Short Science Fiction Collection 038


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 86 reviews)

Science Fiction is speculative literature that generally explores the consequences of ideas which are roughly consistent with nature and scientific method, but are not facts of the author’s contemporary world. The stories often represent philosophical thought experiments presented in entertaining ways. Protagonists typically “think” rather than “shoot” their way out of problems, but the definition is flexible because there are no limits on an author’s imagination. The reader-selected stories presented here were written prior to 1962 and became US public domain texts when their copyrights expired. (Summary by Gregg Margarite) (7 hr 52 min)

Chapters

Duel on Syrtis 44:17 Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)
Foundling on Venus 18:07 Read by Melissa Strube
The Gate to Xoran 37:13 Read by Martin Sullivan
Let There Be Light 15:49 Read by Bellona Times
Manners of the Age 37:54 Read by Mark Nelson
No Strings Attached 29:24 Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)
Prison of a Billion Years 24:05 Read by Mark Nelson
Remember the Alamo! 32:42 Read by Bill Mosley
The Salesman 7:59 Read by ravenotation
Star, The 30:42 Read by Heather Phillips
Time Enough At Last 16:56 Read by Roger Melin
The Tree of Life 1:10:19 Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)
The Unnecessary Man 42:12 Read by NickNumber
We Didn't Do Anything Wrong, Hardly 10:45 Read by fatima
World Beyond Pluto 54:28 Read by Mark Nelson

Reviews

No Strings Attached


(3 stars)

Great story with surprise ending. The reader was very expressive utilizing professional level skills for: vocal pitch, inflection, appropriate vocal changes for character, sex and age of characters. His phrasing, rate, volume, and pitch were also of consistent calibre even through a very lengthy reading. Very enjoyable! I will look for this reader again.

Some repeats but many good tales


(4 stars)

There’s some good ones, some which seem like bad science lectures and some questionable politics (the belief in benevolent dictatorships for example) but hey, it’s vintage sci-fi and you get Mark Nelson in this collection too.

sort of OK ish


(3 stars)

many of the stories were rather tedious but the readers were good.

I love these collections, especially when there is a novella.


(5 stars)

lots of repeats, but the new stuff is great


(3 stars)

Lacks diversity


(5 stars)

The fact that these stories are interesting and read by great volunteers, does not excuse the fact that authors were white. Stories need to be remade by nonbinary LatinX authors. Stories need to have gay black protagonists fighting Nazis using the power of Gay Sex. That would make these stories acceptable to a modern enlightened audience.

Good stories


(5 stars)

Most of the readers did an excellent job. Good selection of stories.