Tales From the Blue Line – The Empty Seat

This week we have “The Irritated People” by Ray Bradbury. Charles Crossley, the President of American Jet-Propelled Ships, finds himself in a world teetering on the edge of chaos. The World Organization keeps has banned all wars, so countries have to get creative to settle their differences. Listen ⇢

This week’s story is “The Eternal Wall” by Raymond Gallun. The Eternal Wall is a story that weaves together themes of love, tragedy, and the passage of time. It reminds me of the 1973 Gene Roddenberry movie Genesis II, or Futurama. Both stories deal with people who suddenly find themselves… Listen ⇢

This week we have a story called “Beyond Lies the Wub” by Philip K Dick. This story explores themes of empathy, the ethics of survival, and the often troubling intersection between human ambition and the natural world. Through the interactions between the crew and the wub, Philip K. Dick masterfully… Listen ⇢

This week’s story is “The Other Now” by Murray Leinster. It’s a story all about dealing with loss, and then finding out maybe you don’t actually have to deal with it after all. Listen ⇢

This week’s story is “The Snare” by Richard Rein Smith. It could serve as a cautionary tale for NASA’s Artemis astronauts as they return to the Moon. If you find a doorway on the Moon, maybe it’s not such a good idea to go inside. Listen ⇢

This week’s story is “The Super Opener” by Michael Zuroy, which just might be the very first literary example of malicious compliance in the workplace. It’s a story that has everything really, a put upon employee, an overbearing boss and the world being overrun with tin cans. Listen ⇢

This week’s story is “Green Grew the Lasses” by Ruth Laura Wainwright. A woman already on edge from the relentless summer heat and the unwelcome arrival of her cousin, is about to face an unimaginable upheaval in her seemingly mundane life. Listen ⇢

This week’s story is “Prime Difference” by Alan Nourse. It’s a story that dives into the complexities of identity, the nuances of love, and the unintended consequences of tampering with the human experience. In this tale of desperation and deception, one man learns that the perfect solution may come with an… Listen ⇢

This week’s story is We’re Civilized! by Alex Apostolides and Mark Clifton. The fate of Mars and its inhabitants hangs in the balance, as the self-assured captain and the thoughtful scientist grapple with the consequences of their actions. Will they recognize the value of the life they have found, or… Listen ⇢