SOME LIKE IT COLD

Episode #479 · Written by Dave Dryfoos · Narrated by Scott Miller

On a scale of time so vast that civilizations flash by like sparks, a young cosmic traveler searches for proof that intelligence can arise in a system thought to be forever barren. His quest leads him to a small, blazing world where life races forward at a dizzying pace, too swift and strange to be easily understood.

When his presence seems to trigger dramatic and dangerous changes on that world, curiosity turns into crisis. What he hoped would vindicate a bold scientific theory instead becomes evidence in a trial that could end his existence. The question is no longer whether intelligence lives there, but whether his discovery has harmed it.

As distant observers argue over equations and evidence, the inhabitants of that fast-turning planet struggle with fears of their own making. Pride, rivalry, and technological power push them toward choices that reshape their environment in ways no one fully grasps. Seen from afar, their achievements are magnificent, their behavior bewildering, and their future uncertain.

This story unfolds as a wry, sweeping parable about perspective and responsibility. Vast cosmic beings debate the fate of one of their own, while an entire world unknowingly becomes the centerpiece of the argument. The result is a sharp, ironic meditation on what it means to be rational in a universe where knowledge outpaces wisdom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dave Dryfoos wrote science fiction that delighted in flipping viewpoints and stretching imagination to cosmic proportions. His work often paired bold speculative ideas with a playful, satirical edge, inviting readers to see familiar human dilemmas from astonishing distances. In this tale, his inventive approach turns planetary history and courtroom drama into a single, unforgettable thought experiment.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Some Like It Cold by Dave Dryfoos — a vintage science fiction short story of cosmic perspective, climate peril, and the shocking cost of proving intelligence across the stars.

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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 3.8 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.

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