The Magnificent Possession by Isaac Asimov Episode #155

Isaac Asimov | December 14, 2023

The Magnificent Possession by Isaac Asimov Episode #155
Isaac Asimov

THE MAGNIFICENT POSSESSION

Episode #155 · Written by Isaac Asimov · Narrated by Scott Miller

A lonely chemist’s breakthrough promises fame and fortune — until greed, crime, and chemistry itself conspire against him. When his glittering discovery turns the world’s stomach, success becomes a very smelly disaster.

For years, Walter Sills has scraped by running chemical tests in a shabby lab overlooking the Hudson. Fifty, tired, and nearly broke, he’s certain the world has passed him by — until he discovers a shimmering new metal that could change everything. It shines brighter than gold, costs less than aluminum, and promises to make him famous at last. But with news of his discovery splashed across the papers, a circus of opportunists descends: a blustering industrialist, a washed-up politician, and a pair of bumbling gangsters. Even Mother Nature joins the mayhem when Sills’s “golden” creation proves to have a secret of its own — one that quite literally stinks.

“The Magnificent Possession” is Isaac Asimov in comedic mode — a madcap adventure where greed, ambition, and chemistry collide. First published in 1940 when Asimov was just twenty, it captures the young writer’s fascination with scientific detail and his playful knack for turning logic into laughter. Beneath the humor, Asimov offers a sharp observation about human vanity: that even genius can’t outwit human nature.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isaac Asimov, born in Petrovichi, Russia and raised in Brooklyn, became one of the most prolific and influential writers in the history of science fiction. His Foundation and Robot series shaped the language of modern SF, blending science, psychology, and social insight. A professor of biochemistry at Boston University, Asimov combined academic rigor with the curiosity of a born storyteller. By the end of his life, he had written or edited over 500 volumes, leaving a legacy that continues to inform and inspire scientists, dreamers, and readers across the galaxy.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Magnificent Possession by Isaac Asimov — a classic sci-fi tale of a chemist’s golden discovery that turns into a comedy of greed and disaster.

ISAAC ASIMOV SHORT STORIES

Isaac Asimov did not just contribute to vintage science fiction — he helped build its foundation.

Trained as a biochemist and gifted with a teacher’s clarity, Asimov wrote with clean lines and steady confidence. His prose rarely shouts, yet his ideas carry enormous weight. He trusted logic. He trusted curiosity. And he trusted readers to follow him into laboratories, lunar colonies, crowded cities, distant stars, and the quiet corners of the human mind.

Where some writers chase spectacle, Asimov often begins with a question. What happens when machines think too well? What happens when children grow up with technology their parents barely understand? What happens when one small scientific breakthrough nudges society sideways? He sets the pieces in motion carefully, then watches the consequences unfold with almost mathematical precision.

Yet there is more than cool intellect at work. Beneath the rational surface you’ll find humor, irony, and a quiet affection for human stubbornness. His scientists argue. His bureaucrats bluster. His explorers misjudge what they discover. His aliens rarely behave the way Earth expects. Even at his most playful, there is a steady belief that knowledge matters and that understanding the universe is worth the effort.

Asimov was astonishingly prolific, publishing hundreds of short stories and dozens of novels across science fiction and beyond. In the magazine era that shaped so much classic sci-fi, his name appeared again and again, signaling a story built on a strong central idea and delivered with clarity. He had the rare ability to make complex concepts feel accessible without stripping away their depth.

The stories below show just how wide his range could be. Some lean into robots and hidden identities. Some explore space travel and planetary frontiers. Some turn on a single clever twist that snaps into place in the final paragraphs. Others unfold more gently, revealing how technology reshapes ordinary lives. Each carries that unmistakable Asimov touch — logical, engaging, and quietly confident.

If you want to understand why Isaac Asimov remains one of the central pillars of classic science fiction, these episodes are a perfect place to begin.

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 3.8 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:

★★★★★ “Glorious Sci-Fi from a Forgotten Age. I don’t listen to many podcasts, but I am down to under 70 episodes to go on this one! The tales are fascinating.”
— Brett Poling

★★★★★ “Brilliant! Great narrator and choice of stories. Very happy with discovering this podcast! It is obvious that the narrator loves sci-fi and the introduction to each story makes it an even better experience. I have been a huge sci-fi fan since childhood and still thanks to this podcast learn new interesting facts about the authors as well as discovering authors I haven’t read before. Thank you for creating this wonderful podcast! I hope more sci-fi fans learn about it as it is brilliant!”
— Daniela

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.