011: The Eyes Have It by Philip K. Dick and Pariah by Milton Lesser

He was sure he had discovered an incredible invasion of Earth by lifeforms from another planet. He didn’t know what to do! He tried to warn the government before things got out of hand. And, Harry spent three years in space waitingto get home to Earth—and his family. They were
waiting for him too—that is, for his corpse...

Two science fiction short stories next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.

Hi, I’m your host, Scott Miller, sci-fi fanatic and audiobook narrator and I want to thank you for listening to The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast with at least one lost sci-fi short story in every episode.

We welcome your comments, thoughts, and suggestions. Send an email to scott@lostscifi.com.

Chris Williams sent us this email recently, “Hey Scott, I love the Lost Sci-Fi Podcast but you said Planet of the Apes was your favorite sci-fi franchise by far. What about Star Wars? That’s my favorite. Keep up the good work, I listen to your podcast every week!” Thanks, Chris. 

I do love the Star Wars movie franchise and you got me thinking. I think the reason I put Planet of the Apes as my all-time favorite sci-fi franchise is because it began when I was a little kid and I’d seen all 5 of the apes movies before Star Wars was released in 1977. I saw Star Wars just days after I graduated high school in Denison, Iowa in what is now known as the Donna Reed Theater, named after the iconic actress who was born and raised in Denison. Reed, born Donna Mullenger, starred in the 1946 Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” alongside Jimmy Stewart.

Which begs the question is “It’s a Wonderful Life” a science fiction movie? Before you say no, think about it. George Bailey played by Stewart is suicidal when he’s visited by an angel when George says, “I wish I’d never been born.” The angel grants his wish and now the movie switches to an alternate timeline where George Bailey was never born! Sound like sci-fi to me. What do you think? Is “It’s a Wonderful Life” a science fiction movie? We’d love to hear your thoughts, scott@lostscifi.com.

Seven years after “It’s a Wonderful Life” was released a new science fiction magazine debuted in June 1953. Science Fiction Stories Magazine would publish once in 53 and once in 54 before releasing multiple issues over the next 6 years. 

The inaugural issue was 132 pages and sold for 35 cents. I found a good to very good copy on sale for only $25, which sounds like a bargain to me considering it contains a remarkable short story from the amazing Philip K. Dick. 

Turn with me to page 127, 

A little whimsy, now and then, makes for good balance. Theoretically, you could find this type of humor anywhere. But only a topflight science-fictionist, we thought, could have written this story, in just this way….

From Science Fiction Stories Magazine in June 1953 The Eyes Have It by Philip K. Dick