
A madcap experiment in near‑future science fiction opens with Lieutenant‑Colonel Algernon Sidney St. Johnstone, a high‑strung officer whose mind is half‑wired and half‑delirious. In a cramped, cluttered apartment he fumbles with a copper wire and a mysterious “Local” device that seems to rewrite the very landscape outside his window, swapping mountain peaks for a phantom “Parker Pass.” The scene spirals into chaotic humor as Algernon battles invisible toxins, a slumbering valet, and his own garbled commands, all while the world of 2025 hovers just beyond his distorted perception.
The narrative balances sharp, witty dialogue with a subtle, almost O. Henry‑style twist that rewards a second listening. Its blend of quirky technology, absurd bureaucracy, and a protagonist whose frantic thoughts are as electrifying as the wire he manipulates creates a uniquely entertaining scientific‑fiction comedy. Listeners will find themselves both bewildered and amused, eager to see how the absurdity unfurls without giving away what lies beyond the opening act.
Language
en
Duration
~40 minutes (39K characters)
Release date
2024-07-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A little-known early science fiction writer, E. D. Skinner left behind imaginative stories from the pulp-magazine era, including a futuristic tale set in the year 2025. His work captures the playful, speculative energy that helped shape early magazine science fiction.
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