The Sci-Fi TV channel has posted a large collection of first-rate science fiction short stories, free for the clicking. Includes some classic stories by prominent authors. Such as Norman Spinrad's "Carcinoma Angels". I read it first when I was twelve; it took my breath away. And it indicated that I had no future as a fiction writer as long as I would have to compete with stories like this.

Thirty-six years later it holds up superbly.

To me, the key issue for a good short story is the ending. It's not all that hard to give the main character an interesting problem. But the trick is how the author resolves the problem. Every aspiring author should see how Spinrad did it here.

Comments

[Kyle]

Too bad they dont seem to want to film any of the many thousands of good old scifi stories. Instead they make those awful creature of the week horror movies. At least they have their friday night line up. My opinion of the head of programming at SCifi is rather dim.

[Kyle]

Just another thought, Spinrad also had a big effect on me, but it was his book Agent of Chaos. It is a book that got me thinking about things like politics and social change.

[Paul Brewer]

Any channel that promotes R.A. Lafferty's work is OK with me.