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

Shandy was a teddy bear, a lion, an ape, a rival for Nancy Tanner’s affections.... But what else was he? Shandy by Ron Goulart. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Someone who bought us $15 worth of coffee. We appreciate you! You can contribute to the podcast anonymously or tell us who are you are, it’s entirely up to you. If you’d like to buy us a coffee there is a link in t...

On a still night under a rising golden moon, a man begins to reveal the strange vision that has haunted him since childhood. What follows is a chilling account of a life he only lives in dreams. The Dream Snake by Robert E. Howard. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. The 5 star reviews keep rolling in, this from T.L.D. Isme on Apple Podcasts Canada, “ Very Nice. Great readings with high qualit...

She was just a sweet, kind-hearted old landlady who couldn't keep her nose out of other people’s business. This was very unfortunate for Mr. Thobal. The Man Who Was Pale by Jack Sharkey. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Let’s step back in time to December 1959, when Fantastic Science Fiction Stories delivered eerie, unforgettable tales. On page 78, Jack Sharkey delivers an atmosphere of dre...

That man beside you may be a Martian. They own our world, but only a few wise and far-seeing men like Lyman know it! Don’t Look Now by Henry Kuttner. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. It’s not uncommon for a good vintage science fiction story to appear in anthologies years after its initial publication. But very few can be found in more than 40 publications. Henry Kuttner himself chose today...

Behind closed doors and under the cover of night, a spacecraft rises. Conceived in confidence and launched in silence, this is the unforgettable tale of Friendship Eleven. The Secret Flight of Friendship Eleven by Alfred Connable. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s author, Alfred Connable, had only one published story. Connable was a poli sci graduate of the University of Michigan and...

An ancient intelligence stirs, locked in a struggle for survival against forces both familiar and alien. But when outsiders arrive with their own secret agenda, the battle takes an unexpected and perilous turn. Process by A. E. Van Vogt. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. There are two stories today on the podcast, a short story and a really short story. First up from Fantasy & Science Fi...

A man flees his tedious modern life by traveling back to the age of dinosaurs, convinced he’ll find freedom in prehistoric adventure. But his dream of escape soon reveals just how small—and fragile—he truly is. Poor Little Warrior! By Brian W. Aldiss. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Because of your support, The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast continues to grow in amazing ways across the globe. We’re n...

It doesn't take a heap of leaving to make any house a nightmare. One vanishing door will do nastily. Thirty Degrees Cattywonkus by James Bell. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Author James Bell joins a long list of vintage sci-fi authors we know nothing about. He wrote two stories that were published in the 1960s and that’s that. By the way, in case you were wondering, the word Cattywonkus...

Humanity’s reach for the stars promised glory, but destiny had other plans. In the vast silence of space, triumph and tragedy walk side by side. Cosmic Tragedy by Thomas S. Gardiner. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thomas S. Gardiner may have only written one story, or he may have written five or six, there are conflicting reports so we can’t be sure. But we do know this story was publishe...

Patch Merrick and Zaarrgon Try to Win a Stake in Order to Escape the Vengeance of a Dazzling but Dangerous Beauty! Gambler's Asteroid By Manly Wade Wellman. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s episode marks the debut of Manly Wade Wellman here on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast! Wellman was born in West Africa, in 1903, where his father was a medical officer. His early years surrounded by stor...

Narant's personal problem seemed of more importance than his mission as an interstellar investigator. But they combined when he met—The Incredible Aliens by William Bender Jr. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We are so thankful for you! More 5 star reviews from Apple Podcasts US. This from orcababe, “Amazing show, AI images and all. Long time listener and big fan. Wanted to say that I appre...

People were trampled underfoot, people were crunched by ten-foot teeth in huge, fanged jaws - people died by the hundreds that day were eaten like tidbits! The Day the Monsters Broke Loose by Robert Silverberg. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. In June 1959, Super Science Fiction magazine published its second Monster Issue. We’ve got one of those chilling tales for you today, while saving a...

Manning had spent his life exposing mail order frauds. But Forsythe's outfit topped them all. Its products were too good to exist—yet! Guaranteed—Forever! By Frank M. Robinson . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. It was November of 1953 when this story was published in Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy on page 104, Guaranteed—Forever! By Frank M. Robinson… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Pod...

It's much later. The question is ... how late? Later Than You Think by Fritz Leiber. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We have some amazing news to share—thanks to you, The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast has reached another new milestone! Out of thousands of science fiction podcasts, we just hit #14 in the United States—our highest ranking ever in the US. Even more incredible, we’ve already climbed to...

The Laws of Physics State That Two Bodies Cannot Occupy the Same Space at the Same Time-but Dr. Halday Finds a Loophole! The Broken Axiom by Alfred Bester. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Alfred Bester was just 25 years old in 1939, already a devoted reader of science fiction for over a decade. When Thrilling Wonder Stories announced a $50 prize contest, Bester took his shot—and won. That...

Shakish was the last of his kind. If the insulting Earthmen had only bothered to find out why he was a rare being they would have lived a whole lot longer. The Old Timer by Richard R. Smith . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’re running a quick listener survey to help make The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast the best it can be. Huge thanks to everyone who’s already taken a few minutes to fill it out—...

Along the quiet Devon coast, something stirs beneath the waves—something with tentacles, teeth, and a hunger for flesh. When it rises, the seaside will never be the same… The Sea Raiders by H. G. Wells. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thanks for your ratings and comments. We found this on Spotify, commenting on Two Black Bottles, David Szunyog says, “I loved this one! Perfect one for the c...

Old Dominie Vanderhoof was dead, but he did not rest in his grave, for evil was afoot in the old Dutch church. Two Black Bottles by H. P. Lovecraft. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. To be fair today’s story was actually written by H.P. Lovecraft and Wilfred Blanch Talman . When our story was published in Weird Tales it was credited solely to Talman. As the story goes, in the summer of 1926,...

It's obvious that, a fight between one man in a space-suit, and a full-fledged space cruiser is, certainly, "no contest". True-but you've got the wrong slant! Hide and Seek by Arthur C. Clarke. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Seventy-six years ago, back in 1949, you could fill your gas tank for just 26 cents a gallon and pick up a loaf of bread for only 14 cents. And for a quarte...

From Xebico a strange and uncanny story came over the wire in the wan hours before the dawn. The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Author H. F. Arnold is perfect for The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast because he is often referred to as a “Lost” author. Born in Galesburg, Illinois, a place where I once wrestled a bear, true story, the bear won. Henry Ferris Arnold only wrote...

Rogers was a hero . . if only he hadn't come back alive! The First Spaceman by Gene L. Henderson . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’ve heard from author Gene L. Henderson before on the podcast in a wonderfully strange tale first published in a 1953 issue of Fantastic Universe . Henderson introduced us to an alien species that, at first glance, seem adorable. But don’t let their cuteness...

Trust Lancelot Biggs to get his ship into a mess just when speed and good navigation meant the prize contract of the year…! Lancelot Biggs: Master Navigator by Nelson S. Bond. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. I really enjoy the writing of Nelson S. Bond, especially his offbeat character Lancelot Biggs. There’s just something about the way Bond mixes humor with wild sci-fi ideas that makes n...

Beneath the dust of a college museum stands a statue too lifelike to be mere art—Professor Thomas Kelvin, transformed by a strange and deadly fate. The Professors chilling account reveals the price of tampering with forces beyond human understanding. The Metal Man by Jack Williamson. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. A huge thank you for your 5-star reviews, your comments on Facebook, and th...

Multiple time–tracks lead to the Ajax Brewery! The Life–Work of Professor Muntz by Murray Leinster. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. “Here’s another glowing 5-star review straight from Apple Podcasts, Ma Suzie says, “Wonderful stories! Love love love this podcast!! I look very much forward to it every week!!” Thank you, Ma Suzie! Reviews like yours make all the late nights and early morning...

Alpha caught a handful of air, a globe of blue liquid, a rock, kneaded them together…. The Men Return by Jack Vance. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. When this story was published in 1957 this is what Infinity magazine had to say about it. “The Men Return is one of the most unusual stories ever written. We do not guarantee that you will like it, but we are sure that you will either like it...