Underestimation by Algis Budrys & Jerome Bixby -Vintage science fiction short story sleepstory human

Marilyn, the sassy stowaway, presents herself after take off. The ship is headed to Mars on a course that cannot be changed. Gerris the pilot is in a dilemma. He can't throw her out the non-existant airlock, nor can he turn back. The small dome on Mars is full to capacity, there is no place to put her. She is strong-willed, actively provocative and alluring, flexing her youthful femininity to get her way. Gerris dreads the effect she will have on the small community on Mars... Enjoy! - Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:42 Underestimation 24:26 About the author 29:12 Stories of Futures Past - This story was extensively researched and transcribed by your humble narrator, and is now available to the world as a free ebook for all to enjoy: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79646 About the authors: Algirdas Jonas Budrys writing as Algis Budrys (1931-2008) was a Lithuanian-American, born in Köningsberg in the German Free State of Prussia (today's Kaliningrad exclave of Russia, annexed by the Soviets after WWII and kept by Russia after the fall of communism). He emigrated with his family to USA when he was five years old. He is noted as a prominent and award winning science fiction critic in addition to being one of the leading science fiction authors of his day. He published well over a hundred short stories and seven novels. He has been finalist and nominated to a long list of awards, including Hugo, Nebula and Locus. He was inducted into the First Fandom Hall of Fame in 2007, and posthumously awarded the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award in 2009, which is equivalent to being named Grand Master. (Only living authors are named Grand Master, the Solstice is posthumous.) He is known to have used the pseudonyms Winchell Bates, S. V. Benet, David C. Hodgkins, Ivan Janvier, Paul Janvier, Gordon Jaulyn, Gordon Javlyn, Robert Marner, Jeffries Oldman, Jeffries Oldmann, William Scarff, Jack Sentry, John A. Sentry, Albert Stroud and Harold Van Dall (and of course Alger Rome for this collaborative story only). Drexel Jerome Lewis Bixby, writing as Jerome Bixby (1923-1998) was a California writer, editor, musician (he attended Julliard!) and illustrator. He was a prolific author who wrote mainly in the Science Fiction and Western genres, plus increasingly as the years went by … let's call them gentlemen's special interest (=lewd and salacious) stories. Several of the era's authors went this route, so I expect this as more to do with what sort of stories acutally could be sold for enough money to make a living off rather than a change of interest. He did several stints as editor and editorial staff of pulp magazines, such as Planet Stories, Galaxy Science Fiction, Thrilling Wonder Stories, and Startling Stories and also some comic books. He also did some internal illustrations for a few of the pulps. He invented the Mirror Universe in Star Trek; he wrote the script for s02e04 episode Mirror Mirror which aired in 1967. He was a finalist for the Hugo award twice, both for Best Dramatic Presentation (Star Trek scripts) and a runner up for the Retro Hugo in 2004 with his short story It's a Good Life, which also placed 23rd in the Locus online 2012 “100 best short stories of the 20th century” list. He is known to have used the pseudonyms Jay Lewis Bixby, Jay B. Drexel, Jacques Drexielle, Jay Drixel, Albert Janson, Lawrence P. Levy, D. B. Lewis, Harry Neal, Albert Rousell, Albert Roussell, Al Russell, Jan Russell, Jean-Albert Russell, Keith Sheplee, Manny St. Vivant, Al Stevens, Felix Stevens, Herb Williams, and Thornecliff Herrick, (and of course Alger Rome for this collaborative story only). - This narration was recorded in 2026. - Stories of Futures Past presents a vintage Science Fiction short story, narrated by myself, Tom Trussel. An actual, real living human being, warts and all. Any and all voices and effects are produced live during reading with my actual voice. No obnoxious after effects, synthetic voices or filters used. English is not my first language, inaccurate accents and the occasional strange pronunciation will happen. No mockery is intended. These stories are good for English learners / ESL. The full text is right there on the screen in a big and easy to read font. Read along with me. It's great practice! Copyright notice: The written text of this story is in the public domain, as determined by my research. The story is and should be free for anyone to enjoy. Use of the audio is subject to license. Boilerplate license wording off the Gutenberg website: “This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.”