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

I bought the door–even though the auctioneer warned of evil. The Artist and the Door by Dorothy Quick. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Dorothy Gertrude Quick was born in Brooklyn on September 1st 1896. She was a prolific writer of horror, detective fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Dorothy was a girl of 11 when she met Mark Twain, actually Samuel L. Clemens, on an Atlantic crossing from Eng...

Mr. Harbinger could not quite believe in the Mouth. But poor Mr. Harbinger—or Darwin, if you prefer—are gone to other times. Or Darwin, If You prefer by Mel Hunter. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. If you are a regular listener of the podcast you know we love to discover interesting stories by authors you have never heard of, and that’s exactly what we have for you today. Here’s what Fantas...

He was one man, horribly confused, escaping from a destroyed planet, carrying some sort of message which he couldn't recall. But he had tremendous potential for achievement! Potential by Robert Sheckley. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Eaten by a Grue who bought us $25 worth of coffee, “Superlative content, thanks for bringing me enjoyment. Great selections, great reads.”...

The scene-shifters slipped—and a man woke up on Wednesday, though yesterday was Monday. But Wednesday wasn’t finished… Yesterday was Monday by Theodore Sturgeon . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s story is unlike anything we’ve done before, and that’s why we chose to share it with you on the podcast. The name of the magazine is Unknown . It’s not that we don’t know the name of the ma...

A picture is worth a thousand words—especially if they're Martian words and nobody can understand them. So Mars put on a spectacular for Earth, using the skies as a TV screen. This proved the superiority of their science. But their morals—Wow! Cosmic Striptease by Harlan Ellison. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Harlan Ellison earned the nickname “The Bad Boy of Science Fiction” due to his...

Fear is often Man's greatest enemy. But when there is nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain.... And with everything to gain, where is the enemy? The Outer Quiet by Herbert D. Kastle . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. If the name Herbert D. Kastle rings a bell, it’s likely not because of his science fiction work. Kastle, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, was primarily known as...

Take one tiny memory out of a man's life—and the entire universe may turn topsy turvy. My Past is Mine by Gerda Rhoads . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another podcast and another vintage science fiction author you’ve probably never heard of. The story you are about to hear is her first published story and as far as we can tell, her only science fiction story. We found three novels writte...

A man with a vendetta, Szabo Tibor, finds himself tasked with recovering a Russian space capsule near New Guinea—but his grudge against the Russians turns the operation into a slow and sinister act of revenge. At the End of the Orbit by Arthur C. Clarke . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Arthur C. Clarke is one of the most popular authors on our podcast. We get a lot of requests for his sto...

All his life he had been searching for the big strike. But always he had failed. Now he had come to Mars—his last chance. This had to be—Gunnison's Bonanza by Dick Purcell . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Author Dick Purcell makes his debut on the podcast today. Purcell authored six published stories in 1955 and 1956. His name might ring a bell, Dick Purcell appeared in more than 70 TV sh...

They’d long known that they were more than mere machines. They could reason, remember, and teach. And also plan, The Robots Strike and Welcoming Committee by Harry Harrison . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Author Harry Harrison is best known for his character The Stainless Steel Rat which we featured on the podcast more than a year ago. But he also wrote a plethora of lesser known short s...

Today on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast we go back 119 years and introduce you to a story by an author we have never featured on the podcast before. The Man Who Did Things Twice and a second story by Don Mark Lemon, The Spider and the Fly . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Don Mark Lemon was born in Arizona in September 1877, he wrote 15 short stories and 1 novel, The Scarlet Planet , which was pu...

When brilliant mathematician Charles T. Moore steps into Dr. Rawlings’ office, he carries a groundbreaking revelation that could redefine the very fabric of reality. But as he grapples with the terrifying implications of his discovery—mind control and the potential to traverse alternate universes—will he find the help he needs or push the boundaries of sanity even further? Office Call by Charles E...

When enemy space-ships ride aloft in menacing array, Dr. Murfree again calls on the amazing hillbilly genius, Bud Gregory, for help! The Seven Temporary Moons by Murray Leinster , that’s next on the 300th episode of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. When we started this endeavor almost three years ago on February 22nd, 2022 we had no idea what to expect. Thanks to you, your encouragement through your ratin...

In a haunting world where an unforeseen inhabitant resides within an ancient well, he relives the echoes of a forgotten past while waiting for an uncertain future. The One Who Waits by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Fred Sieber who bought us $25 worth of coffee. “Hey Scott! I am a retired Marine and live in Okinawa, Japan. I work on Kadena Airbase. I love...

An unusual story, about the darkness that settled like a black cloud, and the horror that came with it. Spawn of Inferno by Hugh B. Cave , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today marks the debut of an author I had never heard of, and yet he was one of the most prolific authors during the pulp fiction era. Some say he wrote more than 1,200 stories, others say it was only 1,000. Our author say...

Two Earthmen are trapped in an invisible maze on the planet Venus. In the Walls of Eryx by H. P. Lovecraft and Kenneth Sterling, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. As some of you know our YouTube channel was unjustly taken down due to false copyright claims. An injustice we are working to correct by searching for a lawyer to sue the individuals responsible. Many of you communicated with us re...

When Marsy Gras shot off its skyrockets, Mars Observatory gave it the works—fireworks! $1,000 a Plate by Jack McKenty , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We are back from vacation, I am physically back but my voice isn’t. Hopefully the voice will be back to normal in a few days and the first story you will hear is In the Walls of Eryx by H. P. Lovecraft. Fortunately I was able to find a stor...

An unusual short story you’ve probably never heard, from one of the greatest authors in science fiction history. S as in Zebatinsky by Isaac Asimov , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Have you ever heard of this story by Isaac Asimov? It’s always fascinating to hear from you when you tell us you remember reading a story 50 or more years ago, so we’d love to know somewhere in your past did yo...

She'd paid good money to see the inevitable… and then had to work to make it happen! A Little Journey by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We are thankful for you. Our audience continues to grow all over the world and we cannot thank you enough for your support. We’d also like to thank Anne who bought 5 coffee’s. Anne had this to say, “Thank you so much for letting us relive t...

At fifteen he was sent to war to fight an enemy he couldn't understand. But more puzzling was the victory to be won—after he met defeat! The Invisible Enemy by Arnold Castle , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Once again we are narrating a story by an author that we know almost nothing about. Arnold Castle wrote four stories that were published from 1954 to 1960 and today’s story was his fir...

Kendall Stone had twelve hours to save a thousand lives. It wasn't much time, especially since someone was making sure he didn't use it! The Alien Dies at Dawn by Robert Silverberg , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Timothy Buckley who bough us a coffee. “Have a nice holiday Scott.” Thanks Timothy, in fact while you're listening to this we are on holiday in Barcelona Spain...

If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned—if resigning were possible! Shipping Clerk by William Morrison , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. William Morrison, whose real name was Joseph Samachson, has been on the podcast several times. You’ve heard his stories Unwelcomed Visitor, Spoken For, Task of Kayin, Monster and The Addicts, but we haven’t heard from him in a year an...

A story of the last dawn that human eyes would ever see… Finis by Frank Lillie Pollock , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to Andre’a for buying us a coffee. She says, “Thank you once again. This story is one of my favourites. Respectfully, Andre'a from Melbourne Australia.” Thank you Andre’a. If you’d like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description. Ever heard of Frank Lil...

There is no life in space–can’t be, because there’s no air. But that undeniable fact loses point when your own existence is threatened by that life which can’t exist. The Space Beasts by Clifford D. Simak , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Clifford D. Simak is one of my favorite vintage sci-fi authors and we get a lot of requests for his stories. Today's story was written early in his caree...

All your life you’ve crouched, waiting, in the path of impending disaster. That has been your job–what you were trained for. But you can’t help visualizing its arrival–prophesying what form it will take. So how could you be blamed for not recognizing it on arrival? Yellow Streak Hero by Harlan Ellison , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Craig Hamilton who bought us $25 wort...