Sci-Fi News and Reviews

Six Word Sci-Fi Stories

There is a legend that Ernest Hemingway once wrote a short story - a really, really short story. As the legend goes, he was challenged to write a full story in only six words. Hemingway supposedly called this story his best work. The full story is:

     "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

After reading this, I have to admit - it is really good! It would be difficult to better his effort. Undaunted by the quality of 'Papa's' work, ' Wired Magazine' has put forth their own challenge, asking some of the best current sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers to compose their own six word story. I went through the list and selected my top ten. I think the top three entries rival Hemingway's effort. So, without further ado, here is my list:

(#10) Don’t marry her. Buy a house. - Stephen R. Donaldson

(#9) Kirby had never eaten toes before. - Kevin Smith

(#8) The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly. - Orson Scott Card

(#7) Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time - Alan Moore

(#6) Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so. - Joss Whedon

(#5) Heaven falls. Details at eleven. - Robert Jordan
(note that Robert only used five words. If you have read his books, you would have been expecting about a thousand.)

(#4) To save humankind he died again. - Ben Bova

(#3) I’m your future, child. Don’t cry. - Stephen Baxter

(#2) It cost too much, staying human. - Bruce Sterling

And, my top choice from the list:

(#1) With bloody hands, I say good-bye. - Frank Miller

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Posted by Fred on October 26, 2006 8:00 AM
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