Ring Around The Sun by Isaac Asimov Episode #177

Isaac Asimov | January 31, 2024

Ring Around The Sun by Isaac Asimov Episode #177
Isaac Asimov

RING AROUND THE SUN

Episode #177 · Written by Isaac Asimov · Narrated by Scott Miller

Two space-mail pilots are tricked into testing a new ship capable of flying dangerously close to the Sun. But when their “protective field” works a little too well, the cold truth of deep space becomes their worst enemy.

Two pilots. One experimental ship. And a mission so bold it skirts the edge of the Sun itself. When Jimmy Turner and Roy Snead are “volunteered” to test a new vessel equipped with a mysterious Deflection Field, they think they’ve hit the big time with United Space Mail. But their commanding officer—nicknamed “Old Sourpuss”—has other plans. What begins as a routine delivery becomes a fight for survival as the ship’s revolutionary shield works too well, blocking not only deadly radiation but every shred of heat.

Frozen, furious, and cut off from Earth, the two men realize they’ve been tricked. What follows is a tense, often darkly comic survival story about loyalty, revenge, and human stubbornness pushed to its limit. Asimov captures both the grand scale of space exploration and the petty rivalries of men trapped together in a cosmic freezer.

Written in Asimov’s early career, “Ring Around The Sun” showcases his knack for merging plausible science with sharp character conflict. It’s a playful, suspenseful reminder that even in the vastness of space, human pride may be the most dangerous force of all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

saac Asimov (1920–1992) remains one of the giants of classic science fiction. A Russian-born American author and biochemist, he wrote or edited over 500 books spanning fiction, history, and science. His works—Foundation, The Gods Themselves, I, Robot, and countless short stories—continue to inspire readers and thinkers alike. In his early pulp tales like Ring Around The Sun, you can see the emerging brilliance of a writer who combined hard science, humor, and humanity into unforgettable storytelling.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Ring Around The Sun by Isaac Asimov — a classic sci-fi story of two pilots who fly too close to the Sun in this daring tale of survival and cosmic irony.