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

A violin-carrying stranger moves quietly through glittering parties, leaving invisible wounds that only a rare few can truly see. But when someone finally recognizes who — and what — he really is, everything he thought he controlled begins to unravel. The Wounded by Philip José Farmer. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We’re going live again on Thursday, January 15th at 8 PM in London, streaming on Facebook and YouTube. We hope you will join us, and yes there will be science fiction trivia.https://lostscifi.com/facebookhttps://lostscifi.com/youtubeYou can also stay up to date on our live shows anytime. There’s a page where you can see when the next broadcast is happening and catch replays of past streams — just visit http://lostscifi.com/live, or find the live link directly on https://lostscifi.com.And be sure to join our free weekly newsletter — it’s the best way to keep up with new episodes, live events, and special updates. You’ll find the signup link in the description and on lostscifi.com.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/freeToday on the podcast, we welcome a true original making his debut — Philip José Farmer.Farmer was born on January 26, 1918, in North Terre Haute, Indiana, and his love of science fiction started early. Like so many writers of his generation, he fell hard for the pulp magazines as a kid, discovering worlds that were stranger, bolder, and more imaginative than anything around him. Over his career, Farmer wrote almost 60 novels and over 100 short stories, constantly pushing the boundaries of what science fiction could talk about — from religion and sexuality to identity and mythology. He won multiple Hugo Awards, including one for his groundbreaking novel To Your Scattered Bodies Go, and later received the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America.Philip José Farmer was hugely influential because he refused to play it safe. He expanded the emotional and intellectual range of science fiction — and today, we’re finally welcoming his voice to the Lost Sci-Fi universe with a story that first appeared in Fantastic Universe magazine in October 1954. Turn to page 69, The Wounded by Philip José Farmer…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A down-on-his-luck private detective takes the strangest case of his life when an alien asks him to track down his missing wife. What follows is a whirlwind of body-swapping, mistaken identities, and temptation that’s far more complicated than it first appears. An Eye for the Ladies by Stephen Marlowe.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyFacebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtube❤️ ❤️ 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, 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 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 Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-wounded-by-philip-jose-farmer-episode-469/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A curious Sirian pauses on his journey to investigate strange, nuclear-playing creatures on a small blue planet. What begins as a casual study becomes a hilarious, dangerous, and eye-opening lesson in humanity. The Vegans Were Curious by Winston Marks. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We’re going live again on Thursday, January 15th at 8 PM in London, streaming on Facebook and YouTube. Haven’t joined us yet? The links to follow and subscribe are waiting for you in the description.https://lostscifi.com/facebookhttps://lostscifi.com/youtubeThere’s also a link where you can always check when we’ll be live next and watch recorded broadcasts. Head to https://lostscifi.com/live/ or use the link on https://lostscifi.com.Sue the Librarian recently bought us three coffees and shared this message: What a fine narrator you are! These great stories deserve someone who really knows what he's doing; I can always differentiate characters and am always caught up in what's going on. (One of my fave podcasts, and I listen to a *lot* of them.) Enormous thanks! Thank you Sue!! We appreciate you.If you would like to buy us a coffee you will find a link in the description.https://lostscifi.com/coffeeWinston Marks was a frequent contributor in the early days of the podcast but we haven’t heard from him in a while. From Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy in December 1954 we will find our story on page 80, The Vegans Were Curious by Winston Marks…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A violin-carrying stranger moves quietly through glittering parties, leaving invisible wounds that only a rare few can truly see. But when someone finally recognizes who — and what — he really is, everything he thought he controlled begins to unravel. The Wounded by Philip José Farmer.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyFacebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtube❤️ ❤️ 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, 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 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 Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-vegans-were-curious-by-winston-marks-episode-468/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A restless ex-boxer on Mars is haunted by memories of Earth and tempted by impossible dreams. When a deadly Martian creature invades the colony, he must face both the illusion and the truth about what “home” really means. Martian Homecoming by Frank Belknap Long. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We’re going LIVE! Thursday, January 8 at 8 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Facebook and YouTube.If you haven’t joined us on Facebook or subscribed on YouTube yet, you’ll find the links in the description.https://lostscifi.com/facebookhttps://lostscifi.com/youtubeWe will see you Thursday!Something exciting is happening — listeners from the UK, Ireland, Spain, Finland, Denmark and all across Europe are discovering The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast! We don’t know exactly what triggered the surge, but we’re so grateful you’re here. And we love seeing so many of you join our FREE weekly newsletter. If you haven’t signed up yet, just use the link in the description or visit LostSciFi.com.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Frank Belknap Long is starting to feel like an old friend. This marks the seventh story by this remarkable author that we’ve featured on the podcast. First published in Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories in March 1951, we turn to page 70 for Martian Homecoming by Frank Belknap Long.Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A curious Sirian pauses on his journey to investigate strange, nuclear-playing creatures on a small blue planet. What begins as a casual study becomes a hilarious, dangerous, and eye-opening lesson in humanity. The Vegans Were Curious by Winston Marks.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyFacebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtube❤️ ❤️ 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, 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 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 Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/martian-homecoming-by-frank-belknap-long-episode-467/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guy Burckhardt wakes from a violent dream to find his town subtly—but profoundly—wrong. As June 15th repeats itself, he begins to realize that reality itself may be manufactured. The Tunnel Under the World by Frederik Pohl. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.We’re going LIVE! It’s been way too long since our last live broadcast — and we’re changing that in 2026. More lives, more often.📅 Thursday, January 8🕗 8 PM U.S. Eastern Time📍 Live on Facebook and YouTube (and maybe a few surprises)If you haven’t joined us on Facebook or subscribed on YouTube yet, you’ll find the links in the description.Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/YouTubeWhat do YOU want to hear in 2026? Stories, authors, themes, or favorite sci-fi tropes — tell us during the live show. We’ll also have sci-fi trivia and plenty more fun planned. Can’t wait to hang out with you!Today’s story is awesome! Originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction in January 1955, we will find it on page 6, The Tunnel Under the World by Frederik Pohl…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A restless ex-boxer on Mars is haunted by memories of Earth and tempted by impossible dreams. When a deadly Martian creature invades the colony, he must face both the illusion and the truth about what “home” really means. Martian Homecoming by Frank Belknap Long.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguy❤️ ❤️ 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, 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 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 Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-tunnel-under-the-world-by-frederik-pohl-episode-466/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A routine emergency mission becomes an unforgiving test of physics, law, and human conscience. When one hidden mistake is discovered, a pilot must face a decision that no training could ever prepare him for. The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Today’s episode marks a major milestone. Although it’s episode 465, it features the 500th story ever presented on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Over the years, some episodes have included two stories—and occasionally even more—but this one stands apart.What makes it especially meaningful to me is simple: out of all the remarkable stories we’ve shared during nearly four years of the podcast, this is my personal favorite. When it was first published, the story sparked intense backlash. Many readers were furious, and author Tom Godwin received no shortage of criticism. In just a few moments, you’ll understand exactly why.We’d love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email at [email protected] your copy of Astounding Science Fiction, August 1954, to page 62, The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin.…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Guy Burckhardt wakes from a violent dream to find his town subtly—but profoundly—wrong. As June 15th repeats itself, he begins to realize that reality itself may be manufactured. The Tunnel Under the World by Frederik Pohl.Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseFacebook - http://Lostscifi.com/facebookX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguy❤️ ❤️ 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, 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 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 Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/the-cold-equations-by-tom-godwin-episode-465/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.