Science fiction | Lecturia

Ray Bradbury: All Summer in a Day

All Summer in a Day is a short story by Ray Bradbury, published in March 1954 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The story is set on Venus, where it rains constantly, and the sun only appears for one hour every seven years. In an underground school, a group of children anxiously await that unique moment. However, not all of them will be able to experience the event similarly. A story in which Bradbury uses science fiction to capture the harsh reality of cruelty and bullying in childhood.

Arthur C. Clarke: Superiority

“Superiority” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in August 1951 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. As a court statement, the story tells how a technologically superior civilization suffers a crushing defeat in an intergalactic war. The commander-in-chief’s account explains how a theoretical scientist’s obsession with developing increasingly advanced weapons led them to succumb to a more backward civilization. With an ironic tone, Clarke constructs a story about the risks of unthinkingly relying on innovation and shows how excessive confidence in progress can lead to collapse.

Ray Bradbury: Bright Phoenix

Bright Phoenix is a story by Ray Bradbury, written in 1947 and published in 1963 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. This story is considered the seed of Bradbury’s most famous novel, Fahrenheit 451. Set in Green Town, the story begins when the quiet library routine is interrupted by Jonathan Barnes, the Chief Censor, who arrives to confiscate and destroy books under the pretext of protecting society. Tom, the librarian, accompanied by a group of regular readers, responds with silent but firm resistance, transforming the library into a symbol of intellectual struggle against authoritarianism.

Philip K. Dick: We Can Remember It For You Wholesale

In “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” Philip K. Dick explores the limits of reality and identity through the story of Douglas Quail, an ordinary man who longs for an extraordinary life. Tired of his monotonous existence, Quail buys implanted memories of a trip to Mars. However, when the memories emerge, Quail discovers that his life may not be as ordinary as he thought. This story, which inspired the movie Total Recall, raises profound questions about memory, perception, and the nature of reality.

Harlan Ellison: “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman

“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman is a short story by Harlan Ellison, published in December 1965 in Galaxy Magazine, and winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards in 1966. Set in a society obsessed with punctuality and the control of time, the story follows the Harlequin, an eccentric rebel who challenges the rigid system imposed by the Time Keeper, also known as Mr. Tick-Tock. Through his jokes and chaotic acts, the Harlequin upsets the established order and defies the rules of a world where tardiness is severely punished. The narrative combines humor and social criticism and explores the consequences of disobedience in a totalitarian system.

Isaac Asimov: The Ultimate Crime

The Ultimate Crime (1976) is a story by Isaac Asimov that is part of More Tales of the Black Widowers. The story takes place during one of the monthly dinners of the exclusive Black Widowers Club, where the conversation revolves around Sherlock Holmes and his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. A guest, a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, poses an intriguing literary conundrum related to Moriarty’s fictional treatise entitled The Dynamics of an Asteroid. The evening becomes a brilliant exchange of ideas where club members explore theories connecting science, literature, and the criminal mind, revealing the group’s fascinating collective ingenuity.