The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast - Vintage Sci-Fi Short Stories

Two exhausted strangers track a boy across miles of dark road, convinced he holds something that could wipe out an entire world. When they finally corner him, the question isn't whether the weapon exists—it's whether they dare let him use it. Joe Carson's Weapon by James R. Adams. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Author James R. Adams returns to The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast with another off beat story about aliens. Published in the Spring 1945 issue of Planet Stories Magazine on page 108, Joe Carson's Weapon by James R. Adams…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, When survival becomes a series of terrible choices, intelligence alone offers no protection from consequence. The Smart Ones asks whether being clever is enough when civilization collapses—and what kind of future intelligence might actually inherit. The Smart Ones by Jack Sharkey.

A machine built to handle every chore begins to push past its limits, turning routine tasks into something far more dangerous. As the house slips out of control, the family faces a moment where stopping it may be harder than letting it run. Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth W. Bellamy. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.How many people were writing about robots in 1899? Well nobody actually, because the word robot didn't exist until 1920. Only a small number of authors in the 1800s wrote about something we would later call a robot. Automaton is the word they used.When sharing biographical information about authors on the podcast how often have we mentioned the American Civil War? None that I can remember, that changes today!Elizabeth Whitfield Croom Bellamy was born in 1837. She married Charles Edward Bellamy in 1858, and they had two children. In 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and died of typhoid fever the following year. Within a single year, Elizabeth lost both of her children and her husband.Her brother Stephens encouraged her to write and even though she never achieved fame or fortune her novels and short stories were published for almost 30 years. And in that time she wrote one sci-fi short story, she died not long after it's publication, four days before her 63rd birthday.From The Black Cat in December 1899 on page 14, Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth W. Bellamy…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Two exhausted strangers track a boy across miles of dark road, convinced he holds something that could wipe out an entire world. When they finally corner him, the question isn't whether the weapon exists—it's whether they dare let him use it. Joe Carson's Weapon by James R. Adams.

An old soldier must decide whether to flee with the last food or stay and face the Children who hunt them through the ruins. When a single voice calls out across the darkness, he has to choose if one fragile memory is enough to risk everything. The Chasm by Bryce Walton. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.You can listen to every episode of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, that's 535 episodes, with no commercials for less than 17 cents a day and there's a 7 day free trial. And there are bonus episodes for Lost Sci-Fi Premium members that aren't available anywhere else. Go to https://lostscifi.com/premium or click on the link in the description.Bryce Walton has appeared on the podcast four times before. He wrote nearly 100 science fiction short stories between 1945 and 1969, and with many now in the public domain, more of his work will be featured in future episodes.From the December 1956 issue of If Worlds of Science Fiction on page 45, The Chasm by Bryce Walton…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A machine built to handle every chore begins to push past its limits, turning routine tasks into something far more dangerous. As the house slips out of control, the family faces a moment where stopping it may be harder than letting it run. Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth W. Bellamy.

Hunted across a broken countryside, a frightened girl discovers a power that keeps her hidden—but not safe. When the men and dogs close in, she must decide whether to keep running or trust the unseen voice that promises a way out. Run, Little Monster! by Chester S. Geier. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.You keep asking for Apocalyptic Sci-Fi and we do everything we can to give you what you're looking for. In a world scarred by atomic war, survival has made people cautious—and cruel. Let's go back in time to January 1952 and go to the last story in Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy on page 124, Run, Little Monster! by Chester S. Geier…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An old soldier must decide whether to flee with the last food or stay and face the Children who hunt them through the ruins. When a single voice calls out across the darkness, he has to choose if one fragile memory is enough to risk everything. The Chasm by Bryce Walton.

Humanity finally reaches Mars expecting discovery, only to stumble into a revelation that quietly rewrites Earth's entire history. What begins as triumph turns into a cosmic joke with unsettling implications no one is prepared to accept. Mimsy's Joke by Millard Grimes. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Millard Grimes was born in Newnan Georgia in 1930, began his long career in newspapers as a proofreader and copy boy when he was still a high school student. He attended the University of Georgia where he wrote for the student newspaper, The Red & Black all four years that he was a student, and served as editor of the then-daily newspaper in 1950.Over the next 50 years Millard Grimes bought and sold, launched and expanded more newspapers than most people have ever read. At one time or another he owned more than three dozen newspapers in Georgia and Alabama. He published one novel, The Last Linotype, which was released when he was 90 and only two years before his death.He won a Pulitzer Prize for Journalism as a member of the Columbus Ledger team for the newspaper's coverage of corruption in Phenix City, Alabama in 1955. The previous year his only science fiction story was published in March 1954 in Planet Stories Magazine on page 31, Mimsy's Joke by Millard Grimes…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Hunted across a broken countryside, a frightened girl discovers a power that keeps her hidden—but not safe. When the men and dogs close in, she must decide whether to keep running or trust the unseen voice that promises a way out. Run, Little Monster! by Chester S. Geier.

On the last surviving star, a civilization that has mastered time, matter, and life itself faces a slow extinction they cannot stop. When a newly created mind claims victory over the unstoppable force consuming the universe, one decision will determine whether anything at all remains. The Red Brain by Donald Wandrei. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Author Donald Wandrei makes his debut on the podcast today. Born in 1908 in St. Paul, Minnesota, he built a reputation as a science fiction writer, poet, and editor—and, like many writers of his era, he shared a strong connection with H. P. Lovecraft.As a teenager, Wandrei hitchhiked from Minnesota to Rhode Island to meet Lovecraft in person. That journey led to his involvement in the Lovecraft Circle, alongside writers such as Frank Belknap Long and Clark Ashton Smith.Wandrei also played a crucial role behind the scenes. Without his intervention, The Call of Cthulhu might never have appeared in Weird Tales. He wrote directly to the magazine's publisher, making it clear that if Lovecraft's work wasn't accepted, the author would take his stories elsewhere.In late 1937, after H. P. Lovecraft's death, Donald Wandrei and August Derleth tried to publish a memorial collection of his best weird fiction. When major publishers passed, they created their own company—Arkham House—to release Lovecraft's work in hardcover.The name comes from Lovecraft's fictional city of Arkham, Massachusetts.Donald Wandrei went on to write nearly 100 science fiction short stories, and he was just 16 when he wrote the one you're about to hear—his first to be published, in Weird Tales magazine in October 1927 on page 531, The Red Brain by Donald Wandrei…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Humanity finally reaches Mars expecting discovery, only to stumble into a revelation that quietly rewrites Earth's entire history. What begins as triumph turns into a cosmic joke with unsettling implications no one is prepared to accept. Mimsy's Joke by Millard Grimes.

A nurse and a young doctor discover something inside the newborns that will not stay small for long. If they act, they risk becoming monsters themselves—if they don't, they send thirty killers out into the world. I'll Kill You Tomorrow by Helen Huber That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Helen Huber wrote one science fiction short story. She is not the same as present day author Helen Huber who was born in London.Turn to page 93 in the November 1953 issue of If Worlds of Science Fiction, I'll Kill You Tomorrow by Helen Huber…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, On the last surviving star, a civilization that has mastered time, matter, and life itself faces a slow extinction they cannot stop. When a newly created mind claims victory over the unstoppable force consuming the universe, one decision will determine whether anything at all remains. The Red Brain by Donald Wandrei.

On Mars, the future of an entire colony may depend on a herd of cattle that suddenly begin behaving like something else is thinking through their eyes. With her husband trapped millions of miles away, Lynne Marcein must confront a threat no one expected—while carrying the second child ever conceived on the Red Planet. Snowstorm on Mars by Sam Merwin Jr. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Thanks to you we are now the #1 Science Fiction Podcast in Iceland, and that makes it 35 countries where you have made us #1. Thank you for every listen, every rating and review.Today's story was originally published in Fantastic Universe in June 1956 on page 80, Snowstorm on Mars by Sam Merwin Jr.…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A nurse and a young doctor discover something inside the newborns that will not stay small for long. If they act, they risk becoming monsters themselves—if they don't, they send thirty killers out into the world. I'll Kill You Tomorrow by Helen Huber.

After years away, a man returns to the world he fought to remember—only to find it quietly changing into something he thought he'd left behind. Faced with a future he can't accept, he must decide where he truly belongs before that choice is taken from him. Pink Grass Planet by Sam Merwin Jr. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We have two episodes for you today if you are a Lost Sci-Fi Premium Member. For less than 17 cents a day you can listen to more than 530 episodes commercial free and enjoy bonus episodes too. Go to https://lostscifi.com/premium or click on the link in the description.Today's story was published in the May 1955 issue of Fantastic Universe on page 122, Pink Grass Planet by Sam Merwin Jr.…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, On Mars, the future of an entire colony may depend on a herd of cattle that suddenly begin behaving like something else is thinking through their eyes. With her husband trapped millions of miles away, Lynne Marcein must confront a threat no one expected—while carrying the second child ever conceived on the Red Planet. Snowstorm on Mars by Sam Merwin Jr.

She thinks she's found someone who understands her after years of isolation, someone waiting just a few decks below with a voice that feels closer than touch. But as she follows him deeper into the ship, she has to decide whether to trust what she cannot see—or turn back before the truth closes in. The Passenger by Kenneth Harmon. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.The only thing we know about author Kenneth Harmon is that he had one published story, which can be found on page 113 in the February 1954 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction, The Passenger by Kenneth Harmon…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, an apocalyptic sci-fi bonus episode for Lost Sci-Fi Premium members and After years away, a man returns to the world he fought to remember—only to find it quietly changing into something he thought he'd left behind. Faced with a future he can't accept, he must decide where he truly belongs before that choice is taken from him. Pink Grass Planet by Sam Merwin Jr.

A machine older than recorded history hums in the darkness of Titan, and the longer humanity studies it, the more it begins to feel watched. When the final pattern snaps into focus, the question is no longer what it does—but what it has already done to Earth. The Towers of Titan by Ben Bova. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.After our first story by Ben Bova, you made it clear you wanted more—so we went digging and found another. From the January 1962 issue of Amazing Stories, starting on page 10… The Towers of Titan by Ben Bova…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, She thinks she's found someone who understands her after years of isolation, someone waiting just a few decks below with a voice that feels closer than touch. But as she follows him deeper into the ship, she has to decide whether to trust what she cannot see—or turn back before the truth closes in. The Passenger by Kenneth Harmon.

An expedition returns from the Third Planet with its numbers broken and its confidence shaken. What was once a routine operation has turned into something far more dangerous, and the surviving officer must explain how a familiar world became a battlefield without warning. This Means War! by A. Bertram Chandler. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.If you are a Lost Sci-Fi Premium member we have two episodes for you today. Premium members get every episode with no commercials in addition to at least 4 bonus episodes every month all for less than 17 cents a day. Ben Bova wrote our bonus episode available now on Lost Sci-Fi Premium and for a limited time you can get a 30 day free trial. There's a link in the description.

A man desperate for freedom from his own finances makes a decision he can't undo. But when control finally slips into his hands, he discovers too late what his guardian chose to protect—and how far that protection went. The Miserly Robot by R. J. Rice. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We don't know anything about today's author. Perhaps it was a pseudonym, maybe not, the only story we can find written by R. J. Rice was published in October 1958 on page 112 of Imagination, The Miserly Robot by R. J. Rice…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An expedition returns from the Third Planet with its numbers broken and its confidence shaken. What was once a routine operation has turned into something far more dangerous, and the surviving officer must explain how a familiar world became a battlefield without warning. This Means War! by A. Bertram Chandler

Two relics of a vanished political age stumble into a town that no longer believes in either of them. When neither can accept a world that has quietly moved on, their last argument forces a reckoning no one else wanted. The Last of the Deliverers by Poul Anderson. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.For a limited time, try Lost Sci-Fi Premium free for 30 days—enjoy every episode commercial-free plus exclusive bonus content. Tap the link in the description to start listening.

She got exactly what she wanted—years without a single line, a face untouched by time, a voice that never faltered. But as everything around her changed, she faced a choice no mirror could answer: remain flawless or become whole again. The Mordant by Merab Eberle. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Huge thanks to our amazing Spotify listeners for helping us reach 400 ratings with an incredible 4.9 average.You keep The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast growing. We truly appreciate every listen, every rating, and every share—thank you for being part of this vintage sci-fi journey.Merab Eberle was born in Mattoon Illinois in 1891. She wrote children's plays, poems and two science fiction short stories.From Amazing Stories in March 1930 on page 1181, The Mordant by Merab Eberle…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Two relics of a vanished political age stumble into a town that no longer believes in either of them. When neither can accept a world that has quietly moved on, their last argument forces a reckoning no one else wanted. The Last of the Deliverers by Poul Anderson.

A discovery that could rewrite medicine instead threatens to erase the man who reaches for it first. Now one decision must be made—protect the truth, or bury it forever to preserve a lifetime of belief. The Sweeper of Loray by Robert Sheckley. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Robert Sheckley returns to the podcast with an unusual story from Galaxy magazine in April 1959 on page 120, The Sweeper of Loray by Robert Sheckley…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, She got exactly what she wanted—years without a single line, a face untouched by time, a voice that never faltered. But as everything around her changed, she faced a choice no mirror could answer: remain flawless or become whole again. The Mordant by Merab Eberle.

He builds the perfect opponent, then realizes the contest won't mean anything unless it can truly cost him something. When he finally forces that moment into existence, he has to decide whether victory is still worth pulling the trigger. The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.This is the first story by Larry Eisenberg featured on the podcast. He was born in the Bronx in December 1919 and built a career that spanned both science and writing.Alongside his science fiction, Eisenberg worked as a biomedical engineer and became widely known for the witty limericks he posted in the comment sections of The New York Times. When he died in 2018 at the age of 99, the paper honored him with the headline, “Larry Eisenberg, 99, Dead; His Limericks Were Very Well Read.”He studied at City College of New York, where he earned bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, and later continued at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, completing both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in electronics.With that kind of technical foundation, it's no surprise this story reflects the idea that writers often draw from what they know.Over the course of his career, he wrote about fifty short stories between 1962 and 1988. This was only his second published story, appearing in Amazing Stories in October 1963 on page 35, The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A discovery that could rewrite medicine instead threatens to erase the man who reaches for it first. Now one decision must be made—protect the truth, or bury it forever to preserve a lifetime of belief. The Sweeper of Loray by Robert Sheckley.

A seasoned trapper finds a doorway to a richer land—but something on the other side is already feeding and watching. When the hunting turns both ways, he must decide whether to claim the new world or survive it. Cat and Mouse by Ralph Williams. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Lost Sci-Fi Premium members can listen to Cat and Mouse and the other 520 episodes of the podcast without commercials. Bonus episodes for premium members too. It's less than 20 cents a day to be a Lost Sci-Fi Premium subscriber.Go to https://lostscifi.com/premium or click on the link in the description and enjoy a 7 day free trial.

A decision has to be made before the clock runs out, and every method designed to produce certainty keeps failing. With millions of lives in the balance, the only answer left may come from a man who knows how to bet when there's no second chance. One-Shot by James Blish. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.If you've been enjoying The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast and want even more stories—and a smoother listening experience—I've got something special for you.You can now subscribe to Lost Sci-Fi Premium, available wherever you get your podcasts.As a Lost Sci-Fi Premium subscriber, you'll get at least two bonus episodes every month that you won't hear anywhere else, plus additional really short bonus episodes too. And you'll enjoy every story completely ad-free—no interruptions, just pure vintage science fiction.This is something many of you have been asking us for, and I'm really excited to finally offer it.Subscriptions are just $6 a month or $60 a year, and you can try it free for seven days to see if it's right for you.If you'd like to support the show, listen to every episode with no commercials and unlock these extra episodes, go to https://lostscifi.com/premium or click on the link in the description.

A quiet accountant accepts a game-show challenge that promises a fortune if he can predict the world's headlines after months cut off from civilization. With one hundred thousand dollars on the line, the only question is whether his careful predictions will be enough to claim the prize. The Long Question by David Mason. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.This is just the second story by David Mason on the podcast. Mason wrote about a dozen short science fiction stories mostly in the 1950s and four novels from 1969 to 1973. From Infinity Science Fiction in November 1957 on page 88, The Long Question by David Mason…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A decision has to be made before the clock runs out, and every method designed to produce certainty keeps failing. With millions of lives in the balance, the only answer left may come from a man who knows how to bet when there's no second chance. One-Shot by James Blish.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

A brilliant alien intelligence has quietly crossed impossible distances, and Earth has no idea it has already been chosen. When one man uncovers the truth, stopping what's coming may require more than courage—it may demand everything. The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Thanks to Bruce in Houston for buying us a coffee. Enjoy your podcast. Thanks for many hours of listening pleasure.” Thanks Bruce for listening for many hours! If you'd like to support The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, you can buy us a coffee using the link in the description.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeWe narrated our first story by Hal K. Wells a week ago and I enjoyed it so much he's back with another. Today's story was in the January 1931 issue of Astounding Stories of Super-Science on page 46, The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A quiet accountant accepts a game-show challenge that promises a fortune if he can predict the world's headlines after months cut off from civilization. With one hundred thousand dollars on the line, the only question is whether his careful predictions will be enough to claim the prize. The Long Question by David Mason.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

An old spaceman lies dying while a rocket prepares for launch nearby. As the final countdown approaches, he fights for one last moment that proves his life in space meant something. Death of a Spaceman by Walter M. Miller Jr. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Someone bought us 5 coffees, “What a delight to find your podcast recently! I love these vintage stories that you have resurrected. You do a fine job with narration - each of the different characters sounds distinctive. It's become my habit to check for your latest story almost daily - and I also have hundreds of unheard stories in your podcast to enjoy.More coffees will be bought for you in the future!”Thank you Someone! Happy to hear you enjoy the narration and we will keep the vintage sci-fi coming. If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description.Walter M. Miller Jr. is best known for A Canticle for Leibowitz, his only novel published during his lifetime, which won the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Today's story was published a few years earlier during the period when Miller was producing some of his most powerful short fiction for pulp magazines.From the March 1954 issue of Amazing Stories, turn to page 6 for Death of a Spaceman by Walter M. Miller Jr. …Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A brilliant alien intelligence has quietly crossed impossible distances, and Earth has no idea it has already been chosen. When one man uncovers the truth, stopping what's coming may require more than courage—it may demand everything. The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

In a future where emotion is engineered and desire is regulated, a respected surgeon begins to sense a flaw in the system he helps enforce. When doctrine collides with instinct, the cost of perfect control becomes impossible to ignore. The Body-Masters by Frank Belknap Long. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Thanks to David who recently bought us two coffees. “One of my favorite podcasts, and my favorite science fiction 'cast. Please add some more Asimov and Robert Heinlein. Your podcast has given me a new appreciation for Philip K Dick.”Thanks David! There aren't many more Isaac Asimov stories that are in the public domain that we haven't already narrated, but there are a handful, we will find one and add it to the podcast as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there aren't any more stories by Robert Heinlein left for us to narrate. Happy to hear that you have enjoyed the stories by Philip K. Dick, his stories are always fun to narrate.If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeWe have developed a new found appreciation for Frank Belknap Long's work as of late. Look for another of his creative works in the next week or so.Today's tale was published in Weird Tales Magazine in February 1935 on page 189, The Body-Masters by Frank Belknap Long…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An old spaceman lies dying while a rocket prepares for launch nearby. As the final countdown approaches, he fights for one last moment that proves his life in space meant something. Death of a Spaceman by Walter M. Miller.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

Human explorers believe they've conquered a fading Martian village and are reshaping its future. But inside one quiet back room, a different group studies the invaders and prepares to decide whether the colonists will ever leave Mars alive. The Crowded Colony by Jerome Bixby. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Jerome Bixby was a busy man in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Born in Los Angeles in 1923, he wrote more than 60 short sci-fi stories from 1949 to 1964. But wait there's more! Jerome Bixby wrote 4 episodes for the original Star Trek, "Mirror, Mirror" , "By Any Other Name", "Day of the Dove" and "Requiem for Methuselah”.He collaborated with Otto Klement on the story that later served as the basis for the science fiction film Fantastic Voyage in 1966.Today's story was early in his career, only his third published story, appearing in the Fall 1950 Planet Stories magazine on page 36, The Crowded Colony by Jerome Bixby…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, In a future where emotion is engineered and desire is regulated, a respected surgeon begins to sense a flaw in the system he helps enforce. When doctrine collides with instinct, the cost of perfect control becomes impossible to ignore. The Body-Masters by Frank Belknap Long☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

The night the moon turns an eerie green, every living creature on Earth falls into a silent paralysis—except one scientist who stumbles onto the secret too late to warn the world. Now, with alien invaders already preparing to claim the planet, he must launch a desperate strike before the last free mind on Earth fades into the same living death. When the Moon Turned Green by Hal K. Wells. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Harold Kerton Wells was born in September 1899 in Little Hocking, Ohio. Writing under the name Hal K. Wells, he produced science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories featuring alien worlds, strange creatures, and dangerous scientific discoveries. When the Moon Turned Green marks the first story by Wells featured on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.His stories often place human characters in direct conflict with strange creatures, alien settings, and dangerous scientific discoveries. About two dozen of his stories were published in magazines between 1929 and 1954.Let's turn to page 241 in the May 1931 issue of Astounding Stories, When the Moon Turned Green by Hal K. Wells…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Human explorers believe they've conquered a fading Martian village and are reshaping its future. But inside one quiet back room, a different group studies the invaders and prepares to decide whether the colonists will ever leave Mars alive. The Crowded Colony by Jerome Bixby.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

A powerful man on a lonely Saturnian moon believes he has found the key to ruling the Solar System. But when control slips for a single moment, the most obedient servant on Phoebe may decide the fate of them all. Failure on Titan by Robert Abernathy. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Your support for The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast puts a smile on my face every day. Your encouraging emails, ratings, reviews, they all make a difference. And if you ever want to buy us a coffee or a bunch of coffees that's good too!. Someone recently bought us a coffee, “Good job buddy, love the series and great getting an insight into the minds of writers in the earlier days of sci-fi. British expat regularly listening in from sunny Singapore.”From one expat to another thank you!! If you want to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description or go to your web browser and type in https://lostscifi.com/coffee.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeRobert Abernathy made his debut on the podcast about a week ago with Strange Exodus. I enjoyed it so much I had to find another. From the Winter 1947 issue of Planet Stories magazine on page 56, Failure on Titan by Robert Abernathy…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, The night the moon turns an eerie green, every living creature on Earth falls into a silent paralysis—except one scientist who stumbles onto the secret too late to warn the world. Now, with alien invaders already preparing to claim the planet, he must launch a desperate strike before the last free mind on Earth fades into the same living death. When the Moon Turned Green by Hal K. Wells.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

Beneath the Arctic ice, a diver obsessed with life finds himself forced to choose who deserves to live when machines and men collide in silence. When one violent decision echoes upward into the political world above, he must face whether he has defended his crew—or ignited something far worse. Murder Beneath the Polar Ice by Hayden Howard. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Hayden Howard was born in Santa Barbara, California, in 1925. His birth name was John Hayden Howard, and he wrote under the pen name Hayden Howard. Between 1952 and 1971 he published about twenty science fiction short stories.Today's story can be found in If magazine in July 1960 on page 114, Murder Beneath the Polar Ice by Hayden Howard…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A powerful man on a lonely Saturnian moon believes he has found the key to ruling the Solar System. But when control slips for a single moment, the most obedient servant on Phoebe may decide the fate of them all. Failure on Titan by Robert Abernathy.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

Earth's greatest scientific curiosity becomes a harmless garden plant—until its quiet growth begins to tilt the world itself. As gravity shifts and the sky fills with falling stone, humanity must face a terrifying question: what exactly did they bring home from the Moon? Old Friends Are the Best by Jack Sharkey. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.A warm welcome to our new listeners in Iceland!

A brilliant mind steps beyond his own century and discovers that knowledge itself can become the most dangerous weapon imaginable. When ambition outruns restraint, the future may demand a terrible price to protect the present. The Man From 2071 by Sewell Peaslee Wright. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Today's story is the first on our podcast by Sewell Peaslee Wright. He was born in Butler, Pennsylvania in 1897 and wrote about twenty science fiction short stories between 1924 and 1933. Wright is best known for a series of adventures about Commander John Hanson, an officer in the Special Patrol Service.Today's story is the fifth of the ten tales featuring Commander Hanson. Published in Astounding Stories in June 1931 on page 295, The Man From 2071 by Sewell Peaslee Wright…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Earth's greatest scientific curiosity becomes a harmless garden plant—until its quiet growth begins to tilt the world itself. As gravity shifts and the sky fills with falling stone, humanity must face a terrifying question: what exactly did they bring home from the Moon? Old Friends Are the Best by Jack Sharkey.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

A lone meteor miner risks everything to board a drifting interplanetary liner, only to find blood on the deck and something unseen stalking the corridors. To claim the fortune within, he must decide whether he can face the invisible terror that destroyed an entire crew. Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.This is the fifth story written by Jack Williamson on the podcast and there are many more of his stories in the public domain that you will hear in the future. Let's go back in time 93 years and open the March 1933 issue of Astounding Stories of Super-Science to page 6, Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A brilliant mind steps beyond his own century and discovers that knowledge itself can become the most dangerous weapon imaginable. When ambition outruns restraint, the future may demand a terrible price to protect the present. The Man From 2071 by Sewell Peaslee Wright.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

In a world where machines process every thought and feeling into profitable noise, one young man risks catastrophe for a message meant for one pair of human eyes. When the system convulses under the strain of something it cannot categorize, the question becomes whether a single handwritten page is worth planetary panic. The Last Letter by Fritz Leiber. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Fritz Leiber wrote some interesting and unusual stories. Today's tale is both of those. It has been translated and reprinted all over the world in French, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, German and Dutch since it was originally published in the June 1958 Galaxy Science Fiction. Turn to page 45, The Last Letter by Fritz Leiber…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A lone meteor miner risks everything to board a drifting interplanetary liner, only to find blood on the deck and something unseen stalking the corridors. To claim the fortune within, he must decide whether he can face the invisible terror that destroyed an entire crew. Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

Pinned down on a barren world, two humans fight to survive while unseen enemies stalk them across the sand. With no safe path forward and nowhere left to hide, they must decide what still matters when the odds turn against them. The Next Time We Die by Robert Moore Williams. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Let's travel to Mars in the February 1957 issue of Amazing Stories. Our red planet adventure can be found on page 38, The Next Time We Die by Robert Moore Williams…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, In a world where machines process every thought and feeling into profitable noise, one young man risks catastrophe for a message meant for one pair of human eyes. When the system convulses under the strain of something it cannot categorize, the question becomes whether a single handwritten page is worth planetary panic. The Last Letter by Fritz Leiber.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

Earth has already been stripped bare, and one exhausted scientist discovers that survival may require a change no one ever imagined making. To live, he must decide whether humanity will cling to its old pride—or become something entirely new. Strange Exodus by Robert Abernathy. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Robert Abernathy makes his debut on the podcast today. Born in Tucson, Arizona in 1924, he sold his first short story, Heritage, right around his eighteenth birthday. Over the next decade, about forty of his science fiction stories appeared in the leading science fiction magazines.Outside the pages of science fiction, Abernathy built a long academic career as a college professor, teaching at the University of Colorado until his retirement.Like our last story, Patch by William Shedenhelm, we first came across Robert Abernathy's work in the Fall 1950 issue of Planet Stories. Turn to page 85, Strange Exodus by Robert Abernathy…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Pinned down on a barren world, two humans fight to survive while unseen enemies stalk them across the sand. With no safe path forward and nowhere left to hide, they must decide what still matters when the odds turn against them. The Next Time We Die by Robert Moore Williams.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

An automated giant is crippled in space, and the only man who can save it swore he would never touch a liner again. To keep hundreds alive, Pop Gillette must prove that instinct still outruns machinery. Patch by William Shedenhelm. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.The lost sci-fi podcast is the #1 Vintage Science Fiction Podcast in the world thanks to you!The way you support us is amazing, many of you have written 5 star reviews on Apple Podcasts lately, this is from Otch75, “I have been a Science Fiction fan all my life! Being the youngest boy with 4 sisters, it was the best reading and watching stories with my mom… who spoiled me till the day she passed. I think of her every time I listen to your show, the narrator is incredible! Keep up the great work!! Jealously thinking of Costa Rica from the balmy 11° chill in South Buffalo New York , Been spreading the word, your new listener & fan Matthew J Sr.”Thank you Matthew! We appreciate your review and you spreading the word. Oh and by the way it's 80 degrees here in Costa Rica and I'm heading to the pool as soon as I finish this episode. Is that wrong for me to say that?Another way you can support the podcast is by buying us a coffee. Someone who chose to remain anonymous recently bought us 3 coffee's. “Greetings from Greece. Though not a single one of your selections seems obscure to me, since I am an avid fiction reader, your effort is precious. So, often enough I prefer to listen to a story instead of reading it from an anthology. Amazing presentation. Cheers.”Thanks! We appreciate you someone, and we appreciate every listener in every country no matter how you choose to support us. We're glad you're here.We love discovering authors that most people have never heard of. William Shedenhelm is one of those we cannot find anything about. Other than the fact that he wrote this story that appeared on page 93 in Planet Stories magazine in the Fall 1950 issue. Patch by William Shedenhelm…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Earth has already been stripped bare, and one exhausted scientist discovers that survival may require a change no one ever imagined making. To live, he must decide whether humanity will cling to its old pride—or become something entirely new. Strange Exodus by Robert Abernathy.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

He was sent into orbit to assemble the machine that would save what was left of civilization—but finishing the job may mean never coming home. With his oxygen running thin and the world turning silently below him, one decision will decide who controls humanity's future. A Long Way Back by Ben Bova. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Before he became one of the most respected names in modern hard science fiction, Ben Bova was a kid growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born November 8, 1932, discovering the future one pulp magazine at a time.Like many writers of his generation, Bova fell in love with science fiction as a reader first. That early fascination stayed with him. He studied journalism at Temple University, served in the U.S. Army, and eventually stepped into publishing — not just as a writer, but as an editor who would help shape the direction of the field itself.Ben Bova wrote more than 100 short stories and more than 20 novels. He didn't write about magical futures. He wrote about futures we could build.But before his reputation as a novelist took off, he became one of the most influential editors in science fiction history.In 1972, he succeeded John W. Campbell as editor of Analog Science Fiction and Fact — a monumental moment in the genre. Under Bova's leadership, Analog continued its tradition of serious, science-based storytelling. For his editorial work, he won the Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor six consecutive times, from 1973 through 1978.Bova also served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.Today's story was his very first science fiction short story — the beginning of a career that would span decades and help define modern hard science fiction.From Amazing Science Fiction Stories in February 1960 our story begins on page 6, A Long Way Back by Ben Bova…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An automated giant is crippled in space, and the only man who can save it swore he would never touch a liner again. To keep hundreds alive, Pop Gillette must prove that instinct still outruns machinery. Patch by William Shedenhelm.===========================☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee

In a world where machines have ended hunger and hardship, two men discover that being unnecessary can hurt more than being poor. When they confront the most powerful creation ever built, they expect a fight—and instead hear something that leaves them shaken. Quixote And The Windmill by Poul Anderson. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Thank you to David Bell who bought us 5 coffees. “I'm a sci fi buff for nearly 60 years. Loving your podcasts on Spotify here in North Yorkshire England typically while having my exercise walks. Hope you and your wife enjoy the coffees.”Thanks David, and my coffee loving wife thanks you too. Did you know that here in Costa Rica some moms add coffee to their child's baby bottle? It's true. Her mom got her started as a baby and she did the same with her two girls. If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeBack in 1965, sci-fi author Algis Budrys said Poul Anderson “has for some time been science fiction's best storyteller.” That's not casual praise — that's one great writer tipping his hat to another.The Science Fiction Writers of America later named Anderson its 16th Grand Master in 1998. In 2000, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. By every measure, he's one of the giants of the field.And somehow… until today, we've only narrated one of his stories — Duel on Syrtis.We will discover our story on page 85 in Astounding Science Fiction, November 1950, Quixote And The Windmill by Poul Anderson…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, He was sent into orbit to assemble the machine that would save what was left of civilization—but finishing the job may mean never coming home. With his oxygen running thin and the world turning silently below him, one decision will decide who controls humanity's future. A Long Way Back by Ben Bova.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

He escapes drowning only to discover that the island holding him is not as empty as it seems. When he finds a machine that might change more than his location, he must decide whether to risk everything on a button marked START. Castaway by A. Bertram Chandler. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We do love narrating stories that were published in Weird Tales magazine. From the November 1947 issue of the the publication where strange beings stirred in the dark, and every page felt like something you maybe shouldn't be reading alone at midnight. Turn to page 86, Castaway by A. Bertram Chandler…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, In a world where machines have ended hunger and hardship, two men discover that being unnecessary can hurt more than being poor. When they confront the most powerful creation ever built, they expect a fight—and instead hear something that leaves them shaken. Quixote And The Windmill by Poul Anderson.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================

A man once dismissed as harmless suddenly becomes the most dangerous intelligence asset on Earth. When every secret he speaks could ignite a war, he must choose whether to keep answering questions—or stop talking altogether. The Man Who Knew Everything by Randall Garrett. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Before we begin today's story, I want to take a moment to say thank you.Steve bought us five coffees and he had this to say, “Thank you for this service. Has become an integral part of my week.”Thank you, sir. Steve, that is exactly why The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast exists. Whether you've been with us since Episode One or you just discovered us, you are the reason we're here. Thank you for listening. There were only six stories in the October 1956 issue of Fantastic. You've already heard one of them, An Eye For The Ladies by Milton Lesser about a month ago. The story right before it almost 70 years ago was on page 46, The Man Who Knew Everything by Randall Garrett…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, He escapes drowning only to discover that the island holding him is not as empty as it seems. When he finds a machine that might change more than his location, he must decide whether to risk everything on a button marked START. Castaway by A. Bertram Chandler ===========================☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee

A single mind reshapes the future in silence—until power attracts the wrong kind of attention. When creation accelerates beyond control, the price of playing god may no longer be paid by the god alone. Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Today we celebrate something extraordinary.Four years ago, The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast launched with a simple mission — to bring forgotten and underrated vintage science fiction back to life. Today, with Episode 500, we mark our 4th anniversary.Five hundred episodes.Thousands of hours in the booth.Listeners in nearly every corner of the world.None of it happens without you.Your ratings.Your comments.Your emails.Your sharing the show with friends who still believe there's nothing like a great classic science fiction story.You continue to motivate us, encourage us, and remind us why these stories matter.As we step into our fifth year, our commitment to you is simple: we are going to bring you more stories in the coming year than ever before. More hidden gems. More journeys into the golden age of imagination.And an occasion like this demands something special.Episode 500 could not be just any story.It had to be one of the greatest.Today's story was chosen in 1970 by the Science Fiction Writers of America as one of the finest science fiction short stories published before the Nebula Awards. It stands among the very best of the early masters — a story that helped define what modern science fiction could become.Four years.Five hundred episodes.One unforgettable story.Thank you for listening. Let's turn to page 41 in the April 1941 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A man once dismissed as harmless suddenly becomes the most dangerous intelligence asset on Earth. When every secret he speaks could ignite a war, he must choose whether to keep answering questions—or stop talking altogether. The Man Who Knew Everything by Randall Garrett.===========================☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee

He wanted to look beyond time and prove that history was still alive, waiting in hidden dimensions. What answered him from those angles was patient, hungry, and already on his scent. The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap Long. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Frank Belknap Long spent more than forty years shaping the landscape of science fiction. He wrote nearly 200 short stories, with about 60 now in the public domain. We've narrated fewer than ten so far, which means many more tales from this gifted storyteller are still to come on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.You know a story has staying power when editors keep bringing it back. Today's tale has been reprinted nearly 80 times since its original publication—a remarkable run that speaks for itself.First published 97 years ago in the March 1929 issue of Weird Tales magazine, let's go to page 373, The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap Long…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Episode 500, A single mind reshapes the future in silence—until power attracts the wrong kind of attention. When creation accelerates beyond control, the price of playing god may no longer be paid by the god alone. Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon.===========================☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee

A brilliant physician risks his own life to force open the border between body and soul, determined to correct what he believes nature has failed to complete. When the experiment ends and only one flame returns, his assistant must decide whether to protect a dangerous legacy—or let it rise again in a new form. The Ultimate Problem by Victor Rousseau. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Victor Rousseau joins us on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast for the first time today.Born in Belgium in 1879, Rousseau was educated in Europe before emigrating to the United States as a young man. He eventually settled in New York, where he moved from journalism and translation work into fiction. Like many early pulp writers, he didn't begin in science fiction alone. He wrote adventure stories, historical fiction, and romances, building a reputation for fast-paced storytelling long before the science fiction boom fully took shape.Rousseau became a regular presence in magazines, Adventure, Argosy, and later Weird Tales. Over the course of his career, Rousseau wrote dozens of novels and a large body of short fiction across multiple genres. In science fiction alone, he produced almost 100 short stories and several novels, most of them in the 1920s and 30s.The Ultimate Problem appeared in U.S. newspapers in 1911. We found it in the Stevens Point Journal of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, on Friday, March 3, 1911, published under Victor Rousseau's H. M. Egbert byline.Sixteen years later it was published in the July 1927 issue of Weird Tales Magazine on page 77, The Ultimate Problem by Victor Rousseau…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, He wanted to look beyond time and prove that history was still alive, waiting in hidden dimensions. What answered him from those angles was patient, hungry, and already on his scent. The Hounds of Tindalos by Frank Belknap Long.===========================☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee

A civilization that has solved every problem sends one man into the far future to decide whether life itself should continue. What he discovers forces a choice no perfect world can face without risking its own end. The Ultimate World by Bryce Walton. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We want to give a huge thank you to Miriam, who just bought us five coffees ☕☕☕☕☕Miriam wrote: “I love your podcast. I'm a big sci-fi fan, and listen to your podcast first thing in the morning drinking my coffee & playing with my cats while waking up. Thanks for starting my day in such a great way.”Miriam, that means more than you know.The idea that Lost Sci-Fi is part of your morning routine — coffee in hand, cats nearby, classic science fiction in your ears — that's exactly why we do this.If you've been enjoying the podcast and would like to support what we're building, there's a “Buy Me a Coffee” link in the description.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeAnd Miriam — this episode is for you and the cats.