Later Than You Think by Fritz Leiber Episode #424
Fritz Leiber | September 13, 2025-
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Later Than You Think by Fritz Leiber Episode #424
Fritz Leiber
LATER THAN YOU THINK
Episode #424 · Written by Fritz Leiber · Narrated by Scott Miller
A returning space explorer learns that the greatest discovery of intelligent life wasn’t made among the stars—but buried beneath his own world. Yet the deeper he listens, the more he senses an unsettling mirror held up to his species… and to himself.
Later Than You Think is one of those Fritz Leiber stories that feels both intimate and universal—an encounter built entirely on conversation, yet rich with atmosphere, detail, and emotional resonance. A space-weary Explorer returns home, eager to learn about an amazing archaeological discovery: the remains of a long-extinct intelligent race found deep beneath Earth’s surface. He expects triumph, maybe even comfort, after his disappointing search for alien life among the stars.
But the Archeologist’s calm, methodical explanations gradually reveal something far more complex. Through artifacts, diagrams, and reconstructed histories, a portrait emerges of a species that rose quickly, faltered unexpectedly, and left behind clues that feel uncomfortably familiar. As the Explorer struggles with disappointment, nostalgia, and awe, the story becomes a meditation on civilizations—how they flourish, how they fade, and how even the brightest achievements are temporary. Leiber draws the reader into a moment where scientific curiosity brushes up against existential revelation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fritz Leiber (1910–1992) was one of science fiction’s most accomplished and wide-ranging authors. A master of philosophical speculation, psychological nuance, and worldbuilding, he wrote across an astonishing spectrum—science fiction, fantasy, horror, satire, and hybrid forms that today would be labeled “cross-genre.” Leiber’s work helped shape modern fantasy through his celebrated Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories, while his science fiction explored issues of identity, culture, and technology long before they became mainstream themes.
Leiber brought literary sophistication to speculative fiction, merging crisp prose with a deep understanding of human behavior. He won multiple Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards, yet his stories always remained accessible, playful, and emotionally grounded. Later Than You Think offers a perfect glimpse of his intellectual range—an exploration of humanity’s place in the cosmos delivered through a single quiet, unforgettable revelation.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to Later Than You Think by Fritz Leiber — a thought-provoking vintage science fiction short story of discovery and reflection.
FRITZ LEIBER SHORT STORIES
Fritz Leiber brought a distinctive voice to vintage science fiction. His short stories rarely rely on conventional space adventure alone. Instead, Leiber explored how ordinary people react when the universe suddenly turns strange—when time bends, when science changes daily life, or when survival depends on quick thinking in impossible conditions.
Many of his stories begin in familiar settings. A quiet home. A city street. A routine job. Then something slips sideways. A world freezes solid. Pedestrians gain absolute power over traffic. A casual decision triggers consequences that reach across time. Leiber excelled at placing human characters inside extraordinary situations and letting their choices drive the tension.
His science fiction often balances imagination with sharp observation. Some stories carry dark humor. Others deliver genuine dread. A few unfold as clever thought experiments that spiral into dangerous territory. Whether the threat comes from space, from technology, or from humanity itself, Leiber keeps the focus tightly on the people forced to confront it.
The stories below showcase a wide range of Leiber’s science fiction—from survival tales and strange futures to biting satire and time-bending paradox.
- The Last Letter by Fritz Leiber
- What's He Doing in There? by Fritz Leiber
- The Black Ewe by Fritz Leiber
- The Moon is Green by Fritz Leiber
- The Goggles of Dr. Dragonet by Fritz Leiber
- Nice Girl With 5 Husbands by Fritz Leiber
- Try and Change the Past by Fritz Leiber
- A Hitch in Space by Fritz Leiber
- A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber
- X Marks the Pedwalk by Fritz Leiber
- Later Than You Think by Fritz Leiber
- The Foxholes of Mars by Fritz Leiber
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 34 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.7 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:
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“Hi Scott! I’ve been loving the stories, and this is my second listen through the whole library. I love listening to the Bud Gregory stories in order because they are hilarious. All the stories really are a glimpse of what the people in the past thought the future would be, and so many are still relevant today. You are a great narrator, and I love when you give us a glimpse of the authors as well. This has quickly become my most favourite podcast. I listen to you daily.”
— celebkiriedhel
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“Exceptional. The best scifi podcast I’ve come across. Fantastic stories are one thing, but I can’t count the number of times I have been disappointed by the quality of the voice acting. I am very happy to say, that the standard of both contained within these episodes is top notch. As is often the case, there are often elements within classic scifi that don’t age particularly well for numerous reasons, but they are few and far between. I think I will be blasting through the entire catalogue in no time and left waiting in anticipation for the next weekly addition. Great work!”
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Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.
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