A mechanical heart the size of a pea. A sound-wave that disrupts a cliff face, from which a pebble falls. A supernova in a glass bottle. The short story is a momentary glimpse into a fully-formed universe, one that lives past the page perhaps most wildly in the science-fiction genre. How is it possible to become immersed in a world in such a brief amount of time? And what makes the science-fiction genre compelling to so many? In this class, we will read stories by Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang, Ursula Le Guin and more to unearth the ways these authors transport us across vast landscapes in an instant, into universes both far beyond and just beside our own.  Students will practice identifying themes and conventions of both the sci-fi genre and the short story as a form. They will develop skills in asking questions, making interpretations and forming arguments about the studied texts. Students can expect three short writing assignments with some creative options along with assorted informal in class writing.