Past Futures, Present Discoveries

Vintage Science Fiction, Free to Read

We curate and enhance the golden age of science fiction, making its greatest works accessible, understandable, and a genuine pleasure to read for a new generation.

4170 public-domain titles · 1378 authors

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Brian Kelly, the creator of SF Supernova

A labour of love

Hello, I’m Brian.

SF Supernova isn’t a startup or a content farm, it’s one person who fell for the golden age of science fiction as a boy in Clydebank and never fell out of it. Every one of these 4170 titles was rescued from obscurity, dressed back up in its cover art, and given a way in, so you can wander and get lost.

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Guided Reading Journey

We Are Not Alone

Six golden-age stories on the oldest question: what happens when we meet the other?

6 stops · hand-ordered, narrated

Begin the journey →

From the archive The Dispatch: Welcome to the archive A short note from Brian — what I've fallen back in love with this week. Read →

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Every one of these titles is hand-tagged. Pick a signal and see what comes through.

Social SF Space Opera First Contact Fantasy Adventure Hard SF Horror Juvenile Colonization Psychic Powers Dystopia Post-Apocalyptic

Cover of Zurk by Richard O. Lewis

Richard O. Lewis · 1941

Artificial IntelligenceSpace Opera

Cover of "Shadrach" by Nelson S. Bond

Nelson S. Bond · 1941

ColonizationSpace Opera

Cover of 4-1/2B, Eros by Malcolm Jameson

Malcolm Jameson · 1941

ColonizationSpace Opera

A Bad Town for Spacemen

Cover of A Bad Town for Spacemen by Robert Scott

A Bad Town for Spacemen

Robert Scott · 1962

A Coffin for Jacob

Cover of A Coffin for Jacob by Edward W. Ludwig

A Coffin for Jacob

Edward W. Ludwig · 1956

A Columbus of Space

Cover of A Columbus of Space by Garrett Putman Serviss

A Columbus of Space

Garrett Putman Serviss · 1911

4 hr 8 min read

First ContactSpace Opera

A Fine Day for Dying

Cover of A Fine Day for Dying by John Martin

A Fine Day for Dying

John Martin · 1952

A Great Day for the Irish

Cover of A Great Day for the Irish by Alice L. Hopf

A Great Day for the Irish

Alice L. Hopf · 1960

All Space Opera →

"Phone Me in Central Park"

Cover of "Phone Me in Central Park" by James V. McConnell

"Phone Me in Central Park"

James V. McConnell · 1954

First ContactPost-Apocalyptic

"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?"

Cover of "Hey Ma, Where's Willie?" by I. M. Bukstein

"Hey Ma, Where's Willie?"

I. M. Bukstein · 1952

"To Invade New York...."

Cover of "To Invade New York...." by Irwin Lewis

"To Invade New York...."

Irwin Lewis · 1955

First ContactMilitary SF

Cover of 30-day wonder by Richard Wilson

Richard Wilson · 1960

4 hr 33 min read

First ContactSocial SF

A Bad Day for Vermin

Cover of A Bad Day for Vermin by Keith Laumer

A Bad Day for Vermin

Keith Laumer · 1964

A City Near Centaurus

Cover of A City Near Centaurus by William R. Doede

A City Near Centaurus

William R. Doede · 1962

ColonizationFirst Contact

A Columbus of Space

Cover of A Columbus of Space by Garrett Putman Serviss

A Columbus of Space

Garrett Putman Serviss · 1911

4 hr 8 min read

First ContactSpace Opera

A Gift For Terra

Cover of A Gift For Terra by Fox B. Holden

A Gift For Terra

Fox B. Holden · 1954

All First Contact →

Cover of A Double Story by George MacDonald

George MacDonald · 1875

2 hr 1 min read

A Dreamer's Tales

Cover of A Dreamer's Tales by Lord Dunsany

A Dreamer's Tales

Lord Dunsany · 1910

2 hr 2 min read

A Dreamer's Tales

Cover of A Dreamer's Tales by Lord Dunsany

A Dreamer's Tales

Lord Dunsany · 1910

1 hr 58 min read

A Midnight Fantasy

Cover of A Midnight Fantasy by Thomas Bailey Aldrich

A Midnight Fantasy

Thomas Bailey Aldrich · 1873

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Cover of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare · 1600

1 hr 55 min read

A Prisoner in Fairyland (The Book That 'Uncle Paul' Wrote)

Cover of A Prisoner in Fairyland (The Book That 'Uncle Paul' Wrote) by Algernon Blackwood

A Prisoner in Fairyland (The Book That 'Uncle Paul' Wrote)

Algernon Blackwood · 1913

A Vision of Venus; Or, A Midsummer-Night's Nightmare

Cover of A Vision of Venus; Or, A Midsummer-Night's Nightmare by Harry Pleon

A Vision of Venus; Or, A Midsummer-Night's Nightmare

Harry Pleon · 1893

A Witch Shall Be Born

Cover of A Witch Shall Be Born by Robert E. Howard

A Witch Shall Be Born

Robert E. Howard · 1934

1 hr 2 min read

All Fantasy →

A Choice of Miracles

Cover of A Choice of Miracles by James A. Cox

A Choice of Miracles

James A. Cox · 1959

A Town Is Drowning

Cover of A Town Is Drowning by Frederik Pohl

A Town Is Drowning

C. M. Kornbluth & Frederik Pohl · 1955

3 hr 12 min read

A brother to dragons, and other old-time tales

Cover of A brother to dragons, and other old-time tales by Amélie Rives

A brother to dragons, and other old-time tales

Amélie Rives · 1888

2 hr 17 min read

Cover of Air Men o' War by Boyd Cable

Boyd Cable · 1919

3 hr 26 min read

Cover of Albrecht by Arlo Bates

Arlo Bates · 1890

3 hr 16 min read

Army Boys in the French Trenches; Or, Hand to Hand Fighting with the Enemy

Cover of Army Boys in the French Trenches; Or, Hand to Hand Fighting with the Enemy by Homer Randall

Army Boys in the French Trenches; Or, Hand to Hand Fighting with the Enemy

Homer Randall · 1919

3 hr 10 min read

Cover of B. C. 30,000 by S. P. Meek

S. P. Meek · 1930

Beyond the Fearful Forest

Cover of Beyond the Fearful Forest by Robert W. Krepps

Beyond the Fearful Forest

Robert W. Krepps · 1951

1 hr 21 min read

All Adventure →

A Feast of Demons

Cover of A Feast of Demons by Joseph Samachson

A Feast of Demons

Joseph Samachson · 1958

20.000 Mijlen onder Zee: Oostelijk Halfrond

Cover of 20.000 Mijlen onder Zee: Oostelijk Halfrond by Jules Verne

20.000 Mijlen onder Zee: Oostelijk Halfrond

Jules Verne · 1870

4 hr 9 min read

20.000 Mijlen onder Zee: Westelijk Halfrond

Cover of 20.000 Mijlen onder Zee: Westelijk Halfrond by Jules Verne

20.000 Mijlen onder Zee: Westelijk Halfrond

Jules Verne · 1870

4 hr 44 min read

30 Strange Stories

Cover of 30 Strange Stories by H. G. Wells

30 Strange Stories

H. G. Wells · 1897

Hard SFSocial SF

Cover of A Fine Fix by Ray C. Noll

Ray C. Noll · 1957

A Journey into the Interior of the Earth

Cover of A Journey into the Interior of the Earth by Jules Verne

A Journey into the Interior of the Earth

Jules Verne · 1864

Hard SFLost World

A Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Cover of A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

A Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Jules Verne · 1871

Hard SFLost World

Cover of A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber

Fritz Leiber · 1951

Hard SFPost-Apocalyptic

All Hard SF →

A Book of Ghosts

Cover of A Book of Ghosts by S. Baring-Gould

A Book of Ghosts

S. Baring-Gould · 1863

A Son of Perdition: An Occult Romance

Cover of A Son of Perdition: An Occult Romance by Fergus Hume

A Son of Perdition: An Occult Romance

Fergus Hume · 1912

A Strange Story, Complete

Cover of A Strange Story, Complete by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton

A Strange Story, Complete

Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton · 1862

A Strange Story, Volume 04

Cover of A Strange Story, Volume 04 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton

A Strange Story, Volume 04

Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton · 1862

1 hr 10 min read

A Strange Story, Volume 05

Cover of A Strange Story, Volume 05 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton

A Strange Story, Volume 05

Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton · 1862

1 hr 20 min read

A Strange Story, Volume 06

Cover of A Strange Story, Volume 06 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton

A Strange Story, Volume 06

Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton · 1862

A Strange Story, Volume 08

Cover of A Strange Story, Volume 08 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton

A Strange Story, Volume 08

Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton · 1862

1 hr 36 min read

An Art Shop in Greenwich Village

Cover of An Art Shop in Greenwich Village by Ray Cummings

An Art Shop in Greenwich Village

Ray Cummings · 1920

All Horror →

Cover of A flower book by Eden Coybee

Eden Coybee · 1901

Adventures in Toyland; What the Marionette Told Molly

Cover of Adventures in Toyland; What the Marionette Told Molly by Edith King Hall

Adventures in Toyland; What the Marionette Told Molly

Edith King Hall · 1900

All about Little Boy Blue

Cover of All about Little Boy Blue by Emma Gelders Sterne

All about Little Boy Blue

Emma Gelders Sterne · 1924

Cover of Andiron Tales by John Kendrick Bangs

John Kendrick Bangs · 1906

1 hr 34 min read

Another Brownie Book

Cover of Another Brownie Book by Palmer Cox

Another Brownie Book

Palmer Cox · 1890

1 hr 52 min read

As the Goose Flies

Cover of As the Goose Flies by Katharine Pyle

As the Goose Flies

Katharine Pyle · 1901

1 hr 55 min read

Cover of Billy Bounce by W. W. Denslow

Dudley A. Bragdon & W. W. Denslow · 1906

3 hr 51 min read

Cover of Bobbie Bubbles by E. Hugh Sherwood

E. Hugh Sherwood & Maud Gridley Budlong · 1914

All Juvenile →

Cover of "Shadrach" by Nelson S. Bond

Nelson S. Bond · 1941

ColonizationSpace Opera

Cover of $1,000 a Plate by Jack McKenty

Jack McKenty · 1954

ColonizationSocial SF

'Mid Pleasures and Palaces

Cover of 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces by James McKimmey

'Mid Pleasures and Palaces

James McKimmey · 1955

Cover of 4-1/2B, Eros by Malcolm Jameson

Malcolm Jameson · 1941

ColonizationSpace Opera

A Case of Sunburn

Cover of A Case of Sunburn by Charles L. Fontenay

A Case of Sunburn

Charles L. Fontenay · 1957

ColonizationMilitary SF

A City Near Centaurus

Cover of A City Near Centaurus by William R. Doede

A City Near Centaurus

William R. Doede · 1962

ColonizationFirst Contact

A Guest of Ganymede

Cover of A Guest of Ganymede by C. C. MacApp

A Guest of Ganymede

C. C. MacApp · 1963

ColonizationSpace Opera

A Martian Odyssey

Cover of A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum

A Martian Odyssey

Stanley G. Weinbaum · 1934

ColonizationFirst Contact

All Colonization →

A Filbert Is a Nut

Cover of A Filbert Is a Nut by Rick Raphael

A Filbert Is a Nut

Rick Raphael · 1959

Cover of A Likely Story by Damon Knight

Damon Knight · 1956

A Place in the Sun

Cover of A Place in the Sun by Stephen Marlowe

A Place in the Sun

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

Psychic PowersSpace Opera

A Romance of Two Worlds: A Novel

Cover of A Romance of Two Worlds: A Novel by Marie Corelli

A Romance of Two Worlds: A Novel

Marie Corelli · 1886

A trick of the mind

Cover of A trick of the mind by William P. Salton

A trick of the mind

William P. Salton · 1958

Cover of Alien Minds by E. Everett Evans

E. Everett Evans · 1955

4 hr 24 min read

First ContactPsychic Powers

All In The Mind

Cover of All In The Mind by Gene L. Henderson

All In The Mind

Gene L. Henderson · 1954

An eye for the ladies

Cover of An eye for the ladies by Stephen Marlowe

An eye for the ladies

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

All Psychic Powers →

"Utopia? Never!"

Cover of "Utopia? Never!" by Thomas M. Disch

"Utopia? Never!"

Thomas M. Disch · 1963

Cover of 2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut · 1962

DystopiaSocial SF

A Bottle of Old Wine

Cover of A Bottle of Old Wine by Richard O. Lewis

A Bottle of Old Wine

Richard O. Lewis · 1957

DystopiaSocial SF

A Diversity of Creatures

Cover of A Diversity of Creatures by Rudyard Kipling

A Diversity of Creatures

Rudyard Kipling · 1917

DystopiaSocial SF

Cover of A Man Obsessed by Alan Edward Nourse

Alan Edward Nourse · 1955

2 hr 44 min read

DystopiaSocial SF

Cover of Anthem by Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand · 1938

1 hr 11 min read

DystopiaSocial SF

Cover of Anthem by Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand · 1938

1 hr 24 min read

DystopiaSocial SF

Appointment In Tomorrow

Cover of Appointment In Tomorrow by Fritz Leiber

Appointment In Tomorrow

Fritz Leiber · 1951

DystopiaSocial SF

All Dystopia →

"Phone Me in Central Park"

Cover of "Phone Me in Central Park" by James V. McConnell

"Phone Me in Central Park"

James V. McConnell · 1954

First ContactPost-Apocalyptic

A Cold Night for Crying

Cover of A Cold Night for Crying by Stephen Marlowe

A Cold Night for Crying

Stephen Marlowe · 1954

Post-Apocalyptic

A Green Cloud Came

Cover of A Green Cloud Came by Robert W. Lowndes

A Green Cloud Came

Robert W. Lowndes · 1941

Post-ApocalypticSocial SF

Cover of A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber

Fritz Leiber · 1951

Hard SFPost-Apocalyptic

A Soldier's Home Is Battle

Cover of A Soldier's Home Is Battle by Lowell Stone

A Soldier's Home Is Battle

Lowell Stone · 1954

Military SFPost-Apocalyptic

A long way back

Cover of A long way back by Ben Bova

A long way back

Ben Bova · 1960

Hard SFPost-Apocalyptic

Cover of After Ixmal by Jeff Sutton

Jeff Sutton · 1962

Artificial IntelligencePost-Apocalyptic

After London; Or, Wild England

Cover of After London; Or, Wild England by Richard Jefferies

After London; Or, Wild England

Richard Jefferies · 1885

4 hr 32 min read

Post-ApocalypticSocial SF

All Post-Apocalyptic →

Curated Collections

Where to Start: 1950s SF

Where to Start: 1950s SF

The genre's golden decade, the perfect front door.

First Contact

First Contact

The moment we meet the other, for better or worse.

Under Fifteen Minutes

Under Fifteen Minutes

A complete SF story for your coffee break.

Dystopias & Warnings

Dystopias & Warnings

Futures that went wrong, and what they were trying to tell us.

From the Collection

View all →

"Next Stop, Nowhere!"

Cover of "Next Stop, Nowhere!" by Dick Purcell

"Next Stop, Nowhere!"

Dick Purcell · 1956

Alternate HistorySocial SF

A Coffin for Jacob

Cover of A Coffin for Jacob by Edward W. Ludwig

A Coffin for Jacob

Edward W. Ludwig · 1956

Cover of A Likely Story by Damon Knight

Damon Knight · 1956

A Little Knowledge

Cover of A Little Knowledge by R. R. Winterbotham

A Little Knowledge

R. R. Winterbotham · 1956

A Matter of Order

Cover of A Matter of Order by Fox B. Holden

A Matter of Order

Fox B. Holden · 1956

A Message From Our Sponsor

Cover of A Message From Our Sponsor by Henry Slesar

A Message From Our Sponsor

Henry Slesar · 1956

Seventy years ago

The future, as imagined in 1956

First published this year, seven decades gone, and still waiting for you.

A Place in the Sun

Cover of A Place in the Sun by Stephen Marlowe

A Place in the Sun

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

Psychic PowersSpace Opera

Man in a Sewing Machine

Cover of Man in a Sewing Machine by Jr. L. J. Stecher

Man in a Sewing Machine

Jr. L. J. Stecher · 1956

Military SFSpace Opera

Mr. Replogle's dream

Cover of Mr. Replogle's dream by Evelyn E. Smith

Mr. Replogle's dream

Evelyn E. Smith · 1956

Artificial IntelligenceSocial SF

My sweetheart's the Man in the Moon

Cover of My sweetheart's the Man in the Moon by Stephen Marlowe

My sweetheart's the Man in the Moon

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

Hard SFSpace Opera

Prison of a Billion Years

Cover of Prison of a Billion Years by Stephen Marlowe

Prison of a Billion Years

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

Space OperaTime Travel

The swamp was upside down

Cover of The swamp was upside down by Murray Leinster

The swamp was upside down

Murray Leinster · 1956

1 hr 12 min read

ColonizationHard SF

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