THE SPACE BEASTS

Episode #289 · Written by Clifford D. Simak · Narrated by Scott Miller

Out beyond the safe lanes of space, rumors turn real as a living terror shadows a lone ship in the Asteroid Belt. What begins as a search for a miracle metal becomes a confrontation with forces older, stranger, and far more alive than anyone imagined.

Deep in the Asteroid Belt, where few ships dare to travel, Captain Johnny Lodge and Karen Franklin encounter something that should not exist. A luminous blue flame burns in the vacuum of space, surrounded by drifting wrecks and creatures that fly without air, mutate without limits, and defy every scientific principle humanity holds sacred.

As their ship is attacked and crippled, the crew is drawn into a haunting mystery involving ancient structures, living radiation, and a forgotten source of renewal that attracts beings from across the solar system. Survival means more than escaping the Belt—it requires understanding the nature of life itself, and deciding whether humanity truly stands alone in the universe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Clifford D. Simak brought a rare warmth and philosophical depth to science fiction, favoring ideas and ethics over spectacle. His stories consistently questioned humanity’s place in a vast, indifferent cosmos while affirming the power of kindness, curiosity, and hope.

A master of quiet awe rather than bombast, Simak won three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award during a career that spanned decades. His influence can be seen in generations of writers who followed, and his work remains timeless—inviting listeners to ponder not just what exists in the universe, but what it means to truly live.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Space Beasts by Clifford D. Simak — a classic sci-fi story of alien creatures and ancient mysteries in deep space.

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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 3.8 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.

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