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
"Sure," said the rocket scientist, "we can send rockets to the moon."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
February 9, 2026 at 10:51 PM
"Sure," said the rocket scientist, "we can send rockets to the moon."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
"Sure," said the rocket scientist, "we can send rockets to the moon."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
February 9, 2026 at 10:41 PM
"Sure," said the rocket scientist, "we can send rockets to the moon."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."
"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"
"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."
The alien ambassador sidled through the museum in awe.
"You Humans have so much art! Do you have machines to make all paintings, poems, stories and songs?"
"We experimented with that, briefly," the guide said. "But humans are both cheaper and more creative. And, well, we will make art regardless."
"You Humans have so much art! Do you have machines to make all paintings, poems, stories and songs?"
"We experimented with that, briefly," the guide said. "But humans are both cheaper and more creative. And, well, we will make art regardless."
February 7, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The alien ambassador sidled through the museum in awe.
"You Humans have so much art! Do you have machines to make all paintings, poems, stories and songs?"
"We experimented with that, briefly," the guide said. "But humans are both cheaper and more creative. And, well, we will make art regardless."
"You Humans have so much art! Do you have machines to make all paintings, poems, stories and songs?"
"We experimented with that, briefly," the guide said. "But humans are both cheaper and more creative. And, well, we will make art regardless."
A gravelly voice spoke from under the mayor's bed.
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
February 5, 2026 at 6:25 PM
A gravelly voice spoke from under the mayor's bed.
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
"I hear you need a monster hunter."
The mayor sat up.
"What? Who?"
"I'm a monster. I hunt. What do you need hunted?"
"Beklo the Ogre, but..."
"I'll bring you its head."
"How..."
"I am a monster under the bed. If it sleeps, I can find it."
"I was told you're a monster," the hero said.
"So they say," said the monster.
"But you're beautiful!"
"Thank you."
"Have you always been a monster?"
"Heh. I was a young maiden. But I did something forbidden."
"And became a monster?"
"Got named a monster."
"What did you do?"
"I hit back."
"So they say," said the monster.
"But you're beautiful!"
"Thank you."
"Have you always been a monster?"
"Heh. I was a young maiden. But I did something forbidden."
"And became a monster?"
"Got named a monster."
"What did you do?"
"I hit back."
February 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM
"I was told you're a monster," the hero said.
"So they say," said the monster.
"But you're beautiful!"
"Thank you."
"Have you always been a monster?"
"Heh. I was a young maiden. But I did something forbidden."
"And became a monster?"
"Got named a monster."
"What did you do?"
"I hit back."
"So they say," said the monster.
"But you're beautiful!"
"Thank you."
"Have you always been a monster?"
"Heh. I was a young maiden. But I did something forbidden."
"And became a monster?"
"Got named a monster."
"What did you do?"
"I hit back."
"How about I kidnap the dragon," the knight said, "and you come to rescue them?"
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
February 3, 2026 at 7:31 PM
"How about I kidnap the dragon," the knight said, "and you come to rescue them?"
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
"It's still the same story," the princess said.
"No! We're all subverting-"
"I am tired of being in stories," the dragon said.
"What?"
"If you're not in a story, what even are you?"
"I'd like to find out."
Spaceship lands in the park. A door dilates. Alien comes out. Says to the gathering crowd:
"I've been all over the universe, seen everything. Can you entertain me?"
Someone in the crowd shouts: "Great clown Pagliacci is in town, jokes out of this world!"
Alien starts crying. "But Earthlings..."
"I've been all over the universe, seen everything. Can you entertain me?"
Someone in the crowd shouts: "Great clown Pagliacci is in town, jokes out of this world!"
Alien starts crying. "But Earthlings..."
February 2, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Spaceship lands in the park. A door dilates. Alien comes out. Says to the gathering crowd:
"I've been all over the universe, seen everything. Can you entertain me?"
Someone in the crowd shouts: "Great clown Pagliacci is in town, jokes out of this world!"
Alien starts crying. "But Earthlings..."
"I've been all over the universe, seen everything. Can you entertain me?"
Someone in the crowd shouts: "Great clown Pagliacci is in town, jokes out of this world!"
Alien starts crying. "But Earthlings..."
The message from the stars was very long and complex, but contained instructions how to decode and parse it incrementally.
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
February 1, 2026 at 10:07 PM
The message from the stars was very long and complex, but contained instructions how to decode and parse it incrementally.
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
There was an image, of a very cute furry creature. And a text, which loosely translated said:
"Send cat pics please!'
#MicroFiction
It was the kind of audacious idea that can make a fortune. Combine a widely loved concept with a just as widely loved item. What could go wrong?
Pre-opening sign-ups filled up in minutes.
In practice, though, they couldn't make the cat library work.
"They won't stay on the shelves."
Pre-opening sign-ups filled up in minutes.
In practice, though, they couldn't make the cat library work.
"They won't stay on the shelves."
January 30, 2026 at 9:22 PM
It was the kind of audacious idea that can make a fortune. Combine a widely loved concept with a just as widely loved item. What could go wrong?
Pre-opening sign-ups filled up in minutes.
In practice, though, they couldn't make the cat library work.
"They won't stay on the shelves."
Pre-opening sign-ups filled up in minutes.
In practice, though, they couldn't make the cat library work.
"They won't stay on the shelves."
** 2025 Wrapped - the traditional summary of my year. which also serves as an award eligibility post.
(Spoiler - I'm elibible for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award. I have been a finalist every year since 2023, and I hope you will consider nominating me this year too.)
microsff.com/2025-wrapped
**
(Spoiler - I'm elibible for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award. I have been a finalist every year since 2023, and I hope you will consider nominating me this year too.)
microsff.com/2025-wrapped
**
2025 Wrapped – Micro SF/F
microsff.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:55 PM
** 2025 Wrapped - the traditional summary of my year. which also serves as an award eligibility post.
(Spoiler - I'm elibible for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award. I have been a finalist every year since 2023, and I hope you will consider nominating me this year too.)
microsff.com/2025-wrapped
**
(Spoiler - I'm elibible for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award. I have been a finalist every year since 2023, and I hope you will consider nominating me this year too.)
microsff.com/2025-wrapped
**
"The Dark Lord has taken over our land. What do we do?"
"Learn from the goblins."
"What? Those useless little-"
"Takes skill to mask rebellion as incompetence."
"What?"
"They know His reign will end. For now, they persist and resist."
"Oh."
"Also: remember every moment of joy is a victory."
"Learn from the goblins."
"What? Those useless little-"
"Takes skill to mask rebellion as incompetence."
"What?"
"They know His reign will end. For now, they persist and resist."
"Oh."
"Also: remember every moment of joy is a victory."
January 27, 2026 at 4:42 PM
"The Dark Lord has taken over our land. What do we do?"
"Learn from the goblins."
"What? Those useless little-"
"Takes skill to mask rebellion as incompetence."
"What?"
"They know His reign will end. For now, they persist and resist."
"Oh."
"Also: remember every moment of joy is a victory."
"Learn from the goblins."
"What? Those useless little-"
"Takes skill to mask rebellion as incompetence."
"What?"
"They know His reign will end. For now, they persist and resist."
"Oh."
"Also: remember every moment of joy is a victory."
"The blood was only ever a means to an end," the vampire confessed in the interview.
"To what end?" the reporter asked.
"Blood carries vigor, life force, vital energy. That's what we feed on."
"So how do you get it, if not through blood?"
"These days, we make doom scrolling apps to drain it."
"To what end?" the reporter asked.
"Blood carries vigor, life force, vital energy. That's what we feed on."
"So how do you get it, if not through blood?"
"These days, we make doom scrolling apps to drain it."
January 24, 2026 at 10:52 AM
"The blood was only ever a means to an end," the vampire confessed in the interview.
"To what end?" the reporter asked.
"Blood carries vigor, life force, vital energy. That's what we feed on."
"So how do you get it, if not through blood?"
"These days, we make doom scrolling apps to drain it."
"To what end?" the reporter asked.
"Blood carries vigor, life force, vital energy. That's what we feed on."
"So how do you get it, if not through blood?"
"These days, we make doom scrolling apps to drain it."
"My husband complains about the cold," the man said. "Can you teach me a spell to keep him warm?"
"I can teach you to bind hair into a net to catch heat," the wizard said, "using arcane counting and a pair of fine wands."
After a while, the man said "Isn't this knitting?"
"This, too, it's magic."
"I can teach you to bind hair into a net to catch heat," the wizard said, "using arcane counting and a pair of fine wands."
After a while, the man said "Isn't this knitting?"
"This, too, it's magic."
January 23, 2026 at 4:54 PM
"My husband complains about the cold," the man said. "Can you teach me a spell to keep him warm?"
"I can teach you to bind hair into a net to catch heat," the wizard said, "using arcane counting and a pair of fine wands."
After a while, the man said "Isn't this knitting?"
"This, too, it's magic."
"I can teach you to bind hair into a net to catch heat," the wizard said, "using arcane counting and a pair of fine wands."
After a while, the man said "Isn't this knitting?"
"This, too, it's magic."
Dr. Dastard didn't say much during the meeting, but raised an occasional eyebrow.
"Intriguing," he said at last.
"Right? With our combined genius," the billionaire smirked, "we can rule the world!"
Dastard sighed and set off his DominationPlanEraser device.
"Memo to self: charge this again."
"Intriguing," he said at last.
"Right? With our combined genius," the billionaire smirked, "we can rule the world!"
Dastard sighed and set off his DominationPlanEraser device.
"Memo to self: charge this again."
January 22, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Dr. Dastard didn't say much during the meeting, but raised an occasional eyebrow.
"Intriguing," he said at last.
"Right? With our combined genius," the billionaire smirked, "we can rule the world!"
Dastard sighed and set off his DominationPlanEraser device.
"Memo to self: charge this again."
"Intriguing," he said at last.
"Right? With our combined genius," the billionaire smirked, "we can rule the world!"
Dastard sighed and set off his DominationPlanEraser device.
"Memo to self: charge this again."
"Is it true you live backwards in time?" the queen asked.
"Not yet, but it will be," Merlin replied. "And then, I will have."
"You speak in riddles. But you have seen the future? What will it bring?"
"Fanfic."
"Is that a spell? What does it do?"
"It will give you Lancelot."
"What is that?"
"Not yet, but it will be," Merlin replied. "And then, I will have."
"You speak in riddles. But you have seen the future? What will it bring?"
"Fanfic."
"Is that a spell? What does it do?"
"It will give you Lancelot."
"What is that?"
January 22, 2026 at 11:15 AM
"Is it true you live backwards in time?" the queen asked.
"Not yet, but it will be," Merlin replied. "And then, I will have."
"You speak in riddles. But you have seen the future? What will it bring?"
"Fanfic."
"Is that a spell? What does it do?"
"It will give you Lancelot."
"What is that?"
"Not yet, but it will be," Merlin replied. "And then, I will have."
"You speak in riddles. But you have seen the future? What will it bring?"
"Fanfic."
"Is that a spell? What does it do?"
"It will give you Lancelot."
"What is that?"
The princess left a note behind, explaining why she ran away.
"She disagrees with what she was taught," the queen said.
"Embroidery and such?" chuckled the king. "Classic."
"It's not needle-work she objects to. She likes that. She rejects the nobility of the nobility, and our right to rule."
"She disagrees with what she was taught," the queen said.
"Embroidery and such?" chuckled the king. "Classic."
"It's not needle-work she objects to. She likes that. She rejects the nobility of the nobility, and our right to rule."
January 20, 2026 at 6:33 PM
The princess left a note behind, explaining why she ran away.
"She disagrees with what she was taught," the queen said.
"Embroidery and such?" chuckled the king. "Classic."
"It's not needle-work she objects to. She likes that. She rejects the nobility of the nobility, and our right to rule."
"She disagrees with what she was taught," the queen said.
"Embroidery and such?" chuckled the king. "Classic."
"It's not needle-work she objects to. She likes that. She rejects the nobility of the nobility, and our right to rule."
"Right," the professor said.
A bubble formed over her head, with the word neatly written in uppercase letters.
"I invented this to make to easier for students with hearing issues."
A new bubble formed, with that sentence.
Then a third formed, with wobbly border and the text "Unfortunately..."
A bubble formed over her head, with the word neatly written in uppercase letters.
"I invented this to make to easier for students with hearing issues."
A new bubble formed, with that sentence.
Then a third formed, with wobbly border and the text "Unfortunately..."
January 17, 2026 at 4:09 PM
"Right," the professor said.
A bubble formed over her head, with the word neatly written in uppercase letters.
"I invented this to make to easier for students with hearing issues."
A new bubble formed, with that sentence.
Then a third formed, with wobbly border and the text "Unfortunately..."
A bubble formed over her head, with the word neatly written in uppercase letters.
"I invented this to make to easier for students with hearing issues."
A new bubble formed, with that sentence.
Then a third formed, with wobbly border and the text "Unfortunately..."
"Do you know where I can look up Frungal's Extractor?"
The magic school librarian sighed. "That grimoire is locked away."
"Why?"
"That spell extracts your anxieties and fears and turns them into a creature."
"Yes! To slay!"
"In theory. In practice, nobody can slay the new pet they created."
The magic school librarian sighed. "That grimoire is locked away."
"Why?"
"That spell extracts your anxieties and fears and turns them into a creature."
"Yes! To slay!"
"In theory. In practice, nobody can slay the new pet they created."
January 16, 2026 at 6:17 PM
"Do you know where I can look up Frungal's Extractor?"
The magic school librarian sighed. "That grimoire is locked away."
"Why?"
"That spell extracts your anxieties and fears and turns them into a creature."
"Yes! To slay!"
"In theory. In practice, nobody can slay the new pet they created."
The magic school librarian sighed. "That grimoire is locked away."
"Why?"
"That spell extracts your anxieties and fears and turns them into a creature."
"Yes! To slay!"
"In theory. In practice, nobody can slay the new pet they created."
Reposted by Micro SF/F by O. Westin
The comic "A Familiar Story" which I adapted from a story by @microsff.com is going to be published in Swedish in the magazine Portal by Seriefrämjandet, in their final issue (13-14)!
It's my first published comic, and it'll be available to purchase in bookshops in Sweden, I'm thrilled!
It's my first published comic, and it'll be available to purchase in bookshops in Sweden, I'm thrilled!
January 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
The comic "A Familiar Story" which I adapted from a story by @microsff.com is going to be published in Swedish in the magazine Portal by Seriefrämjandet, in their final issue (13-14)!
It's my first published comic, and it'll be available to purchase in bookshops in Sweden, I'm thrilled!
It's my first published comic, and it'll be available to purchase in bookshops in Sweden, I'm thrilled!
"So, do you have a quest," the witch asked as she finished dressing the last wound, "or doing general adventuring?"
"A quest. I seek a book."
"Ancient tome of forbidden lore?"
"No, one I read as a child."
"And this dragon didn't have it?"
"Alas."
"Have you asked a librarian?"
"They're scary!"
"A quest. I seek a book."
"Ancient tome of forbidden lore?"
"No, one I read as a child."
"And this dragon didn't have it?"
"Alas."
"Have you asked a librarian?"
"They're scary!"
January 15, 2026 at 8:57 PM
"So, do you have a quest," the witch asked as she finished dressing the last wound, "or doing general adventuring?"
"A quest. I seek a book."
"Ancient tome of forbidden lore?"
"No, one I read as a child."
"And this dragon didn't have it?"
"Alas."
"Have you asked a librarian?"
"They're scary!"
"A quest. I seek a book."
"Ancient tome of forbidden lore?"
"No, one I read as a child."
"And this dragon didn't have it?"
"Alas."
"Have you asked a librarian?"
"They're scary!"
Some asteroids were mined for minerals, methane or water, some served as truck stops for traffic between the outer and inner planets.
Some of those became destinations in their own right, like asteroid 52692. Covered in hydroponic tuber farms, it was the home of the famous Scalzi Space Potato.
Some of those became destinations in their own right, like asteroid 52692. Covered in hydroponic tuber farms, it was the home of the famous Scalzi Space Potato.
January 14, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Some asteroids were mined for minerals, methane or water, some served as truck stops for traffic between the outer and inner planets.
Some of those became destinations in their own right, like asteroid 52692. Covered in hydroponic tuber farms, it was the home of the famous Scalzi Space Potato.
Some of those became destinations in their own right, like asteroid 52692. Covered in hydroponic tuber farms, it was the home of the famous Scalzi Space Potato.
When the aliens made contact, we learned they had observed us for millennia.
"Yes. We installed the magic soak on your moon around your 500BCE."
"The what?"
"To drain the natural magic, so you would focus on technology instead. But we have turned it off now."
"Teach us!"
"Er..."
"You owe us!"
"Yes. We installed the magic soak on your moon around your 500BCE."
"The what?"
"To drain the natural magic, so you would focus on technology instead. But we have turned it off now."
"Teach us!"
"Er..."
"You owe us!"
January 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM
When the aliens made contact, we learned they had observed us for millennia.
"Yes. We installed the magic soak on your moon around your 500BCE."
"The what?"
"To drain the natural magic, so you would focus on technology instead. But we have turned it off now."
"Teach us!"
"Er..."
"You owe us!"
"Yes. We installed the magic soak on your moon around your 500BCE."
"The what?"
"To drain the natural magic, so you would focus on technology instead. But we have turned it off now."
"Teach us!"
"Er..."
"You owe us!"
"I yield!" the dragon cried at last.
It crawled away, leaving the way to its lair open to the knight.
"Princess!" he called out. "I've come to bring you back!"
A figure emerged from the cave, wearing an odd mix of armour parts, and carrying a pollaxe.
"Fuck you," the princess growled. "Make me!"
It crawled away, leaving the way to its lair open to the knight.
"Princess!" he called out. "I've come to bring you back!"
A figure emerged from the cave, wearing an odd mix of armour parts, and carrying a pollaxe.
"Fuck you," the princess growled. "Make me!"
January 11, 2026 at 6:42 PM
"I yield!" the dragon cried at last.
It crawled away, leaving the way to its lair open to the knight.
"Princess!" he called out. "I've come to bring you back!"
A figure emerged from the cave, wearing an odd mix of armour parts, and carrying a pollaxe.
"Fuck you," the princess growled. "Make me!"
It crawled away, leaving the way to its lair open to the knight.
"Princess!" he called out. "I've come to bring you back!"
A figure emerged from the cave, wearing an odd mix of armour parts, and carrying a pollaxe.
"Fuck you," the princess growled. "Make me!"
It leaves a mark on your soul, meeting a god. Most people never meet one before they die. A few saints, prophets, and other holies have more than one mark.
The witch couldn't help stare with her second sight.
"You've met them all? Many times?"
Her friend shrugged. "They say I'm a good listener."
The witch couldn't help stare with her second sight.
"You've met them all? Many times?"
Her friend shrugged. "They say I'm a good listener."
January 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM
It leaves a mark on your soul, meeting a god. Most people never meet one before they die. A few saints, prophets, and other holies have more than one mark.
The witch couldn't help stare with her second sight.
"You've met them all? Many times?"
Her friend shrugged. "They say I'm a good listener."
The witch couldn't help stare with her second sight.
"You've met them all? Many times?"
Her friend shrugged. "They say I'm a good listener."
"I wish I could do magic.'
"If you have no magic," said the witch, "it's because you've used it all."
"I've never done magic."
"There's one spell most can do instinctively - turn back time. It only works once, it's so big it burns up all your magic."
"I've never! If I could, I..."
"Would have?"
"If you have no magic," said the witch, "it's because you've used it all."
"I've never done magic."
"There's one spell most can do instinctively - turn back time. It only works once, it's so big it burns up all your magic."
"I've never! If I could, I..."
"Would have?"
January 8, 2026 at 4:24 PM
"I wish I could do magic.'
"If you have no magic," said the witch, "it's because you've used it all."
"I've never done magic."
"There's one spell most can do instinctively - turn back time. It only works once, it's so big it burns up all your magic."
"I've never! If I could, I..."
"Would have?"
"If you have no magic," said the witch, "it's because you've used it all."
"I've never done magic."
"There's one spell most can do instinctively - turn back time. It only works once, it's so big it burns up all your magic."
"I've never! If I could, I..."
"Would have?"