SMALL WORLD

Episode #42 · Written by William F. Nolan · Narrated by Scott Miller

A lone survivor hides beneath a ruined Los Angeles while feral children rule the city above. When loneliness pushes him to take one dangerous risk, the truth about the “new world” closes in.

Small World opens in the empty streets of Los Angeles. The city is silent. Buildings rise like tombstones. One man moves through the darkness, careful and quiet, always listening. He hides underground during the day. At night, he risks everything for food, water, and a chance to remember what life used to be. He is lonely, frightened, and trying not to lose his mind.

As the story unfolds, we learn what happened to the world. Something attacked. Something precise and ruthless. Humanity is gone, yet life continues in a brutal, twisted way. The survivor dreams about his past, thinks about the people he loved, and tries to hold on to reason. When longing pushes him above ground again, he makes a dangerous decision. His search leads to a final truth about who now owns the Earth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William F. Nolan understood how fear grows in silence. He lets scenes breathe. He focuses on emotion, memory, and dread instead of explosions. Nolan was a major figure in vintage science fiction and dark fantasy, admired for his imagination and psychological insight. His work explored what remains after civilization collapses, and what it means to stay human when humanity is gone.

Nolan wrote novels, short fiction, television scripts, essays, and screenplays. He co-created Logan’s Run and influenced generations of writers who followed. His stories blend thoughtful speculation with emotional weight. Listening to Small World shows why his voice still matters. This is classic science fiction at its most haunting, unsettling, and deeply human.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to Small World by William F. Nolan — a gripping science fiction journey through ruined streets and lost hope.

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.

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