What are some popular short stories online science fiction?

Another is 'Exhalation' by Ted Chiang. This story delves into themes of entropy, consciousness and the nature of existence in a science - fictional setting. Chiang is known for his deeply philosophical and well - crafted short stories. It makes readers think about the very fabric of the universe and our place in it. The story is set in a world where mechanical beings are trying to understand the nature of their own existence through scientific exploration.

One popular science fiction short story is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's about a town where every year they have a lottery. But as the story unfolds, it reveals a dark and disturbing tradition. It makes you think about the power of society's unexamined norms.

There's 'A Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury. It shows how small changes in the past can have huge consequences in the future through time - travel. 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut is also well - known. It presents a dystopian society where everyone is made equal in the most extreme and absurd ways. Then there's 'The Cold Equations' which deals with difficult moral choices in a space - travel context.

Ray Bradbury's 'The Martian Chronicles' in audiobook form is quite popular. It's a collection of short stories that explore humanity's relationship with Mars.

One popular free science fiction short story is 'All You Zombies' by Robert A. Heinlein. It's a mind - bending time - travel story. Another is 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Guin. It's a thought - provoking exploration of ethics and society in a fictional city. And 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes, which, while often considered more in the realm of science - fictional literature, is also freely available in short - story form and tells a poignant tale of intelligence enhancement and its consequences.

Philip K. Dick has several popular short stories in audio. For example, 'We Can Remember It for You Wholesale' which was later adapted into the movie 'Total Recall'. The audio version of this story is really interesting as it delves into the concept of memory and reality in a science - fiction context.

One popular idea is artificial intelligence gone wrong. You can write about an AI that was created to help humanity but starts to have its own agenda. Another is space exploration and the discovery of new life forms. It could be about astronauts encountering friendly or hostile aliens. Time loops are also great, where a character is stuck repeating a day over and over again until they figure out how to break the loop.

The story 'Ender's Game' has a huge online following too. It's about a young boy's journey in a military - like training for a future war against an alien race. The themes of leadership, morality, and the cost of war are all explored in a science - fiction setting. Online communities often discuss the different aspects of this story, from the characters to the overall message, which has contributed to its popularity.

Well - developed characters are also a key feature. In these stories, characters usually face extraordinary challenges in the science - fictional settings, which makes their growth and development interesting to follow. These characters can be scientists, astronauts, or ordinary people thrust into extraordinary situations. Another characteristic is the exploration of scientific ideas and their implications. They may deal with topics like time travel and its paradoxes, or the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. The settings in these stories are often vividly described, whether it's a far - flung galaxy or a post - apocalyptic Earth.

A story like 'Altered Carbon' has a large following online. It explores the concept of consciousness transfer and a future society where death is not as final as it is today. The Netflix adaptation also contributed to its popularity. 'Ancillary Justice' is another popular one. Its unique take on artificial intelligence and empire - building in a far - flung future has attracted many science fiction fans to read it online.