Science fiction is the literature of "what if?" — stories that imagine future technologies, alien worlds, time travel, and the consequences of scientific discovery. The genre splits into two broad traditions: hard science fiction, grounded in real scientific principles (Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov), and soft science fiction, which explores how technology reshapes human society and identity (H.G. Wells, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell).

From the earliest speculative tales of Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World (1666) to the golden age masters like Ray Bradbury and Philip K. Dick, science fiction has consistently anticipated real-world breakthroughs — submarines, space travel, artificial intelligence — while warning us about the human cost of unchecked power.

Explore our collection of classic science fiction stories, novels, and novellas, all available to read online for free.

Science Fiction Short Stories

The Veldt

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

The Variable Man

The Variable Man by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

A Little Journey

A Little Journey by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

Mr. Spaceship

Mr. Spaceship by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

Harrison Bergeron

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Zero Hour

Zero Hour by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

Second Variety

Second Variety by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

A Martian Odyssey

A Martian Odyssey by Stanley Weinbaum
Stanley Weinbaum

The Fight of the Good Ship Clarissa

The Fight of the Good Ship Clarissa by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

Adjustment Team

Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

It's a Good Life

It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby
Jerome Bixby

In the Year 2889

In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne
Jules Verne

Pillar of Fire

Pillar of Fire by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

The Defenders

The Defenders by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

The Hanging Stranger

The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

Asleep in Armageddon

Asleep in Armageddon by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

Beyond the Door

Beyond the Door by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

The Empire of the Ants

The Empire of the Ants by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

2 B R 0 2 B

2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

The Golden Man

The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

All Cats Are Gray

All Cats Are Gray by Andre Norton
Andre Norton

Defense Mech

Defense Mech by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

Tony and the Beetles

Tony and the Beetles by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick

Pygmalion's Spectacles

Pygmalion's Spectacles by Stanley Weinbaum
Stanley Weinbaum

Science Fiction Novels

The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

The Time Machine

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Jules Verne

The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley

1984

1984 by George Orwell
George Orwell

Brave New World

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley

A Journey to the Center of the Earth

A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Jules Verne

Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Jules Verne

The Island of Doctor Moreau

The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

A Princess of Mars

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs

Animal Farm

Animal Farm by George Orwell
George Orwell

Youth

Youth by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov

The Land That Time Forgot

The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs

The First Men in the Moon

The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

The Blazing World

The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
Margaret Cavendish

The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
Jules Verne

The Sleeper Awakes

The Sleeper Awakes by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

Science Fiction Novellas

The Machine Stops

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster
E.M. Forster

Anthem

Anthem by Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand

The Scarlet Plague

The Scarlet Plague by Jack London
Jack London

A Modern Utopia

A Modern Utopia by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells

Dystopian Science Fiction

Dystopian fiction imagines futures where oppressive governments, unchecked technology, or societal collapse have stripped away individual freedoms. These cautionary tales remain as relevant today as when they were written. Explore our full Dystopian Stories collection.

1984

1984 by George Orwell
George Orwell

Brave New World

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley

Harrison Bergeron

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

The Machine Stops

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster
E.M. Forster

Anthem

Anthem by Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand

The Scarlet Plague

The Scarlet Plague by Jack London
Jack London