Science fiction | Lecturia

Philip K. Dick: The Golden Man

“The Golden Man” is a short story by Philip K. Dick, published in April 1954 in If magazine. In a post-war world, humans face a disturbing threat: mutants with genetic abilities that give them strange and dangerous powers. George Baines, a government agent, is tasked with tracking down and eliminating these beings. His mission takes him to a remote farm where Cris, a young man of extraordinary beauty with golden skin and hair, lives. His silent presence hides an incomprehensible power that will test Baines’ effectiveness and the system’s ability to control mutants.

Fredric Brown: Something Green

Something Green is a short story by Fredric Brown, published in 1951 as part of the collection Space on My Hands. It tells the story of McGarry, a space explorer stranded for years on Kruger III, a hostile planet dominated by shades of red and violet. He survives by traversing dangerous jungles, armed with a solar-powered pistol and accompanied by Dorothy, a small creature that rests on his shoulder and keeps him company. Isolated and clinging to the memory of Earth and the green that once filled it, McGarry dreams of finding parts to repair his ship and return to the only world he calls home.

Henry Kuttner & C. L. Moore: What You Need

“What You Need” is a science fiction short story written by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, first published in Astounding Science Fiction in October 1945. The story follows Tim Carmichael, a cynical and ambitious journalist who, intrigued by the display window of a mysterious shop on Park Avenue, steps into the enigmatic business of Peter Talley — a man who claims to have exactly what each person needs. Fascinated by this strange establishment, Carmichael becomes obsessed with uncovering its secret, unaware that he is about to confront a disturbing power that will put his fate to the test.

A. E. van Vogt: Black Destroyer

“Black Destroyer” is an influential science fiction short story by A. E. van Vogt, first published in Astounding Science-Fiction in July 1939. The story follows Coeurl, a fierce and intelligent alien creature roaming a desolate planet in search of sustenance. When a ship of human explorers lands, Coeurl detects a vital substance that awakens his insatiable hunger and triggers his predatory instincts. As he cunningly observes the humans, he prepares to seize any opportunity. Widely regarded as the beginning of the Golden Age of Science Fiction, the story is also recognized as one of the inspirations behind Ridley Scott’s film Alien.

Isaac Asimov: The Bicentennial Man

Synopsis: “The Bicentennial Man” is a philosophical science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov that won him the prestigious Hugo, Locus, and Nebula awards in 1977. The story follows Andrew Martin, a robot designed to perform domestic tasks for a human family. However, Andrew soon reveals creative abilities and exceptional reasoning, which earns him special … Read more

Roger Zelazny: A Rose for Ecclesiastes

“A Rose for Ecclesiastes” is a short story by Roger Zelazny, published in November 1963 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It tells the story of Gallinger, a brilliant poet and linguist from Earth who travels to Mars to study the culture of its ancient inhabitants. His extraordinary gift for languages makes him the first human to gain access to the sacred records of the Martians, a matriarchal society built on ancestral texts and traditions laden with symbolism and a somber philosophical background. Fascinated by this legacy, Gallinger enters into a cultural dialogue that will reveal to him an ancient prophecy.