Golden Age Fiction

Paul Lawley-Jones

Stories from the "Golden Age of Pulp Fiction." The "Golden Age of Pulp Fiction" is generally considered to be from the last decade of the 1800s to the mid-1900s, when magazines published on cheap pulp paper filled (mostly American) news-stands. Notable examples of these pulp fiction magazines include Argosy, Blue Book Magazine, Adventure, Detective Story Magazine, Weird Tales, and Astounding Stories. Please note that performance of a story is not a condoning, endorsement, or promotion of attitudes, prejudices, biases or opinions therein—particularly of gender and gender roles, ethnicity, disability, and sexuality—that an inhabitant of modern times would find distasteful. If you have a story that you'd like me to perform, let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me.

  1. 1d ago

    Farewell to the Master, by Harry Bates

    The robot was harmless, in fact couldn't be moved in any way whatever—till a newsman stuck his nose in where it didn't belong! This novelette appeared in the October 1940 issue of "Astounding Science Fiction". ----- Hiram Gilmore "Harry" Bates III (October 9, 1900 – September 1981) was an American science fiction editor and writer.  His short story "Farewell to the Master" (1940) was the basis of the science fiction movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951). In 1983, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” was inducted into the Science Fiction Film Hall of Fame as part of the Balrog Awards, which were given from 1979 to 1985. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Farewell to the Master, by Harry Bates

  2. Aug 9

    The Nothing, by Frank Herbert

    The Nothings stemmed from the future’s tragic lack of courage. But one man and woman dared to shape a more audacious tomorrow. This short story appeared in the January 1956 issue of "Fantastic Universe." ----- Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune and five sequels, with Dune winning the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1965 and sharing the Hugo Award in 1966 with ...And Call Me Conrad by Roger Zelazny. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer. In 1942, he served in the U.S. Navy's Seabees for six months as a photographer, but suffered a head injury and was given a medical discharge. He subsequently moved to Portland, Oregon where he reported for The Oregon Journal. Herbert was the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's education writer from 1969 to 1972 and lecturer in general studies and interdisciplinary studies at the University of Washington (1970–1972). He worked in Vietnam and Pakistan as a social and ecological consultant in 1972, and in 1973 he was director-photographer of the television show The Tillers. Herbert had retired from newspaper writing by the end of 1972, becoming a full-time fiction writer, and enjoying considerable commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1979, Herbert met anthropologist Jim Funaro with whom he conceived the Contact Conference. In June 1981, Herbert was a guest of honour at Advention '81 in Adelaide, South Australia. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    The Nothing, by Frank Herbert

  3. Aug 2

    Blood Lands, by Alfred Coppel

    “You will never take us away from our land, men from the stars ... and no one who has touched this, our sacred land, shall ever leave it!” This short story appeared in the December 1952 issue of Dynamic Science Fiction. ----- Alfredo Jose de Arana-Marini Coppel (November 9, 1921 – May 30, 2004) was an American author. Born in Oakland, he served as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. After his discharge, he started his career as a writer. He became one of the most prolific pulp magazine authors of the 1950s and 1960s, adopting the pseudonyms Robert Cham Gilman and A.C. Marin and writing for a variety of pulp magazines. Though writing in a variety of genres, including action thrillers, he is known for his science fiction novels and short stories. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Blood Lands, by Alfred Coppel

  4. Jul 26

    Skulls in the Stars, by Robert E Howard

    He told how murderers walk the earth Beneath the curse of Cain, With crimson clouds before their eyes  And flames about their brain: For blood has left upon their souls  Its everlasting stain. — Hood This short story appeared in the January 1929 issue of "Weird Tales". ----- Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American writer who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He created the character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre. From the age of nine, Howard wanted to become an adventure fiction writer but did not have real success until he was 23. Thereafter Howard's writings were published in a wide selection of magazines—mainly Weird Tales—journals, and newspapers, and he became proficient in several subgenres. Howard was a fan of boxing, eventually taking up amateur boxing; he also spent some time in his late teens bodybuilding. Howard remains a highly read author, with his best works still reprinted. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Skulls in the Stars, by Robert E Howard

  5. Jul 19

    Translator's Error, by Charles Dye

    It was a perfectly natural mistake for men to make... This short story appeared in the December 1952 issue of Dynamic Science Fiction. ----- Charles Dudley Dye (October 1925 - December 1960) was a US author who was active for less than half a decade. His first science fiction story, "The Last Orbit" was published in Amazing in February 1950. In 1952, he publishws his only science fiction novel, “Prisoner in the Skull”, in which ordinary Homo sapiens and a form of Superman engage in thriller-like confrontations. After publication this novel was also serialized in New Worlds from December 1954 to February 1955. He was married briefly (1950-1953) to Katherine MacLean, who wrote “The Man Who Staked the Stars” (Planet Stories, July 1952) and "Syndrome Johnny" (Galaxy, July 1951) under his name. The latter story containing an amazingly early account of a Genetic Engineering technique (gene splicing), in which a "piggyback" virus transports genetic material (a silicon-using gene) into human cells. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Translator's Error, by Charles Dye

  6. Jul 19

    Silly Asses, by Isaac Asimov

    A new planet had qualified for entry into the Galactic Federation, but... This short story vignette appeared in the February 1958 issue of Future Science Fiction. ----- Isaac Asimov (c. January 2, 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. A prolific writer, he wrote or edited more than 500 books. He also wrote an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. Best known for his hard science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as popular science and other non-fiction. Asimov's most famous work is the "Foundation" series, the first three books of which won the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966. His other major series are the "Galactic Empire" series and the "Robot" series. He also wrote more than 380 short stories, including the social science fiction novelette "Nightfall", which in 1964 was voted the best short science fiction story of all time by the Science Fiction Writers of America. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Silly Asses, by Isaac Asimov

  7. Jul 12

    Underground Movement, by Allen K Lang

    A mangled corpse held them captive in that dark tunnel beneath the Earth's surface—and taught them a lesson about what freedom really means! This short story appeared in the December 1956 issue of Infinity Science Fiction. ----- Allen Kim Lang (b. 31 July 1928) is an American Science Fiction author who began publishing for Planet Stories in November 1950 and published a good number of action stories in the following decade: twenty titles are recorded, including the the comic novella "Cinderella Story" (May, 1961, "If"), and "Blind Man's Lantern" (December, 1962, "Analog"). ----- If there's a particular story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Underground Movement, by Allen K Lang

  8. Jul 5

    Red Shadows, by Robert E Howard

    How far would you go to visit vengeance on the killer of someone you'd only just met, someone you didn't know. This novelette appeared in the August 1928 issue of Weird Tales. This was Howard's first published Soloman Kane story. ----- Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American writer who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He created the character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre. From the age of nine, Howard wanted to become an adventure fiction writer but did not have real success until he was 23. Thereafter Howard's writings were published in a wide selection of magazines—mainly Weird Tales—journals, and newspapers, and he became proficient in several subgenres. Howard was a fan of boxing, eventually taking up amateur boxing; he also spent some time in his late teens bodybuilding. Howard remains a highly read author, with his best works still reprinted. ----- If there's a particular story you'd like me to narrate, please let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me. ----- Music: "Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

    Red Shadows, by Robert E Howard
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Stories from the "Golden Age of Pulp Fiction." The "Golden Age of Pulp Fiction" is generally considered to be from the last decade of the 1800s to the mid-1900s, when magazines published on cheap pulp paper filled (mostly American) news-stands. Notable examples of these pulp fiction magazines include Argosy, Blue Book Magazine, Adventure, Detective Story Magazine, Weird Tales, and Astounding Stories. Please note that performance of a story is not a condoning, endorsement, or promotion of attitudes, prejudices, biases or opinions therein—particularly of gender and gender roles, ethnicity, disability, and sexuality—that an inhabitant of modern times would find distasteful. If you have a story that you'd like me to perform, let me know at goldenagefiction@proton.me.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Lawley-Jones
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024-2026
  • Show Website
    Golden Age Fiction

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