Author: Charles Sheffield

Length: short story

First Publication: Stellar Anthology, 1978

What the Story is About: The narrator saves the colony on Mars with the help of two pigs and a heap of luck.

Author: Robert Silverberg

Length: short story

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 1970

What the Story is About: Ishmael the dolphin pleads his love for a human woman.

I am a lonely mammalian organism who has committed acts of heroism on behalf of your species and wishes only the reward of a more intimate relationship ["love"] with Miss Lisabeth Calkins. I beseech compassionate members of H. sapiens to speak favorably of me to her. I am loyal, trustworthy, reliable, devoted, and extremely intelligent. I would endeavor to give her stimulating companionship and emotional fulfillment ["happiness"] in all respects within my power.
Permit me to explain the pertinent circumstances.

Note: Audio version only.

Author: Mike Resnick

Length: short story

First Publication: Hunting Dog, 1977

Awards: American Dog Writers Award For Best Short Fiction

What the Story is About: “The last dog on earth runs into what might be the last man. Can they join forces and survive in a world of destruction?”

Resnick contributed to a Mind Meld at SF Signal in which he explains how the story ended up in Hunting Dog, rather than one of the usual science fiction magazines.

Note: Only an audio version is currently available free online.

Author: James P. Hogan

Length: novel

First Publication: 1977

What the Story is About: First of Hogan’s Giants series of novels. When an ancient spacesuit-clad human body is found on the moon it throws man’s origins into question.

Related Biology in Science Fiction blog post: And there were giants in those days

Author: Lester Del Rey

Length: novel

First Publication: Shorter version originally published in 1957. Free novel is the Ace Paperback published in1973

What the Story is About: Doctor Daniel Feldman violated the Medical Lobby rules by saving his friend’s life. Now a pariah, he emigrates to Mars where he is welcomed by the colonists. All is not well, however, because a Martian plague may soon mean humanity’s doom . . .

Apparently includes a fair amount of political ranting and outdated science. Read the review at Hard SF.

You can download an audiobook version at Librivox or Podiobooks. Alternative text versions can be downloaded at ManyBooks.

Author: Larry Niven

Length: short story

First Publication: All the Myriad Ways collection, 1971

What the Story is About: What would Kryptonian Superman’s sex life on Earth, really be like?

Note: the graphic description of reproduction might be considered R rated.

Author: Vonda N. McIntyire

Length: Novel

First Publication: 1978

Awards: 1978 Hugo for Best Novel, 1979 Nebula for Best Novel, 1979 Locus Award for Best Novel

What the Story is About: “The novel follows a healer on a journey while she seeks to replace one of her healer snakes. Nuclear war, biotechnology alternate sex patterns, and other-worldly tribalism put in appearances.” (Wikipedia)

Note: Dreamsnake is being posted in serialized form at Bookview Cafe, one chapter a week.

Author: Vonda N. McIntyre

Length: novelette

First Publication: Analog Science Fiction & Fact 1973

Awards: Nebula for Best Novelette 1973; Hugo Nomination for Best Novelette 1974

What the story is about: Snake, a healer, uses the tools of her trade – three living snakes – to try to heal a young child in a small desert town. It was turned into the first chapter of McIntyre’s novel Dreamsnake.

Related Biology in Science Fiction blog post: Vonda McIntyre and “Of Mist and Grass and Sand”