Task of Kayin by William Morrison Episode #17

William Morrison | May 17, 2022

Task of Kayin by William Morrison Episode #17
William Morrison

TASK OF KAYIN

Episode #17 · Written by William Morrison · Narrated by Scott Miller

Kayin understands what the others cannot see. The structure rising around him looks like opportunity to everyone else, but to him it resembles a mistake he has already watched erase entire worlds. He works beside men who trust the project, share meals with them, and slowly begins to feel the pull of belonging in a place that was never meant for him.

The danger is subtle, buried beneath confidence and ambition. The people in charge believe they are in control, even as they move faster than their understanding allows. Kayin knows how quickly that confidence can turn lethal, and how little time remains once certain thresholds are crossed.

As his ties to the people around him deepen, silence becomes harder to justify. Acting would mean exposure, disbelief, and pursuit. Doing nothing would mean watching a preventable disaster unfold. The choice he faces has no clean escape, only consequences that cannot be shared.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Morrison was a prolific contributor to American science fiction magazines during the 1940s and 1950s, with stories appearing in Astounding Science Fiction, Thrilling Wonder Stories, and Planet Stories. He frequently wrote about scientists, engineers, and outsiders navigating systems that underestimated risk or misunderstood power.

Task of Kayin reflects Morrison’s interest in scientific responsibility and institutional blindness, pairing detailed speculative ideas with everyday working environments. The story stands as a clear example of his ability to build suspense without spectacle, letting quiet decisions carry enormous weight.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Task of Kayin by William Morrison — a vintage science fiction story where hidden knowledge and human ambition collide before it’s too late.

ABOUT THE LOST SCI-FI PODCAST

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked the #1 Science Fiction Podcast in 34 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.4 million listens.

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.

What listeners are saying:

★★★★★ “Exceptional. The best scifi podcast I’ve come across. Fantastic stories are one thing, but I can’t count the number of times I have been disappointed by the quality of the voice acting. I am very happy to say, that the standard of both contained within these episodes is top notch. As is often the case, there are often elements within classic scifi that don’t age particularly well for numerous reasons, but they are few and far between. I think I will be blasting through the entire catalogue in no time and left waiting in anticipation for the next weekly addition. Great work!”
— blablahyaddayadda

★★★★★ “Awesome podcast. Scott you do an awesome job at narrating. Keep up the great work. Absolutely love the podcast.”
— canadianlynx

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.