The Weapon by Isaac Asimov Episode #215

Isaac Asimov | June 2, 2024

The Weapon by Isaac Asimov Episode #215
Isaac Asimov

THE WEAPON

Episode #215 · Written by Isaac Asimov · Narrated by Scott Miller

A desperate Earthman journeys to Mars in search of salvation for his dying world. But when the Martians refuse to share their secret, he risks everything to steal a “weapon” unlike any ever imagined.

When Preston Calvin stood before the emotionless Elders of Mars, he wasn’t seeking conquest—he was begging for survival. Earth’s democracies teetered on collapse, threatened by tyranny and hate. His request was simple: a weapon to save humanity. But the Martians, wise beyond measure and utterly detached from emotion, refused. “Every civilization must work out its own destiny,” they declared. Calvin’s only answer was to steal what they would not give.

His daring mission to Deimos, Mars’s laboratory moon, unfolds like a high-stakes espionage adventure among alien corridors of glass and light. Yet the “weapon” he discovers is not what anyone expects. It’s a revelation of science and spirit—a reminder that the deadliest power may not be destruction, but transformation. The Weapon is classic Asimov: a story of intellect, morality, and the perilous pursuit of progress.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Asimov’s prose is clean and deliberate, his ideas immense. Few writers could turn a single moral question into a cosmic adventure, but Asimov built a career on doing just that. His works have influenced generations of scientists, writers, and dreamers. He authored or edited over 500 books across science, fiction, and history, forever shaping the landscape of speculative thought. Whether exploring robots, galactic empires, or human frailty, Asimov reminds us that knowledge itself—like any weapon—depends on how it’s used.

LISTEN TO THE STORY

Listen to The Weapon by Isaac Asimov — a vintage sci-fi tale of human defiance, Martian wisdom, and the ultimate price of forbidden knowledge.

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:

★★★★★ “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

★★★★★ “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

Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.