Shipping Clerk by William Morrison Episode #291
William Morrison | November 11, 2024-
play_circle_filled
Shipping Clerk by William Morrison Episode #291
William Morrison
SHIPPING CLERK
Episode #291 · Written by William Morrison · Narrated by Scott Miller
Ollie Keith has lived long enough to know exactly what hunger does to a person. It weakens judgment, narrows choices, and teaches you which rules you are allowed to break. When eating stops working for him, the problem isn’t relief—it’s that his body begins behaving in ways no one can explain.
What follows is not a miracle story. It is a tightening spiral of attention, fear, and quiet calculation as doctors, officials, and unseen observers realize that Ollie’s condition is not random. Every attempt to help him makes things worse. Every attempt to study him brings new risks. And somewhere inside his body, something is changing the balance of power.
Shipping Clerk balances grim humor with creeping dread, asking how long a man can remain human once others decide he is too valuable to lose. As Ollie gains strength, comfort, and security for the first time in his life, the cost of those gifts becomes harder to ignore.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Morrison published dozens of science fiction and fantasy stories during the mid-twentieth century, appearing regularly in magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction, Weird Tales, Fantastic Adventures, and Amazing Stories. His work often focused on ordinary people caught inside systems they do not understand, using speculative mechanisms to expose economic desperation, medical ethics, and institutional indifference.
In Shipping Clerk, Morrison brings those concerns into sharp focus through a protagonist whose value is discovered only after his suffering becomes useful. The story reflects Morrison’s recurring interest in how quickly compassion erodes once exploitation becomes convenient.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to Shipping Clerk by William Morrison — a vintage science fiction short story where endless hunger attracts dangerous attention and impossible explanations.
WILLIAM MORRISON SHORT STORIES
William Morrison, the pen name of Joseph Samachson, was a prolific voice in vintage science fiction, publishing more than seventy short stories between 1941 and 1958. His work appeared across the pulp era’s most influential magazines, where he developed a reputation for delivering tightly constructed stories built on strong, central ideas.
Morrison’s stories often begin with a clear, grounded premise before pushing steadily into more dangerous territory. A routine assignment takes an unexpected turn. A familiar world reveals something deeply wrong beneath the surface. A seemingly simple decision carries consequences that escalate faster than anyone anticipates. His characters are frequently ordinary people forced to react quickly as the situation shifts around them.
He had a particular talent for momentum. Each development builds directly on what came before, tightening the situation and raising the stakes without slowing the narrative. The result is science fiction that moves with purpose, where tension grows through action and discovery rather than explanation.
The stories below highlight William Morrison’s contribution to classic science fiction—fast-moving, idea-driven storytelling that captures the energy and imagination of the pulp era.
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 3.8 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:
★★★★★
“Narration perfection. Your voice is… incredible. The books ain’t so bad either 😉 In all honestly though, the story choices and themes are so wonderful and so exactly what the doctor ordered that I feel blessed to find this podcast. You have a genuine gift to bring these lost gems to life. Please keep it up for a long time!”
— E. Vasileva
★★★★★
“Great choices and narration. This podcast has excellent stories told well.”
— Archoneponymous
Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.
📬 JOIN LOST SCI-FI WEEKLY
35,000+ 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.
