Science fiction | Lecturia

Philip K. Dick: The Eyes Have It

“The Eyes Have It” is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, published in June 1953 in Science Fiction Stories. The narrative follows a man who finds an abandoned book on public transportation. Reading it at home, he believes he has uncovered evidence of a conspiracy in which a race of alien beings, hiding among humans, is stealthily invading Earth. As his paranoia grows, the protagonist grapples with the uncertainty of whether to share what he has discovered or keep it secret.

Arthur C. Clarke: A Walk in the Dark

“A Walk in the Dark” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, first published in August 1950 in Thrilling Wonder Stories and later included in the anthology Reach for Tomorrow (1956). The story follows Robert Armstrong, a space technician who, after his vehicle breaks down, must walk several kilometers across a remote and inhospitable planet. The path, shrouded in absolute darkness, turns into a harrowing experience when the memory of a local legend about a creature lurking in the night begins to creep into his thoughts, causing logic to give way to suggestion.

Ray Bradbury: The City

“The City” is a short story by Ray Bradbury, published in July 1950 in Startling Stories and later included in The Illustrated Man (1951). On a distant planet, amid dark towers and empty streets, an ancient city seems immersed in an endless wait. Everything changes when a rocket from Earth lands nearby and a group of explorers ventures into its silent walls, unaware of the mystery surrounding them and the enigma hidden within its structures.

Isaac Asimov: Liar!

“Liar!” is a short story by Isaac Asimov, published in May 1941 in Astounding Science-Fiction and later included in the book I, Robot (1950). The story introduces the robot RB-34, nicknamed Herbie, who unexpectedly develops the ability to read human minds. This phenomenon unsettles the engineers at U.S. Robots, especially robopsychologist Susan Calvin, who set out to investigate the scope and possible consequences of this faculty. As the team examines the case, Herbie becomes an unprecedented challenge for robotic science and raises questions about privacy and the effects such a power could have on people.

Joanna Russ: When It Changed

Joanna Russ - Cuando las cosas cambiaron

“When It Changed” is a science fiction short story by Joanna Russ, published in 1972 in the anthology Again, Dangerous Visions and awarded the Nebula Prize in 1973. Set on the planet Whileaway, where women have lived without men for centuries, the story follows Janet and her wife, Katy, as they confront the unexpected arrival of a group of men from Earth. Through Janet’s perspective, the narrative explores everyday life in an all-female society and the unease caused by the newcomers, whose attitudes reflect a profoundly different worldview.

Philip K. Dick: The Pre-Persons

“The Pre-Persons” is a controversial short story by Philip K. Dick, published in October 1974 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Set in a dystopian future where abortion is legal up to the age of twelve, a boy flees when he sees the truck that collects unwanted children to take them to a state institution, where an algebra test determines whether or not they have a “soul.” Although his mother tries to calm him with legal arguments, the fear persists. In this tale, Dick presents a disturbing premise where the right to life and human dignity are subjected to bureaucratic and arbitrary criteria.