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

The powers of earth had finally exterminated the last of the horrible tribes of mutant freaks spawned by atomic war. Menace to homo sapien supremacy was about ended—but not quite. For out of the countryside came a great golden, godlike youth whose extraordinary mutant powers, combining the world's oldest and newest methods of survival, promised a new and superior type of mankind… The Golden Man by...

No one knows the heart of a rebel until his own search for the reason of right or wrong is made. Lieutenant Laskell found the answer to his own personal rebellion deep beneath a turbulent Atlantic, and somehow, when the time came, his decision wasn't too difficult… Way of a Rebel by Walter M. Miller , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’ve heard from a lot of authors that are new to the pod...

It lay silent and dead under the cold desert moon, but what strange race inhabited the abyss beneath those cyclopean ruin? The Nameless City by H. P. Lovecraft , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born in 1890 in Providence Rhode Island. If you like weird, wacky, horror fantasy science fiction, Lovecraft could be just what you’ve been looking for. Lovecraft’s sto...

In the city of strange wonders, the lure of the flame drew them on and on… destruction loomed ahead… The City of Singing Flame by Clark Ashton Smith , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today marks the debut of Clark Ashton Smith on our podcast. Smith was born in California in 1893. He was an insatiable reader with a photographic memory. He read an unabridged dictionary word for word, studyin...

When Dave Carter tried to rescue the Denebians he found himself in a den of thieves. And he had cause to remember Shakespeare's observation: “He who steals my purse steals trash.” The Mystery of Deneb IV by Robert Silverberg , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Bromite Thrip who bought us 5 cups of coffee! Thanks for your contribution and support for our podcast. There is a...

When the energy of Earth’s experimental station in space runs amuck, scientist Roger Sheldon puts up a big battle! Atomic Station by Frank Belknap Long , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. This is the second appearance on the podcast for Frank Belknap Long. You may remember the Time Travel story The Man From Time . Today’s titillating tale is from the Winter 1946 issue of Thrilling Wonder Sto...

This was the audience participation show that couldn’t be topped! You Risk Your Life by Joseph Slotkin , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. If the name Joseph Slotkin rings a bell you’ve been with us since the very beginning of the podcast. Episode 3, which was released on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 featured two stories, And All The Girls Were Nude by Richard Magruder and The Queen of Space...

Leonard–or the thing that had been Leonard–must be destroyed! Changeling by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. There are many ways to support our podcast and we are thankful no matter how you choose to show your support. Apple Podcasts listener An Unremarkable Sinner gave us 5 stars on and says, “Amazing Stories. The story choice and narration are fantastic. After listening to...

Here is an epic worthy of you, immortal bard. Arise, oh Homer, and hearken to the classic saga of Achilles Maravain! Gangway for Homer by George R. Hahn , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. An unusual story for you today on the podcast and another debut of an author who isn’t very well known. To be fair almost nobody knows anything about him. His stories, all three of them, were published onc...

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth ... these were the familiar laws of man—Far more fiendish was Heric's punishment—eternal life for the death he'd taken! Slave of Eternity by Roger D. Aycock , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. This is the first time Roger D. Aycock has been on the podcast. Aycock was born in Georgia in 1914. Writing under the pseudonym Roger Dee, D double E, he wrote a...

It’s remarkable what a bright, eager youngster can accomplish with just a pail and a shovel. The Deep Hole to China by Robert Sheckley , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. You asked for it, and here it is another super short story. From Fantastic Universe Magazin e in June 1955 on page 125, The Deep Hole to China by Robert Sheckley … Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An eye for an eye, a tooth...

The essential requirements of a first-class triggerman are two: that he know how to pull the trigger–and when not to! Triggerman By J. F. Bone , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Jesse Franklin Bone was born in Tacoma Washington in 1916. Before he was an author Bone was a veterinarian, and a professor of veterinary medicine, served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, attaining the rank of lie...

Ripped by an asteroid stray, the space-ship drifted helplessly … until suddenly, across the shuddering deeps, a strange voice called to her. Runaway by Alfred Coppel , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Alfred Coppel has been on the podcast before, with The First Man on the Moon , Wreck Off Titan and The Flight of the Eagle . Every one of them a story set in space and today’s offering is more...

Mad with despair, they fought back from the ruins. Whoever these invaders were, they should not have a world which its defenders themselves had destroyed! The Burnt Planet William Brittain , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. If the name William Brittain rings a bell, you know your vintage science fiction. He’s another one of those authors that we know almost nothing about, he wrote a few sto...

A Fantasy of perfection and imperfection. A tale of a quaint city in the jungle and the curious fate that overtook a very clever thief who came there. The Unfinished City by Donald A. Wollheim , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, just so you know, your 5 star reviews never get old! This from Slacker Jake, “Hooked. Hooked on the first episode the narrat...

Holden made love to his friends wife. Because he couldn’t help it. The Portable Star by Isaac Asimov , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. There will come a time when we will run out of stories in the public domain to share with you that were written by Isaac Asimov, fortunately today, is not that day. Considering when it was published in 1955 this story was more than a little risqué. By today...

What happened to the Smith Wrecking and Salvage Company when it tried to tear down the all fluoryl plastic City Hall is enough to make a man with a heart of stone laugh. Fluorocarbons are Here to Stay! By Donald E. Westlake , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Sometimes you read a story and fall in love with the author. Such was the case when I read Donald E. Westlake’s The Spy in the Elevato...

As long as midnight cloaks the earth with shadows grim and dark, God save us from the Judas kiss of a dead man in the dark. The Fearsome Touch of Death by Robert E. Howard , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Your 5 star reviews on Apple Podcasts are appreciated, nospammers2010 gave us 5 Stars and says, “Expert curation of the golden age. I’ve been a fan of sci-fi for decades, and very much a...

He walked alone in the dawn and the dusk, and no one knew his name. But the day he perished, and the way he perished–a world will never forget! Mimic by Donald A. Wollheim , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to podcast listener Marwin de Haan who bought us 5 coffees and says “Thank you so much for making my daily commute pleasurable. I love the stories you pick to narrate, and...

All the Grahams desired was a home they could call their own ... but what did the home want? Old Rambling House by Frank Herbert , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks for all you do to help promote our podcast. In the last few days, thanks to you, more people have listened than ever before. We have our highest ranking ever in Canada, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, The Philippines...

What happens when a robot programmed to obey commits murder in the heat of summer? Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another 5 star rating and review! This from Johnny Vancouver on Apple Podcasts Canada who says, “The best! Simply, the best vintage sci fi podcast ever. Great stories here that I would never have heard of if not for this podcast.” Thank yo...

To the mighty lords of infinity he sent a burning message–“You can deny a man everything–everything but his heritage… the stars!” Outcast of the Stars by Ray Bradbury , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. One of the most celebrated writers of science fiction returns to the podcast today. This is the 13th Ray Bradbury story on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Initially published as Outcast of the Stars...

“You ask us of Mars for a weapon to save your world. We have it–but it is not for you Earthman. Men may die and planets perish, but we break not the law of the universe–Every civilization must work out its own destiny!” The Weapon by Isaac Asimov , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. When we started The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast a little over two years ago we had no idea what to expect, would anybod...

Cordovir and Hum encounter a mysterious metallic object balancing on fire! As they debate its origins, a chilling realization sets in: what lurks inside could challenge everything they know about morality and truth. The Monsters by Robert Sheckley , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks to our thousands of listeners who listen on Spotify where we have 191 ratings with an average rating of...

It was a dream house; yet the dream could have been a nightmare… The Missing Room by Lynn Venable , that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Your support for our podcast has been phenomenal and we thank you. Future Space Engineer bought us 5 coffees and says, “Great narration and story curation!” Thanks Future Space Engineer! ☕ Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/scottsV We will never get...