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.

Listen on Spotify - The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast

LOST SCI-FI PREMIUM

Unlock Ad-Free Listening + Exclusive Bonus Episodes

For less than 17 cents a day, unlock every episode ad-free.

Start Your Free 7-Day Trial →

ISAAC ASIMOV SHORT STORIES

Isaac Asimov did not just contribute to vintage science fiction — he helped build its foundation.

Trained as a biochemist and gifted with a teacher’s clarity, Asimov wrote with clean lines and steady confidence. His prose rarely shouts, yet his ideas carry enormous weight. He trusted logic. He trusted curiosity. And he trusted readers to follow him into laboratories, lunar colonies, crowded cities, distant stars, and the quiet corners of the human mind.

Where some writers chase spectacle, Asimov often begins with a question. What happens when machines think too well? What happens when children grow up with technology their parents barely understand? What happens when one small scientific breakthrough nudges society sideways? He sets the pieces in motion carefully, then watches the consequences unfold with almost mathematical precision.

Yet there is more than cool intellect at work. Beneath the rational surface you’ll find humor, irony, and a quiet affection for human stubbornness. His scientists argue. His bureaucrats bluster. His explorers misjudge what they discover. His aliens rarely behave the way Earth expects. Even at his most playful, there is a steady belief that knowledge matters and that understanding the universe is worth the effort.

Asimov was astonishingly prolific, publishing hundreds of short stories and dozens of novels across science fiction and beyond. In the magazine era that shaped so much classic sci-fi, his name appeared again and again, signaling a story built on a strong central idea and delivered with clarity. He had the rare ability to make complex concepts feel accessible without stripping away their depth.

The stories below show just how wide his range could be. Some lean into robots and hidden identities. Some explore space travel and planetary frontiers. Some turn on a single clever twist that snaps into place in the final paragraphs. Others unfold more gently, revealing how technology reshapes ordinary lives. Each carries that unmistakable Asimov touch — logical, engaging, and quietly confident.

If you want to understand why Isaac Asimov remains one of the central pillars of classic science fiction, these episodes are a perfect place to begin.

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 43 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 4.2 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:

★★★★★ “I love this podcast!! I especially like being introduced to all the sci-fi writers that I never knew about. The narrator is great and his read brings a lot of character and life to these stories! Keep em coming.”
— Metal Wizard of Doom

★★★★★ “Great podcast. Excellent narration, fantastic stories.”
— TTBDBoy

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.