: > [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > David G. Hartwell has steadily put out huge books of major stories. Some of these include The Ascent of Wonder, The Evolution of Hard SF, The Hard SF Renaissance, Visions of Wonder : The Science Fiction Research Association Reading Anthology, and The Science Fiction Century. The last named is a standard work of the field. Not your list. The list is indeed spec.fic, and damn fine spec.fic. I had no idea that Kate Wilhelm did short stories too, and I’m going to go find them asap. It was a sad day for sf when she decided to switch to writing Mystery. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/71 "2005-01-28T00:55:54Z")
I have a number of favorite short stories, but I hesitate to name them “best.” I can’t claim to have read all the stories out there, and even when I am familiar with the stories, I find that I often enjoy the frivolous stories more than the serious ones. With that caveat a far from inclusive list of stories I thought of when I saw this thread title: “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin “Flowers for Algernon” the original short piece… “The Vault” by H.P. Lovecraft, not one of his more familiar works - no Cthulhu, just simple horror, and almost plain prose. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card, the original short story “Enemy Mine” by Barry B. Longyear While Arthur C. Clarke’s “The Star” is a good story, I also love a couple of his other stories more. First the one about the galactic Federation coming to rescue what inhabitants they can from a planet orbiting a star about to go nova - I can’t recall the title to save my life. I think it was his first published story, though. (My mind, to quote the Professor: “like a lumber room - things needed always getting lost.” 😃 ) The other story of his that still gives me a chill is “The Nine Billion Names of God.” And **SusanSoHelit** , one place to start would be with one of the recent collections of Nebula or Hugo award winners. In the mid-70’s there was a collection of three books (IIRC World’s Best Science Fiction, Volume Ia, Volume Ib, and Volume II) which had many of the stories listed in this thread. (Including, but not limited to “Arena,” “Flowers for Algernon,” “To Serve Man,” “The Cold Equations,” and many, many other seminal works in the genre. A word of warning - the earlier stories will show the pulp influence on SF - often poor characterization and stilted language, but still an enojyable read. I can’t find the exact collection I’m thinking of, at the moment on Amazon, but my father has it, so if you want the exact data, I can check next time I go shovel their driveway/walk. For more modern writing, with a focus on ‘new’ science you can also pick up the annual collections of stories nominated for the Nebula Awards. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/72 "2005-01-28T01:04:21Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > And **SusanSoHelit** , one place to start would be with one of the recent collections of Nebula or Hugo award winners. In the mid-70’s there was a collection of three books (IIRC World’s Best Science Fiction, Volume Ia, Volume Ib, and Volume II) which had many of the stories listed in this thread. (Including, but not limited to “Arena,” “Flowers for Algernon,” “To Serve Man,” “The Cold Equations,” and many, many other seminal works in the genre. A word of warning - the earlier stories will show the pulp influence on SF - often poor characterization and stilted language, but still an enojyable read. I can’t find the exact collection I’m thinking of, at the moment on Amazon, but my father has it, so if you want the exact data, I can check next time I go shovel their driveway/walk. > > For more modern writing, with a focus on ‘new’ science you can also pick up the annual collections of stories nominated for the Nebula Awards. Are you talking to me or **ianzin** , who origionally posted: > [@ianzin](#): > > Allow me a related question about tracking these stories down and enjoying them. How can a non sci-fi buff like me to read as many of these suggested stories as possible, while paying for the smallest number of different books, compilations, anthologies and so on? Good advice, though. Listen to her (it is her, right **Otaku?** ), **ianzin**. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/73 "2005-01-28T01:05:05Z")
I’m not entirely sure if/how it fits the OPs criteria, but I can’t keep myself from recommending [A Roll of the Dice](http://web.archive.org/web/20020212163428/http:/www.analogsf.com/0202/A_ROLLOFTHEDICE.html) by Catherine Asaro (link to the story). It ran in _Analhabog_ years ago, I read it in there and was smitten with it, for some inexplicable reason. I think the very end poses interesting questions about the nature of humanity and human habit. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/74 "2005-01-28T01:06:35Z")
And I’ve completely lost my ability to type. I read it in _Analog_, not Analhabog, whatever the hell that is… ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/75 "2005-01-28T01:10:46Z")
> [@SusanStoHelit](#): > > Are you talking to me or **ianzin** I think I should have addressed **ianzin**. I just got confused. I do that easily. :smack: > [@SusanStoHelit](#): > > Good advice, though. Listen to her (it is her, right **Otaku?** ), **ianzin**. Thank you, but I do want to correct your assumption - I’m male, not female. I’m not offended, just wouldn’t want to leave you with an incorrect impression. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/76 "2005-01-28T01:15:29Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Thank you, but I do want to correct your assumption - I’m male, not female. I’m not offended, just wouldn’t want to leave you with an incorrect impression. :o shit :smack: sorry. Damn gender-neutral names ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/77 "2005-01-28T02:02:56Z")
> [@1010011010](#): > > I got in trouble for reading the short story in English class because I had finished the assigned reading and was flipping through the text book for something else to read. Goddamn you kids, trying to read in class. Of all the nerve… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/78 "2005-01-28T03:15:35Z")
I, too, will have to add my vote to the accumulating totals for “The Last Question” and “The Cold Equations”. Other nominees: Isaac Asimov’s “Not Final” Joanna Russ’s “When It Changed” Murray Leinster’s “First Contact” Ray Bradbury’s “Dark they Were, and Golden-Eyed” ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/79 "2005-01-28T03:19:01Z")
“Seven American Nights” by Gene Wolfe haven’t read many science fiction shorts… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891/80 "2005-01-28T04:28:05Z")
A number of favorites have been mentioned here, but two that haven’t is “Nightwings” by Robert Silverberg and “The Moon Moth” by Jack Vance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-science-fiction-short-story-ever/286891.md?page=5)