Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts

“My Past is Mine” by Gerda Rhoads was published in the October 1954 issue of Fantastic Universe.

This season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts features stories from the pages of the magazine Fantastic Universe, and particularly from the first two volumes of the magazine, published between 1953 and 1955.

Gerda Rhoads, born in Austria, wrote just one published speculative fiction story.

“The Happy Music” by Jeanne Williams was published in the January 1955 issue of Fantastic Universe.

This season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts features stories from the pages of the magazine Fantastic Universe, and particularly from the first two volumes of the magazine, published between 1953 and 1955.

Jeanne Williams is one of the great American Western writers, and her writing career has spanned over 60 years. She wrote a handful of science fiction and fantasy stories during her career, but her Western writing was what won her the most plaudits. She also served as president of the Western Writers of America and won its Golden Spur award in four different decades.

“Nightmare on the Nose” by Evelyn E. Smith was published in the October 1953 issue of Fantastic Universe.

This season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts features stories from the pages of the magazine Fantastic Universe, and particularly from the first two volumes of the magazine, published between 1953 and 1955.

Evelyn E. Smith was an esteemed writer of science fiction and mystery stories, and she appeared frequently in the pages of the 1950s science fiction digests.

“Beyond the Door” by Philip K. Dick was published in the January 1954 issue of Fantastic Universe.

This season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts features stories from the pages of the magazine Fantastic Universe, and particularly from the first two volumes of the magazine, published between 1953 and 1955.

Philip K. Dick is one of science fiction's most enduring figures. We previously featured his story "The Skull" in season four of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts.

“Lost in the Future” by John Victor Peterson was published in the January 1954 issue of Fantastic Universe.

This season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts features stories from the pages of the magazine Fantastic Universe, and particularly from the first two volumes of the magazine, published between 1953 and 1955.

John Victor Peterson wrote science fiction stories from 1938 to 1959, and he published one novel, Rock the Big Rock, in 1970. 

"The Recalcitrant" by Evelyn Goldstein was published in the September 1954 issue of Fantastic Universe.

This season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts features stories from the pages of the magazine Fantastic Universe, and particularly from the first two volumes of the magazine, published between 1953 and 1955.

Evelyn Goldstein wrote a handful of science fiction stories in the 1950s. She was a school teacher in New York City for 30 years, and she continued writing other works before her passing in 2013.

Season five of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts is coming soon. I’m reading stories from the first two volumes of the classic speculative fiction magazine Fantastic Universe, including stories in the public domain from Evelyn Goldstein, Philip K. Dick and Judith Merril.

In the meantime, enjoy this essay from Philip Jose Farmer. I think it really captures the heart and spirit of the magazine.

"An Empty Bottle" is a short story written by Mari Wolf and published in the September 1952 issue of If magazine.

Mari Wolf’s influence on science fiction is one that has endured over the past 70 years: She’s the first person to use “droid” in describing a robot. “An Empty Bottle” is just one of a handful of stories she had published. She also wrote about science fiction fandom. In addition to her fiction writing, she worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

"The Last Gentleman" is a short story written by Dorothea Magill Faulkner and published in the January 1953 issue of If magazine.

Dorothea Magill Faulkner, writing as Rory Magill, had just two short science fiction stories and a handful of poems published in the early 1950s. She was also a prominent member of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society.

"Welcome, Martians!" is a short story written by S.A. Lombino and published in the May 1952 issue of If magazine.

S.A. Lombino (later, Evan Hunter) was a prolific science fiction and mystery writer. His best-known effort may be in the form of a screenplay adaptation for The Birds, which sparked a long friendship with Alfred Hitchcock.

"Resurrection Seven" is a short story written by Stephen Marlowe published in the May 1952 issue of If magazine.

Stephen Marlowe was a prolific science fiction and mystery writer. Born Milton Lesser, he later adopted one of his pseudonyms as his legal name.

"The Stowaway" is a short science fiction story written by Alvin Heiner and published in the March 1952 issue of If magazine.

Alvin Heiner is recorded as having published just two short stories, both of which were published in If magazine in 1952.

"You, Too, Can Be a Millionaire" is a short story written by Noel Loomis published in the Nov. 1952 issue of If.

Noel Loomis wrote a number of science fiction stories, but it was his work in westerns, both in short story and novels, in addition to television writing, that brought him the most prominence.

Philip K. Dick is an author who needs little introduction. His works have influenced generations of readers, and his stories have been adapted into countless works of cinema. “The Skull” is one of a handful of his stories that is in the public domain.

"The Skull" was published in the September 1953 issue of If.

Lyn Venable's "Time Enough at Last" is one of the enduring short science fiction stories published in If, owing in part to its appearance in The Twilight Zone in a classic episode starring Burgess Meredith.

Though she only had seven short stories published, Lyn Venable's impact on the legacy science fiction is unmistakable.

"Time Enough at Last" was published in the January 1953 issue of If.

Lyn Venable's story “Homesick” was featured in Season Two of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts.

The fourth season of Vintage Sci-Fi Shorts starts on Sunday. To tide you over until then, here's a short story from our featured publication this season, the first volume of If Magazine.

"The Last Supper" is a short science fiction story written by T.D. Hamm.

Thelma D. Hamm wrote and published 11 short stories from 1952 to 1961, and she was an uncredited collaborator with her husband, fellow science fiction writer E. Everett Evans.

The story of a strange and direful doom that lurked within the pages of an old book, bound in human skin

This episode features "The Album", a story by Amelia Reynolds Long. It was first published in the December 1936 issue of Weird Tales.

The Album is a story by Amelia Reynolds Long, who wrote science fiction stories throughout the 1930s, while detective fiction dominated her work in the 1940s.

A tragic story about an author who lived altogether too vividly in his literary work.

This episode features "Creation Unforgivable," a story by David H. Keller. It was first published in the April 1930 issue of Weird Tales.

Keller, a psychiatrist by trade, wrote for many of the early pulp magazines, including Amazing Stories and Weird Tales.

A unique story of stargazing — a bizarre tale of life in two planets and the splendor of a far world.

"The Planet of the Dead" is a story by Clark Ashton Smith first published in the March 1932 issue of Weird Tales. Smith was a prolific writer who helped pioneer weird fiction, and he was one of the "big three" writing for Weird Tales, alongside Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft.

"Hall of Mirrors" is a short story written by Fredric Brown. It was published in the December 1953 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

Fredric Brown was a science fiction and mystery writer whose influence extends to numerous prominent storytellers, including Guillermo del Toro, Stephen King and Umberto Eco. While he never won a prominent science fiction award, he did win an Edgar award for his first full-length novel, The Fabulous Clipjoint. He also wrote a short story adapted into the classic Star Trek episode "Arena."

"Warm" is a short story by Robert Sheckley. It was published in the June 1953 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

Robert Sheckley was one of science fiction's prolific short story writers, with well over 200 credits to his name. He was a Hugo nominee for his short story writing in 1956 and 1959, and his only Nebula nomination for his writing came in 1965. In the 2000 Nebula awards, Sheckley was given a Special Author Emeritus award.

"The Trap" is a short story by Betsy Curtis. It was published in the August 1953 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

Betsy Curtis wrote a handful of short stories between 1950 and 1973, earning her only major award nomination in 1969: A Hugo nomination for "The Steiger Effect."

"The Reluctant Heroes" is a novelette written by Frank M. Robinson. It appeared in the January 1951 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

Frank M. Robinson wrote numerous short science fiction stories in the 1950s, with his later work turning longer form. He won his first major award in 1991: A Lambda award for The Dark Beyond the Stars.

In addition to his fiction work, Robinson wrote extensively about science fiction. He was also a speechwriter for Harvey Milk, and he later played a small role in a film about Harvey Milk's life. He wrote a memoir about his life, released posthumously as "Not So Good a Gay Man."

"Later Than You Think" is a short story by Fritz Leiber. It was first published in Galaxy Science Fiction in October 1950.

Fritz Leiber was one of science fiction's prolific short story writers in the Golden Age and New Wave eras. He was nominated for numerous awards, including 13 Hugos and 11 Nebulas. He won six and three, respectively, all for novellas and short stories.

Leiber went on to become the fifth Grand Master of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and he's even said to have invented the term "Sword and Sorcery." He remains one of the most influential science fiction and fantasy writers of his time.

"Homesick" is a short science fiction story by Lyn Venable. It was first published in the December 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

Lyn Venable was not a prolific writer, but she achieved lasting success in her short writing career. She's best known for her story "Time Enough at Last," which was later adapted into a classic episode of The Twilight Zone featuring a book-obsessed Burgess Meredith. 

"Homesick" is Lyn Venable's first story. She is recorded as having written only seven short stories in her writing career, but her influence has undoubtedly inspired countless works.

"Wherein the old and evil Professor devises a new and horrible fate for John."

Today's story is "The Soluble Scientist," a story written by Charles Muñoz under the pen name T.P. Caravan. It was published in issue 4 of Universe Science Fiction.

"The Soluble Scientist" is just one story in a series entitled "John & the Evil Professor" written Charles Muñoz under the pen name T.P. Caravan. In addition to writing science fiction, he was a poet, with a collection of his work published in 2001 entitled "Fragments of a Myth." He was also the poetry editor for multiple years at the Jewish Spectator.

All issues of Universe Science Fiction are available on the Internet Archive at archive.org.

"Kate and Mike had caused the trouble, so the professor reasoned that it was up to them to do something about it."

Today's story is "Minor Miracle," a story written by Richard O. Lewis and published in issue 8 of Universe Science Fiction.

"Minor Miracle" is a story written by Richard O. Lewis, a prolific short story writer. While I came into contact with his work through science fiction, he's had plenty of mystery work published, too. Little information is available online about Richard. If you know more about Richard O. Lewis, drop me a note on Twitter at @SciFiShortsPod. All issues of Universe Science Fiction are available on the Internet Archive at archive.org.

All issues of Universe Science Fiction are available on the Internet Archive at archive.org.

"To Rachel it was no sacrifice; with no regrets she traded a possible forty years of life on Venus for two years of heaven on Earth."

Today's story is "The Last Two Ships," a story written by Fred Samuels and published in issue 5 of Universe Science Fiction.

"The Last Two Ships" is the only story written by Fred Samuels listed at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. If you know more about Fred Samuels, drop me a note on Twitter at @SciFiShortsPod. All issues of Universe Science Fiction are available on the Internet Archive at archive.org.

"They were gathered in secret to determine the fate of a world; for their decision would mean life or death to an alien people."

Today's story is "Death Sentence," a story written by William C. Hoch and published in issue 10 of Universe Science Fiction.

"Death Sentence" is one of just two stories William C. Hoch wrote and had published. I could find very little about him — so if you know more, drop me a note on Twitter at @SciFiShortsPod. All issues of Universe Science Fiction are available on the Internet Archive at archive.org.

"When you have a door bell that goes ting ting thunk instead of ringing properly, you get accustomed to unusual visitors. At least, it seemed to Henry Mason that since his doorbell had taken to misbehaving his visitors had been anything but run of the mill."

Today's story is "MCMLV," a story written by Wilson Tucker and published in Issue 8 of Universe Science Fiction.

Wilson Tucker, the author of "MCMLV," lived from 1914 to 2006. In addition to his fiction writing, he also wrote about science fiction as a prominent fan, and he even coined the immortal term "space opera."

"MCMLV" was published in Issue 8 of Universe Science Fiction. All issues of Universe Science Fiction are available on the Internet Archive at archive.org.