THE GIFTS OF ASTI

Episode #168 · Written by Andre Norton · Narrated by Scott Miller

A young priestess flees a fallen city carrying a power older than civilization itself. Her journey leads her into forgotten depths where the past, preserved against time, waits to shape the future.

When Memphir falls to fire and barbarian conquest, Varta, the last Maiden of the god Asti, obeys an ancient command and abandons her temple forever. Bearing a mysterious power known only through prophecy, she descends with her telepathic companion Lur into the hidden depths beneath the world of Erb. There, time no longer rules, death pauses, and the past waits intact beneath stone and shadow.

Varta’s journey reveals wonders both terrifying and profound. A living lake preserves all it touches. A shattered vessel from beyond the stars hides a man trapped between life and oblivion. As faith, science, and forgotten history collide, Varta must decide how Asti’s gift should be used. Survival alone is not enough when the future of humanity may rest in her hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andre Norton was one of the most important voices in classic science fiction, renowned for blending mythic storytelling with speculative depth. Her worlds feel ancient and authentic, shaped by lost civilizations, buried technologies, and moral consequence. She wrote stories where courage was quiet, choices mattered, and discovery carried a cost.

Over a career spanning decades, Norton became a guiding influence for generations of science fiction and fantasy writers. Her work often explored survival, identity, and humanity’s place among the stars. The Gifts of Asti captures her signature style perfectly: poetic, adventurous, and filled with the awe of rediscovered knowledge.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Gifts of Asti by Andre Norton — a classic science fiction tale of lost worlds, ancient power, and survival beyond time in vintage sci-fi tradition.

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The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked #1 in 33 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.2 million listens, introducing classic science fiction to a global audience of devoted fans.

Each episode features carefully selected stories from the Golden Age of science fiction, professionally narrated. Timeless storytelling the way it was meant to be heard.

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