F. O. B. Venus by Nelson S. Bond Episode #334
Nelson S. Bond | February 17, 2025-
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F. O. B. Venus by Nelson S. Bond Episode #334
Nelson S. Bond
F. O. B. VENUS
Episode #334 · Written by Nelson S. Bond · Narrated by Scott Miller
The Saturn is not a glamorous ship. She is an aging space freighter hauling Venusian produce to Earth, crewed by men who know every vibration in her hull and every shortcut in her orbit. Captain Hanson has spent decades keeping her profitable and on schedule. Then the Corporation assigns him a new third mate—Lancelot Biggs, nephew of a vice-president and brimming with confidence he has not yet earned.
Within days, the voyage begins to unravel. A botched maneuver sends crewmen floating. A well-meaning theory about “natural growing conditions” reduces a valuable cargo of mekel-root and clab-beans to a rotting mass in the hold. The smell spreads. The numbers don’t add up. Back on Earth, the Corporation’s stock trembles on the edge of collapse, and this single shipment may determine whether the company survives the week.
As the Saturn approaches New York spaceport, rumors swirl through the markets. Appraisers are waiting. Executives are waiting. Captain Hanson prepares to admit that fifty thousand dollars’ worth of freight is now worthless. But under a tarpaulin in the corridor lies something no one expected. When the final inspection begins, the future of the ship, the crew, and one disastrously underestimated officer will be decided in a single unveiling.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nelson S. Bond (1908–2006) was a prolific contributor to Astounding Science Fiction, Blue Book, Weird Tales, and Planet Stories beginning in the late 1930s. He created the humorous spacefaring character Lancelot Biggs for Blue Book, developing a series of stories that mixed corporate intrigue, speculative science, and comic disaster. Bond’s work ranged from hard scientific extrapolation to fantasy and mystery, and he later received recognition from the World Fantasy Convention and induction into the First Fandom Hall of Fame.
“F.O.B. Venus” is the first story in his Lancelot Biggs series, showcasing his talent for blending technical speculation about cosmic radiation and atomic transmutation with fast-paced character comedy aboard a working freighter of the solar system.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to F. O. B. Venus by Nelson S. Bond — a classic science fiction short story where ruined cargo and cosmic rays collide on a desperate space freighter run.
NELSON S. BOND SHORT STORIES
Nelson S. Bond brought a sense of adventure and wit to classic science fiction, crafting stories that balance imaginative concepts with a light touch and strong narrative drive. His work often follows resourceful characters navigating strange situations, where quick thinking matters as much as the science behind the problem.
The Lancelot Biggs stories in particular showcase Bond’s talent for combining humor with high-stakes exploration. Biggs is no conventional hero—he stumbles, improvises, and occasionally blunders his way through spacefaring challenges, yet somehow manages to come out ahead through persistence and unexpected ingenuity.
Bond was a prolific contributor to pulp magazines throughout the 1930s and 1940s, publishing in venues like Astounding Science Fiction and Blue Book. His stories stood out for their readability and charm, offering a style of science fiction that invites curiosity while never losing sight of entertainment.
The stories below highlight Nelson S. Bond’s signature blend of humor, adventure, and imaginative problem-solving across some of his most memorable characters and scenarios.
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