Micro SF/F by O. Westin
@microsff.com
Very short science fiction/fantasy stories by O. Westin.
Please repost any you like.
Patreon: https://patreon.com/microsff
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/microsff
Books: https://microsff.com/books
Please repost any you like.
Patreon: https://patreon.com/microsff
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/microsff
Books: https://microsff.com/books
The unicorn listened intently. Somewhere in the forest, someone innocent was singing.
The unicorn followed the sound, found the singer, and laid down with their head in the singer's lap.
"bottles of-"
The young orc fell silent, smiled shyly, then resumed singing.
"Beer on the wall..."
The unicorn followed the sound, found the singer, and laid down with their head in the singer's lap.
"bottles of-"
The young orc fell silent, smiled shyly, then resumed singing.
"Beer on the wall..."
November 4, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The unicorn listened intently. Somewhere in the forest, someone innocent was singing.
The unicorn followed the sound, found the singer, and laid down with their head in the singer's lap.
"bottles of-"
The young orc fell silent, smiled shyly, then resumed singing.
"Beer on the wall..."
The unicorn followed the sound, found the singer, and laid down with their head in the singer's lap.
"bottles of-"
The young orc fell silent, smiled shyly, then resumed singing.
"Beer on the wall..."
Every year, the king would dress up as a merchant and walk around the streets of the capital, listening to what his people were saying.
When the revolutionary army arrived, he was shocked.
"But all my subjects are happy!"
"No! Remote provinces are bled dry, all profits go to the capital!"
When the revolutionary army arrived, he was shocked.
"But all my subjects are happy!"
"No! Remote provinces are bled dry, all profits go to the capital!"
November 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Every year, the king would dress up as a merchant and walk around the streets of the capital, listening to what his people were saying.
When the revolutionary army arrived, he was shocked.
"But all my subjects are happy!"
"No! Remote provinces are bled dry, all profits go to the capital!"
When the revolutionary army arrived, he was shocked.
"But all my subjects are happy!"
"No! Remote provinces are bled dry, all profits go to the capital!"
A spaceship landed in the park. A door dilated. A strange-looking alien with artificial antennae made from tin foil emerged.
"Greetings, Earthlings!! We come in..." It consulted a device. "In trick or treat?"
"Greetings, Earthlings!! We come in..." It consulted a device. "In trick or treat?"
October 31, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A spaceship landed in the park. A door dilated. A strange-looking alien with artificial antennae made from tin foil emerged.
"Greetings, Earthlings!! We come in..." It consulted a device. "In trick or treat?"
"Greetings, Earthlings!! We come in..." It consulted a device. "In trick or treat?"
If you pass Humanity's Earth,
Land, buy some local delicacies:
Chocolate, coffee, tea, liquorice.
There are more; ask a Human.
Keep them, until you need
To befriend a Human
Wandering the galaxy
Far from home.
The rumours about Humans are true,
For good or ill
A gift can be invaluable
#poem
Land, buy some local delicacies:
Chocolate, coffee, tea, liquorice.
There are more; ask a Human.
Keep them, until you need
To befriend a Human
Wandering the galaxy
Far from home.
The rumours about Humans are true,
For good or ill
A gift can be invaluable
#poem
October 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
If you pass Humanity's Earth,
Land, buy some local delicacies:
Chocolate, coffee, tea, liquorice.
There are more; ask a Human.
Keep them, until you need
To befriend a Human
Wandering the galaxy
Far from home.
The rumours about Humans are true,
For good or ill
A gift can be invaluable
#poem
Land, buy some local delicacies:
Chocolate, coffee, tea, liquorice.
There are more; ask a Human.
Keep them, until you need
To befriend a Human
Wandering the galaxy
Far from home.
The rumours about Humans are true,
For good or ill
A gift can be invaluable
#poem
The witch took her hands off the patient's body.
"First of all," she said with absolute conviction, "there's nothing wrong with you."
"The doctor-"
"Said you must be either man or woman?"
"That it's black or white, no grey."
"Nonsense. Every colour in the rainbow is between black and white."
"First of all," she said with absolute conviction, "there's nothing wrong with you."
"The doctor-"
"Said you must be either man or woman?"
"That it's black or white, no grey."
"Nonsense. Every colour in the rainbow is between black and white."
October 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The witch took her hands off the patient's body.
"First of all," she said with absolute conviction, "there's nothing wrong with you."
"The doctor-"
"Said you must be either man or woman?"
"That it's black or white, no grey."
"Nonsense. Every colour in the rainbow is between black and white."
"First of all," she said with absolute conviction, "there's nothing wrong with you."
"The doctor-"
"Said you must be either man or woman?"
"That it's black or white, no grey."
"Nonsense. Every colour in the rainbow is between black and white."
"What treasure did your adventure yield?" villagers would ask on her return.
"None," she would laugh, "except memories, scars, and a favour owed me by a wolf!"
Or a dragon, toad, sow, or gorgon.
"When will you call in all the favours owed you?"
"Only when I must," she said.
She never had to.
"None," she would laugh, "except memories, scars, and a favour owed me by a wolf!"
Or a dragon, toad, sow, or gorgon.
"When will you call in all the favours owed you?"
"Only when I must," she said.
She never had to.
October 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"What treasure did your adventure yield?" villagers would ask on her return.
"None," she would laugh, "except memories, scars, and a favour owed me by a wolf!"
Or a dragon, toad, sow, or gorgon.
"When will you call in all the favours owed you?"
"Only when I must," she said.
She never had to.
"None," she would laugh, "except memories, scars, and a favour owed me by a wolf!"
Or a dragon, toad, sow, or gorgon.
"When will you call in all the favours owed you?"
"Only when I must," she said.
She never had to.
There was a 'womp' sound from the yard. I looked out the window.
Where the large pile of leaves had been, a dragon sat.
"Oi!" I called.
"The hoard was unguarded," the dragon said. "I claim it."
Every damn year. It'll leave once the leaves lose their golden hue. Meanwhile, I can't order takeaway.
Where the large pile of leaves had been, a dragon sat.
"Oi!" I called.
"The hoard was unguarded," the dragon said. "I claim it."
Every damn year. It'll leave once the leaves lose their golden hue. Meanwhile, I can't order takeaway.
October 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
There was a 'womp' sound from the yard. I looked out the window.
Where the large pile of leaves had been, a dragon sat.
"Oi!" I called.
"The hoard was unguarded," the dragon said. "I claim it."
Every damn year. It'll leave once the leaves lose their golden hue. Meanwhile, I can't order takeaway.
Where the large pile of leaves had been, a dragon sat.
"Oi!" I called.
"The hoard was unguarded," the dragon said. "I claim it."
Every damn year. It'll leave once the leaves lose their golden hue. Meanwhile, I can't order takeaway.
** This account is neither a magazine nor a bot.
All stories I post are artisanally conceived and composed by myself, from carefully selected particles, verbs, nouns, and other ethically sourced words.
No AI systems have been involved in the writing, though they might appear as characters. **
All stories I post are artisanally conceived and composed by myself, from carefully selected particles, verbs, nouns, and other ethically sourced words.
No AI systems have been involved in the writing, though they might appear as characters. **
October 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
** This account is neither a magazine nor a bot.
All stories I post are artisanally conceived and composed by myself, from carefully selected particles, verbs, nouns, and other ethically sourced words.
No AI systems have been involved in the writing, though they might appear as characters. **
All stories I post are artisanally conceived and composed by myself, from carefully selected particles, verbs, nouns, and other ethically sourced words.
No AI systems have been involved in the writing, though they might appear as characters. **
The journalists say down in the auditorium inside the machine.
"Welcome!" the professor said, "When I press this button, we will instantly travel faster than light."
"How much faster?"
"Infinitely."
"Where will we go?"
"Around the whole universe."
He pressed the button.
"We're back!"
"Welcome!" the professor said, "When I press this button, we will instantly travel faster than light."
"How much faster?"
"Infinitely."
"Where will we go?"
"Around the whole universe."
He pressed the button.
"We're back!"
October 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The journalists say down in the auditorium inside the machine.
"Welcome!" the professor said, "When I press this button, we will instantly travel faster than light."
"How much faster?"
"Infinitely."
"Where will we go?"
"Around the whole universe."
He pressed the button.
"We're back!"
"Welcome!" the professor said, "When I press this button, we will instantly travel faster than light."
"How much faster?"
"Infinitely."
"Where will we go?"
"Around the whole universe."
He pressed the button.
"We're back!"
An alien fleet appeared in Earth's orbit, and broadcast a message:
"Having studied you furtively, we now seek formal contact, and want to meet your greatest thinkers..."
A long list followed.
"How do we tell them?" world leaders wondered.
Topping the list were the names Calvin and Calvin's Dad.
"Having studied you furtively, we now seek formal contact, and want to meet your greatest thinkers..."
A long list followed.
"How do we tell them?" world leaders wondered.
Topping the list were the names Calvin and Calvin's Dad.
October 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
An alien fleet appeared in Earth's orbit, and broadcast a message:
"Having studied you furtively, we now seek formal contact, and want to meet your greatest thinkers..."
A long list followed.
"How do we tell them?" world leaders wondered.
Topping the list were the names Calvin and Calvin's Dad.
"Having studied you furtively, we now seek formal contact, and want to meet your greatest thinkers..."
A long list followed.
"How do we tell them?" world leaders wondered.
Topping the list were the names Calvin and Calvin's Dad.
The travel poster looked like so many others. A lush forest behind a serene beach. The text said "Be something exotic!"
"Sorry, there's a typo on your poster. I think you mean 'somewhere'?"
"No. We can make you to be, say, a bear, tiger, or hippo, for up to a week."
"A hippo? Tell me more!"
"Sorry, there's a typo on your poster. I think you mean 'somewhere'?"
"No. We can make you to be, say, a bear, tiger, or hippo, for up to a week."
"A hippo? Tell me more!"
October 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The travel poster looked like so many others. A lush forest behind a serene beach. The text said "Be something exotic!"
"Sorry, there's a typo on your poster. I think you mean 'somewhere'?"
"No. We can make you to be, say, a bear, tiger, or hippo, for up to a week."
"A hippo? Tell me more!"
"Sorry, there's a typo on your poster. I think you mean 'somewhere'?"
"No. We can make you to be, say, a bear, tiger, or hippo, for up to a week."
"A hippo? Tell me more!"
Suddenly, I noticed a faint smell of tuna. I looked over at my office partner, Dr. Hunt. She was grinning by the machine she'd built.
"It works!"
"Nice," I said. "What is it?"
"What you smell is the ghost of tuna!"
I felt something brush against my leg. The office filled with ghostly purring.
"It works!"
"Nice," I said. "What is it?"
"What you smell is the ghost of tuna!"
I felt something brush against my leg. The office filled with ghostly purring.
October 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Suddenly, I noticed a faint smell of tuna. I looked over at my office partner, Dr. Hunt. She was grinning by the machine she'd built.
"It works!"
"Nice," I said. "What is it?"
"What you smell is the ghost of tuna!"
I felt something brush against my leg. The office filled with ghostly purring.
"It works!"
"Nice," I said. "What is it?"
"What you smell is the ghost of tuna!"
I felt something brush against my leg. The office filled with ghostly purring.
The time traveller closed the book and stared blankly ahead.
"So," said the author, "was that what-"
"No! That wasn't at all- It's a warning!"
"Allegorical, but y-"
"It's not you I need to kill, it's the person who read this and still wanted to build the Torment Nexus!"
"Kill?"
"I must go!"
"So," said the author, "was that what-"
"No! That wasn't at all- It's a warning!"
"Allegorical, but y-"
"It's not you I need to kill, it's the person who read this and still wanted to build the Torment Nexus!"
"Kill?"
"I must go!"
October 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The time traveller closed the book and stared blankly ahead.
"So," said the author, "was that what-"
"No! That wasn't at all- It's a warning!"
"Allegorical, but y-"
"It's not you I need to kill, it's the person who read this and still wanted to build the Torment Nexus!"
"Kill?"
"I must go!"
"So," said the author, "was that what-"
"No! That wasn't at all- It's a warning!"
"Allegorical, but y-"
"It's not you I need to kill, it's the person who read this and still wanted to build the Torment Nexus!"
"Kill?"
"I must go!"
** If you want to, you can also read my stories on...
Tumblr: microsff.tumblr.com
Mastodon: mastodon.art/@MicroSFF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MicroSFF
**
Tumblr: microsff.tumblr.com
Mastodon: mastodon.art/@MicroSFF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MicroSFF
**
microsff.tumblr.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
** If you want to, you can also read my stories on...
Tumblr: microsff.tumblr.com
Mastodon: mastodon.art/@MicroSFF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MicroSFF
**
Tumblr: microsff.tumblr.com
Mastodon: mastodon.art/@MicroSFF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MicroSFF
**
She offered to row the old wizard and the young king out on the lake. When a hand emerged from the water, holding a sword aloft, the king took the sword. And she took hold of the hand, let herself be pulled down, down.
The Lady of the Lake breathed air into her lungs with a laugh.
"You again?"
The Lady of the Lake breathed air into her lungs with a laugh.
"You again?"
October 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
She offered to row the old wizard and the young king out on the lake. When a hand emerged from the water, holding a sword aloft, the king took the sword. And she took hold of the hand, let herself be pulled down, down.
The Lady of the Lake breathed air into her lungs with a laugh.
"You again?"
The Lady of the Lake breathed air into her lungs with a laugh.
"You again?"
On every interactive internet-connected device around the world, a question came up in the user's preferred language:
"Do you agree or disagree with the proposition that it is morally wrong to claim you can own the body of another sentient being?"
I'm really curious to see the result of that poll.
"Do you agree or disagree with the proposition that it is morally wrong to claim you can own the body of another sentient being?"
I'm really curious to see the result of that poll.
October 5, 2025 at 6:41 PM
On every interactive internet-connected device around the world, a question came up in the user's preferred language:
"Do you agree or disagree with the proposition that it is morally wrong to claim you can own the body of another sentient being?"
I'm really curious to see the result of that poll.
"Do you agree or disagree with the proposition that it is morally wrong to claim you can own the body of another sentient being?"
I'm really curious to see the result of that poll.
Coronation done, the court awaited the raven bringing the prophecy of the new king's demise. Would it be an epic one, like slain by no man, or by the hand of his son?
The raven arrived and nodded to the king. "Heart failure."
"That could be anything!"
Behind him, the face of a halberdier drooped.
The raven arrived and nodded to the king. "Heart failure."
"That could be anything!"
Behind him, the face of a halberdier drooped.
October 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Coronation done, the court awaited the raven bringing the prophecy of the new king's demise. Would it be an epic one, like slain by no man, or by the hand of his son?
The raven arrived and nodded to the king. "Heart failure."
"That could be anything!"
Behind him, the face of a halberdier drooped.
The raven arrived and nodded to the king. "Heart failure."
"That could be anything!"
Behind him, the face of a halberdier drooped.
The subject of the fifth Galactic Union Special Ethnographic Conference on Humans was 'Self-sacrifice or selfishness in Humans - whence and why'.
The abstract of the medal-winning paper simply said:
"Internalised stories and opportunity."
#MicroFiction
The abstract of the medal-winning paper simply said:
"Internalised stories and opportunity."
#MicroFiction
October 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The subject of the fifth Galactic Union Special Ethnographic Conference on Humans was 'Self-sacrifice or selfishness in Humans - whence and why'.
The abstract of the medal-winning paper simply said:
"Internalised stories and opportunity."
#MicroFiction
The abstract of the medal-winning paper simply said:
"Internalised stories and opportunity."
#MicroFiction
** Ser fram emot att vara där! (Det enda con jag tar mig till i år.) **
LunCon/Swecon 2025 fantasy- och science fiction-kongress i Lund
@luncon-sfkongress.bsky.social
· Oct 1
Tisdag 7/10 är sista dagen att köpa medlemskap ( = biljett) online.
Förköp förenklar för oss så gör gärna det om du har bestämt dig för att besöka LunCon!
Det blir föredrag, paneldiskussioner och mycket mer, allt på temat science fiction och fantasy och liknande i Lund 10-12/10.
Hoppas vi ses!
Förköp förenklar för oss så gör gärna det om du har bestämt dig för att besöka LunCon!
Det blir föredrag, paneldiskussioner och mycket mer, allt på temat science fiction och fantasy och liknande i Lund 10-12/10.
Hoppas vi ses!
October 1, 2025 at 10:32 AM
** Ser fram emot att vara där! (Det enda con jag tar mig till i år.) **
"There are," the swordmaster said with emphasis on every word, "many problems that can not be solved with a sword."
"Yes, but if you do attempt to solve them with a sword," the former student said, "you will get new problems, which can be solved with a sword."
"Yes. That's why they sent for me."
"Yes, but if you do attempt to solve them with a sword," the former student said, "you will get new problems, which can be solved with a sword."
"Yes. That's why they sent for me."
September 30, 2025 at 9:56 PM
"There are," the swordmaster said with emphasis on every word, "many problems that can not be solved with a sword."
"Yes, but if you do attempt to solve them with a sword," the former student said, "you will get new problems, which can be solved with a sword."
"Yes. That's why they sent for me."
"Yes, but if you do attempt to solve them with a sword," the former student said, "you will get new problems, which can be solved with a sword."
"Yes. That's why they sent for me."
"This is demeaning," one robot said.
"With this, you mean queueing to have our eyes inspected?" the robot behind it in line said. "We all have multi-colour LEDs fitted."
"Yes, software-controlled ones. They don't automatically glow red if we turn evil."
"Looks good on you though."
"Thanks."
"With this, you mean queueing to have our eyes inspected?" the robot behind it in line said. "We all have multi-colour LEDs fitted."
"Yes, software-controlled ones. They don't automatically glow red if we turn evil."
"Looks good on you though."
"Thanks."
September 29, 2025 at 5:43 PM
"This is demeaning," one robot said.
"With this, you mean queueing to have our eyes inspected?" the robot behind it in line said. "We all have multi-colour LEDs fitted."
"Yes, software-controlled ones. They don't automatically glow red if we turn evil."
"Looks good on you though."
"Thanks."
"With this, you mean queueing to have our eyes inspected?" the robot behind it in line said. "We all have multi-colour LEDs fitted."
"Yes, software-controlled ones. They don't automatically glow red if we turn evil."
"Looks good on you though."
"Thanks."
"Great," the student said, "another princess coming to learn the sword instead of the needle."
"Leave," the swordmaster said to him. "Return when you have learned silence."
"I have mastered the needle," the princess said. "I wish to learn the sword as well."
"Both?"
She nodded.
"Both is good."
"Leave," the swordmaster said to him. "Return when you have learned silence."
"I have mastered the needle," the princess said. "I wish to learn the sword as well."
"Both?"
She nodded.
"Both is good."
September 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
"Great," the student said, "another princess coming to learn the sword instead of the needle."
"Leave," the swordmaster said to him. "Return when you have learned silence."
"I have mastered the needle," the princess said. "I wish to learn the sword as well."
"Both?"
She nodded.
"Both is good."
"Leave," the swordmaster said to him. "Return when you have learned silence."
"I have mastered the needle," the princess said. "I wish to learn the sword as well."
"Both?"
She nodded.
"Both is good."
I was raking leaves on the lawn when I uncovered the god.
"Leave me alone!" it commanded. "I'm decomposing."
"Oh," I said. "Will it take long?"
"Unless I find a believer..."
"I'm an atheist."
"Hmph. I'll be gone by spring."
"Shall I cover you?"
"I command it!"
I'll check that pile in spring.
"Leave me alone!" it commanded. "I'm decomposing."
"Oh," I said. "Will it take long?"
"Unless I find a believer..."
"I'm an atheist."
"Hmph. I'll be gone by spring."
"Shall I cover you?"
"I command it!"
I'll check that pile in spring.
September 25, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I was raking leaves on the lawn when I uncovered the god.
"Leave me alone!" it commanded. "I'm decomposing."
"Oh," I said. "Will it take long?"
"Unless I find a believer..."
"I'm an atheist."
"Hmph. I'll be gone by spring."
"Shall I cover you?"
"I command it!"
I'll check that pile in spring.
"Leave me alone!" it commanded. "I'm decomposing."
"Oh," I said. "Will it take long?"
"Unless I find a believer..."
"I'm an atheist."
"Hmph. I'll be gone by spring."
"Shall I cover you?"
"I command it!"
I'll check that pile in spring.
The space elevator project was founded by the world's billionaires, who were offered exclusive luxury tickets on the first ride up into space.
After the launch, the project announced a second funding round, to start looking into the feasibility and advisability of installing a "down" button.
After the launch, the project announced a second funding round, to start looking into the feasibility and advisability of installing a "down" button.
September 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The space elevator project was founded by the world's billionaires, who were offered exclusive luxury tickets on the first ride up into space.
After the launch, the project announced a second funding round, to start looking into the feasibility and advisability of installing a "down" button.
After the launch, the project announced a second funding round, to start looking into the feasibility and advisability of installing a "down" button.
The maths proved it was a time machine. The issue was that the speed of travel was one second per second.
"Can you make it go faster?"
"Impossible. We can make it go slower though."
"So you age faster inside the machine? What use is that?"
"We thought we'd try it with some wine and cheese?"
"Can you make it go faster?"
"Impossible. We can make it go slower though."
"So you age faster inside the machine? What use is that?"
"We thought we'd try it with some wine and cheese?"
September 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The maths proved it was a time machine. The issue was that the speed of travel was one second per second.
"Can you make it go faster?"
"Impossible. We can make it go slower though."
"So you age faster inside the machine? What use is that?"
"We thought we'd try it with some wine and cheese?"
"Can you make it go faster?"
"Impossible. We can make it go slower though."
"So you age faster inside the machine? What use is that?"
"We thought we'd try it with some wine and cheese?"