X Marks the Pedwalk by Fritz Leiber – 9 Kinda Short Sci-Fi Stories Episode #82

Fritz Leiber | July 13, 2023

X Marks the Pedwalk by Fritz Leiber – 9 Kinda Short Sci-Fi Stories Episode #82
Fritz Leiber

X MARKS THE PEDWALK

Episode #82 · Written by Fritz Leiber · Narrated by Scott Miller

In a future city where pedestrians and motorists wage an absurdly escalating war, a single incident at a crosswalk ignites chaos on both sides. As sanity drains from the population, uneasy leaders scramble to keep a crumbling society stitched together.

X Marks the Pedwalk is a sharp, satirical, and surprisingly emotional look at a society tearing itself apart over the everyday act of simply getting around. When an elderly woman steps into a crosswalk at the wrong moment, the result is a spiraling chain of events that exposes the bitter divide between pedestrians and motorists. What begins as a single encounter becomes a flashpoint for an entrenched cultural war, as each side retaliates with increasingly elaborate and ruthless tactics.

Leiber uses humor and exaggeration to underscore real human weaknesses—tribalism, stubborn pride, and the seductive pull of outrage. The story paints a vivid picture of a city on edge, where leaders whisper about their declining “Sanity Quotient,” mobs prepare with improvised weapons, and both factions cling to rituals that provide the illusion of order. Yet beneath the absurdity lies a warning about how quickly societies normalize conflict and how easily ordinary people find themselves cheering for escalation.

At its heart, the story is less about a feud between Feet and Wheels and more about how fragile civility becomes when resentment hardens into identity. Leiber’s pacing is brisk, his observations sharp, and his tone expertly balanced between humor and discomfort. The result is a tale that feels as relevant now as when it first appeared.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fritz Leiber (1910–1992) was one of the giants of speculative fiction, a writer whose work reshaped multiple genres. He wrote across science fiction, fantasy, and horror with equal mastery, bringing a literary sensibility and psychological depth unusual for the time. His creations—such as the beloved sword-and-sorcery duo Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser—left a lasting imprint on fantasy storytelling and inspired generations of writers and game designers.

Leiber’s science fiction was celebrated for its intelligence, wit, and world-building. His stories frequently examined human behavior, society, and the hidden forces that shape modern life. Winner of major awards including Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy honors, he remains one of the most respected voices in 20th-century speculative literature. His work endures because he understood people—their anxieties, their humor, and their capacity for both destruction and redemption—and he captured those truths in unforgettable stories like X Marks the Pedwalk.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to X Marks the Pedwalk by Fritz Leiber — a sharp tale of conflict and satire in a broken city. A standout example of vintage science fiction at its best.