| | | "They're made of meat" by Terry Bisson - 27% | | "The Egg" by Andy Weir - 43% | | "I have no mouth and I must scream" by Harlan Ellison - 30% | | For January, Strange New Words is trading alien corporations and starships for something even weirder: you, me, and literally everyone else. Thanks to your votes, this month’s pick is Andy Weir’s beloved micro-story “The Egg,” a deceptively simple, deeply philosophical little trip that starts with an ordinary death… and ends with a universe-sized perspective shift. It’s short enough to read in one sitting, but it has the kind of twist that can stick with you all week. You’ll also find discussion questions (brace yourself), a few reading recs to keep the existential vibes going, and some recent articles we’ve covered for all your science fiction needs. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the story over on our socials @spacedotcom. — Kenna & Ian | | | | This Month's Short Story, | | In “The Egg,” a man dies in a car accident and wakes up… somewhere else. There, he meets a being who calmly explains what’s happened: death isn’t the end, and reincarnation isn’t quite what we’ve been imagining. Instead of returning as one new person, the narrator is told he will live again as every human who has ever lived—and every human who ever will.
The story’s central revelation is as unsettling as it is hopeful: if everyone you meet is another version of you, what does that mean for how you treat them?
Read the story hereDisclaimer: All stories linked through this club are hosted on their original publishers’ websites. We do not reproduce or host the stories ourselves. Links are provided solely for readers’ convenience and discussion purposes. Copyright and all rights remain with the original authors and publishers. | | | Because half the fun of reading isn't just turning the pages, it's what happens when we start talking about them. So below are a few questions to think about while you're reading the story. We'll also be walking through a few of these in our wrap up newsletter on this story. - If you truly believed you would live every human life, how would it change the way you treat strangers — or people you don’t like?
- Does the story feel comforting, unsettling, or both? What part landed hardest for you?
- What’s one thing you’d stop doing immediately if you truly believed The Egg’s premise? And one thing you’d start doing more?
- What’s the funniest implication of this story? (Like: arguing in traffic with… yourself. Canceling… yourself. Being your own customer service.)
We’ll be revisiting some of these questions in our end-of-month wrap-up — and we’re excited to see your answers in the comments and on socials (@spacedotcom) | | | | Vote For Next Month's Story | | | Here are the story options for February | Be sure to vote before the end of the month! | | | If You Like That Story, Try This Book! | | | | Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with a screenplay by Drew Goddard. | | | | From the renowned author of Project Hail Mary and The Martian comes a "propulsive" (NPR) tale of science, suspense, and humor--a heist story set on the moon. | | | | Think you know your Le Guin from your Liu? Let's find out | | |  | | (MGM) | Move over, "The Martian." "Project Hail Mary" is the next major Hollywood blockbuster to be adapted from the works of 'The Martian' author Andy Weir, and this time it's Ryan Gosling's turn to "science the s**t" out of another cosmic conundrum. Here's everything you need to know about the film. | | | Earth's Mightiest Heroes are assembling again in 2026. Here's what we know about Avengers: Doomsday so far. | | | | Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. | | | | | | | | | Future US LLC © | | Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036 | | | |
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