
The Smart Ones by Jack Sharkey
From The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast - Vintage Sci-Fi Short Stories by Scott Miller
May 5, 2026 · 26 min · Episode 539
About this episode
The episode explores the theme of intelligence and survival in a collapsing civilization through the story 'The Smart Ones' by Jack Sharkey.
When survival becomes a series of terrible choices, intelligence alone offers no protection from consequence. The Smart Ones questions whether cleverness can truly sustain humanity when civilization falls—and what kind of intelligence will rise to take its place. The Smart Ones by Jack Sharkey. That’s next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast. New listeners around the world have taken the podcast to new heights and we cannot thank you enough. We hit #6 in science fiction in the United States, our highest ranking ever, and our UK listeners have taken us to #5 which is also our highest ever. More listens and listeners than ever before. Thanks for making The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast one of the top science fiction podcasts in the world. Today’s story is a powerful reminder that intelligence alone doesn’t guarantee survival. What happens when ordinary people face extraordinary choices at the end of civilization? Let’s find out by perusing the pages of Amazing Stories in February 1963. Stop when you get to page 78, The Smart Ones by Jack Sharkey… Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A breakthrough promises safe travel across the galaxy, using mysterious wells of newly created matter scattered through…
People in this episode
Host: Scott Miller
Topics covered
- survival
- intelligence
- civilization
- choices
- science fiction
Keywords
- survival
- intelligence
- civilization
- choices
- science fiction
- Jack Sharkey
- Amazing Stories
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Smart Ones, Amazing Stories, The Wellsprings of Space
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