Adda (The online magazine of new writing from around the globe): Read winning stories from the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
100 Great Short Stories: A collection of short story masterpieces from the world's finest storytellers
Ten Outstanding Short Stories to Read in 2025
The Zero Meter Diving Team by Jim Shepard: This story is about three brothers caught up in the horrific disaster that happened at Chernobyl on April 26, 1986. The startling consequences of the disaster make for a dramatic backdrop, as the brothers deal with the aftermath of the nuclear meltdown.
All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury: The story is set on Venus and centers on the children of those who have settled there.
They’re Made Out Of Meat by Terry Bisson: Aliens make a hilarious discovery.
The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K LeGuin: A story about the price of utopia.
There’s a Hole in the City by Richard Bowes: A story about grief, memory, and how a city absorbs collective trauma after tragedy.
Jackalope Wives by Ursula Vernon: A story about identity, freedom, and choosing who you become, told through folklore and transformation.
The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu: A story about family, memory, and how the things we make can carry deep emotional meaning.
The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer: A story about teamwork, problem-solving, and how underestimated helpers make a big difference.
Allamagoosa by Eric Frank Russell: A humorous story about misunderstanding, teamwork, and how small errors can lead to unexpected situations.
Exhalation by Ted Chiang: This story is based in a dystopian set-up where air is considered as the source of life.