Cosmic Striptease by Harlan Ellison Episode #308

Harlan Ellison | January 1, 2025

Cosmic Striptease by Harlan Ellison Episode #308
Harlan Ellison

COSMIC STRIPTEASE

Episode #308 · Written by Harlan Ellison · Narrated by Scott Miller

When Earth finally hears from an advanced civilization beyond its atmosphere, the moment feels historic, hopeful, and reassuring. Humanity expects knowledge, guidance, and perhaps a glimpse of a brighter future shaped by superior wisdom.

Instead, what arrives is something far more disruptive. The visitors present a vision of life so uninhibited and transparent that it unsettles governments, corporations, and cultural gatekeepers alike. What was meant to enlighten becomes a global spectacle that quietly dismantles Earth’s carefully maintained moral frameworks.

Cosmic Striptease is a daring satire that exposes the contradictions between public virtue and private fascination. With sharp wit and escalating consequences, the story examines how commerce, censorship, and social norms collapse when confronted by a civilization that has nothing to hide.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harlan Ellison was renowned for his uncompromising voice and his refusal to soften difficult ideas. Throughout his career, he used science fiction as a tool to confront hypocrisy, challenge authority, and provoke cultural self-examination. In Cosmic Striptease, Ellison delivers an early and unforgettable example of his fearless approach to storytelling.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Cosmic Striptease by Harlan Ellison — a provocative classic sci-fi short story that challenges morality, media, and progress in vintage science fiction.

ABOUT THE LOST SCI-FI PODCAST

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.

What listeners are saying:

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—Scallywag Dave

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—Matsp1

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.