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

“Normality” is a myth; we're all a little neurotic, and the study of neurosis has been able to classify the general types of disturbance which are most common. And some types (providing the subject is not suffering so extreme a case as to have crossed the border into psychosis) can be not only useful, but perhaps necessary for certain kinds of work…. The Hills of Home by Alfred Coppel. That’s next...

Consider the poor mailman of the future. To "sleet and snow and dead of night"—things that must not keep him from his appointed rounds—will be added, sub-zero void, meteors, and planets that won't stay put. Maybe he'll decide that for six cents an ounce it just ain't worth it. Postmark Ganymede by Robert Silverberg. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. I absolutely love showcasing the...

Being unique is a matter of pride—but being a complete mathematical impossibility? Man of Distinction by Michael Shaara. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Well, would you look at that… The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast has officially rocketed past 2 MILLION downloads! Two. Million! But here we are, with millions of plays — all thanks to you. Yes, you with the earbuds, the late-night playlist, and the...

Thornwald had done his tour of duty for the Solar Service; now it was time for him to retire. But a life of relaxation would not be simple on—Bleekman's Planet by Randall Garrett and Robert Silverberg. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. If you picked up the February 1957 issue of Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy , you’d probably think today’s story was written by Ivar Jorgensen . Bu...

For unmarked ages a dead man kept his ghostly vigil on that barren, frozen asteroid. Dead Man's Planet by Russ Winterbotham. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. This is a brand-new story making its debut on our podcast. If the title Dead Man’s Planet rings a bell, that’s because we’ve featured another tale with the same name before — but rest assured, this is a completely different story. Let’...

He was the oldest man on Mars ... in fact, the only one! The Hermit of Mars by Stephen Bartholomew. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. All we know about Stephen Bartholomew is that six of his stories were published from 1957 to 1963. We will find today’s story on page 49 in Worlds of Tomorrow Magazine published in October 1963, The Hermit of Mars by Stephen Bartholomew... Next on The Lost Sci...

Captain Brandon was a pioneer. He explored the far reaches of space and reported back on how things were out there. So it was pretty disquieting to find out that the “far reaches of space” knew more about what went on at home than he did. The Quantum Jump by Robert Wicks. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Another day, another podcast and another author we know nothing about. Don’t know when...

It was a wonderful bodyguard: no bark, no bite, no sting ... just conversion of the enemy! Martians Never Die by Lucius Daniel. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Lucius Daniel makes his first appearance on the podcast today! We wish we could share a full backstory on him, but like many authors who only published a handful of tales, there’s not much information out there. What we do know is t...

Alone on the scorching side of this tiny little world, an astronaut races against time as the blazing sun creeps closer to incinerating him. Survival depends on outthinking the most unforgiving environment in the solar system. Summertime on Icarus by Arthur C. Clarke. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to MizzBassie who bought us $50 worth of coffee recently. She says, “one of...

Haunted by their dark heritage, a medieval fate awaited them… Strange Alliance by Bryce Walton. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. You’ve heard Bryce Walton twice previously on the podcast, Moon of Memory and Savage Galahad . He returns with a short story from Fantasy Book, Volume 1, Number 1 , published in 1947. Turn to page 22 for, Strange Alliance by Bryce Walton… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi P...

The space ships were miracles of power and precision; the men who manned them, rich in endurance and courage. Every detail had been checked and double checked; every detail except—The Nothing Equation by Tom Godwin. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Tom Godwin was born in Maryland back in 1915, and life wasn’t exactly easy for him early on—he left school after the third grade. But he had a w...

They were inside the sun, in a temperature of 900 Kelvin. With the refrigerators out there was only one wild chance to pull through. Ground by Hal Clement. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We’re back! After a tough stretch with some health challenges, that’s all behind us now—and we couldn’t be more excited. You’ll be seeing lots more episodes every week, and we’ve got another big change co...

Sir Ian's proposal shocked them all. They were spacemen. This was not a thing that they'd know how to do. Fall of Knight by A. Bertram Chandler. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today marks the 400th episode of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thank you for your support, your encouragement and thank you of listening!! The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast has showcased A. Bertram Chandler only once to date, with...

He knew, to the exact minute, when he was going to die. And Earth was too far away to reach…. And Miles To Go Before I Sleep by William F. Nolan... That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. More 5 star reviews on Apple Podcasts! This from FabRascal67, “Great, but… Love the storytelling. Keeps the mind busy during slow periods at work. My only complaint is I wish the covers weren’t done by AI.” Thank...

There was more at stake than just a football game for Lancelot Biggs and the crew of the Saturn. So Biggs made a bargain; his rocket emblem in exchange for a new uranium condenser—and how it worked! The Madness of Lancelot Biggs by Nelson S. Bond. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Some of you have probably noticed that there haven’t been as many podcast episodes lately. That wasn’t planned!...

They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar. They were to learn a better name. The Star Beast by Damon Knight. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Damon Knight returns to the podcast today with a story from Planet Stories Magazine. We will discover our story in the Spring 1949 issue on page 59, The Star Beast by Damon Knight… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi...

You Nailed the Future, Joe—Why Didn’t You See This Coming? You Were Right, Joe by J. T. McIntosh. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. We start the podcast today with a huge THANK YOU to you, our listeners around the world. We’ve just reached a new milestone — we’re now the #2 Science Fiction Podcast in Japan! That makes 44 countries where we are #1 or #2. We are thankful for your amazing suppo...

A man and his cat. A bond… broken. Then came the madness. The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe … That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Here’s another new 5-star review from Apple Podcasts Australia, courtesy of a listener named “Why make it worse?” “Fantastic Podcast - Can’t wait for each story. Every time I get in the car for the commute I check if I can listen to a new one! Brilliant stories, wond...

Seeing it in action, anybody would quaver in alarm: What hath Farnsworth overwrought? The Big Bounce by Walter S. Tevis. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s tale comes from an author whose name may not be as instantly recognizable as some, but whose work has left a lasting impact on both science fiction and American literature. Born in San Francisco in 1928, Walter Tevis spent much of...

Super warfare has destroyed the old race of man, but elsewhere a new civilization is dawning… Flight Through Tomorrow by Stanton A. Coblentz. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Stanton A. Coblentz was born in San Francisco, California, in 1896. He earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley, and began his career as a poet and journalist before tu...

Hall and Upjohn had to escape from that "No-man's-land" on Mercury. But to form a plan, they had to think—and their captors could read minds. The Thought-Men of Mercury by Russ Winterbotham. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. It’s 1942. The world is at war, but on newsstands across America, another kind of battle rages—in the pulp pages of Planet Stories magazine. Crack open the Fal...

Privileged we are to bring you this historic story—one which will warm the manly hearts of the legion of devoted admirers of that venerable fantasist, Arthur Wright Beemis. The Yes Men of Venus by Ron Goulart. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Special thanks to Eaten by a Grue. Five months ago Mr. Grue bought us $25 worth of coffee and today chose to become a monthly supporter of The Lost Sc...

Marooned on a world within a world, aided by a slim girl and an old warrior, Patrolman Sisko Rolf was fighting his greatest battle—to bring life to dying Mars. The Hairy Ones by Basil Wells . That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Basil Wells makes his debut on the podcast today. Born in 1912 in Springboro, Pennsylvania, Wells wrote science fiction, fantasy westerns and detective stories sometime...

A ruthless metal monster is programmed to destroy—and only one man can stop it. Robot Nemesis by E. E. Doc Smith. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Edward Elmer Smith, better known as “Doc” Smith, was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, back in 1890. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Idaho in 1914, and later worked as a chemist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture...

Together they discussed the Nobles—the old prospector and the weary, frightened man. Then—utter terror struck! The Nobles Are Coming by Arthur Jean Cox. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Today’s featured fiction is like a bite-sized candy bar—same rich ingredients, just in a smaller package. Arthur Jean Cox , born in 1929, was a science fiction fan before becoming an author. Based in the Los...