MARTIAN HOMECOMING

Episode #467 · Written by Frank Belknap Long · Narrated by Scott Miller

A restless ex-boxer on Mars is haunted by memories of Earth and tempted by impossible dreams. When a deadly Martian creature invades the colony, he must face both the illusion and the truth about what “home” really means.

Martian Homecoming follows Jim Malden, a former boxer who leaves Earth for a new start on Mars. The colony is rough. The land is barren. The nights are long and quiet. Jim carries the past inside him, and the past refuses to let go.

When a strange Martian life form drifts into the settlement, the danger is not claws or teeth. It attacks the mind. It shows people everything they crave. Glory. Beauty. Forgiveness. Home. The illusions feel real. But they can kill as surely as any weapon.

Jim and two other settlers track the creature across the desert. Each man faces his secret desires. Each man is tempted in a different way. Jim must decide whether to live inside a dream, or stand and fight for the life he has now. The choice makes him see Mars in a new and powerful way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frank Belknap Long was a major voice in early American science fiction and fantasy. He wrote stories, poems, novellas, and novels across several decades. His imagination stretched from cosmic horror to distant planets, and from quiet, thoughtful tales to bold adventures. He understood lonely people, strange landscapes, and the emotional pull of the unknown.

His long career included friendships with writers such as H. P. Lovecraft, and he helped shape the foundations of classic science fiction and weird fiction. Martian Homecoming blends adventure, psychology, and human warmth. It reminds us that home is not always a place. Sometimes it is a choice.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Martian Homecoming by Frank Belknap Long — a powerful tale of longing and danger in vintage science fiction on the red sands of Mars.

RELATED STORIES

• Time Trap by Frank Belknap Long
• Martian Homecoming by Frank Belknap Long
• Lake of Fire by Frank Belknap Long
• The Mercurian by Frank Belknap Long
• Atomic Station by Frank Belknap Long
• The Man From Time by Frank Belknap Long
• The Horror in the Hold by Frank Belknap Long
• The Beast-Helper by Frank Belknap Long

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 34 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.3 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:

★★★★★ “Perfect sci-fi podcast, perfect narrator. It’s rare to find a podcast of this quality.”
— Holy Mountaineer

★★★★★ “Hands down the podcast I look forward to most every single week.”
— podsquad

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.

📬 JOIN LOST SCI-FI WEEKLY

25,000+ Listeners Can’t Be Wrong

Get vintage sci-fi stories, podcast episodes, and surprises every Monday.

FREE SCI-FI EVERY WEEK

✅ Check your email and confirm — that unlocks your free sci-fi downloads.

No spam in this galaxy. You can eject anytime.