# Synthetic Hero by Erik Fennel

An episode of [The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast - Vintage Sci-Fi Short Stories](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1611620789), 20 Oct 2026, 30 min.

Audio: https://pdrl.fm/cdddf0/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/1385/injector.simplecastaudio.com/2d99b959-8c5e-4cd3-999d-d8e3a2f320c6/episodes/2aaf12c8-72cc-4d2b-96df-19c9d6413e45/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=2d99b959-8c5e-4cd3-999d-d8e3a2f320c6&awEpisodeId=2aaf12c8-72cc-4d2b-96df-19c9d6413e45&feed=T_HaIqjN

A celebrated space pioneer becomes humanity’s greatest hero, but the story the world believes conceals a devastating deception. As a deadly disease threatens millions, one forgotten man must live with the knowledge that history has honored the wrong person. Synthetic Hero by Erik Fennel. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. Can you see the egg all over my face? Yikes, our last episode The Holes and John Smith by Edward W. Ludwig was a mess. Sorry about that, it’s fixed now. You may have to refresh you browser or podcast app to get it to play properly. Special thanks to Deacon Jim who bought us 20 coffees. “Scott, may God bring you consolation with the passing of your mother. Thank you for using the gift of your voice and passion to bring such joy to your listeners. Your show has been a wonderful diversion, so often providing me a respite-on-demand from that occasional stressful and overwhelming day. Thanks for all the resets. May God bless you and your family.” Thank you Deacon Jim. If you would like to buy us a coffee there is a link in the description. Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee Erik Fennel has appeared on the podcast just once before, more than four years ago, when we featured his story Madmen of Mars. We’re always searching for science fiction stories that offer something a little out of the ordinary, and today’s story certainly fits the bill. Today’s tale comes from the same issue of Planet Stories that featured Against the Stone Beasts by James Blish, which we enjoyed narrating not long ago. Blish’s adventure opened the magazine, and today we turn to its final selection. From page 96 of the Fall 1948 issue of Planet Stories, Synthetic Hero by Erik Fennel… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Knucklebone Smith has spent his entire life searching for the one thing he was born to do, but nobody believes he’s good for anything. On the frozen surface of Pluto, a desperate emergency may finally give him the chance to prove everyone wrong. The Pluto Lamp by Charles A. Stearns. Listen without commercials and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes every month with Lost Sci-Fi Premium—start your free 7-day trial today. https://lostscifi.supercast.com/ Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffee Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/ Facebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebook YouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtube X - http://Lostscifi.com/x Instagram - http://lostscifi.com/instagram Tik Tok - http://lostscifi.com/tiktok Merchandise - https://lostscifi.com/merch Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee $200 Someone $100 Josh Jennings, Tony from the Future $75 James Van Maanenberg $50 Tony Ciak, Ryan and Kait, James Van Maanenberg, MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener $25 Fintan Quigley, Curious Jon, David Bell, Steve, Miriam, Someone, Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener $15 Every Month Someone $15 Tina Godby, Steve, Someone, SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener $10 David, Anonymous Listener $5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue $5 Tammy, Owen, Bruce, Someone, TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listener Listen without commercials and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes every month with Lost Sci-Fi Premium—start your free 7-day trial today. https://lostscifi.supercast.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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