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. Helen O’Loy, by Lester del Rey

    5d ago

    Helen O’Loy, by Lester del Rey

    Can a robot be a person? Can a robot have feelings? Can a robot fall in love? Can one fall in love with a robot? With the latest technology and the right programming, the answer appears to be ... yes. "Helen O'Loy" appeared in the December 1938 issue of "Astounding Science Fiction" on pages 118 to 125. It was one of the stories selected in 1970 by the Science Fiction Writers of America as one of the best science fiction short stories published before the creation of the Nebula Awards. Consequently, it was published in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929–1964. It was also a nominee for the 1939 Retro Hugo award for best short story. ----- Lester del Rey (real name Leonard Knapp) (June 2, 1915, Saratoga Township, Minnesota, – May 10, 1993, New York City, New York), was an American science fiction author and editor. He was the author of many books in the juvenile Winston Science Fiction series, and the fantasy editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction imprint of Ballantine Books (subsequently Random House.) Del Rey first started publishing stories in pulp magazines in the late 1930s, at the dawn of the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction. He was a member of a literary banqueting club, the Trap Door Spiders, which served as the basis of Isaac Asimov's fictional group of mystery solvers, the Black Widowers. Del Rey was the model for "Emmanuel Rubin." He was awarded the 1972 E. E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction (the "Skylark") by the New England Science Fiction Association. He won a special 1985 Balrog Award for his contributions to fantasy, voted for by fans and organized by Locus magazine. The Science Fiction Writers of America named him its 11th SFWA Grand Master in 1990, presented 1991. ----- 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/.

    31 min
  2. Runaround, by Isaac Asimov

    May 31

    Runaround, by Isaac Asimov

    A robot must obey orders, but must also, on the other hand, have sense enough to disobey if the order would destroy it. But that can lead to a most embarrassing sort of situation, when a robot gives its owners a handsome runaround!  Today's story is "Runaround", by Isaac Asimov. It appeared in the March 1942 issue of "Astounding Science Fiction" on pages 94 to 103. "Runaround" is the first story to feature explicitly the Three Laws of Robotics. It appears in the collections "I, Robot" (1950), "The Complete Robot" (1982), and "Robot Visions" (1990). In 2018, "Runaround" was nominated for a retrospective 1943 Hugo Award for best short story. The story also features engineers Gregory Powell and Mike Donovan, recurring characters in several of Asimov's robot stories. ----- 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, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    47 min
  3. The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham, by H G Wells

    May 24

    The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham, by H G Wells

    When an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is. Today's story is "The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham", by H G Wells. It appeared in the June 1927 issue of "Amazing Stories" on pages 253 to 259. ----- Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, history, popular science, satire, biography, and autobiography. Wells' science fiction novels are so well regarded that he has been called the "father of science fiction". As a futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons, satellite television and something resembling the World Wide Web. His science fiction imagined time travel, alien invasion, invisibility and biological engineering before these subjects were common in the genre. Brian Aldiss referred to Wells as the "Shakespeare of science fiction." Wells rendered his works convincing by instilling commonplace detail alongside a single extraordinary assumption per work – dubbed "Wells's law." His most notable science fiction works include The Time Machine (1895), which was his first novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898), the military science fiction The War in the Air (1907), and the dystopian When the Sleeper Wakes (1910). Wells was a diabetic and co-founded the charity The Diabetic Association (Diabetes UK) in 1934. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    49 min
  4. Compassion Circuit, by John Wyndham

    May 17

    Compassion Circuit, by John Wyndham

    It’s comforting to hear a robot say: “I’ll take care of you!” But it can be terrifying, too.  Today's story is "Compassion Circuit", by John Wyndham. It appeared in the December 1954 issue of "Fantastic Universe" on pages 90 to 98. Regular readers of classic science fiction may notice the resemblance of the Compassion Circuit to Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics which were first introduced in his 1942 story "Runaround". ----- John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (10 July 1903 – 11 March 1969) was an English science fiction writer best known for his works published under the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes. Some of his works were set in post-apocalyptic landscapes. His best known works include The Day of the Triffids (1951), The Midwich Cuckoos (1957). Wyndham participated in the Normandy landings, landing a few days after D-Day. He was attached to XXX Corps, which took part in some of the heaviest fighting, including surrounding the trapped German army in the Falaise Pocket. On 24 May 2015, an alley in the London Borough of Hampstead that appears in The Day of the Triffids was formally named Triffid Alley as a memorial to him. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    27 min
  5. The Mordant, by Merab Eberle

    May 10

    The Mordant, by Merab Eberle

    There are several mechanical means, like the movie films and phonograph records, to preserve youthful charms or a gorgeous voice or expressions of brilliant minds, but there is no growth, or even variation. What if some scientist should discover the secret of indefinite prolongation of life and a young body? Off-hand such a discovery would seem to be a boon to humanity. But is it? Today's story is "The Mordant", by Merab Eberle. It appeared in the March 1930 issue of "Amazing Stories" on pages 1,181 to 1,185. ----- Merab Shipley Eberle (February 2, 1891, Mattoon, Illinois, U.S. – October 31, 1959, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.) was an American journalist and a writer in several genres, including science fiction and children's plays. She was a member of the Dayton Women's Club and the Ohio Newspaper Women's Association. From 1930 to 1959, she was a reporter, arts editor and book reviewer for The Dayton Journal Herald. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    31 min
  6. The Fate of the Poseidonia, by Clare Winger Harris

    May 3

    The Fate of the Poseidonia, by Clare Winger Harris

    George Gregory took an instant dislike to the man Martell. He could not put his finger on why exactly, but when the woman George was in love with started to associate with the man, he had to find out what the attraction was. His investigation turned up something far more sinister, however. Today's story is "The Fate of the Poseidonia" by Clare Winger Harris. It appeared in the June 1927 issue of "Amazing Stories" on pages 245 to 252 and 267. "The Fate of the Poseidonia" took the third prize of $100 in the $500 Cover Prize Contest, in which contestants were to write a story of not more than 10,000 words based on the cover picture of the December 1926 issue.  ----- Clare Winger Harris (January 18, 1891, Freeport, Illinois – October 26, 1968, Pasadena, California) was a pioneering science fiction writer whose short stories were published during the 1920s. She is credited as the first woman to publish stories under her own name in science fiction magazines. Her stories often featured strong female characters. Harris began publishing stories in 1926 and soon became popular with readers, with most of her fiction appearing in the influential magazine Amazing Stories. She published a total of twelve stories, all but one of which were collected in 1947 as “Away From the Here and Now”; a full collection was not published until 2019 when “The Artificial Man and Other Stories” appeared. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    1 hr
  7. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, by Agatha Christie

    Apr 26

    The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, by Agatha Christie

    It was entirely unlike Poirot to be taken in by superstition and tales of the supernatural. Perhaps it was the heat of the Egyptian desert or the incessant sand. Would Poirot's little grey cells still be able to unravel this mystery? Today's story is "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb" by Agatha Christie. It appeared in the book "Poirot Investigates" published by The Bodley Head Limited in 1921 on pages 92 to 109. ----- Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction," Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime"—now trademarked by her estate—or the "Queen of Mystery." She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies. ----- If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    38 min
  8. Death Sentence, by Isaac Asimov

    Apr 19

    Death Sentence, by Isaac Asimov

    Our psychologists of today have set up colonies of monkeys and other animals as experiments. On a larger scale, with larger means, a greater experiment could be undertaken —  Today's story is "Death Sentence" by Isaac Asimov. It appeared in the June 1944 United Kingdom issue of "Astounding Science Fiction" on pages 55 to 63. ----- 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, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, 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/.

    48 min
See All (177)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 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
    177
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024-2026
  • Show Website
    Golden Age Fiction

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