The Call From Beyond by Clifford D. Simak Episode #116
Clifford D. Simak | October 10, 2023-
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The Call From Beyond by Clifford D. Simak Episode #116
Clifford D. Simak
THE CALL FROM BEYOND
Episode #116 · Written by Clifford D. Simak · Narrated by Scott Miller
Frederick West comes to the outer reaches of the Solar System looking for isolation, not answers. What he finds instead is a closed circle of men who believe the future can be reshaped from a distance, without noise, protest, or permission.
The danger in this story does not announce itself with weapons or armies. It arrives through suggestion, beauty, and ideas that slip past resistance. Influence spreads quietly, leaving its recipients convinced nothing unusual has occurred. West must decide how much knowledge is too much to ignore, and whether remaining unseen is still possible once the truth is known.
The tension builds not from pursuit, but from proximity. Trust is offered too easily. Hospitality conceals intent. And every choice West makes draws him closer to a decision that cannot be undone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Clifford D. Simak was a central voice in American science fiction for more than five decades, publishing extensively in Astounding Science Fiction and later Analog. He is best known for novels such as City and Way Station, both of which explore humanity’s future through restraint, empathy, and long-term consequence rather than conquest.
Simak’s shorter fiction often examined quiet manipulation and ethical imbalance, where the greatest threats were intellectual or philosophical rather than physical. The Call From Beyond fits squarely within that tradition, presenting a universe where the most dangerous forces work patiently and invisibly.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to The Call From Beyond by Clifford D. Simak as hidden influence spreads across space in this vintage science fiction tale of secrecy and choice.
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CLIFFORD D. SIMAK SHORT STORIES
Few writers blended rural quiet with cosmic wonder the way Clifford D. Simak did.
Across decades of classic science fiction, Simak returned again and again to ordinary people confronted by extraordinary events — a stranger at the door, a signal from the stars, a small-town mystery that refuses to stay small. His prose is calm, measured, and deeply human, even when the universe presses in.
The stories below showcase Simak at his best — quiet streets that bend, visitors from impossible distances, gentle humor beside looming immensities, and endings that feel both intimate and vast.
- The Street That Wasn’t There by Clifford D. Simak
- The World That Couldn’t Be by Clifford D. Simak
- The Call from Beyond by Clifford D. Simak
- Mr. Meek—Musketeer by Clifford D. Simak
- Mr. Meek Plays Polo by Clifford D. Simak
- The Shipshape Miracle by Clifford D. Simak
- The Space Beasts by Clifford D. Simak
- Message from Mars by Clifford D. Simak
- Second Childhood by Clifford D. Simak
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:
★★★★★
“Great stories, well narrated! Still loving Scott’s excellent selections, narration and overall quality of the production.”
— ronny23
★★★★★
“Professional & High Quality. Exceptionally well-produced narration of classic sci-fi short stories. The quality is as good as any audiobook you would pay for on an app. The narrator has a wonderful tone and creates distinct voices for each character. Story selections are also well curated.”
— Becallsberg
Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.
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