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

The Venusian horgels were cute, clever, intelligent. They made perfect pets. They were lovable. – But that was the big trouble. They were much, much too lovable! Quarantined Species by J. F. Bone , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s episode is the third time author J. F. Bone has been on our podcast. His previous stories, Triggerman and On the Fourth Planet . From Super Science Fictio...

“Don’t knock a man when he’s down,” they say.… But my cold blooded visitors paid no heed, as they laughed and wondered how I could talk to Saint Peter–with my throat cut from ear to ear! It Burns Me Up! by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Who doesn’t love a vintage Ray Bradbury story? When I first came across this story I was reluctant to do it because it isn’t science fictio...

In a world on the brink of catastrophe due to an unknown lunar invader, one man’s survival amidst universal apathy reveals the chaos that grips humanity. When the Moon Fell by Morrison Colladay , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Becallsberg who left us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts Netherlands! “Professional & High Quality Exceptionally well-produced narration of class...

Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the descendant of the first Earthmen to land. Svan was the leader making the final plans—plotting them a bit too well. Double-Cross by Frederik Pohl , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to Martin Brown who recently bought us a coffee! “Thanks for such great stories.” Thank you Martin we appreciate you. If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a...

Psychology professor Fred Ellis volunteers as the subject of a dangerous scientific experiment–never counting the cost! Come Home From Earth by Edmond Hamilton , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Author Edmond Hamilton returns to the podcast today. The first story we ever did by Hamilton was He That Hath Wings in case you missed it. Today’s story can be found in Thrilling Wonder Stories Maga...

Arthur C. Clarke returns with a plausible and witty tale of Interstellar warfare, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We are so thankful for you. Our podcast continues to grow all over the world, you have rated us 246 times on Spotify with an average rating of 4.9 and someone bought us $15 worth of coffee, “Love listening to these as I drift off to dreamland or while doing chores My 40/50 year...

Would it work? Yes. How would it work? Exactly like this. The Stuff by Henry Slesar , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. From Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine in August 1961 our story can be found on page 86, The Stuff by Henry Slesar … Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Arthur C. Clarke returns with a plausible and witty tale of Interstellar warfare. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee....

It was a weird sort of battle for survival–not only of individuals, but each, against his will, represented his whole race. And the battle rested on ingenuity, tenacity and courage, not strength alone. Arena by Frederic Brown , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thank you Carolyn Guthleben for buying us 3 coffees! “Thank you for a great show. I love good, real sci-fi, and it’s so hard to find...

They weren't human. They were something more—and something less—they were, in short, humanity's hopes for survival! Spawning Ground by Lester Del Rey , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Ron McFarlan who bought us a coffee. “Still loving the show! I’d say it gets better but the early ones are pretty seamless quality wise. The story I thought you’d like is Robert Sheckley’s “...

Want to join our secret organization? Well, first you have to pass the tests. Membership Drive by Murray F. Yaco , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’re celebrating our 1st Annual It’s Almost Black Friday Sale with the greatest collection of vintage sci-fi short stories ever at an insane price. 300 vintage sci-fi short stories for only $19.99 with a no questions asked 30 day money back gua...

Jeremy got to Mars, all right, but nobody else came back. And so people would not believe he had actually been there at all. Never on Mars by John Wyndham , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. John Wyndham appears for the first time on our podcast. Wyndham was born in 1903, the English science fiction writer is best known for his novels The Day of the Triffids , released on the big screen in 1...

Somebody once came up with a song title we have never forgotten: “For every man there is a woman, so why did I gel stuck with you?” Not that Mr. Morcheck felt that way about Myra. He not only believed she was absolutely perfect; you could get a punch in the nose for doubting it! And he was so right—for a while! The Perfect Woman by Robert Sheckley , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Actually...

Joe Dunn and Julie are the sole survivors in a vast city of silence and death! The Last Man in New York by Paul MacNamara , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’ve narrated several last man on earth stories but this one is different as you are about to find out. Written by Paul MacNamara, a man who has one published story and that’s it, and we know nothing else about him. Our story was publi...

My Space-partner was a good reliable sidekick—but his partner was something else! A Hitch in Space by Fritz Leiber , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s story appeared in only the third issue of Worlds of Tomorrow magazine in August 1963. You will find it on the cover and on page 78, A Hitch in Space by Fritz Leiber … Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Joe Dunn and Julie are the sole sur...

Mercury had no atmosphere—everyone knew that. Why was it developing one now? Hot Planet by Hal Clement , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Harry Clement Stubbs, better known by his pen name Hal Clement, was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, in May 1922. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in astronomy in 1943. While still a college student, he published his first story, Proof...

In the sweet Venusian spring, when iridescent butterflies swarmed and deer-things scampered, it was both necessary and good for Richard Farris to kill George Pearce. The Venus Evil by Chester S. Geier , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another day, another author making his debut on our podcast. Chester S. Geier. He was born in 1921 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He wrote about 80 short stori...

Hallam wanted to get out of space – but even more he wanted to make a fortune first. Now he had found a way to do it – by selling – The Ultimate Vice by A. Bertram Chandler , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Arthur Bertram Chandler was born in England in 1912, forty four years later he moved to Australia and became an Australian citizen. He wrote more than 150 short stories starting with Th...

Ever done anything for no particular reason at all ? Ever feel as if you were arguing with yourself? Do you sometimes get the feeling that you’re really two people who are at odds over the basic rights and wrongs of life? . . . The Parasite by Arthur C. Clarke , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s story appeared in the short lived Avon Science Fiction And Fantasy Reader . It was the se...

In a future where human contact is almost eliminated by The Machine, Vashti’s tranquil, isolated life is interrupted by a plea from her son, to experience the world outside the Machine’s influence. As Vashti struggles to understand his desire to see the stars from the Earth’s surface, a profound disconnect between their realities begins to emerge. The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster , that’s next o...

When enemies of peace threaten the System, they must be eliminated. There are many ways to do this. And if all else fails, you can always go to war with them. An Enemy of Peace by Robert Silverberg, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. The February 1957 issue of Fantastic magazine contained a story we heard not that long ago, The Mystery of Deneb IV by Robert Silverberg. There was also a story...

It's a long life, when you’re immortal. To retain sanity you've got to be unemotional. To be unemotional, you can't fall in love… Until Life Do Us Part by Winston Marks , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thank you for listening to our podcast and for your incredible reviews. We’re getting more comments than ever on YouTube. Phantomwelds says, “Thanks for all the wonderful stories Scott, I’v...

Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid—they were the prescription that made him king of his world! Oh, Rats! By Miriam Allen De Ford , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. This is a great vintage science fiction story. You’ll find it in the December 1961 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine on page 68, Oh, Rats! By Miriam Allen De Ford … Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, It's a long life, when...

It wasn't that Kroll enjoyed watching the traitors broken in body and spirit. But why did they keep insisting they were innocent before—The Inquisitor. By Robert Silverberg, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Science Fiction Grand Master Robert Silverberg has been on the podcast many times with The Mystery of Deneb IV , Never Trust a Thief, Planet of the Angry Giants, Monsters that Once Were...

When Geiger counters all over America went into too-high gear, Dr. David Murfree knew there was only one man to see–Bud Gregory, the hillbilly genius of the atom! The Deadly Dust by Murray Leinster , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to Peetee Bee who gave us a 5 star rating and review on Apple Podcasts Great Britain. “Well narrated. My go to for old sci-fi brilliantly narrated - no n...

The Morgue Ship had gleaned information from space that would end the three hundred year war, knowledge that would defeat the aggressor Martians—if Brandon could carry it to Earth. Lazarus Come Forth by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’ll find today’s story in the Winter 1944 issue of Planet Stories magazine. Peruse the pages and you will see stories by Albert DePina, Jose...