The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar by Francis Stevens Episode #459

Francis Stevens | December 2, 2025

The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar by Francis Stevens Episode #459
Francis Stevens

THE CURIOUS EXPERIENCE OF THOMAS DUNBAR

Episode #459 · Written by Francis Stevens · Narrated by Scott Miller

A man awakens in the home of a mysterious scientist after a violent accident, only to discover extraordinary strength coursing through his body. But the secret behind his transformation—and the bizarre experiments around him—hints at forces far beyond anything he imagined.

After a brutal accident in the street, Thomas Dunbar awakens in the home of a strange benefactor: a diminutive but commanding scientist known only as Lawrence. The household hums with the steady sigh of hidden machinery, and Lawrence—brilliant, secretive, and impatient with questions—keeps Dunbar under tight watch as he recovers. But when Dunbar ventures into the laboratory, he witnesses a catastrophic accident involving industrial engines, a boiling vat of acid, and a desperate life-or-death struggle. In that pivotal moment, Dunbar discovers an impossible strength surging through his body, a force far beyond normal human limits.

What happened to him? Why does Lawrence seem both terrified and thrilled? Dunbar soon learns that the key lies in a mysterious substance called “stellarite,” a unique element with properties beyond scientific explanation. A single moment of contact—charged with electricity—has transformed Dunbar in ways that defy reason. Lawrence’s obsession, Dunbar’s newfound abilities, and the fate of the lost stellarite converge into a tense and fascinating tale of scientific ambition, unintended consequences, and the precarious line between discovery and disaster. Without revealing the ending, this story pulls you deeper and deeper into a world where a single spark of knowledge can upend a life forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Francis Stevens—born Gertrude Barrows Bennett—was one of the earliest masters of American speculative fiction. Her influence rippled across the literary landscape decades before authors like Lovecraft and Bradbury became household names. Writing under a male pseudonym to navigate publishing barriers, she produced powerful stories that combined scientific speculation, atmospheric tension, and bold imagination. Her work appeared in major magazines and often explored extraordinary powers, strange laboratories, and the consequences of tampering with forces beyond human control.

Stevens is frequently credited with laying the groundwork for modern dark fantasy and early science-fiction thrillers. Her stories stand out for their emotional depth, their sense of discovery, and their ability to transform the everyday into the uncanny. *The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar* is a shining example of what made her so groundbreaking: a blend of scientific wonder, human vulnerability, and the kind of eerie fascination that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar by Francis Stevens — a gripping vintage science fiction story of extraordinary strength and experimental danger.

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 3.7 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! Although the original Star Trek is almost considered ’vintage’ by now, these stories go back even further. Short compelling tales, read perfectly by Scott with no unnecessary bells and whistles. You can of course tell that these were written in a very different time. But, that’s part of the educational process, learning about the roots of sci-fi and how it’s changed. Thank you Scott.”
— DSBoston1

★★★★★ “My two cents. Scott Miller lifts everything to a higher—more artistic—level. Probably would elevate the humble phone book to Shakespearean heights!!!!”
— Love the Vibe

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.