The Monster Maker by Ray Bradbury Episode #31

Ray Bradbury | August 23, 2022

The Monster Maker by Ray Bradbury Episode #31
Ray Bradbury

THE MONSTER MAKER

Episode #31 · Written by Ray Bradbury · Narrated by Scott Miller

A patrol ship is sabotaged and dragged down onto a lonely asteroid, leaving two survivors with limited air and no obvious way out. What should be an empty rock turns hostile, shaped by unseen forces designed to frighten intruders into finishing themselves off.

As minutes tick away, a photographer’s habit of recording everything collides with a patrolman’s refusal to accept the situation at face value. Together, they begin testing what is real, what is manufactured, and whether belief itself can be used as a weapon instead of a weakness.

The story moves quickly, driven by sharp dialogue, escalating pressure, and a constant awareness of the clock. Humor and ingenuity cut through the danger, but every decision carries risk, especially when fear threatens to become lethal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Bradbury published his early science fiction and fantasy in magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction, Planet Stories, Thrilling Wonder Stories, and Weird Tales. Over the course of his career, he produced hundreds of short stories along with novels including The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, and The Illustrated Man. “The Monster Maker” reflects his early space-patrol adventures, blending danger, humor, and the idea that imagination can be as powerful—and as dangerous—as any weapon.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Monster Maker by Ray Bradbury —

RAY BRADBURY SHORT STORIES

Few writers shaped the emotional landscape of classic science fiction the way Ray Bradbury did.

Bradbury did not rely on hardware or technical spectacle to make the future feel real. He filled rockets with longing, placed ghosts in small towns, and turned distant planets into mirrors held up to the human heart. Whether he was writing about children seduced by virtual worlds, lonely travelers on Mars, or quiet suburban lives unraveling under strange pressure, his stories pulse with warmth, dread, nostalgia, and wonder.

On The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast we’ve explored Bradbury’s astonishing range. In The Veldt (also known as The World the Children Made), technology grants children terrifying power over their parents. Asleep in Armageddon traps a lone astronaut on a hostile world where even the wind seems alive. Dwellers in Silence carries us across the red deserts of Mars, where hope flickers against ancient ruins.

Then there are the quieter shocks: Referent, which exposes envy and obsession with razor precision. Defense Mech and The Monster Maker, where invention and ambition twist into unintended consequences. Even in collaborations like Final Victim (with Henry Hasse), Bradbury’s touch is unmistakable.

From the cold Martian well in The One Who Waits, where an ancient entity waits patiently beneath the sand for new flesh and new thoughts, to Martian longing in The Visitor, from the biting irony of Changeling to the haunting unease of Death Wish, these selections reveal a writer who could make a single image linger for decades. Explore the stories below and experience the voice that helped define vintage science fiction for generations.

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:

★★★★★ “A legitimate Top Tier Pod. I can’t do justice to how good this podcast is, truly. The host has an affect and vocal style that’s just perfect. The stories are buried gems, sure, there’s problematic vocabulary but you have to enjoy it in the spirit it’s offered. I LOVE seeing how creative people from 40-50 years ago, imagined how the world would exist. It’s just glorious and I love it.”
— bwdesmo

★★★★★ “A treasure trove of classic Sci-Fi! You could spend a lot of time hunting around various podcasts for a smattering of classic takes, or you could just subscribe to this one and get it all in one place! This podcast provides a rich and well-curated collection of stories from well-known and lesser-known authors. All of them expertly introduced, narrated and produced. This collection holds its own against the efforts of sci-fi editing luminaries like Neil Clarke. Thank you for such an incredible array of stories. Keep them coming!”
— Sgt. Spiff

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.