Image by Mr.Hasgaha, via Flickr Commons
If you dig through our archives, you can find no shortage of finely-produced radio dramatizations of your favorite science fiction stories. During the 1950s, NBC’s Dimension X adapted stories by the likes of Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and even Kurt Vonnegut. Later in the ’50s, X Minus One continued that tradition, dramatizing stories by Robert A. Heinlein, Philip K. Dick, Poul Anderson and others. By the 1970s, Mind Webs got into the act and produced 188 adaptations–classics by Ursula K. LeGuin, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke. And the BBC did up Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy.
Those productions will keep you busy for a good while. But if you’re wondering what the 1980s delivered, then tune into Sci-Fi Radio, a series of 26 half-hour shows which aired on NPR Playhouse, starting in 1989. Some of the adapted stories include: “Sales Pitch” and “Imposter” by Philip K. Dick, “Diary of the Rose” and “Field of Vision” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “Wall of Darkness” by Arthur C. Clarke, and “Frost and Fire” by Ray Bradbury.
You can stream all episodes below, or over at Archive.org. Sci-Fi Radio will be added to our collection, 1,000 Free Audio Books: Download Great Books for Free. Hope you enjoy.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletter, please find it here. Or follow our posts on Threads, Facebook, BlueSky or Mastodon.
If you would like to support the mission of Open Culture, consider making a donation to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your contributions will help us continue providing the best free cultural and educational materials to learners everywhere. You can contribute through PayPal, Patreon, and Venmo (@openculture). Thanks!
Related Content:
Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy: Hear the 1973 Radio Dramatization
X Minus One: Hear Classic Sci-Fi Radio Stories from Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury & Dick
Hear 6 Classic Philip K. Dick Stories Adapted as Vintage Radio Plays
Thank you
Thank you!
Thank you! Its not always possiblw to read yourself. What a privilege
Its not always possible to read yourself. What a privilege to be abke to download
Thanks. M
Let’s an old washed up man in the twilight of his life pretend I’m back 45 years and more ago when life was better and I was young and handsome and popular and happy. (Thumbs up)