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

A brilliant musician claims he has fallen through a hole in time, but his new friends are more interested in keeping him employed than believing his extraordinary story. As his obsession with finding a way home grows, the struggling musicians face the possibility of losing the one man who can save their careers. The Holes and John Smith by Edward W. Ludwig. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Author Edward W. Ludwig returns to The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast today for his third story. Previously, we’ve shared Inheritance and Spacemen Die at Home. Born in Tracy, California, in 1920, Ludwig served in the Coast Guard during World War II, including time in the Philippines. He was also a professional piano player, and his wife, Chris, was a folk singer.

From page 109 of the June 1954 issue of If Worlds of Science Fiction, The Holes and John Smith by Edward W. Ludwig…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A celebrated space pioneer becomes humanity’s greatest hero, but the story the world believes conceals a devastating deception. As a deadly disease threatens millions, one forgotten man must live with the knowledge that history has honored the wrong person. Synthetic Hero by Erik Fennel.

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John Stevens has survived something no human being was meant to experience, but the greatest danger may still lie ahead. When the military prepares to send him beyond Earth once more, Stevens must confront a terrifying possibility about what waits on the other side of the barrier. The Barrier by Bryce Walton. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

A big thank you to all of our wonderful listeners in the UK! Thanks to your generous 5-star ratings and reviews, The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast has an incredible average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars!

Our latest 5-star review comes from MrGW, who writes:

“Great sci fi stories. Unable to sleep, I came across this show and now I’m no longer wanting to sleep & the hours are flying by while i enjoy the stories. Lots I have never heard before. Thank you LOST Sci-Fi.”

Thank you, MrGW! I’m so glad you discovered The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, and I love hearing that you’re enjoying stories you’ve never encountered before. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!

And to everyone listening, if you’re enjoying The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, we’d love it if you would take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Your ratings and reviews mean so much to us and help other science fiction fans discover the podcast.

Of course, only if you think we’ve earned those five stars!

Bryce Walton is back on the podcast with an interesting story that first appeared in Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy, in February 1951 on page 58, The Barrier by Bryce Walton…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A brilliant musician claims he has fallen through a hole in time, but his new friends are more interested in keeping him employed than believing his extraordinary story. As his obsession with finding a way home grows, the struggling musicians face the possibility of losing the one man who can save their careers. The Holes and John Smith by Edward W. Ludwig.

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A race that cannot feel physical pain faces surprisingly terrifying danger. When an alien civilization begins to crumble under human cruelty, a boxing manager and his heavyweight champion must confront an enemy who knows exactly how to hurt them. The Protector by Betsy Curtis. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Today, we’re introducing another author to The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast for the very first time, Betsy Curtis.

Born Elizabeth Curtis in September, 1917, in Toledo, Ohio, her science fiction writing career began in 1950, when her first published story, Divine Right, appeared in the summer issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.

What’s interesting about Betsy Curtis is that she wasn’t a particularly prolific science fiction author. She’s credited with about 16 published science fiction stories between 1950 and 1973, and she never published a full-length novel.

But she certainly made an impression.

In 1969, her story The Steiger Effect, received a Hugo Award nomination for Best Short Story.

Curtis was also deeply involved in science fiction fandom. She was an accomplished costume designer whose creations won awards at World Science Fiction Convention masquerades. In fact, in 1959, she and her family won a group costume award for their portrayal of non-Euclidean geometry. That’s certainly one of the more unusual costume ideas I’ve come across!

From page 75 of the February 1951 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction The Protector by Betsy Curtis…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, John Stevens has survived something no human being was meant to experience, but the greatest danger may still lie ahead. When the military prepares to send him beyond Earth once more, Stevens must confront a terrifying possibility about what waits on the other side of the barrier. The Barrier by Bryce Walton.

Listen without commercials and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes every month with Lost Sci-Fi Premium—start your free 7-day trial today. https://lostscifi.supercast.com/

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A mysterious blue crystal possesses a power that could change the course of a devastating global war. But turning a deadly discovery into humanity’s last hope will demand more from one young scientist than he ever imagined. The Crystal Ray by Raymond Z. Gallun. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Raymond Z. Gallun returns to The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast for just the second time. His first appearance was about a year and a half ago with Return of a Legend, an adventure set on Mars.

Gallun enjoyed a remarkable writing career that spanned more than 60 years, beginning in 1929. During that time, he published more than 100 short stories and became a familiar name to readers of science fiction magazines.

Today’s tale was his very first published work, written when he was just 16 years old. Even at that young age, Gallun had an extraordinary imagination, dreaming up futuristic aircraft, devastating weapons, and scientific discoveries that could change the course of a war.

Nearly a century later, we get to hear where it all began. Published in the fifth of what would become only 11 issues of Air Wonder Stories in November 1929 on page 452, The Crystal Ray by Raymond Z. Gallun…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A race that cannot feel physical pain faces surprisingly terrifying danger. When an alien civilization begins to crumble under human cruelty, a boxing manager and his heavyweight champion must confront an enemy who knows exactly how to hurt them. The Protector by Betsy Curtis.

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A forgotten civilization struggles to understand why the stars no longer match its ancient maps, while a stranded sailor discovers that its inhabitants cannot even see him. But the island’s most terrifying secret waits inside a temple, where a desperate people have turned to something far more dangerous than their calculations. The Uncharted Isle by Clark Ashton Smith. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Clark Ashton Smith has appeared on the podcast four times before, and his first story, The City of Singing Flame, remains one of my personal favorites. As you listen to today’s story, you may notice some interesting similarities between the two.

First published in 1930 and reprinted more than 30 times since, we turn to page 605 of the November 1930 issue of Weird Tales for The Uncharted Isle by Clark Ashton Smith…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A mysterious blue crystal possesses a power that could change the course of a devastating global war. But turning a deadly discovery into humanity’s last hope will demand more from one young scientist than he ever imagined. The Crystal Ray by Raymond Z. Gallun.

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