These short stories about telepathy have characters with telepathic ability or other extrasensory abilities.
Short Stories About Telepathy, Telekinesis, Psychokinesis & Psionics
“#DontTell” by Peter Cawdron
Lisa Zindani, a celebrity reporter, is at a secret location to interview a telepath. A Telepathy Act is before congress, with far-reaching consequences if passed. A camera crew hurries around her, catching the right angles. A guard leads her to a dark room with spotlights pointing out at her. The back of the room is dark, but she can barely make out the form of a man in a chair.
This story can be read in the preview of The Telepath Chronicles. (33% in)
“The Boy Who Disappeared Clouds” by Lawrence Block
Jeremy is in Ms. Winspear’s sixth grade class. She’s concerned about him, knowing he comes from a rough home. He doesn’t have friends and doesn’t seem to have any hobbies. She’d like to help him in some way. Her boyfriend, Cory, says she should teach him how to disappear clouds.
This story can be read in the preview of Enough Rope. (48% in)
“The Goblin Hunter” by Chris Beckett
Sergei is showing a newcomer, Janet, a little bit of Lutania. It’s very quiet; the native creatures use telepathy to communicate. They live in the sea, which is just a meter below the ground’s surface. They emerge at night from small ponds. Janet looks forward to seeing an indigene, but Sergei warns her it’s not usually pleasant. They’re able to bring people’s dark thoughts to the surface. A local girl, Anna, is particularly sensitive to them. She lives in terribly abusive circumstances. Her family also uses her sensitivity to hunt the indigene.
Some of this story can be read in the preview of Solaris Rising 3. (65% into preview)
“The Third Expedition (Mars is Heaven!)” by Ray Bradbury
A space ship with a crew of sixteen lands on Mars. To everyone’s surprise, Mars looks like small-town America in the 1920’s. Captain John Black is hesitant to leave the ship, but after confirming the atmosphere is breathable, he allows a small party to disembark. The ship’s navigator and the archaeologist offer theories to explain what they see. They approach a house. (Summary)
“It’s A Good Life” by Jerome Bixby
Aunt Amy is on her front porch while little Anthony is tormenting a rat he caught. Bill Soames drops off a box of groceries. Bill is terrified of Anthony as is everyone else in town. He has powerful mental abilities that make everyone subject to his whims. Aunt Amy is preparing for a party that evening.
“The Earth Men” by Ray Bradbury
Captain Williams and his crew knock on a door on Mars. They’re delighted the homeowner, Mrs. Ttt, speaks English. The Captain introduces them as the Second Expedition from Earth. Mrs. Ttt has little interest in the humans. They’re disappointed with the reception. She sends the crew to Mr. Aaa.
“Freak” by Charles de Lint
Bernie pleads guilty to an unstated charge. He’s been hearing voices and seeing mental pictures since he was a boy. He thought he was imagining them at first. Eventually, he realized that the voices were actually other people’s thoughts. He doesn’t invade people’s privacy on purpose; it just happens. His lawyer wanted to help, but Bernie thinks he might deserve to die.
“Everything’s Eventual” by Stephen King
Dinky Earnshaw, a nineteen-year-old dropout, has a good job. It doesn’t pay a lot, but it comes with a house, a car, and weekly delivery of what he wants. He’s not allowed to contact any of his old friends. He’s also not allowed to save any money—whatever is left at the end of the week has to be discarded. Dinky has only met his boss, Mr. Sharpton, once. He doesn’t see who drops off his pay or the cleaners. Mr. Sharpton recruited Dinky for a special ability he possesses.
“Second Sight” by Alan E. Nourse
Lambertson gets back from Boston after meeting with a man named Aarons. The narrator, Amy, can tell something happened but not what. She remembers Aarons, a psychiatrist, from before she came to the Study Center. He has plans for her that Lambertson doesn’t agree with.
Read “Second Sight”
I’ll keep adding short stories about telepathy, telekinesis, psychokinesis, psionics or ESP.
