The Wounded by Philip José Farmer Episode #469

Philip José Farmer | January 11, 2026

The Wounded by Philip José Farmer Episode #469
Philip José Farmer

THE WOUNDED

Episode #469 · Written by Philip José Farmer · Narrated by Scott Miller

A violin-carrying stranger moves quietly through glittering parties, leaving invisible wounds that only a rare few can truly see. But when someone finally recognizes who — and what — he really is, everything he thought he controlled begins to unravel.

“The Wounded” by Philip José Farmer is a sharp, stylish story about love, pain, and identity. Our narrator moves through elegant parties like a ghost. He carries a violin case. But that is not his real purpose. He leaves wounds behind. Wounds that people must choose to live with, ignore, or transform.

When a young woman sees him as he truly is, everything changes. She refuses to look away. She refuses to let him go. The result is funny, tense, and strangely touching. The story invites us to ask what our wounds really are. Are they curses? Or the very things that shape us?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip José Farmer became famous for bold, imaginative fiction. He mixed humor with big emotional questions. He enjoyed taking myth and fantasy and twisting them into something new. His storytelling feels intimate but also playful. He always makes you think about the cost of love, power, and desire.

Farmer won multiple Hugo Awards and influenced generations of writers. He pushed past conventions and explored subjects most writers avoided. “The Wounded” shows that talent clearly. It is vintage, clever, deeply human, and full of surprise. It leaves you pondering the wound you might carry yourself.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Wounded by Philip José Farmer — a haunting vintage science fiction short story of unseen pain and strange desire.

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 43 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 4.2 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:

★★★★★ “My new favorite podcast. I’m so impressed with this unassuming, yet extremely entertaining podcast. I love the narration, the little facts about each story the host informs the listeners of, and the interesting mix of authors and different sub genres within the overarching sci-fi subject. It’s been fun rediscovering classics and hearing some of the more obscure authors for my first time. Thanks, Scott - I appreciate your hard work and dedication!”
— Paul Belcher

★★★★★ “The best! Simply, the best vintage sci fi podcast ever. Great stories here that I would never have heard of if not for this podcast.”
— Johnny Vancouver

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.