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

A young police officer finally gets the dangerous assignment he has been craving, only to discover that catching a killer may not solve the crime. In the 32nd century, the law can hold someone responsible who never pulled a trigger. Public Enemy by Kendell Foster Crossen. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Kendell Foster Crossen was born in 1910, in Albany, Ohio, the only child of farmers Sam and Clo Crossen. He attended Rio Grande College in Ohio on a football scholarship, was an amateur boxer, and before becoming a professional writer held a variety of jobs, including carnival barker and working as an insurance investigator.

And today Kendell Foster Crossen makes his debut on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Crossen knew crime fiction from the inside. He moved to New York in 1935 and became editor of Detective Fiction Weekly in 1936. He later created the Green Lama and, writing as M. E. Chaber, created insurance investigator and occasional intelligence operative Milo March. Crossen was also one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America.

Interestingly, Crossen was already an established professional writer before he ever tried science fiction. His first two published science fiction stories appeared in February 1951, one in Amazing Stories and the other in Thrilling Wonder Stories. He soon became a familiar name in Thrilling Wonder Stories and Startling Stories.

Crossen later said that he started writing science fiction because it gave him the opportunity to write satire and a certain kind of humor that was difficult to sell elsewhere. He described his science fiction career as relatively short, but said, “it was all fun.”

Today’s story appeared in the December 1952 issue of Dynamic Science Fiction on page 105, Public Enemy by Kendell Foster Crossen…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A brilliant inventor finally discovers that the future may be worth far more than anyone imagined. But turning tomorrow into financial security requires finding someone willing to make a very bad investment today. Security Plan by Joseph Farrell.

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A familiar world becomes terrifying when everyone around Sam Weber accepts a new order that he cannot understand. As children take command and adults surrender without protest, Sam must discover why he alone still believes something is terribly wrong. Crack of Doom by Stephen Marlowe. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

A very special thank you to Ryan and Kait for buying us 10 coffees and for sending this incredibly kind message:

“Thank you for The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. My wife and I listen every night. This podcast is a big part of our lives. We look forward to every new story and love diving into the archives to visit our favorite authors.

We are sorry to hear of your recent loss and send our deepest condolences and best wishes.”

Thank you, Ryan and Kait. Knowing that the podcast has become part of your lives and something you share together every night means more to me than you probably realize.

And I want to thank all of you who have reached out with your condolences and kind words following the loss of my Mom. I’ve received so many thoughtful messages, and I want you to know that I read them and appreciate every one of them. Your kindness and support really do make a difference. Thank you.

Hope you are ready for an unusual story. From the April 1953 issue of the Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader on page 80, Crack of Doom by Stephen Marlowe…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A young police officer finally gets the dangerous assignment he has been craving, only to discover that catching a killer may not solve the crime. In the 32nd century, the law can hold someone responsible who never pulled a trigger. Public Enemy by Kendell Foster Crossen.

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Three years away has left Bill unprepared for an Earth where people can send perfect artificial bodies out to live for them. When an old rival threatens the woman he still loves, Bill discovers that becoming almost impossible to kill may be easier than accepting what life has become. Coffin For Two by Winston Marks. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Winston Marks was a Wisconsin-born science fiction writer who became remarkably prolific in the 1950s, publishing nearly 60 stories in just a few years. Before making his living as a writer, Marks claimed an extraordinary assortment of jobs—including aircraft pilot, soldier, sailor, bellhop, advertising man, electronics technician, political campaign manager, linoleum layer, and sugar loader—which probably gave him plenty of material for his often humorous, slightly offbeat fiction.

This is his eleventh story on our podcast. It was first published in the September 1955 publication Imaginative Tales on page 70, Coffin For Two by Winston Marks…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A familiar world becomes terrifying when everyone around Sam Weber accepts a new order that he cannot understand. As children take command and adults surrender without protest, Sam must discover why he alone still believes something is terribly wrong. Crack of Doom by Stephen Marlowe.

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The people of Kana refuse to abandon their forgotten world, and Kenyon is determined to discover what could make them choose isolation over the stars. Deep beneath the strange islands, something ancient has already decided who belongs on Kana—and who will never leave. Blood Lands by Alfred Coppel. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

There are lots of ways to support The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, and no matter how you choose to support us, we truly appreciate it. One of those ways is by buying us a coffee.

A huge thank you to Tina Godby for buying us 3 coffees! Tina says, “I cannot get enough of this show. The stories are so interesting, your delivery is so relaxing, and looking back at old sci-fi ideas is a blast!”

Thank you, Tina! We appreciate the coffees and the kind words!

If you’d like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description.

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is getting a new look! You may have already noticed our brand-new podcast artwork, or you’ll be seeing it soon. Same great vintage science fiction stories, just a fresh new look. We hope you like it!

Blood Lands first appeared in the very first issue of Dynamic Science Fiction in December 1952. Its author, Alfred Coppel, began publishing science fiction in 1947.

Today’s story takes us to Kana, a human colony abandoned for five centuries. When men from the stars finally return, they discover the colonists have no intention of leaving—and something very strange has happened to their world.

Blood Lands by Alfred Coppel…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Three years away has left Bill unprepared for an Earth where people can send perfect artificial bodies out to live for them. When an old rival threatens the woman he still loves, Bill discovers that becoming almost impossible to kill may be easier than accepting what life has become. Coffin For Two by Winston Marks.

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Don Hartley has stumbled upon an invention that could make him fabulously wealthy—and give anyone who controls it the power to watch anyone, anywhere. Before he cashes in, he must decide whether some discoveries are simply too dangerous to share. The Vidiot by Ib Melchior. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Another day, another author making his debut on the podcast. Ib Melchior was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1917. His father was a celebrated opera singer who performed throughout Europe and the Americas from the 1920s through the 1940s, including appearances with the Chicago Opera, San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Near the end of his career, he also appeared in character roles in MGM musicals.

Ib spoke six languages, and his fascination with movies began when he was only 11 years old. He saw the 1928 silent film The Man Who Laughs, featuring Conrad Veidt as Gwynplaine, whose striking appearance later helped inspire the visual creation of the Joker. Melchior walked away from the movie knowing exactly what he wanted to do—direct films.

In the late 1950s, Melchior met producer Sidney W. Pink, who told him he could direct a movie if he wrote the screenplay. There was just one problem: Melchior had never written a screenplay. But he wanted to direct, so he wrote one, and the result was The Angry Red Planet. That launched a career in science fiction movies that would last for years.

Melchior went on to write and direct science fiction films including Reptilicus, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, and The Time Travelers. He also wrote for television, including an episode of The Outer Limits.

Before his movie career took off, Melchior wrote three science fiction short stories. Later, he added two science fiction novels to a remarkably varied career that began with an 11-year-old boy sitting in a movie theater, already dreaming about getting behind the camera.

His first short story appeared in Fantastic Universe in March 1956 on page 51, The Vidiot by Ib Melchior…

Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, The people of Kana refuse to abandon their forgotten world, and Kenyon is determined to discover what could make them choose isolation over the stars. Deep beneath the strange islands, something ancient has already decided who belongs on Kana—and who will never leave. Blood Lands by Alfred Coppel

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$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

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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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