The Addicts by William Morrison Episode #72
William Morrison | May 22, 2023-
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The Addicts by William Morrison Episode #72
William Morrison
THE ADDICTS
Episode #72 · Written by William Morrison · Narrated by Scott Miller
Life aboard a lonely asteroid lighthouse should be defined by routine, caution, and patience. Instead, it becomes a pressure cooker where one man’s chemically induced calm clashes with his wife’s growing terror. While Jim Palmer feels insulated from fear, Louise remains painfully aware of how little time they may have left.
The story tightens its grip through conversation rather than action. Every exchange reveals how differently the two see the same danger. Jim believes happiness can be engineered, even imposed, if it removes suffering. Louise believes clear thinking is the only thing standing between them and death. Neither is willing to surrender their view.
As the station drifts among hostile asteroids and unseen creatures gather outside, the real conflict unfolds indoors. The question is no longer whether escape is possible, but which state of mind is more dangerous: fearful awareness or blissful denial.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Morrison was a prolific science fiction and fantasy writer whose work appeared regularly in magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction, Weird Tales, and Unknown during the 1940s and 1950s. He also wrote under pseudonyms and contributed to both speculative fiction and non-fiction, including encyclopedic and historical works.
Stories like “The Addicts” show Morrison’s strength in psychological science fiction. Rather than relying on elaborate technology, he focused on how altered states of mind could distort judgment, reshape relationships, and turn ordinary decisions into life-or-death traps.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to The Addicts by William Morrison — a classic sci-fi short story of isolation, altered judgment, and a marriage under lethal pressure.
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 35 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.9 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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