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

The Luckiest Man Alive–obviously, will be the man who’s chosen “Mister Earth”! The Luckiest Man Alive by William Morrison , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thank you for your support. There are many ways you can show your support for The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Dave Wiseman chose to buy is 5 coffees and he had this to say, “As Tina turner once said - simply the best.” Thanks Dave! If you’d li...

Something went wrong… and Ed Fletcher got mixed up in the biggest thing in his life. Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another day and another Philip K. Dick story that became a movie. If Adjustment Team doesn’t ring a bell, maybe The Adjustment Bureau will. The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt was released in 2011, received positive r...

No conceivable force could penetrate Terri's shield. Yet he was defenseless. No Shield from the Dead by Gordon R. Dickson , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’re excited to welcome Gordon R. Dickson to our podcast for the first time today. Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1923. After his father died, he and his mother moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1937. He served in th...

The thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts… but those of a frustrated machine are longer–and deadlier! Someday by Isaac Asimov , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. This is one of my favorite stories. As you’re listening ask yourself what movie or movies this Isaac Asimov story may have inspired. Then comment, on the platforms where you can, like Apple Podcasts if you leave a review, Spotif...

Halloway stared down at Earth, and his brain tore loose and screamed, Man, man, how'd you get in a mess like this, in a rocket a million miles past the moon, shooting for Mars and danger and terror and maybe death. Defense Mech by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We continue to receive many requests every week for more Ray Bradbury stories. We don’t want to disappoint you so...

Amnesia? Well, maybe—but how and where had he earned that $50,000? Blank? By Randall Garrett , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to Irma Stolfo on Apple Podcasts Australia who left us a 5 Star review! “Simply the best. Scott your work is outstanding. I love sci-fi now and am especially hooked on these vintage short stories. Quick and easy and so full of character and action. Your narr...

In a future society where murder is almost unheard of, the mysterious death of a young girl in Central Park shocks the public and puzzles investigators. The Akkra Case by Miriam Allen de Ford , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Miriam Allen DeFord has never been on our podcast until today. Born in 1888, in Philadelphia, she is best known for her contributions to science fiction, mystery, and...

A gun is an interesting weapon; it can be hired, of course, and naturally doesn't care who hires it. Something much the same can be said of the gunman, too… Gun For Hire by Mack Reynolds , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine has been published under a number of different titles, starting as Astounding Stories of Super-Science in January 1930. Today’s st...

It's one thing to blow a bubble of glib, journalistic lies. Quite another to have that bubble burst in a nightmarish, green beyond. The Man Who Found Out by Roger D. Aycock , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to Earp Unpaso who gave us our first 5 Star review on Apple Podcasts Finland.“Absolutely Great. I found this podcast about a year ago and have been a fan ever since then. What ma...

What was the mystery of this great ship from the dark, deep reaches of space? For, within its death-filled chambers—was the avenue of life! Derelict by Alan E. Nourse , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We heard Alan E. Nourse three times in the first thirty-four episodes of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast but he hasn’t been heard from in almost two years. We will remedy that today with a spacefarin...

Quintuplets alone would be bad enough, without a census taker who could count them in advance! Second Census by John Victor Peterson , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’ve done it once again, found an author that we know almost nothing about. We don’t know when or where he was born or when he passed. But John Victor Peterson wrote more than most authors who remain almost unknown. Almost t...

Travel by Wire by Arthur C. Clark , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today on the podcast you will hear the very first published story written by then 19 year old Arthur C. Clarke. It’s a story we probably never would have discovered if not for sci-fi aficionado Jesse Willis. In fact, there are many stories you have heard that he has shared with us. He has a database of more than 7,000 pdf...

All of us have a purpose in life; among us are those whose duty is to act as guardians for those who have a mission to perform. Undersea Guardians by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s story appeared on the cover of Amazing Stories in December 1944. Turn to page 12, Undersea Guardians by Ray Bradbury… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, The first story ever published by Ar...

The Master Astrologer was willing to give his life—if only the torch of what little learning existed in the land could be passed on. Saknarth by Donald A. Wollheim , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Let’s turn back the clock 82 years to the Spring 1942 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly. This is our second story from that issue, not that long ago we heard from George R. Hah n and Gangway fo...

To Kworn the object was a roadblock, threatening his life. But it was also a high road to a magnificent future! On the Fourth Planet by J. F. Bone , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another 5 star rating and review on Apple Podcasts Australia, psiberlife says, “Excellent. The best reader you could hope for with the best stories.” Thanks psiberlife! If you’ve ever thought about buying Lost S...

Out of time he came–to steal unpublished stories and leave immortality as his payment. The Unseen Blushers by Alfred Bester, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Bester is back, Alfred Bester that is. We heard from him not that long ago with a terrific tale, Fondly Fahrenheit. If you missed it I highly recommend you give it a listen. The Unseen Blushers is an intriguing time travel story about...

If time-travel is possible, then why haven't we been visited by people from the future? But Pete LeFranc found the answer to that… Absolutely No Paradox by Lester Del Rey, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Lester Del Rey was the 11th Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master, the SFWA presented him with the award in 1991. There have only been forty men and women honored as Grand Master...

The Beast of Boredom wasn't a weapon or a bribe, as he thought. But it was the most ingenious trap of all time! The Beast of Boredom by Richard R. Smith, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to Tif Love who bought us a coffee and says, “I listen to your podcast, and absolutely love it. So I just listened to “All the Girls were Nude” and I’m pretty sure this was well-known in some circles...

The story of a dictator who sought to hold power by allying himself psychically with a powerful beast. The Beast-Helper by Frank Belknap Long, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Let’s turn back the clock almost 90 years to August 1934 and open Weird Tales Magazine to page 204, The Beast-Helper by Frank Belknap Long… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, The Beast of Boredom wasn't a weapon or a br...

Queer creatures! They fled the life-giving sun and hid where even tin froze solid! The Time of Cold by Mary Carlson, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. If Mary Carlson was a singer we would call her a one hit wonder. As an author we don't have a catchy phrase to describe her but we do know she is exactly why we created The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. A woman we know nothing about, except for this on...

A summons from yesterday, a promise from tomorrow–they had commanded Alan Dane to tear apart the pages of history–to save his unborn son! Miracle by Ray Cummings, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Author Ray Cummings returns to the podcast today. Previous episodes featured his work with Space-Wolf and The Man Who Killed the World. Cummings first short sci-fi story was published in 1920 and h...

When he discovered something mysterious in his ancient castle he asked a scientist for help. It worked! In fact, it worked too well. Ghosts of the Heaviside Layer by Lord Dunsany , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany, we know him as Lord Dunsany the incredibly prolific author who published more than 90 books, and hundreds of short storie...

V'gu found Earth primitive and crude. Its hydrogen bombs, for instance... Farewell Message by David Mason, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We say hello to another new vintage sci-fi author today on the podcast. Author David Mason was actually Samuel Mason, born in 1924 although we don’t know his birthplace and we know very little about him. We know he wrote four novels and about a dozen sh...

When George was given the chance to board the Challenger and chase after the most spectacular sight ever to appear in the heavens he could hardly believe his luck, but be careful what you wish for. Inside the Comet by Arthur C. Clarke, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Arthur C. Clarke needs no introduction, he is one of the most requested authors here on the podcast. From Fantasy and Scienc...

You asked for more super short stories and we listened. From Scientific American magazine in October 1962 Starlight! By Isaac Asimov… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, When George was given the chance to board the Challenger and chase after the most spectacular sight ever to appear in the heavens he could hardly believe his luck, but be careful what you wish for. Inside the Comet by Arthur C. Clark...