The Deadly Dust by Murray Leinster Episode #264

Murray Leinster | August 22, 2024

The Deadly Dust by Murray Leinster Episode #264
Murray Leinster

THE DEADLY DUST

Episode #264· Written by Murray Leinster · Narrated by Scott Miller

A mysterious rise in radiation spreads across the United States, and no one can explain why. Only one man might understand what’s happening—if he can be convinced to care.

Radiation levels across the United States are rising, and no one understands why. The increase follows a pattern, creeping inland from the Pacific Coast, leaving behind dead fish, corrupted soil, and a growing sense of unease. In The Deadly Dust, Murray Leinster constructs a tense scientific mystery where the danger is invisible, cumulative, and terrifyingly methodical.

The government knows something is wrong, but politics, disbelief, and bureaucracy slow any real response. Only one man might have the insight needed to uncover the truth. Bud Gregory is a reclusive mechanic with a mind that operates far beyond formal science. He understands atomic forces instinctively, yet wants nothing more than peace, beer, and a quiet place to sit in the sun.

As the scope of the threat becomes clear, it reveals an unprecedented form of warfare. The weapon is not a bomb or an army, but radioactive dust carried on the wind. The story builds steadily toward a solution that feels both inevitable and astonishing, grounded in speculative science that still resonates today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Murray Leinster, often called the dean of American science fiction, was a pioneer of scientifically grounded storytelling. Writing during the early atomic age, he had a rare ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives without sacrificing tension or clarity.

Over a career that spanned more than fifty years, Leinster helped define modern science fiction. He anticipated technological fears that would dominate the second half of the twentieth century, including nuclear fallout, invisible weapons, and global vulnerability. The Deadly Dust remains a powerful example of how science fiction can warn as well as entertain.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Deadly Dust by Murray Leinster — a classic science fiction short story exploring radioactive fallout and hidden threats in vintage sci-fi style.

BUD GREGORY STORIES IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

ABOUT THE LOST SCI-FI PODCAST

The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked #1 in 33 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 3.2 million listens, introducing classic science fiction to a global audience of devoted fans.

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:

★★★★★ “Perfect sci-fi podcast, perfect narrator. It’s rare to find a podcast of this quality.”
— Holy Mountaineer

★★★★★ “Hands down the podcast I look forward to most every single week.”
— podsquad

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.