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The Magnificent Possession

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The Magnificent Possession

By: Isaac Asimov
Narrated by: Saethon Williams
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About this listen

Step into Isaac Asimov’s early foray into science fiction comedy with The Magnificent Possession. First published in 1940, this witty short story follows Walter Sills, a struggling chemist whose “brilliant” discovery—plating metals with ammonium to mimic gold—spirals into chaos. Gangsters, corrupt politicians, and desperate industrialists descend on him, only for the invention’s fatal flaw to emerge: a stench so foul it ruins everything. Part satire, part cautionary tale, this story reveals Asimov’s youthful experimentation with humor and the pitfalls of unchecked ambition.

Public Domain (P)2025 Integrated Media Systems, LLC
Humorous Science Fiction
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