Sandkings by George R.R. Martin
Do you hate bugs, especially if they are ants? I do. Do you hate vicious, cruel bullies? I do. Sandkings, a Hugo-winning and Nebula-winning novelette, will satisfy both hatreds in one pleasingly, creepily wrapped story.
I’m really starting to like novelettes. There’s just enough story for a really satisfying bite.
Sandkings at the Kindle Store for $1.59
After the Coup by John Scalzi
If you’ve ever had the chance to enjoy the Old Man’s War universe, then this bite-sized story is like a wonderful Lindt truffle. If you’ve never read any OMW book, this is a great taste of the humor and down-to-earth character of Scalzi’s series.
A short story; Mobipocket edition available from the link below; just hover over “Download” in the left column of the story page.
After the Coup at Tor.com for FREE
Down on the Farm by Charles Stross
For those of you who only know him from works like Accelerando and Halting State, Stross has a wonderful humorous series about “The Laundry”, where geeks do battle with the forces of evil and bureaucracy. Another Lindt truffle, and if you like this story, you’ll love The Atrocity Archives, available in Kindle edition.
Another short story, Mobipocket edition available at the link down below.
Down on the Farm at Tor.com for FREE
For Solo Cello, op.12 by Mary Robinette Kowal
If you’ve ever been a musician, you know there’s something obsessive about the profession. Nowhere is this more poignantly illustrated, I think, than this story by Mary Robinette Kowal, who won the 2008 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
This and four other stories available in Mobipocket format.
Five stories from Mary Robinette Kowal for FREE
When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth by Cory Doctorow
You may know him from Little Brother, and you may not. This is a fun post-apocalyptic tale for nerds, and I say that with all the joy of a former systems administrator who doesn’t like post-apocalyptic tales, but loved this one.
When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth from Feedbooks for FREE
My Boyfriend’s Name is Jello by Avram Davidson
This is the first Avram Davidson story I ever read, and also apparently the first Avram Davidson story ever published. It’s a delight of a tale, an amalgam of humorous weirdness that seems to be Davidson’s style. A rather short story, but a great one.
You can read all of this short story, plus some nice introductory material from Robert Silverberg and Grania Davis about the man, from the free sample from the Kindle store.
And who knows; maybe you’ll like it enough to buy the whole thing. I think it’s worth it.
Please say a small prayer for my car.
Spontaneous ∂erivation 