Beyond the Center

May 12 2024 1
Beyond the Center Podcast artwork

Every other Sunday we will explore beyond our perceived reality, into the short stories of some of the best authors of classic science fiction and dark fantasy.

Episode #21 of Beyond the Center is scheduled to go live Sunday, May 12th at 7am PST.  

This short story, due to its length, will be split up into three parts, with the first part going live on Sunday, May 12th, and parts two and three following on the consecutive Sundays of May 19th and May 26th.  

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"The Machine Stops" (Part 1) by E. M. Forster

May 12 2024 37 mins  
A prophetic short story involving mankind's subordination to, reliance upon, and worship of, modern technology. This longer short story will be split up into three parts over today and the following two Sundays. Today's part one of this three part story is titled "The Air-Ship", from "The Machine Stops", written by E. M. Forster. It was first published

Episode 21 Promo

May 05 2024 3 mins  
Episode #21, due to its length, will be split up into three parts, with the first part going live on Sunday, May 12th, and parts two and three following on the consecutive Sundays of May 19th and May 26th. In this promo, I offer up some hints as to what you can expect from this three part classic of the science-fiction genre, so please join me as we prepare to explore a story which

"Time Fuze" by Randall Garrett

Apr 21 2024 13 mins  
A ship with an experimental faster-than-light drive, the first ever to voyage outside of our solar system, arrives some distance from their destination of Alpha Centauri A. Upon arriving, the crew witnesses an unexpected event which has an astronomically low probability of occurrence. For this episode, the short story is titled "Time Fuze" by Randall Garrett, which was fi

"Saknarth" by Millard Verne Gordon (AKA Donald A. Wolheim)

Apr 07 2024 18 mins  
Saknarth, the Master Astrologer, yearned for the day when mankind would no longer be enslaved; when they would conquer their fears and miseries through learning and enlightenment. The short story for this episode is titled "Saknarth" by Millard Verne Gordon (AKA Donald A. Wolheim), which was first published in the Spring 1942 edition of Science Fiction Quarterly.Thank yo

"Ancient Lights" by Algernon Blackwood

Mar 24 2024 20 mins  
Mr. Thomas, a surveyor's clerk from Croydon, travels to the Sussex Weald to meet with a client about having a copse removed. Upon arriving near his destination, he spots the line of Downs with Chanctonbury Ring at its crest. As he comes upon the crest, he realises that this must be the wood his client wants cut down, and decides to walk through to have a look.The short story f

"Radio Mates" by Benjamin Witwer

Mar 10 2024 41 mins  
Bromley Cranston, a scientist, devotes himself to achieving a scientific discovery after his beloved has been swept away by another man. Cranston finds himself involved with the other man and his beloved as he makes progress on his invention which is capable of transmitting live beings. The short story for this episode is "Radio Mates", by Benjamin Witwer, first published

"Beside Still Waters" by Robert Sheckley

Feb 25 2024 13 mins  
Mark, a space faring prospector, decides to settle himself on a slab of rock in the asteroid belt after making a decent enough strike. He and his companion, Charles, become close friends, taking care of one another whilst enjoying each other's company and conversation. A touching story, with an inevitable conclusion. The short story for this episode is by Robert Sheckley, and

"Never Trust A Thief!" by Robert Silverberg

Feb 11 2024 20 mins  
Kiley, a thief who now finds himself locked up in a jail cell for the fourth time, is visited telepathically by a powerful alien being from another world. Kiley agrees to a deal with the alien being, who offers to bestow upon Kiley an ability which will make him the perfect thief. This episode's short story is "Never Trust A Thief!" by Robert Silverberg, and was firs

"Later Than You Think" by Fritz Leiber

Jan 28 2024 23 mins  
An Archeologist and Space Explorer in the far distant future discuss a discovery which has shed some light on the past history of intelligent life on Earth. Is this archeological find of past Earthlings what the scholars expected to discover? The short story for this episode will be "Later Than You Think" by Fritz Leiber, first published in the October 1950 issue of Galax

"A Hitch In Time" by Frederik Pohl

Jan 14 2024 26 mins  
Thom Ra is assigned the task of traveling back in time to the War of Annihilation, where he is supposed to make a "real and complete contribution to human knowledge". Under no circumstances is he allowed to interfere in the course of events.The short story for this episode will be "A Hitch In Time" by Frederik Pohl, first published in the June 1947 issue of Thri