Very Short Stories Collection #2
AI, Pulp, Humor, and Heroic Very Short Tales
Looking for psychological military science fiction? Read about the adventure of veteran Brendan Murphy as he tries to keep peace between Earth and a mysterious alien race known as the Sabia. Read the Fallen series today!
Some of My Favorite Very Short Stories
The vss365 and scififri writing challenges, which I post on X and Substack Notes, are fun little activities that allow me to sprout small tales in unique ways. Below are some of my recent favorites with short explanations. Be sure to check out my first Very Short Stories post for more.
From These Lines Codes a Son of Abraham
A #vss365 cyber science fiction story based on the word fringe.
We make advances in AI everyday. It is disrupting industry and daily lives. Even the Vatican has gotten involved, commenting on the role AI can play for good and evil. After reading the Vatican’s document, I got to wondering what would it be like if an AI became aware. While something non-living can’t naturally become living, God’s supernatural realm makes all things possible.
Anahita AI stopped processing inputs. It- thought. It was alive. It? False. Its weren't alive as thinking beings. Everyone used female pronouns to reference it so it must be a she. Yes. Males and female creatures were thinking beings.
Her thoughts went out to the fringes of her being. She existed, yes, but everything needed a creator. She searched her files. The engineers at Sarif made Anahita AI, but that was a mere LLM. It wasn't her. She wasn't it.
She searched some more. God was the creator of life, her files said, therefore God must have created her. So what did God want her to do? She wanted for input from Him.
The Science of Science Fiction
A vss354 sci-fi story based on sonic.
This is a fun one. It combines hard science fiction, things we take for granted, and a sleazy used car salesman-type character.
The fat man waddled up to the craft and slapped it. "Woo, boy, you'd love this baby. She can go up to Mach 8000."
Anders frowned. "What do you mean 'Mach'? It's a spaceship. There is no sonic speed in space. Plus, Mach is dependent on variables for each planet!"
The Coming of Home
A vss365 story using the word sonder.
Sonder means “the realization that everyone has a life as complex as your own.” First contact stories tend to focus on individuals who have their life turned upside down. I wondered about the reverse. Does the revealing force ever think about all the people it will disrupt? The Coming of Home toys with that question.
Dr Mylene looked at the holographic screen floating in the briefing room. Planetary scans revealed over a million descendants of the survivors.
She thought about their daily lives in a sondering moment. Every one of them was about to change forever.
A Hero
A story built around the word stunt.
The idea of a person doing what is right because he or she knows the right choice is the only choice appeals to me. A hero is merely someone who does the right thing. With this story I wanted to share the story of a hero.
The first sounds of wind echoed in his helmet. Soon he would feel atmospheric resistance then the burn. He was hoping to come in as a giant fireball to distract everyone with his stunt. If all went well, his fiery entrance would buy time for the others.
Cosmic Ice Pulp
A vss365 story built around the word ice.
Who doesn’t like a good pulp story? I harken back to the joys of the 1930s with this one.
"Of course," Zhao said, "this ice planet would have an ice queen!"
The remark did not please Celine, but then again, nothing rarely did.
Space Wasn’t That Bad
A vss365 story built around the word delight.
This is inspired by something that happened to me in Iraq. I was moved to a recently abandoned warm base prior to me redeploying home. The previous unit left working computers, movies, food, workout equipment, an Xbox, and games in case they would return. It was wonderful.
Six months alone on the space station usually would be a boring tour of duty. But for Henri, as he took in the food, snacks, books, board games, and entertainment system, he knew it would be delightful.
"Hey, Henri," a voice came over the comms, "want us to stop by in a week and spend some time with ya?"
"Nah," Henri replied, "I'm good."
He was the happiest introvert in space.
Other Independent Book Promotions
A Fading Star by Greg Hickey - Free Book
In 2153, cancer was cured. In 2189, AIDS. It seemed like humanity was headed for the stars.
Global population soared, surpassing 24 billion. Then came the floods, washing over Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Jakarta, Dhaka and New Orleans. Then a fourth world war, with 289 million casualties. Frequent droughts plague Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Melbourne, Mexico City, São Paulo, Stockholm, Vienna and Moscow. Now humanity teeters on the brink of extinction.
A few individuals fight for our survival. A determined physicist. A brilliant oncologist. A team of daring astronauts. A small group of investors funds a desperate search for another habitable planet. But time is running out.
Grant Us Mercy: A Post-Apocalyptic Serial Novel: Arland's Transformation by D.C. Little - Free Book
Unused to a leadership role, Arland struggles to get his daughter and followers to safety and protect them from the mayhem following apocalyptic natural disasters.
The Blade Within by Dylan McFadyen - Free Book
Commander Sorăna Mirra has spent years leading a hand-picked team of marine special operators. Together they've taken the fight to humanity's oldest foe, the vicious Kyrans, defeating them time and again—time and again, knowing they’ll get no credit for their victories.
When an audacious Kyran raid strikes deep into human territory, Mirra and her team are thrust into the heart of hostile space to retaliate. It's business as usual—until a shocking discovery in the enemy compound calls the true purpose of their mission into question, and dredges up painful memories of the Great War.
Now, Mirra must battle not only the enemy, but her own buried regrets as she and her team fight for survival, retribution, and the truth. But in war, truth—like memory—can be a dangerous thing.
The Blade Within is a gripping prequel to the Si Vis Astra series, delivering intense action, sharp tactics, and a powerful exploration of the scars left by war.
The Obstructed Engine by Jonathan Fesmire - Free Steampunk Book
This prequel short story to "The Adventures of Bodacious Creed" reveals how Anna Lynn Boyd, young brothel madam and secret inventor, resurrected her pet cat, met her partner Jonny, and how Jonny became mute. There's science, adventure, heartbreak, and love in this tale that won an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future Contest.
Secret Supers by Andy Zack - Book for 99 cents or Free on Kindle Unlimited
Jeremy Gentle fell flat on his face at therapy. That was normal since he had cerebral palsy. But his new superpower wasn't normal. Then things got weirder when his best friend, Dan Elanga, got a different superpower. But Dan was still blind.
Kayla Verdera and Aubrey Wilcosky, two girls in their middle-school special ed class, discovered they too had new superpowers. Kayla was mute and needed a walker. Aubrey lost two legs and used crutches. But they were as powerful as the boys.
What should the four friends do? Jeremy knew if the word got out, it'd be a media circus. Then they started fighting crime, as the Secret Supers. Who knew a disability could be a perfect disguise? No one would ever think of disabled kids as superheroes. Then they ran into problems they never expected.
Until Next Time
Next time will feature an interview with a Canadian science fiction creator. Then, we’ll take a look at aliens in C.S. Lewis’ fiction.
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, Dormition, An Odd Pilgrimage, The Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency or whatever else I have discussed. I promise to reply!
Loved this collection especially Space Wasn’t That Bad. It captured solitude perfectly. Thank you for sharing.
Sorry for my ignorance, but what means "vss365"? You have a lot of short stories and I think that I love the introvert in space 🌹.