Task of Kayin by William Morrison Episode #17
William Morrison | May 17, 2022-
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Task of Kayin by William Morrison Episode #17
William Morrison
TASK OF KAYIN
Episode #17 · Written by William Morrison · Narrated by Scott Miller
Kayin understands what the others cannot see. The structure rising around him looks like opportunity to everyone else, but to him it resembles a mistake he has already watched erase entire worlds. He works beside men who trust the project, share meals with them, and slowly begins to feel the pull of belonging in a place that was never meant for him.
The danger is subtle, buried beneath confidence and ambition. The people in charge believe they are in control, even as they move faster than their understanding allows. Kayin knows how quickly that confidence can turn lethal, and how little time remains once certain thresholds are crossed.
As his ties to the people around him deepen, silence becomes harder to justify. Acting would mean exposure, disbelief, and pursuit. Doing nothing would mean watching a preventable disaster unfold. The choice he faces has no clean escape, only consequences that cannot be shared.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Morrison was a prolific contributor to American science fiction magazines during the 1940s and 1950s, with stories appearing in Astounding Science Fiction, Thrilling Wonder Stories, and Planet Stories. He frequently wrote about scientists, engineers, and outsiders navigating systems that underestimated risk or misunderstood power.
Task of Kayin reflects Morrison’s interest in scientific responsibility and institutional blindness, pairing detailed speculative ideas with everyday working environments. The story stands as a clear example of his ability to build suspense without spectacle, letting quiet decisions carry enormous weight.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to Task of Kayin by William Morrison — a vintage science fiction story where hidden knowledge and human ambition collide before it’s too late.
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.
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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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