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

He builds the perfect opponent, then realizes the contest won’t mean anything unless it can truly cost him something. When he finally forces that moment into existence, he has to decide whether victory is still worth pulling the trigger. The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.This is the first story by Larry Eisenberg featured on the podcast. He was born in the Bronx in December 1919 and built a career that spanned both science and writing.Alongside his science fiction, Eisenberg worked as a biomedical engineer and became widely known for the witty limericks he posted in the comment sections of The New York Times. When he died in 2018 at the age of 99, the paper honored him with the headline, “Larry Eisenberg, 99, Dead; His Limericks Were Very Well Read.”He studied at City College of New York, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, and later continued at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, completing both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electronics.With that kind of technical foundation, it’s no surprise this story reflects the idea that writers often draw from what they know.Over the course of his career, he wrote about fifty short stories between 1962 and 1988. This was only his second published story, appearing in Amazing Stories in October 1963 on page 35, The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A discovery that could rewrite medicine instead threatens to erase the man who reaches for it first. Now one decision must be made—protect the truth, or bury it forever to preserve a lifetime of belief. The Sweeper of Loray by Robert Sheckley.👉 💎 Lost Sci-Fi Premium - https://lostscifi.supercast.com/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Fintan Quigley, Curious Jon, David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Steve, Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 David, Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 Tammy, Owen, Bruce, Someone, TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-fastest-draw-by-larry-eisenberg/

A seasoned trapper finds a doorway to a richer land—but something on the other side is already feeding and watching. When the hunting turns both ways, he must decide whether to claim the new world or survive it. Cat and Mouse by Ralph Williams. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Lost Sci-Fi Premium members can listen to Cat and Mouse and the other 520 episodes of the podcast without commercials. Bonus episodes for premium members too. It’s less than 20 cents a day to be a Lost Sci-Fi Premium subscriber.Go to https://lostscifi.com/premium or click on the link in the description and enjoy a 7 day free trial.👉 💎 Lost Sci-Fi Premium - https://lostscifi.supercast.com/I had never heard of Cat and Mouse or author Ralph Williams, until I got an email from Fintan Quigley in Ireland asking if we would narrate the story. When we said yes Fintan sent us 5 coffees. “Thanks for reading Cat & Mouse, I hope this podcast continues to be the success it has been for as long as you wish!”Thanks Fintan for the kind words and the coffee, and for requesting such a great story! By the way you don’t have to buy us a coffee when you request a story, but it is nice.Ralph Williams was the pen name for Ralph William Slone who was born in Effingham, Illinois in 1914. He moved to Alaska and wrote eleven stories that were published from 1940 to 1959. Cat and Mouse was recognized as his most notable work, and was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1960. It didn’t win and it would be his last story, he died in a fishing accident after Cat and Mouse was released. He was only 45 years old.Published on page 8 of Astounding Science Fiction in June 1959, Cat and Mouse by Ralph Williams…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, He builds the perfect opponent, then realizes the contest won’t mean anything unless it can truly cost him something. When he finally forces that moment into existence, he has to decide whether victory is still worth pulling the trigger. The Fastest Draw by Larry Eisenberg.👉 💎 Lost Sci-Fi Premium - https://lostscifi.supercast.com/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Fintan Quigley, Curious Jon, David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Steve, Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 David, Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 Tammy, Owen, Bruce, Someone, TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/cat-and-mouse-by-ralph-williams/

A quiet accountant accepts a game-show challenge that promises a fortune if he can predict the world’s headlines after months cut off from civilization. With one hundred thousand dollars on the line, the only question is whether his careful predictions will be enough to claim the prize. The Long Question by David Mason. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.This is just the second story by David Mason on the podcast. Mason wrote about a dozen short science fiction stories mostly in the 1950s and four novels from 1969 to 1973. From Infinity Science Fiction in November 1957 on page 88, The Long Question by David Mason…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A decision has to be made before the clock runs out, and every method designed to produce certainty keeps failing. With millions of lives in the balance, the only answer left may come from a man who knows how to bet when there’s no second chance. One-Shot by James Blish.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Fintan Quigley, Curious Jon, David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Steve, Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 David, Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 Tammy, Owen, Bruce, Someone, TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-long-question-by-david-mason/

A brilliant alien intelligence has quietly crossed impossible distances, and Earth has no idea it has already been chosen. When one man uncovers the truth, stopping what’s coming may require more than courage—it may demand everything. The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Thanks to Bruce in Houston for buying us a coffee. Enjoy your podcast. Thanks for many hours of listening pleasure.” Thanks Bruce for listening for many hours! If you’d like to support The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, you can buy us a coffee using the link in the description.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeWe narrated our first story by Hal K. Wells a week ago and I enjoyed it so much he’s back with another. Today’s story was in the January 1931 issue of Astounding Stories of Super-Science on page 46, The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A quiet accountant accepts a game-show challenge that promises a fortune if he can predict the world’s headlines after months cut off from civilization. With one hundred thousand dollars on the line, the only question is whether his careful predictions will be enough to claim the prize. The Long Question by David Mason.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Curious Jon, David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Steve, Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 David, Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 Tammy, Owen, Bruce, Someone, TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-gate-to-xoran-by-hal-k-wells/

An old spaceman lies dying while a rocket prepares for launch nearby. As the final countdown approaches, he fights for one last moment that proves his life in space meant something. Death of a Spaceman by Walter M. Miller Jr. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Someone bought us 5 coffees, “What a delight to find your podcast recently! I love these vintage stories that you have resurrected. You do a fine job with narration - each of the different characters sounds distinctive. It’s become my habit to check for your latest story almost daily - and I also have hundreds of unheard stories in your podcast to enjoy.More coffees will be bought for you in the future!”Thank you Someone! Happy to hear you enjoy the narration and we will keep the vintage sci-fi coming. If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description.Walter M. Miller Jr. is best known for A Canticle for Leibowitz, his only novel published during his lifetime, which won the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Today’s story was published a few years earlier during the period when Miller was producing some of his most powerful short fiction for pulp magazines.From the March 1954 issue of Amazing Stories, turn to page 6 for Death of a Spaceman by Walter M. Miller Jr. …Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A brilliant alien intelligence has quietly crossed impossible distances, and Earth has no idea it has already been chosen. When one man uncovers the truth, stopping what’s coming may require more than courage—it may demand everything. The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Someone, David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/death-of-a-spaceman-by-walter-m-miller/

In a future where emotion is engineered and desire is regulated, a respected surgeon begins to sense a flaw in the system he helps enforce. When doctrine collides with instinct, the cost of perfect control becomes impossible to ignore. The Body-Masters by Frank Belknap Long. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Thanks to David who recently bought us two coffees. “One of my favorite podcasts, and my favorite science fiction 'cast. Please add some more Asimov and Robert Heinlein. Your podcast has given me a new appreciation for Philip K Dick.”Thanks David! There aren’t many more Isaac Asimov stories that are in the public domain that we haven’t already narrated, but there are a handful, we will find one and add it to the podcast as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there aren’t any more stories by Robert Heinlein left for us to narrate. Happy to hear that you have enjoyed the stories by Philip K. Dick, his stories are always fun to narrate.If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeWe have developed a new found appreciation for Frank Belknap Long’s work as of late. Look for another of his creative works in the next week or so.Today’s tale was published in Weird Tales Magazine in February 1935 on page 189, The Body-Masters by Frank Belknap Long…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An old spaceman lies dying while a rocket prepares for launch nearby. As the final countdown approaches, he fights for one last moment that proves his life in space meant something. Death of a Spaceman by Walter M. Miller.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 David, Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-body-masters-by-frank-belknap-long/

Human explorers believe they’ve conquered a fading Martian village and are reshaping its future. But inside one quiet back room, a different group studies the invaders and prepares to decide whether the colonists will ever leave Mars alive. The Crowded Colony by Jerome Bixby. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Jerome Bixby was a busy man in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Born in Los Angeles in 1923, he wrote more than 60 short sci-fi stories from 1949 to 1964. But wait there’s more! Jerome Bixby wrote 4 episodes for the original Star Trek, "Mirror, Mirror" , "By Any Other Name", "Day of the Dove" and "Requiem for Methuselah”.He collaborated with Otto Klement on the story that later served as the basis for the science fiction film Fantastic Voyage in 1966.Today’s story was early in his career, only his third published story, appearing in the Fall 1950 Planet Stories magazine on page 36, The Crowded Colony by Jerome Bixby…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, In a future where emotion is engineered and desire is regulated, a respected surgeon begins to sense a flaw in the system he helps enforce. When doctrine collides with instinct, the cost of perfect control becomes impossible to ignore. The Body-Masters by Frank Belknap Long☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-crowded-colony-by-jerome-bixby/

The night the moon turns an eerie green, every living creature on Earth falls into a silent paralysis—except one scientist who stumbles onto the secret too late to warn the world. Now, with alien invaders already preparing to claim the planet, he must launch a desperate strike before the last free mind on Earth fades into the same living death. When the Moon Turned Green by Hal K. Wells. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Harold Kerton Wells was born in September 1899 in Little Hocking, Ohio. Writing under the name Hal K. Wells, he produced science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories featuring alien worlds, strange creatures, and dangerous scientific discoveries. When the Moon Turned Green marks the first story by Wells featured on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.His stories often place human characters in direct conflict with strange creatures, alien settings, and dangerous scientific discoveries. About two dozen of his stories were published in magazines between 1929 and 1954.Let’s turn to page 241 in the May 1931 issue of Astounding Stories, When the Moon Turned Green by Hal K. Wells…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Human explorers believe they’ve conquered a fading Martian village and are reshaping its future. But inside one quiet back room, a different group studies the invaders and prepares to decide whether the colonists will ever leave Mars alive. The Crowded Colony by Jerome Bixby.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee===========================🎧 Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtubeX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyBluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lostscifipodcast.bsky.social👕 Merchandise - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/===========================❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/when-the-moon-turned-green-by-hal-k-wells/