Asimov's Science Fiction

If you could replace your memories with better ones, would you? Consider this as Ray Nayler reads you his story “Catch a Tiger in the Snow.” Here our narrator meets a memory tailor who alters memories for paying customers seeking a past that better suits the person they want to be.

It’s the start of summer vacation for Mella, a student at New Oakland High, but instead of attending parties and hanging out with friends, she’s cleaning heron cages at a wildlife rescue as court-ordered community service. As the days roll on, Mella falls into a pleasant groove, but as a bad influence rears its head, will she be tempted into the same behavior that got her in trouble to begin with? Find out in “The Night Heron Rescue,” read and written by Alice Towey.

On the grounds of a derelict oil refinery southeast of Phoenix, Abe and Vera operate a nature park that reflects a world ravaged by climate change, where tourists don heat-resistant suits to walk among junk-metal statues of dinosaurs, superheroes, and recently-extinct animals such as polar bears and rhinos. While the couple take great care in educating visitors, their real work lies in removing co2 from the atmosphere using some of their park’s unique structures. This is “In the Forest of Mechanical Trees,” read and written by Steve Rasnic Tem.

In Asimov's latest story from Misha Lenau, a middle aged person finds themself longing to be someone—something—else, and, thanks to a bold new business franchise, endeavors to turn themself into a hairy, bloodsucking beast: El Chupacabra. But after a series of disappointing events, our protagonist wonders if they'll ever be happy. Will El Chupacabra finally become comfortable in their own skin? Find out in “Cryptid or Your Money Back,” read and written by the author.

Get a peek into Mariska Volochkova's past in "Going Deep," James Patrick Kelly's story printed in 2009 that gives a little background on our current tale by Jim, "Moon and Mars."

Robert is a scientist who has been working on an AI mobility system named Isaac, which he has been testing on his dementia-stricken father Hank. When Hank is discovered wrestling an alligator and acting less and less like the 103-year-old that he is, Robert begins to wonder if Hank’s adventurous streak will jeopardize Isaac’s rollout. Here is “Mere Flesh,” read and written by James Maxey.

When Evan’s partner leaves him after their move to rural Michigan, Evan finds himself alone, often drunk, and a little unsettled by his new home, with its flickering lights and loud thumps in the night. Will Evan discover the source of this supernatural phenomena? Find out in “Art Deco Farmhouse, Original Hardwood Floors, Slightly Haunted,” read and written by Alice Towey

Rupert is a young time traveler who figured his first trip to the past would be a breeze. He was only going back to Christmas 2020, after all, close enough to his present and the 2021 attack on the US capitol, which he intended to study. Despite the challenges by posed by a global pandemic, will Rupert complete his mission while adhering to the strict rules of time travel? Find out in “Last Thursday,” read and written by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

When her longtime crush Jake suddenly starts treating Becka like his girlfriend, she relishes the attention. But as time goes on, she realizes something isn’t quite right, almost as if the Jake she’s dating isn't the person she knows. Here is “Flipped,” read and written by Leah Cypess.

In Faith Merino’s story from our March/April 2024 issue, the women of the house band together to uncover the mysterious noises coming from the empty attic—noises that the father seemingly can’t hear. Please enjoy “There’s Nothing in the Attic” read by the author herself.

Embot is a time traveler sent from centuries in the future to narrate the life of Jane, a young woman trapped in an unhappy life. Forbidden from interfering in the thoughts or actions of its subjects, Embot can only watch as Jane takes the first, wary steps toward a second chance. But will it stick? Find out in “Embot’s Lament,” read and written by James Patrick Kelly.

In “Deep Blue Jump,” children as young as six harvest a narcotic, dream-inducing fruit, and any on-the-job mistakes or stolen product could be a death sentence. Find out whether newcomer Po & her friends can survive temptation and the harvesting conditions. Please enjoy “Deep Blue Jump,” read and written by Dean Whitlock.

Kim is a mutant who can control the mind of anyone she smells. She’s so powerful, she’s forced to endure therapy sessions with other mutants in lieu of jail time. Find out what happens when their doctor takes treatment a little too far in “Tilt,” read and written by Leslie What.

When Joseph catches a glimpse of his new neighbor Antonio, he can't help feel an immediate attraction. Antonio is tall, tanned, painfully handsome—and just happens to be a robot. But is romance possible in a world teetering on the brink of destruction? Find out in “Sexy Apocalypse Robot,” read and written by Sandra McDonald.

Aran’s first vacation—in basically forever—involves twenty-six gate-hops and a fun entanglement with a couple of friendly arms dealers. Any sex worker with half a brain peddles information, but this time the intel leads Aran down a windy path with clues from his home-world and everything he left behind. What’s a rent-boy to do? Find out in “Planetstuck,” read and written by Sam J. Miller.

For ex-schoolteacher Marisela Feddie, life under Phosian rule isn’t so bad. Or so it seems. After all, these four-armed alien overlords seem more interested in observing humanity’s quirks that carrying out its extinction. But are the Phosians really who they say they are? Find out in “Alien Housing,” read and written by Karen Heuler.

If you could virtually simulate any type of extraordinary life experience, would you go on a hike of Himalayan proportions, or maybe just a hot date? Here is the story of a man whose life changes upon making a far more mundane choice, and upends his perception of reality in the process. This is “Forty-Eight Minutes at the Trainview Cafe” read and written by M Bennardo.

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki’s “Destiny Delayed” is set in a futuristic uber-capitalist Nigeria where the wealthy ruling class has further deepened the inequality gap and found new metaphysical ways to exploit the poor. While purportedly impossible to deny, destiny can be delayed, perhaps indefinitely. Enjoy this bonus podcast for the spooky season, read by Amadin Ogbewe & written by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki!

Sam is the star host of an interplanetary travel program. Usually, Sam's adventures go quite smoothly—or at least they appear that way to viewers. Filming on Freyja, however, presents some unique challenges, such as killer plants that happen to be named after famous artists. Will Sam be in need of rescue or save the day when things go awry? Here is “Bonus Footage,” read and written by Marissa Lingen.