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Top 50 Classic Short Stories

 

1 Dearest by H. Beam Piper

I'm convinced that I'm in direct-voice communication with the spirit of a young girl who was killed by Indians in this section about a hundred and seventy-five years ago.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 763 | Votes: 49 | Score: 8.72
Size: 36KB | 6,543 words | Posted:

2 Turnover Point by Alfred Coppel

Every era in history has had its Pop Ganlon's. Along in years and not successful and not caring much anyway. A matter of living out their years, following an obscure path to oblivion. It was that way in ancient Egypt, just as it will be when the Solar System shrinks to our size. And once in a while such men are given an opportunity to contribute to the society that has forgotten them....
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 418 | Votes: 39 | Score: 8.72
Size: 10KB | 1,991 words | Posted:

3 The Veteran by Chaon

An old veteran walks to the wall of remembrance and remembers. --- A short little piece that I had to get down tonight so it may be a bit rough but I hope people see it for what it says.
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Age Rating: Anybody | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Military
Downloads: 663 | Votes: 74 | Score: 8.70
Size: 6KB | 1,180 words | Posted:

4 The Helpful Hand of God by Tom Godwin

Can be very helpful indeed. But of course, it's long been known that God helps those who wisely help themselves....
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 531 | Votes: 39 | Score: 8.68
Size: 44KB | 8,199 words | Posted:

5 Or Your Money Back by Randall Garrett

There are lots of things that are considered perfectly acceptable. provided they don't work. And of course everyone knows they really don't, which is why they're acceptable....
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 480 | Votes: 31 | Score: 8.57
Size: 41KB | 7,881 words | Posted:

6 The Wrong Way - or Is It? by Ernest Bywater

A girl goes for a walk in the woods and gets lost, the searchers can't find her, but her destiny does. Some codes have been omitted so as not to give away too much, I promise there's nothing that should upset anyone as this is more a drama with some sex and not a stroke story.
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Age Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Time Travel
Tags: Science Fiction, Drama, Historical, Rags To Riches, Vignettes
Downloads: 2274 | Votes: 184 | Score: 8.55
Size: 24KB | 4,837 words | Posted:

7 A Thief's New Start by Ka Hmnd

A thieft was framed. He needed to clear his name or die. It's a fight for life.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Aliens, Violence
Downloads: 3227 | Votes: 239 | Score: 8.51
Size: 40KB | 8,044 words | Posted:

8 One Small Step by Ernest Bywater

A masters student does some research into the Apollo 11 moon landing and the claimed hoax. He has some startling discoveries to announce when he delivers his final paper in an Australian university.
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Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Aliens, Space, Politics, School, Vignettes
Downloads: 1205 | Votes: 104 | Score: 8.47
Size: 9KB | 1,814 words | Posted:

9 The Velvet Glove by Harry Harrison

SF writer and editor Harry Harrison explores a not too distant future where robots--particularly specialist robots who don't know their place--have quite a rough time of it. True, the Robot Equality Act had been passed--but so what?
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 670 | Votes: 40 | Score: 8.45
Size: 41KB | 7,816 words | Posted:

10 Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison

At one time,this was before the Robot Restriction Laws they'd even allowed them to make their own decisions It was a big, coffin shaped plywood box that looked like it weighed a ton. This brawny type just dumped it through the door of the police station and started away. I looked up from the blotter and shouted at the trucker. "What the hell is that?" "How should I know?" he said as he swung up into the cab. "I just deliver, I don't X-ray 'em. It came on the morning rocket from is all I know."
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 1728 | Votes: 145 | Score: 8.41
Size: 34KB | 6,793 words | Posted:

11 Doctor by Murray Leinster

Suddenly the biggest thing in the universe was the very tiniest.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 545 | Votes: 41 | Score: 8.36
Size: 49KB | 8,776 words | Posted:

12 Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert

It's hard to ferret out a gang of fanatics; it would, obviously, be even harder to spot a genetic line of dedicated men. But the problem Orne had was one step tougher than that!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 539 | Votes: 35 | Score: 8.30
Size: 45KB | 8,201 words | Posted:

13 Indirection by Everett B. Cole

The best way to keep a secret is to publish it in a quite unbelievable form--and insist that it is the truth.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 581 | Votes: 43 | Score: 8.29
Size: 40KB | 7,296 words | Posted:

14 Revenge of the Strong by Pars001

A Tale of revenge in the old west
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Age Rating: Older than 17
Tags: Crime, Drama, Violence, Historical, Western
Downloads: 3289 | Votes: 218 | Score: 8.27
Size: 29KB | 5,862 words | Posted:

15 A Question of Courage by Jesse F. Bone

I smelled the trouble the moment I stepped on the lift and took the long ride up the side of the "Lachesis." There was something wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it but
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 800 | Votes: 72 | Score: 8.27
Size: 45KB | 8,436 words | Posted:

16 Gambler's World by Keith Laumer

Once again it is up to Jamie Retief to save another diplomatic mission. Terra has recently signed a treaty with the planet Petreac. But revolution threatens and the Terrans must save the Nenni cast or their mission will end in abject failure.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 698 | Votes: 38 | Score: 8.23
Size: 42KB | 7,718 words | Posted:

17 Killing Me Softly by Pars001

When the lies outweigh the truth can revenge and death not follow far behind?
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Age Rating: Older than 17
Tags: Violence, War, Military, Assassins, Spies, Secret Agents, Travel
Downloads: 1832 | Votes: 126 | Score: 8.22
Size: 17KB | 3,368 words | Posted:

18 All Cats Are Gray by Andre Norton

Under normal conditions a whole person has a decided advantage over a handicapped one. But out in deep space the normal may be reversed--for humans at any rate.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 1164 | Votes: 93 | Score: 8.21
Size: 14KB | 2,731 words | Posted:

19 Cry From a Far Planet by Tom Godwin

The problem of separating the friends from the enemies was a major one in the conquest of space as many a dead spacer could have testified. A tough job when you could see an alien and judge appearances; far tougher when they were only whispers on the wind.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 578 | Votes: 35 | Score: 8.16
Size: 26KB | 4,848 words | Posted:

20 Beyond Lies the Wub by Phillip K. Dick

A ship presumably filling its hold ark-like for a long trip picks up a wub, a filthy creature supposedly tasty but also telepathic and intelligent.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 464 | Votes: 35 | Score: 8.16
Size: 14KB | 2,705 words | Posted:

21 A Mother's Love by Pars001

How far would you go for a lost loved one?
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Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Alternate Timeline, Violence, Spiritual, Religion, Assassins, Supernatural
Downloads: 1462 | Votes: 96 | Score: 8.15
Size: 6KB | 1,380 words | Posted:

22 Tight Squeeze by Dean Charles Ing

He knew the theory of repairing the gizmo all right. He had that nicely taped. But there was the little matter of threading a wire through a too-small hole while under zero-g, and working in a spacesuit!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 468 | Votes: 30 | Score: 8.15
Size: 33KB | 6,109 words | Posted:

23 Happy Harry by Lazlo Zalezac

For every beautiful person there is an ugly one. Shadow is ugly, real ugly. Men flinch, women scream, and children have nightmares after meeting him. Happy Harry doesn't believe that ugly is necessarily a life sentence to loneliness.
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Age Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Romance, Drama
Downloads: 672 | Votes: 46 | Score: 8.13
Size: 35KB | 6,745 words | Posted:

24 The C.I.A. Exposed: T.A.R.P. Cover Up by Ernest Bywater

Some smart people invent a way to dispose of rubbish, and a few other things. The CIA want their technology, and they won't hand it over. Things heat up. Set in Australia.
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Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Politics, Violence, Workplace, Rags To Riches
Downloads: 1883 | Votes: 137 | Score: 8.12
Size: 36KB | 7,122 words | Posted:

25 Human's Shame by Chaon

A little known species defends the Galaxy with an ultimate weapon.
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Age Rating: Anybody | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Aliens, Space
Downloads: 1194 | Votes: 82 | Score: 8.10
Size: 13KB | 2,499 words | Posted:

26 The Final Figure by Sam Merwin

Was it a wild talent that MacReedy had, or was it just prophetic genius that led him to figure out new, improved ordnance weapons and make models of them--before the armed forces had them? Whichever it was, MacReedy was both valuable and dangerous--and when the general saw MacReedy's final figure, the weapons following the mobile rocket A-missile launcher....
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 1087 | Votes: 76 | Score: 8.10
Size: 43KB | 7,701 words | Posted:

27 The Unnecessary Man by Randall Garrett

Sometimes an organizational setup grows, sets its ways, and becomes so traditional that once-necessary jobs become unnecessary. But it is sometimes quite hard to spot just which man is the unnecessary one. In this case. not the one you think!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 608 | Votes: 36 | Score: 8.07
Size: 43KB | 8,117 words | Posted:

28 The Next Logical Step by Benjamin William Bova

Ordinarily the military least wants to have the others know the final details of their war plans. But, logically, there would be times.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 691 | Votes: 63 | Score: 8.05
Size: 12KB | 2,185 words | Posted:

29 Rough Beast by Roger D. Aycock

The most dangerous, utterly vicious carnivorous animal the Galactics knew had escaped. to Earth! Because contact with Earth was forbidden, they knew little of Earth. which led to certain false conclusions.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 662 | Votes: 42 | Score: 8.05
Size: 21KB | 3,750 words | Posted:

30 The Chapter Ends by Poul Anderson

What will the end of the Earth's lifespan look like? What will happen to the humans left on the planet when it fades into obsolescence? These are just a few of the profound questions at the center of science fiction master Poul Anderson's thought-provoking tale The Chapter Ends.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 584 | Votes: 31 | Score: 8.02
Size: 47KB | 8,833 words | Posted:

31 Black Sidhe by Ka Hmnd

The son of one of the first Ashtear and a sidhe queen clone hunts ancient realm gates. When he finds one lost and forgotten he opens a gate. The realm holds dark sidhe and he scouts it until he feels a need to act and help a female slave. After that he discovers their plan to open a gate onto his world to attack.
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Age Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction
Downloads: 1778 | Votes: 126 | Score: 8.01
Size: 27KB | 5,407 words | Posted:

32 In Case of Fire by Randall Garrett

There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one. For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 619 | Votes: 57 | Score: 8.01
Size: 17KB | 3,195 words | Posted:

33 Survival Type by Jesse F. Bone

Score one or one million was not enough for the human race. It had to be all or nothing. with one man doing every bit of scoring!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 474 | Votes: 34 | Score: 8.01
Size: 47KB | 8,390 words | Posted:

34 The Ambulance Made Two Trips by Murray Leinster

If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 661 | Votes: 52 | Score: 7.99
Size: 43KB | 7,893 words | Posted:

35 Summer Snow Storm by Stephen Marlowe

Snow in summer is of course impossible. Any weather expert will tell you so. Weather Bureau Chief Botts was certain no such absurdity could occur. And he would have been right except for one thing. It snowed that summer.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 391 | Votes: 30 | Score: 7.99
Size: 25KB | 4,527 words | Posted:

36 A World by the Tale by Randall Garrett

This is about the best-hated author on Earth. Who was necessarily pampered and petted because of his crime against humanity....
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 355 | Votes: 35 | Score: 7.98
Size: 16KB | 3,014 words | Posted:

37 The Plague by Teddy Keller

Suppose a strictly one hundred per cent American plague showed up.... One that attacked only people within the political borders of the United States!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 409 | Votes: 47 | Score: 7.97
Size: 25KB | 4,587 words | Posted:

38 Tiger Fleet by Westernman

Jason started out as a farm boy and ends up owning a fleet of spaceships. This is his story.
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Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Aliens, Space, Pirates
Downloads: 3248 | Votes: 282 | Score: 7.95
Size: 42KB | 8,510 words | Posted:

39 King's Walk by Ka Hmnd

Being a minor mage and a constable in one of the most difficult zones on the planet means I see a lot. There are no other mages with the constables so I get called for many cases. Sometimes to recreate a crime and others to help with surveillance. Just being a constable on the King's Walk is dangerous. Being a mage constable means everyone knows me and I am always a target for those that hunt us.
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Age Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction
Downloads: 2896 | Votes: 171 | Score: 7.95
Size: 21KB | 4,224 words | Posted:

40 The Sword by Frank Quattrocchi

There were but three days in which to decipher the most cryptic message ever delivered to earth.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 797 | Votes: 66 | Score: 7.95
Size: 21KB | 3,817 words | Posted:

41 The Defenders by Phillip K. Dick

He knew what she was thinking. Once in the very first weeks of the war, before everyone had been evacuated from the surface, they had seen a hospital train discharging the wounded, people who had been showered with sleet. He remembered the way they had looked, the expression on their faces, or as much of their faces as was left. It had not been a pleasant sight. There had been a lot of that at first, in the early days before the transfer to undersurface was complete.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 556 | Votes: 33 | Score: 7.95
Size: 47KB | 8,686 words | Posted:

42 The Nothing Equation by Tom Godwin

The space ships were miracles of power and precision; the men who manned them, rich in endurance and courage. Every detail had been checked and double checked; every detail except--
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 847 | Votes: 55 | Score: 7.94
Size: 15KB | 2,942 words | Posted:

43 Spillthrough by Daniel F. Galouye

Ships switching from hyper to normal space had to do it in a micro-second--if the crews were to live. But it would take Brad suicidal minutes!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 442 | Votes: 35 | Score: 7.94
Size: 49KB | 8,976 words | Posted:

44 Consignment by Alan Edward Nourse

In the jungle the vicious man-killer is king, but what chance would a tiger have in the Times Square traffic.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 342 | Votes: 30 | Score: 7.94
Size: 21KB | 3,991 words | Posted:

45 The Measure of a Man by Randall Garrett

What is desirable is not always necessary, while that which is necessary may be most undesirable. Perhaps the measure of a man is the ability to tell one from the other. and act on it.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 486 | Votes: 39 | Score: 7.92
Size: 22KB | 4,189 words | Posted:

46 The Dwindling Years by Lester Del Rey

He didn't expect to be last-but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 444 | Votes: 30 | Score: 7.92
Size: 30KB | 5,701 words | Posted:

47 Cum Grano Salis by Randall Garrett

Just because a man can do something others can't does not, unfortunately, mean he knows how to do it. One man could eat the native fruit and live. but how?
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 464 | Votes: 30 | Score: 7.92
Size: 45KB | 8,324 words | Posted:

48 The Mississippi Saucer by Frank Belknap Long

Something of the wonder that must have come to men seeking magic in the sky in days long vanished.
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 506 | Votes: 37 | Score: 7.90
Size: 31KB | 5,880 words | Posted:

49 The Draw by Jerome Bixby

Stories of the old West were filled with bad men who lived by the speed of their gun hand. Well, meet Buck Tarrant, who could outdraw them all. His secret: he didn't even have to reach for his weapon....
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 917 | Votes: 60 | Score: 7.89
Size: 36KB | 7,266 words | Posted:

50 Lex by W. T. Haggert

Nothing in the world could be happier and mere serene than a man who loves his work--but what happens when it loves him back?
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Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Science Fiction, Novel-Classic
Downloads: 444 | Votes: 44 | Score: 7.89
Size: 41KB | 7,775 words | Posted:
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