DERELICT

Episode #253 · Written by Alan E. Nourse · Narrated by Scott Miller

A silent ship arrives without warning, carrying no voices and no guidance—only the weight of what it might represent. For the isolated crew who intercept it, the discovery feels less like a triumph and more like a test, one that exposes the fragile balance between duty and desire.

As pressure mounts, Derelict shifts from mystery to moral confrontation. Authority tightens, trust frays, and the promise of escape becomes a dangerous temptation. Every choice is shaped by fear, ambition, and the quiet knowledge that some decisions cannot be reversed.

This story thrives on tension rather than spectacle, focusing on human reactions under confinement and command. It asks what freedom truly means when obedience has become second nature, and whether survival is worth the price of surrender.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan E. Nourse was a physician and prolific science fiction writer whose work often examined ethical conflict through a scientific lens. His stories are grounded, restrained, and deeply concerned with how individuals behave under institutional pressure. Derelict exemplifies his ability to combine technical plausibility with psychological depth, creating science fiction that resonates long after the final moment.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Derelict by Alan E. Nourse — a gripping classic science fiction short story where authority, fear, and freedom collide in deep space.

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• Derelict by Alan E. Nourse

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