Short stories | Lecturia

Isaac Asimov: First Law

“First Law” is a short story by Isaac Asimov published in October 1956 in Fantastic Universe magazine. The story follows Mike Donovan, a veteran robotics engineer, who recounts an unusual situation that occurred on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. There, during a mining mission, an experimental robot model from the MA series exhibits unexpected behavior that seems to contradict the First Law of Robotics: “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.” The story presents an intriguing situation that challenges the fundamental principles of artificial intelligence.

Arthur C. Clarke: The Sentinel

“The Sentinel” is a science fiction short story by Arthur C. Clarke published in 1951 in the magazine Ten Story Fantasy, which served as inspiration for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. It tells the story of a group of lunar explorers led by a geologist who discover a mysterious pyramid-shaped structure on a mountain plateau in Mare Crisium. The expedition, initially focused on collecting minerals and studying the terrain, is interrupted by this unexpected find. The pyramid, which reflects sunlight with a metallic sheen, suggests that it is not a natural formation, arousing the team’s curiosity and sense of adventure.

Bob Shaw: Light of Other Days

“Light of Other Days” is a short story by Bob Shaw, published in August 1966 in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact. A couple in crisis travels to a rural area of Scotland, where slow glass panels are manufactured — a peculiar material that delays the passage of light and captures scenes with astonishing clarity. Amid a haunting and silent landscape, they visit a remote farm and meet the eccentric maker, who offers them a high-quality panel that has been storing light for ten years. However, what initially seems like a simple commercial transaction gradually reveals a deeper and more unsettling story.

Alice Glaser: The Tunnel Ahead

“The Tunnel Ahead” is a short story by Alice Glaser, published in November 1961 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In a claustrophobic, densely populated, and tightly controlled future, a family returns from the beach along an automated highway leading back to the city. Trapped inside a tiny car and surrounded by a multitude of other motorists, the parents and their children endure the discomfort of the journey as they approach the Tunnel—an unpredictable structure whose presence stirs anxiety and fear among travelers.

Arthur C. Clarke: The Possessed

“The Possessed” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in March 1953 in Dynamic Science Fiction. It recounts the odyssey of the Swarm, an alien lifeform that travels through stellar radiation storms in search of a planet where it can take refuge. Upon arriving at a young world, it explores the surface and examines its emerging forms of life, hoping to find a suitable host to ensure its survival. As it studies this primitive planet, the Swarm faces a critical decision that will shape its future in a vast and hostile universe.

Kurt Vonnegut: Harrison Bergeron

“Harrison Bergeron” is a dystopian short story by Kurt Vonnegut, published in 1961 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In the year 2081, thanks to Amendments 211, 212, and 213 of the Constitution, the United States government has imposed total equality among people through the use of devices that limit individuals’ physical and intellectual abilities. In this world, anyone who stands out as being more intelligent, attractive, or talented than others must wear devices that make them mediocre. However, not everyone agrees with these policies. One of them, Harrison Bergeron, an extraordinarily talented and strong young man, rebels against these restrictions.