sci fantasy horror short stories

You could check out 'The Colour Out of Space' by Lovecraft. It has a science - fiction feel with the strange meteorite and the resulting horror that befalls the area. 'The Man Who Collected Poe' by Robert Bloch is an interesting one. It combines Poe's horror - filled works into a sort of meta - horror story with some fantasy elements. 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Poe also has a touch of horror and the act of revenge in the story can be seen as a bit of a dark, fantastical element.

One common theme is the fear of the unknown. In these stories, whether it's an alien species in a science - fiction setting or a supernatural entity in a fantasy - horror blend, the unknown often creates a sense of dread. Another is the idea of power gone wrong. This could be a powerful magic in a fantasy - horror or a dangerous technology in a sci - horror.

Characteristics of horror sci - fi short stories include the blurring of boundaries. It could be between life and non - life, as in stories about robotic or alien entities that seem to have a life - like quality but are also very different. There is also the use of body horror, where the human body is distorted or violated in some way due to scientific experiments or alien influence. The stories often explore the darker side of scientific progress. For instance, genetic engineering gone wrong or the misuse of powerful energy sources. And there is a sense of paranoia, where the characters are constantly fearing the unseen and unknown threats that lurk in the sci - fi world.

A good horror sci - fi short story is 'The Thing on the Doorstep' by H.P. Lovecraft. It involves strange body - swapping and a sense of dread that pervades the narrative. 'The Jaunt' by Stephen King is also worth mentioning. It has a simple yet horrifying concept of teleportation with a deadly side - effect. Then there's 'The Colour Out of Space' by Lovecraft again. This story features an otherworldly color that brings destruction and madness to a rural area, blurring the lines between science and the supernatural.

Some great ones include 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut. It's set in a future society where everyone is made equal in the most extreme ways, which is both a sci - fi and a fantasy concept. 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka can also be seen as a kind of sci - fantasy. The idea of a man waking up as a giant insect is very much in the realm of the strange and the extraordinary. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman has elements of psychological sci - fantasy as it delves into the mind of a woman in a very unusual situation.

Some of the great ones could be 'The Paper Menagerie' by Ken Liu. It beautifully blends science fiction elements with a very touching family story. Another might be 'The Girl with All the Gifts' by M. R. Carey which has a unique take on a post - apocalyptic world with a scientific twist on zombies.

You can start by researching literary magazines or online platforms that accept submissions in this genre. Then, follow their specific submission guidelines carefully, which usually include formatting requirements and submission methods.

One common theme is the fear of the unknown. In many of these stories, like 'The Colour Out of Space', there's something from outer space or an alternate dimension that is beyond human understanding, and that scares us. Another is the danger of technology. For example, in 'The Veldt', the advanced technology that was meant to make life easier turns into a source of horror. Also, the idea of the breakdown of humanity, as seen in 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream', where the last humans are tortured by a malevolent machine.

Another theme is the danger of technology. When technology goes wrong or is misused, it can create a horror situation. In 'The Veldt', the advanced technology in the house that was supposed to make life easier for the family turns into a nightmare as it starts to harm them. Also, in stories where artificial intelligence becomes self - aware and turns against humanity, like in 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream', it shows the potential horror of technology.

One common theme is the fear of the unknown. In many sci - fi horror short stories, there are strange creatures or phenomena from outer space or other dimensions that humans don't understand. Another theme is the loss of control. For example, when technology goes wrong, like in stories where AI becomes self - aware and turns against humans. Isolation is also a theme, such as when characters are trapped in a spaceship or a desolate alien planet with a horror element.