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

Latest Episodes:

Watchbird by Robert Sheckley - The End of Murder—And the Start of Something Worse Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

Strange how often the Millenium has been at hand. The idea is peace on Earth, see, and the way to do it is by figuring out angles. Watchbird by Robert Sheckley, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

We added 3 episodes to the podcast last week, and we’re doing it again this week, to say thank you for the explosion of new listeners and to reward you, our listeners who have been with us for a long time.

I had never read a science fiction story by Robert Sheckley until Jesse recommend him. Sheckley was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on July 16th, 1928. After graduating high school, he hitchhiked across country to California.

He worked several jobs, joined the Army and left military service just two years later. Sheckley graduated from New York University in 1951 and within months his career as a writer took off. In late 1951 he sold his first story, “Final Examination” to “Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy” magazine. He wrote more than 120 short stories in the 1950s and he continued writing until he died in 2005.

He not only wrote short stories and novels but TV series episodes too. His 1953 short story “Seventh Victim” was the basis for the Italian film The 10th Victim. It starred Ursula Andress. You will hear “Seventh Victim” in a few weeks here on the podcast.

The movie “Robots” which came out a few weeks ago starring Shailene Woodley is based on the Robert Sheckley short story “The Robot Who Looked Like Me”

The short story you’re about to hear was adapted for the short-lived TV series Masters of Science Fiction. We’ll find our story in the February 1953 publication, “Galaxy Science Fiction” magazine. Turn to page 74 for Watchbird by Robert Sheckley…

In 2 days on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, you asked for it and we’re doing it. A combination of two requests. You asked for more super short science fiction stories and you asked for longer episodes of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. So, why not both? We’ve got 9 kinda short sci-fi stories for you in an episode that’s a little over two hours! That’s in 2 days onThe Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

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Planet of the Angry Giants by Robert Silverberg Jul 08, 2023

Show notes

The inhabitants of Dunhill V were gigantic. They were peaceful and good natured until something happened to upset them–and then their wrath was truly terrific! Planet of the Angry Giants by Robert Silverberg, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Welcome to our new listeners in Leicester England, Luxembourg, Omaha Nebraska, Inglewood California, Vancouver British Columbia and Annadale Minnesota.

More new 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts. Mo_San says, “By far the most bang for your buck short stories podcast. I’ve listened to a ton of short story podcasts over the years, I can safely say, this is a keeper. I come every week to listen to the latest gem posted on this podcast. The narrator makes it extra special with his performance taking the listener to the universe of the story.” ThanksMo_San!

And this 5 star rating and review on Apple podcasts comes to us from Zr357, “Outstanding!!! This is hands down the best sci-fi podcast on the planet!! The narration is out of this world!!” Thank you Zr357!

This is our third podcast this week and we’re doing three more podcasts next week. It’s our way of saying thank you to the hundreds of new podcast and Youtube listeners from all over the world. We appreciate you and we listen to you. Send us an email anytime about anything at scott@lostscifi.com.

Big things were happening in August 1959. On August 7th Explorer VI became the first satellite to transmit a live photo of Earth from space. Also, in August 1959 Super Science Fiction magazine featured two stories by Robert Silverberg even though his name isn’t listed in the credits. Silverberg used a pen name for Monsters That Once Were Men which was featured previously on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. He used the pen name Dirk Clinton for the second story in the issue. Turn with me to page 62 for Planet of The Angry Giants by Robert Silverberg

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, a request from Jesse, Strange how often the Millenium has been at hand. The idea is peace on Earth, see, and the way to do it is by figuring out angles. Watchbird by Robert Sheckley. That’s next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

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The Black Ewe by Fritz Leiber Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

She Brought Death to All Who Walked Behind Her! The Black Ewe by Fritz Leiber, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Welcome to this special edition of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. No, it hasn’t been a week since our last episode, but I couldn’t wait to share today’s story with you.

I’ll admit I like every one of the stories we narrate, but this one is one of my all-time favorites.

Fritz Leiber began spinning dark and delicate webs of science fiction and fantasy in 1939, when his first tales began appearing in the long defunct publication,

Unknown. Leiber has been described as an actor, author and world traveler, and recognized as one of the all-time titans of science fiction.

From the May 1950 issue of Startling Stories Magazine, turn to page 117 for Fritz Lieber’s, The Black Ewe…

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, The inhabitants of Dunhill V were gigantic. They were peaceful and good natured until something happened to upset them–and then their wrath was truly terrific! Planet of the Angry Giants by Robert Silverberg. That’s next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

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The Black Ewe by Fritz Leiber Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

She Brought Death to All Who Walked Behind Her! The Black Ewe by Fritz Leiber, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Welcome to this special edition of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. No, it hasn’t been a week since our last episode, but I couldn’t wait to share today’s story with you.

I’ll admit I like every one of the stories we narrate, but this one is one of my all-time favorites.

Fritz Leiber began spinning dark and delicate webs of science fiction and fantasy in 1939, when his first tales began appearing in the long-defunct publication Unknown. Leiber has been described as an actor, author, and world traveler, and recognized as one of the all-time titans of science fiction.

From the May 1950 issue of Startling Stories Magazine, turn to page 117 for Fritz Leiber’s The Black Ewe…

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast: The inhabitants of Dunhill V were gigantic. They were peaceful and good-natured until something happened to upset them—and then their wrath was truly terrific! Planet of the Angry Giants by Robert Silverberg. That’s next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

===========================

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Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee

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The Mind Digger by Winston Marks Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

There was a reason why his scripts were smash hits—they had realism. And why not? He was reliving every scene and emotion in them! The Mind Digger by Winston Marks, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Thanks to miss hitler who left us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, “A Million miles from here. The stories take me away from this every day world and let’s my imagination shine through!” Another 5-star review from NT MriGuy, “Far out! I’m really enjoying your story telling of vintage sci-fi. I have been pleasantly entertained by your back stories and amounts of historical information. So informative, entertaining and enlightening! Thank you for this gem! T from Texas” Thanks to both of you for your reviews!

Our author, Winston Marks, is one of the reasons we started narrating vintage sci-fi and one of the reasons we call these stories lost sci-fi. About two years ago I started thinking about narrating science fiction because I’m a sci-fi fan. I did some research and discovered thousands of vintage sci-fi short stories that had never been available as audiobooks. Seemed a shame that these amazing stories weren’t available, so I decided to call these stories lost sci-fi, started selling these sci-fi short stories and a few months later The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast was born.

Winston Marks could be the poster boy for Lost Sci-Fi. I like his writing and yet I couldn’t find any of his short stories available in audio.

A writer strives for realism–but to this boy it came easy. He lived his scenes! We’ll find our story on page 77 in the April 1958 Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy, The Mind Digger by Winston Marks…

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, I have no idea why, but next week’s story is one of my favorites, She Brought Death to All Who Walked Behind Her! The Black Ewe by Fritz Leiber. That’s next week onThe Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Support the show

https://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-mind-digger-by-winston-marks-episode-78/

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The Gun by Philip K. Dick - Philip K. Dick Short Stories Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Nothing moved or stirred. Everything was silent, dead. Only the gun showed signs of life ... and the trespassers had wrecked that for all time. The return journey to pick up the treasure would be a cinch ... they smiled. The Gun by Philip K. Dick, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

In the last week we have added hundreds of new listeners all over the world and last week’s episode featuring The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury had more listeners in its first week, by far, than any other episode of the Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Thank you for making that happen.

Our story comes from Planet Stories magazine in September 1952. More space on the cover is devoted to author Mark Ganes and his feature story Evil Out of Onzar than any other story that appeared in the magazine. Who is Mark Ganes? I don’t know. I couldn’t find any information about him, nor could I find any other story that he’d ever written. The cover lists five of the seven authors in the issue. One of the guys who wasn’t mentioned. A relatively unknown author, at the time, named Philip K. Dick. Turn to page 46 for The Gun…

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, There was a reason why his scripts were smash hits—they had realism. And why not? He was reliving every scene and emotion in them! The Mind Digger by Winston Marks... that’s next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Support the show

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The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Mad, impossible world! Sun-blasted by day, cold-wracked by night—and life condensed by radiation into eight days! Sim eyed the Ship—if he only dared reach it and escape! ... but it was more than half an hour distant—the limit of life itself! The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is now the #1 Science Fiction Podcast in the Cayman Islands and Costa Rica, #3 in Belarus, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Poland and India. You continue to share and recommend us and you are growing this podcast and we thank you.

Your request for longer stories brings us to the longest podcast we’ve ever done. Let’s go back in time almost 77 years ago. Turn to page 94 in the fall 1946 issue of Planet Stories Magazine, The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury…

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, the return of Philip K. Dick, Nothing moved or stirred. Everything was silent, dead. Only the gun showed signs of life ... and the trespassers had wrecked that for all time. The return journey to pick up the treasure would be a cinch ... they smiled. The Gun by Philip K. Dick.

That’s next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Support the show

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The Hated by Frederik Pohl Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

After space, there was always one more river to cross ... the far side of hatred and murder! The Hated by Frederik Pohl, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

5 Star reviews continue to pour in from all over the world. DiverBR via Apple Podcasts Brazil gave us 5 stars and writes “I’m glad I found this. Hi from Brazil. This podcast is awesome. A great selection of stories from the golden age of science fiction that I would probably never have heard about if it weren't for this podcast. The narrator does an excellent job, with a clear and calm voice. Indispensable for true science fiction fans.” Thanks for listening and for your review DiverBR.

Another 5-star review, this time from bwdesmo. “A legitimate top tier pod. I can’t do justice to how good this podcast is, truly. The host has an affect and vocal style that’s just perfect. The stories are buried gems, sure, there’s problematic vocabulary but you have to enjoy it in the spirit it’s offered. I LOVE seeing how creative people from 40-50 years ago, imagined how the world would exist. It’s just glorious and I love it.” Thanks, bwdesmo!

Your reviews and 5-star ratings are making a difference in the number of listeners to The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, and we thank you. If you haven’t already left us a review on Apple Podcasts, please do so. And thanks for your 5-star ratings on Spotify!

You’ll find today’s story in the January 1958 edition of Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine. If you have a copy of the magazine, you’ll see the author is listed as Paul Flehr, even though it was written by Frederik Pohl. It’s possible that The Hated was credited to one of Mr. Pohl’s many alternate names because the first 46 pages of the magazine were taken up by a Frederik Pohl novella titled The Knights of Arthur. Right after that, starting on page 47, The Hated by Frederik Pohl …

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, a longer podcast thanks to your requests. It’s our first podcast that’s a little longer than two hours. We go back 77 years to the fall of 1946,

Mad, impossible world! Sun-blasted by day,cold-wracked by night—and life condensed byradiation into eight days! Sim eyed theShip—if he only dared reach it andescape! ... but it was more than half anhour distant—the limit of life itself!The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury.

That’s next week onThe Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Support the show

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Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Bold and ruthless, he was famed throughout the System as a big-game hunter. From the firedrakes of Mercury to the ice-crawlers of Pluto, he'd slain them all. But his trophy-room lacked one item; and now Riordan swore he'd bag the forbidden game that roamed the red deserts ... a Martian! Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson, that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

Today’s episode of the podcast marks the debut of Poul Anderson. Anderson was no ordinary science fiction author. He has been called ''one of the five or six most important writers to appear during the science-fiction publishing boom of the decade following the end of World War II.''

To call him prolific would be a vast understatement. His wife, Karen, said she did not know how many books he wrote, saying. ''We lost count after 100.'' As for short stories, I stopped counting at 150.

Poul William Anderson was born on November 25th, 1926, in Bristol, Pennsylvania, to Anton and Astrid Anderson. His father had anglicized the spelling of the family name, originally Andersen. He told his wife she could name their first child, and she chose Poul.

His father died in a car crash when Poul was 11. His mother took him and his brother first to Denmark, then to Maryland, and finally to a 40-acre farm in southern Minnesota.

While growing up in Minnesota Poul found himself spending all of his tiny allowance on subscriptions to science fiction magazines. And so, his love of science fiction began.

A former president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, he won numerous awards, including three Nebula and seven Hugo awards. In 1997 the association named him a Grandmaster and he was inducted into the Science Fiction Fantasy Hall of Fame.

He had a few short science fiction stories published in the 1940s, but his career really took off in the 1950s when more than 70 of his stories appeared in Astounding Science Fiction, Super Science Stories, Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy and other publications. Today’s story appeared in March 1951 in Planet Stories magazine. Let’s turn to page 5 for Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson…

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, After space, there was always one more river to cross ... the far side of hatred and murder! The Hated by Frederik Pohl. That’s next week onThe Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

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Death Star by James McKimmey Jr. May 30, 2023

Show notes

For twenty long unholy years Hurtz, the pilot, dreamed of retirement ... and found his "acre of heaven" on a Death Star. Death Star by James McKimmey Jr., that’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

We have several new 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts. This was written by TCBermy, “Classics from the Masters. Great stories! I listen every week, sometimes the stories are shorts by a famous master of vintage Sci-Fi. Sometimes they are great stories by someone you never heard of. The narrator is perfect, I imagine sitting in front of a classic radio.” Thank you TCBermy!!

And this from scifyfi, “Fantastic. The best stories with the absolute best reading. It’s like an audio drama read by one person with voices to match many different characters. So glad I gave this a listen. Now it’s all I listen too. Some episodes more than once.” Thank you scifyfi!!

Your reviews on Apple Podcasts are greatly appreciated, if you haven’t already been to Apple Podcasts to give us a review please do so.

As TCBermy said in his review, “Sometimes they are great stories by someone you never heard of.” He just described James McKimmey Jr. He didn’t write a lot of science fiction and he isn’t very well known. Born in 1923 he grew up mostly in Red Cloud, Nebraska and then graduated from Omaha Central High School. After selling his first short story, he said, "I cared to do nothing as an occupation except write fiction."

Turn to page 68 in the September 1953 edition of “Planet Stories magazine” Death Star by James McKimmey Jr.

Next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast,

That’s next week on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.

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