Science fiction short stories
The people of Earth develop nuclear power. Naron, a long-lived Rigellian who serves as the Keeper of galactic records, notes this achievement and records humanity as having reached maturity. Until he discovers something else... Despite the seriousness of the subject, Asimov keeps a light touch in this very short story.
A 1-minute read.
A boy takes a national intelligence test. His parents wait by the phone. Not a word is wasted in this very short story, and the twist at the very end will catch you off guard.
A 3-minutes read.
There is a sweet little horror story that is only two sentences long:
“The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door…”
The shortest sci-fi story ever.
When a dark star pulls Earth away from the Sun, one isolated family struggles to survive in a frozen world. A Pail of Air is a gripping story packed with ideas that deals with a lot of themes, among them family, resilience, and hope.
A very very short read. I don't share Brown's pessimism about AI, but this story dates back to 1954 (!) and is a fun read.
I'd call that cosmic poetry.
In 2027 (I think), I’ll publish my autobiography, in English (I’m French but surprisingly, when it comes to writing, I often feel more comfortable in English – and also I might sell more copies if the book is in English...).
The strange and fascinating world of early 20th-century French Catholic writers.