Short Science Fiction Collection 046


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.2 stars; 361 reviews)

Science Fiction is speculative literature that generally explores the consequences of ideas which are roughly consistent with nature and scientific method, but are not facts of the author’s contemporary world. The stories often represent philosophical thought experiments presented in entertaining ways. Protagonists typically “think” rather than “shoot” their way out of problems, but the definition is flexible because there are no limits on an author’s imagination. The reader-selected stories presented here were written prior to 1962 and became US public domain texts when their copyrights expired. (Summary by Gregg Margarite) (9 hr 42 min)

Chapters

A Filbert is a Nut 17:51 Read by Steve Mattingly
Ask a Foolish Question 22:14 Read by Bellona Times
The Beast in the Void 43:30 Read by James Rogers
The Burning Bridge 1:12:22 Read by Mark Nelson
From an Amber Block 47:47 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
The Gate to Xoran 47:34 Read by Mark Nelson
Goodbye, Dead Man 12:17 Read by Adam Whybray
Holes Incorporated 13:18 Read by D. A. Frank
The Last Supper 3:58 Read by Andy Sames
Lost in the Future 7:30 Read by Tibbi Scott
Made in Tanganyika 25:51 Read by Bill Coombs
A Matter of Magnitude 14:37 Read by Bellona Times
The Planet of Dread 44:12 Read by Mark Nelson
Say "Hello" for Me 6:12 Read by koiwoi
Silver Dome 1:09:59 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
The Day Time Stopped Moving 32:04 Read by Bill Coombs
The Natives 5:29 Read by Tibbi Scott
The New Accelerator 34:48 Read by Alex Lau
The Vampires of Venice 50:25 Read by Mark Nelson
Vanishing Point 10:53 Read by Vince Dee

Reviews


(5 stars)

A good collection of classic sci-fi. Most are read quite well. I particularly enjoyed Vince Dee's reading of C. C. Beck's "Vanishing Point". Beck, the co-creator of the comic book superhero, Captain Marvel (Shazam), penned an amusing story, and Dee performed it superbly.

Mostly pulp


(3 stars)

A lot of “Golden Age” science fiction is simply not worth reading. This is *not* because there aren’t enough women or (fill in your preferred underrepresented group here). It is rather because the ideas are often dull, the “science” is frequently silly, and the writing is usually abominable. After all, there’s a reason why the pulps have the reputation they do. They may (and this is a good thing) have been emphasizing story over politics—but the stories were far too often not that good. This anthology is a good example—four stories (“The Gate to Xoran,” “Made in Tanganyika,” “The Planet of Dread,” and “Vanishing Point”) were enjoyable; one was so silly and so bad that it was moderately enjoyable in an MST3K sort of way—and the rest were just awful; so bad that not even Mark Nelson’s narration could save them. My recommendation? If you’re interested in pulp-era science fiction at all, listen to the four stories I listed above, and skip the rest.

good but with flaws


(4 stars)

most of the stories were really well narrated but, I just could not stand the accent in an amber rock story. The female voice sounded terrible with an Indian male voice trying to copy it. This narrator completely ruined the story for me, the story could not be understood at times.

good stories, readers mostly good


(3.5 stars)

a few readers are hard to listen to, bit overall its good. only 2 storiea i could not stand the readers.

good selection of classic Sci Fi


(4 stars)

just that it is the "Vampires of Venus", not Venice. Vampires of Venice is a Doctor Who story :)

good selection, however few bad readers killed stories they read


(3 stars)

inconsistent recording hollow at first and different people reco


(1 star)

A fun listen


(3 stars)

Good for a casual listen, some stories are better than others.