THE PRICE OF PARADISE: When Everything You Want Costs Everything You Are | Classic Sci-Fi Horror

Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, True Crime, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

Darren Marlar

True Crime, History, Society & Culture, Documentary, Science, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“Cost of Living” by Robert Sheckley
In a future where debt is inherited and every convenience comes at a crushing cost, one man discovers that the price of living may be more than anyone can afford.
Originally published in “Galaxy Science Fiction” – December, 1952

Transcript

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0:00.0	If you've ever wanted to learn more about stories I share in the podcast, you'll want to sign up for the free Weird Darkness newsletter.
0:06.8	Several times per week, you'll get an email that not only includes the audio player with a recent episode, but a deep dive article of that same subject, going more in depth than what you heard in the podcast.
0:17.5	I also post numerous articles that never make it into the podcast, and I share
0:21.4	those in the newsletter, too. Along with transcripts of my horrible humor podcast, Mind of Marler,
0:27.0	you'll get videos of murder noir as I post them, the most popular video of the week from my YouTube
0:32.1	channel. Plus, I include bonus audio in the newsletter every week that I don't post to the podcast.
0:38.0	And if I still have room at the bottom, I'll stick a funny meme in there for you.
0:42.1	Sign up for the free Weird Darkness newsletter at Weirddarkness.com slash newsletter.
0:47.3	That's Weirddarkness.com slash newsletter.
0:50.2	As a member of this weirdo family, I value your input.
0:53.2	And while I try to keep up with the emails, online messages, and comments I receive, one thing I've not really done is ask your opinions about certain things I offer in the podcast. Do you like the murder noir episodes? What about the old-time radio stuff? Does the more comedic Mind of Marler uploads even belong in the podcast?
1:12.8	If you could change one thing about Weird Darkness, what would it be?
1:16.1	Take the survey at Weirddarkness.com slash survey, and let me know what you think about what
1:21.1	I do and how I do it.
1:23.0	It'll only take about two minutes, but it'll be invaluable to me as a creator to find
1:27.3	out what you like
1:28.2	and don't like, what you'd like to see more of, or less of, visit weirddarkness.com slash survey.
1:34.6	That's weirddarkness.com slash survey.
1:37.8	Cost of Living by Robert Chegley. From Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1952.
1:45.3	Karin decided that he could trace his present mood to Miller's suicide last week.
1:51.4	But the knowledge didn't help him get rid of the vague, formless fear in the back of his mind.
1:57.3	It was foolish. Miller's suicide didn't concern him. But why had that fat, jovial man killed
	...

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