LeVar Burton Reads

"The Toynbee Convector" by Ray Bradbury

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The world's only time traveler finally reveals his secrets. "The Toynbee Convector" © 1983 by Ray Bradbury Content advisory: suicide Hosted by Simp...

"The November Story" by Rebecca Makkai

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A reality TV show producer tries to make love happen, on- and off-screen. “The November Story” is from MUSIC FOR WARTIME by Rebecca Makkai, publi...

"She Builds Quick Machines" by Lyndsie Manusos

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robotics, quick machines, fugitives -- none are exactly what they seem on the surface. Find more from the author at https://lyndsiekay.wordpress.com....

"When the Apples are Ripe" by Diane Oliver

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A young boy puzzles over the behavior of his mysterious elderly neighbor, his parents, and his older brother, a budding civil rights activist.This sto...

"The Coffin Maker" by AnaMaria Curtis

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On a long mission to search for a new home planet, an outfitter tries to protect the crewmembers' lives. But can she protect herself from the inevita...

"The Appropriation of Cultures" by Percival Everett

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A young Black musician is heckled by a group of white fraternity brothers, asking him to play "Dixie." His response surprises everyone, including hims...

"The Hidden Forests of Earth and Mars" by Anna Zumbro

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A young woman must decide her future: planting seeds and forging civilization on Mars, or caretaking for future generations on Earth. This story origi...

"Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush" by Luis Alberto Urrea

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The self-proclaimed Graffiti King of Mexico brandishes his magical paintbrush, providing commentary on small-town sins. This story appears in the coll...

"The World Wasn't Ready for You" by Justin C. Key

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An exploration of the depth of a father's love, and his attempts to keep his son happy, healthy and safe in a world rife with racism and violence. Thi...

"Quarropts Can't Dance" by Rodrigo Culagovski

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A human street performer breaks out his boombox for an unauthorized and unwelcome performance on Planet Drx. For more from the author, visit https://...

"Folk Hero Motifs in Tales Told by the Dead" by KT Bryski

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A trickster storyteller brings camaraderie and hope to the land of the dead. Find more from the author at ktbryski.com. Content advisory: Death and...

"The Destroyer" by Tara Isabella Burton

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A scientist explores (and transcends) the limitations of the human body, using her daughter as a test subject. This story was first published by Tor.c...

Watch Out, Lucky Season 13 is Coming!

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton Reads is back with all-new episodes starting February 20th, but if you don't want to wait, you can get a taste right here! Look out for ...

Atlas Obscura presents: Mafra Palace Library Bats

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We champion the work of librarians at LeVar Burton Reads, not least because they preserve books and maintain archives of important information for gen...

A 99% Invisible / LeVar Burton Crossover!

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been listening to LeVar's new podcast Sound Detectives, you know there's something irresistible about a missing sound. That’s why we tea...

"Waystation City" by A.T. Greenblatt

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adrift in a mysterious time and place, and with the ground roiling and churning beneath their feet, a brother and sister try to return home to 1970s ...

"Three Roses" by Karmen Špiljak

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A mysterious pub draws in lost souls on Christmas Eve. This story appears in the author's collection ADD CYANIDE TO TASTE: A COLLECTION OF DARK TALES ...

"The Pilgrim and the Angel" by E. Lily Yu

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An angel surprises a humble coffee shop owner in Cairo. This story appears in E. Lily Yu's collection JEWEL BOX, published by Erewhon Books. Hosted b...

Immersive Remix: "The Takeback Tango" by Rebecca Roanhorse

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United Sta...

Sound Detectives! Episode 2

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Enjoy more LeVar, more Detective Hunch, and more Audie with Episode #2 of LeVar's new podcast, SOUND DETECTIVES!SOUND DETECTIVES is a funny, engaging,...

"Galaxy Girl and the November Monstrosity" by Aleksandra Hill

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A superhero returns home for Thanksgiving. Find more from Aleksandra Hill at aleksandrahill.com and khoreomag.com.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

Introducing: Sound Detectives!

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the ma...

"The Many Taste Grooves of the Chang Family" by Allison King

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Siblings try to jog their ailing father's memory through his sense of taste. They discover that as much as he's lost -- he's retained his sense of hum...

"Sin Eater" by Ian R. MacLeod

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A robot "sin eater" is called to perform a vital service for the last human on earth. This story appears in the author's collection, entitled RAGGED...

"Those Fantastic Lives" by Bradley Sides

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A chain-smoking psychic is ready to retire, but first, she's got to see one last client. Find more from the author at www.bradley-sides.com.Content a...

"The Clockmaker and His Daughter" by Tobi Ogundiran

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A story about the bond between father and daughter, cities both big and small, clocks, trees, and hope in a society designed to squash all hope. Find ...

"The Court Magician" by Sarah Pinsker

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A young magician is given the opportunity to learn real magic, but it comes with consequences. This story appears in Sarah Pinsker's collection LOST ...

"Dragonflies" by Shannon Sanders

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Knick-knacks are tagged, life choices are interrogated, and secrets are revealed after the family matriarch passes away. This story appears in Shannon...

"Mr. McCaslin" by Peter S. Beagle

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Neighborhood kids help a curmudgeonly old man with a family curse. This story appears in The Essential Peter S. Beagle: Volume 2. For more of Peter S....

"The Tin Man" by Lilliam Rivera

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The sole survivor of a pandemic must determine the true intentions of a robot who arrives to save her. This story appears in RECLAIM THE STARS: 17 TAL...

Season 12, Here We Come!

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton Reads is back September 19th! We've got stories from Peter S. Beagle, Sarah Pinsker, Tobi Ogundiran and more. It's good to be back, y'al...

Immersive Remix: "An Equal Share of the Bone" by Karen Osborne

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hoping to make their fortune (or at least climb out of debt), a trio of space traders travel on a dangerous hunt for a space whale. "An Equal Share o...

"D.P." by Kurt Vonnegut

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a small German village, an orphaned boy lives at a home for "displaced persons," and puzzles over where he belongs."D.P.” from the book WELCOME T...

"The Destination Star" by Gregory Marlow

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a generation ship hurtles toward a distant star, one of its crew members receives a rare and precious opportunity. For more from Gregory Marlow, vi...

"Mister Dawn, How Can You Be So Cruel?" by Violet Allen

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An artist works as a dream concierge, creating augmented dream packages for clients. For more from Violet Allen, visit her on Twitter @blipstress.Cont...

"The Golden Hour" by Jeffrey Ford

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A time traveler is stranded in a small town. This story appears in SOMEONE IN TIME: TALES OF TIME-CROSSED ROMANCE, published by Solaris. Find more fro...

"The Lady of the Yellow-Painted Library" by Tobi Ogundiran

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A hapless salesman flees the librarian hell-bent on retrieving her lost library book. This story appears in Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fic...

"Wok Hei St" by Guan Un

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A story of a stolen wok, magic, and manipulation. This story was originally published in Strange Horizons. You can find more of the author's work at g...

Immersive Remix: "The Foster Portfolio" by Kurt Vonnegut

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A financial advisor meets his new client: a hardworking, unassuming man with a curious and potentially life-changing secret. Hosted by Simplecast, an ...

Immersive Remix: "Silver Door Diner" by Bishop Garrison

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A waitress is jolted from her morning routine when she's visited by a mysterious child. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com ...

Immersive Remix: "The Simplest Equation" by Nicky Drayden

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A struggling college student gains new perspective on her studies from her classmate, who's come to study from another planet. Find more of the author...

Immersive Remix: "The Truth About Owls" by Amal El-Mohtar

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A young girl explores her own power, and finds kinship with a bird of prey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informat...

Immersive Remix: "The Last Cheng Beng Gift" by Jaymee Goh

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A family matriarch takes up residence in the Underworld. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our colle...

Immersive Remix: "The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst. "The Usual Santas" appears in Mick Herron's colle...

"River's Giving" by Heather Shaw, Tim Pratt, and River Shaw

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A mystical phenomenon brightens the dreary days of winter — until one year, when it suddenly stops. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See p...

"The King of Bread" by Luis Alberto Urrea

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A boy discovers his father's hidden kingdom. This story appears in the anthology Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories, published b...

"Family Cooking" by Ana Maria Curtis

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A tale of complicated family relationships and magical cooking. This story was first published in Uncanny Magazine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...

"Down in the Dim Kingdoms" by Tobias Buckell

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An adventurer carried back spoils from a journey to the center of the earth. Now, his family joins him on a return trip, hoping to ensure their acces...

"#ClimbingNation" by Kim Fu

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When an Instagram-famous rock climber comes to an untimely death, his friends and admirers gather to memorialize him. This story appears in Kim Fu's ...

"I Was a Teenage Space Jockey" by Stephen Graham Jones

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While on a quest to beat the high score at his local arcade, a sixth grader has an unusual, life-altering experience. For more from Stephen Graham Jo...

We're Back for Season 11!

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton Reads is back November 1st with stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Kim Fu, Tobias Buckell and more, in our new immersive format! Hosted ...

Immersive Remix: "Multo" by Samuel Marzioli

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A man remembers a supernatural force from his childhood. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our colle...

Immersive Remix: "Fantaisie Impromptu No. 4 in C#min, Op. 66” by Carlos Hernandez

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A reporter travels to Miami to investigate the fringes of science and faith. This story appears in THE ASSIMILATED CUBAN'S GUIDE TO QUANTUM SANTERIA. ...

Immersive Remix: "Your Rover is Here" by LP Kindred

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A rideshare driver must spring into action when his passenger casts a dangerous and deadly spell.  Content advisory: explicit language, violence, te...

An Update! Plus Immersive Remix: "The Story We Used to Tell" by Shirley Jackson

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton Reads is coming back! Plus, an immersive remix of Shirley Jackson's story about a recently widowed woman who vanishes overnight.Content ...

Immersive Remix: "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A new immersive remix of a season one classic. An immigrant mother tries to bond with her American-born son by creating a magical paper menagerie. Thi...

"Afterlife" by Stephen King

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

William Andrews, an investment banker with Goldman Sachs, dies on September 23, 2012, and finds himself confronted with his life after death. "Afterl...

"The Last Truth" by AnaMaria Curtis

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week: the first place winner of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest, as co-presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and Tor.com! A runaway and ind...

"Troll Bridge" by Terry Pratchett

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An aging barbarian sets out to battle a bridge troll, mano a mano, and thus prove his mettle. “Troll Bridge” by Terry Pratchett, was first publish...

"John Dillinger and the Blind Magician" by Allison M. Dickson

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Public Enemy Number One, John Dillinger, looks to escape the feds with the help of a cunning wizard. Content advisory: Gunfire Hosted by Simplecast, ...

"Open House on Haunted Hill" by John Wiswell

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A sentient house, haunted by its own loneliness, exercises its powers on a skeptic. This story was published by Diabolical Plots. Content advisory: B...

"The Final Performance of the Amazing Ralphie" by Pat Cadigan

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An AI-controlled avatar built to entertain patients in deep space performs innocuous magic tricks for patients... until one day, he adds something new...

Immersive Remix: "The Galactic Tourist Industrial Complex" by Tobias S. Buckell

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Get a sneak peek of our our immersive sound! A cab driver spends an ordinary day ferrying passengers around Manhattan -- until an incident involving a...

"The Placement Agency" by Tobias Buckell

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's the weirdest temp job you can imagine? One outside time and space... This story appears in Tobias Buckell's collection SHOGGOTHS IN TRAFFIC A...

"To Jump is to Fall" by Stephen Graham Jones

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A spy narrates his thoughts as he jumps from an airplane and freefalls toward his government target.If you enjoyed this story, check out Stephen Graha...

"Drones to Ploughshares" by Sarah Gailey

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A sentient government surveillance drone is ensnared, and must determine his captor's motives. For more from Sarah Gailey, visit www.sarahgailey.com. ...

"The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst. "The Usual Santas" appears in Mick Herron's collec...

"Different People" by Timothy Mudie

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A man begins a relationship with a woman who has fled from a disintegrating parallel universe. For more from the author, check out his website www.ti...

"The Wishing Pool" by Tananarive Due

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When Joy revisits her family's old cabin, she's reminded of childhood memories of a pond in the woods and its mysterious powers.  For more from Tana...

Season 10 Announcement and a Q&A!

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton Reads is back December 7th, featuring work from Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones and Sarah Gailey, a winter holiday story, the winnin...

Revisited (Halloween Edition!): "Singing on a Star" by Ellen Klages

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A kindergartner travels through a portal to a fantastic and eerie new world. This story appears in Ellen's collection WICKED WONDERS. Find more of Ell...

Revisited: "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience TM" by Rebecca Roanhorse

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A tour guide leads virtual reality “experiences” for tourists who want to know what it’s like to be Native American. Think Black Mirror meets We...

Revisited: "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An immigrant mother tries to bond with her American-born son by creating a magical paper menagerie. This story appears in Ken Liu's collection THE PAP...

"On the Lonely Shore" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A young woman is hired to look after an ailing man who's been ostracized by his family and sent to live in an old house by the sea.Find more from Silv...

"Tía Abuela's Face, Ten Ways" by Lisa M. Bradley

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An anthropologist copes with the passing of her beloved tía abuela, experimenting with her own method of honoring her. This story was first published...

"Shock of Birth" by Cadwell Turnbull

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A man questions his current existence -- and the life he remembers from before. Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction, and reprinted in Lig...

"Words We Say Instead" by Brit E. B. Hvide

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A veteran pilot revisits memories, and searches for remnants of her old experimental smartship. Content advisory: WarSubmissions are now open for th...

"The Years of My Birth" by Louise Erdrich

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A woman recounts the story of her birth as a surprise twin and adoption by a Native American couple, and questions the strange presence she has felt w...

"You Perfect, Broken Thing" by C.L. Clark

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An athlete trains to win a prize that would ensure her survival.Content advisory: Discussion of degenerative illness, deathSubmissions are now open fo...

"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A young boy feuds with a muralist who has taken over a beloved hangout in his neighborhood. Don't forget! The LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest ope...

"The Angel of Khan El-Khalili" by P. Djèlí Clark

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A girl visits a bazaar in Cairo, seeking a favor from a mysterious angelic being.This story first appeared in the anthology Clockwork Cairo: Steampunk...

"Milagroso" by Isabel Yap

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Marty brings his family to his hometown of Lucban for the annual festival to witness a miracle: lab-grown, synthetic food made real. This story appe...

"Dark Spaces on the Map" by Anjali Sachdeva

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A woman has her memories catalogued for the historical record, and must decide whether or not to divulge a painful and complicated moment from her pas...

"Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot" by Robert Olen Butler

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A man dies and finds himself reincarnated as a parrot. This story appears in Robert Olen Butler's collection TABLOID DREAMS. His forthcoming novel, ...

"The Bank of Burkina Faso" by Ekaterina Sedia

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if those spammy emails from princes about overseas banks were... real? An exiled prince teams up with the widow of a military general to recover ...

Season 9 is Almost Here!

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar Burton Reads is back June 22nd, featuring stories from P Djeli Clark, Anjali Sachdeva, Ekaterina Sedia, Isabel Yap and more. But if you just can...

"St. Valentine, St. Abigail, St. Brigid" by C.L. Polk

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Theresa Anne has spent years watching her mother tell fortunes and work magical spells. But when she asks to protect the girl she loves, she learns th...

"Vaccine Season" by Hannu Rajaniemi

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a post-pandemic future where scientists have made great strides in eliminating disease, a young boy faces his fears and ventures out to his grandfa...

"Getaway" by Nicole Kornher-Stace

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A getaway driver and her crew are hired to steal a mysterious artifact, and inadvertently get locked into a time loop. Find more from Nicole Kornher-S...

"Salt" by Rosemary Melchior

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A teenage girl is exiled to a penal colony on an icy, inhospitable island. But the island contains secrets, and so does the girl. Content Advisory...

"An Equal Share of the Bone" by Karen Osborne

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hoping to make their fortune (or at least climb out of debt), a trio of space traders travel on a dangerous hunt for a space whale. "An Equal Share ...

"Killer of Kings" by Anjali Sachdeva

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Guided by an angel, a writer pens his greatest -- and perhaps most dangerous -- work. "Killer of Kings" appears in Anjali Sachdeva's collection ALL ...

"The Regression Test" by Wole Talabi

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A woman helps to test the artificial intelligence based on the mind of her mother, a brilliant thinker. "The Regression Test" appears in Wole Talabi's...

"Alluvial Deposits" by Percival Everett

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A government contractor deals with everyday frustrations in a small town. "Alluvial Deposits" appears in Percival Everett's collection DAMNED IF I DO....

"Daddy" by Damion Wilson

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A woman struggles to understand why her elderly father has begun to spontaneously teleport. Content advisory: drug addiction, illness, death Hosted...

"The Takeback Tango" by Rebecca Roanhorse

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States by...

"Silver Door Diner" by Bishop Garrison

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A waitress is jolted from her morning routine when she's visited by a mysterious child. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com ...

Season 8... Coming Soon!

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The wait is nearly over! Join us for Season 8 of LeVar Burton Reads, beginning next week and featuring stories from Rebecca Roanhorse, Tobias Wolff, B...

Nnedi Okorafor, Author of "Mother of Invention", Part 3

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

LeVar talks to Africanfuturist Nnedi Okorafor about the visceral nature of her writing, writing a beautiful and green future for the Niger Delta, and ...

"Mother of Invention" by Nnedi Okorafor, Part 2

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for the conclusion of this smart house story set in a future Nigeria. Will Anwuli and her child survive the storm? Content advisory: blood Hos...