The Crystal Egg by H. G. Wells Episode #356
H. G. Wells | April 5, 2025-
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The Crystal Egg by H. G. Wells Episode #356
H. G. Wells
THE CRYSTAL EGG
Episode #356 · Written by H. G. Wells · Narrated by Scott Miller
Hidden among stuffed animals, bones, and curiosities in a small London shop sits a polished crystal egg. At first glance, it seems little more than an unusual ornament. But under precise conditions, it begins to glow, revealing something structured, distant, and astonishingly consistent.
The owner, a weary and isolated man, discovers that the crystal offers more than light. Within it lies a moving landscape, filled with unfamiliar forms, vast architecture, and a sense of intelligent order. Each viewing sharpens his attachment, until the visions become the most vivid part of his life.
The crystal does not merely show a scene. It suggests observation, symmetry, and connection. The world inside appears governed by laws, perspective, and purpose. And as the watcher grows more absorbed, it becomes clear that the act of seeing may not be one-sided.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
H. G. Wells helped define science fiction as a serious literary form. Writing at the turn of the twentieth century, he combined scientific speculation with social insight, often placing extraordinary ideas inside ordinary lives.
Wells believed fiction should challenge assumptions, not simply entertain. His stories examine how discovery alters identity, responsibility, and power. In The Crystal Egg, he presents wonder without spectacle, using restraint to make the impossible feel quietly inevitable.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to The Crystal Egg by H. G. Wells — a vintage science fiction classic where a mysterious object reveals a hidden world beyond human sight.
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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 3.3 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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