We’re Off to Mars by Joe Gibson Episode #474
Joe Gibson | January 24, 2026-
play_circle_filled
We’re Off to Mars by Joe Gibson Episode #474
Joe Gibson
WE’RE OFF TO MARS
Episode #474 · Written by Joe Gibson · Narrated by Scott Miller
A mysterious delivery brings Joe Linger a device that can reshape reality itself — and suddenly the universe feels wide open. But with limitless power comes danger, curiosity, and a decision that will change his place in the cosmos forever.
“We’re Off to Mars!” by Joe Gibson begins with an ordinary man and an extraordinary delivery. Joe Linger receives a mysterious package from the far future: a remarkable robot capable of transforming matter into almost anything he can describe. A phone, a feast, money, even new clothes — every wish becomes reality. But each choice he makes increases the pressure on time itself, and soon the possibilities grow far beyond life on Earth.
The story blends humor, curiosity, and the excitement of discovery with genuine tension. Joe learns quickly that incredible tools come with risks, moral questions, and consequences that ripple across history. When the universe suddenly opens to him, the decision he faces is larger than survival or comfort — it’s about freedom, danger, and destiny among the stars. The result is classic, hopeful science fiction filled with possibilities.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joe Gibson was part of the mid-century wave of writers who helped define the tone and imagination of popular science fiction magazines. His work often centers on everyday people confronted with impossible technology and sweeping cosmic ideas. Gibson had a knack for pacing, light humor, and “wow factor” concepts that still feel fun and accessible today.
In “We’re Off to Mars!”, those strengths are on full display. The story captures that vintage sense of wonder: bold invention, playful speculation, and the thrill of stepping beyond the world we know. Fans of classic sci-fi will appreciate the adventure, the optimism, and the way ordinary life collides with overwhelming discovery.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to We’re Off to Mars by Joe Gibson — a thrilling vintage science fiction short story of time travel, strange technology, and big dreams.
RELATED STORIES
Mars has always been the most familiar of alien worlds, close enough to imagine and distant enough to remain dangerous. Vintage science fiction turned the red planet into a testing ground for human ambition—an empty frontier, a dying world, or a civilization older and stranger than Earth itself.
These stories send explorers, settlers, soldiers, and scientists across the void to a place where survival is never guaranteed. Thin air, vast deserts, and abandoned cities create a landscape that is both harsh and haunting.
Whether the planet is home to ancient Martians, fragile colonies, or the last hope after Earth’s decline, Mars stories are about adaptation.
- Dwellers in Silence by Ray Bradbury
- Death-Wish by Ray Bradbury
- Defense Mech by Ray Bradbury
- The Visitor by Ray Bradbury
- The One Who Waits by Ray Bradbury
- The Crystal Egg by H. G. Wells
- Never on Mars by John Wyndham
- Return of a Legend by Raymond Z. Gallun
- Message From Mars by Clifford D. Simak
- The Monsters Came By Night by Robert Silverberg
- The Martians and the Coys by Mack Reynolds
- A Zloor For Your Trouble by Mack Reynolds
- The Weapon by Isaac Asimov
- Arm of the Law by Harry Harrison
- Monster by William Morrison
- Fee of the Frontier by H. B. Fyfe
- A Message From Our Sponsor by Henry Slesar
- Two Weeks in August by Frank M. Robinson
- Duel on Syrtis by Poul Anderson
- We're Off to Mars by Joe Gibson
- Death Walks on Mars by Alan J. Ramm
- The Old Timer by Richard R. Smith
- Trainee for Mars by Harry Harrison
- The Hermit of Mars by Stephen Bartholomew
- Martian Homecoming by Frank Belknap Long
- Lake of Fire by Frank Belknap Long
- The Hated by Frederik Pohl
- The Old Martians by Rog Phillips
- The Martian Shore by Charles L. Fontenay
- Madmen of Mars by Erik Fennel
- Martians Never Die by Lucius Daniel
- What's He Doing in There? by Fritz Leiber
- Don't Look Now by Henry Kuttner
- Jonah of the Jove-Run by Ray Bradbury
- The Goggles of Dr Dragonet by Fritz Leiber
- The Foxholes of Mars by Fritz Leiber
- Alien Equivalent by Richard R. Smith
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 3.3 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:
★★★★★
“Positively a hidden gem. The halcyon era of sci-fi short form fiction.”
— Mike R (Tucson AZ)
★★★★★
“What a treasure! Found this podcast purely by accident! Brilliant!!”
— KSFJLC
Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.
📬 JOIN LOST SCI-FI WEEKLY
30,000+ Listeners Can’t Be Wrong
Get vintage sci-fi stories, podcast episodes, and surprises every Monday.
FREE SCI-FI EVERY WEEK
✅ Check your email and confirm — that unlocks your free sci-fi downloads.
No spam in this galaxy. You can eject anytime.
