"We are the rats in the wainscoting of society—we operate outside of their barriers and outside of their rules. Society had more rats when the rules were looser, just as the old wooden buildings had more rats than the concrete buildings that came later. But they still had rats. Now that society is all ferroconcrete and stainless steel there are fewer gaps between the joints, and it takes a smart rat to find them. A stainless steel rat is right at home in this environment."

James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" diGriz was a criminal in a time when crime was almost non-existent. And he was good at it. His latest scheme had been a real money-maker, but now, he had to run and find a new caper on a new planet.

"The Stainless Steel Rat" appeared in "Astounding Science Fiction," August 1957, pages 41 - 59.

Harry Max Harrison (March 12, 1925 – August 15, 2012) was an American science fiction author, known mostly for his character "The Stainless Steel Rat" and for his novel "Make Room! Make Room!" (1966). The latter was the rough basis for the motion picture Soylent Green (1973).

Long resident in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, Harrison was involved in the foundation of the Irish Science Fiction Association, and was, with Brian Aldiss, co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children. Little did he know that on other worlds—cruelty boomeranged.

Today's story is "The Cottage" by Frank Belknap Long. It appeared in the September 1954 issue of "Fantastic Universe" on pages 58 to 69.

Frank Belknap Long Jr. (April 27, 1901 – January 3, 1994) was an American writer of horror fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, gothic romance, comic books, and non-fiction. Though his writing career spanned seven decades, he is best known for his horror and science fiction short stories, including contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos alongside his friend, H. P. Lovecraft. During his life, Long received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement (at the 1978 World Fantasy Convention), the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement (in 1987, from the Horror Writers Association), and the First Fandom Hall of Fame Award (1977).

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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They were out of place in the Manly Age--Stonecypher, a man who loved animals; Moe, a bull who hated men. Together, they marched to inevitably similar destinies...

"Thy Rocks and Rills" appeared in "If, Worlds of Science Fiction", September, 1953, pages 76 to 98.

Robert E Gilbert (May 6, 1924 – April 4, 1993) was an American science fiction writer.

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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He had been sent to kill the Father of Evil, to purge his corruption from this world. But Wolverton had shot him down, captured him, and now, injured, he had to endure conversation with this loathed man.

"The Missionary" appeared in "Amazing Stories," October 1960.

Jesse Franklin Bone (1916-2006) was an American author and veterinarian whose writing gained prominence during the 'Golden Age of Science-Fiction' in the 1950's. His first story, "Survival Type" was published in "Galaxy," March 1957. His short-story Triggerman was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1959.

In addition to his science fiction books and short stories, he also authored the textbook "Animal Anatomy and Physiology," which was used widely in universities throughout the United States and internationally.

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Neal "Storm" Cloud, atomic physicist, through personal tragedy, is destined to become the most noted figure in the galaxy.

"The Vortex Blaster" appeared in "Comet", July 1941, pages 2 to 17.

Edward Elmer Smith (May 2, 1890 – August 31, 1965) was an American food engineer and science-fiction author, best known for the Lensman and Skylark series. He is sometimes called the father of space opera. In 1963, he was presented the inaugural "First Fandom Hall of Fame" award at the 21st World Science Fiction Convention in Washington, D.C.

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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"Get the pirate Gunther," were their orders. But Click and Irish were marooned on the pirate's asteroid—their only weapons a single gun and a news-reel camera.

"The Monster Maker" appeared in "Planet Stories," Spring 1944, pages 39 - 47.

Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and realistic fiction.

Bradbury is widely known by the general public for his novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and his short-story collections The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951). Most of his best known work is speculative fiction, but he also wrote and consulted on screenplays and television scripts, including "Moby Dick" and "It Came from Outer Space." Many of his works were adapted into television and film productions as well as comic books.

The New York Times called Bradbury "the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream."

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Why were Fred Kirr's shipmates calling the planet Gamma Tauri II, which they were surveying for evidence of intelligent life, a paradise, when it was in reality a desolate hell? Why was he the only one who could see the truth? Or was he the one going mad?

"Trajectory to Taurus" appeared in "Amazing Stories," September 1960, pages 39 to 56.

Lester Hines Cole (14 July 1926 - September 2019) was an American writer of science and historical fiction.

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"Mesmerizing Galaxy" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

If there's a story you'd like me to narrate, or a genre you'd like me to include more of, please let me know using the Contact Form.