Study 070 - The Juniper Tree
Our month on Grimm's Fairy Tales continues with a disturbing tale of decapitation, cannibalism and shiny-happy songbirds: The Juniper Tree!
Special thanks to our reader: Greig Johnson! Don't forget to check out his Etsy shop!
We are reading this month's selections in The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, translated and annotated by Jack Zipes.
Non-Fifer musical selections: Nocturne No. 19 in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin | The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II, No. 12b, Divertissement. Coffee, Arabian Dance by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Get a load of Grimm's John Wick: The Dog and the Sparrow
Next up: The Elves and Rumpelstiltskin
Extra Credit 018 - A Holiday Ghost Story
Ghost stories are a tradition this time of year, and we want in!
Our story is The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall by John Kendrick Bangs.
Bangs was a New Yorker best known as the Editor of the Department of Humor for Harpers’ publications, and later the editor of Puck, the first successful humor magazine in the United States.
This is a humorous tale that first appeared in Harpers Weekly, way back in 1891, and is suitable for all audiences.
Our production is a full reading by Fifer with an intro by Lackey and some short discussion at the end.
Have a listen with the family and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Study 069 - Snow White
We're celebrating the holidays with a month on Grimm's Fairy Tales. First up: Snow White, featuring 100% more torture than we anticipated!
Special thanks to our reader, Michelle Sawyer!
We are reading this month's selections in The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, translated and annotated by Jack Zipes.
Non-Fifer musical selections: Carnival of the Animals: VII. Aquarium by Camille Saint-Saëns | Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor by Frédéric Chopin.
And don't forget to check out Greig Johnson's Etsy shop!
Next up: The Juniper Tree
Extra Credit 017 - Wabi Sabi and Weird Fiction
Weird fiction deals with imperfect, unfinished narratives that expose the impermanence of all things, which are core tenants of the Japanese philosophy Wabi Sabi.
Study 068 - Harrison Bergeron & 2BR02B
It's a Kurt Vonnegut double feature for Thanksgiving as we speculate on speculative stories Harrison Bergeron and 2BR02B!
Special thanks to reader Erik Peabody of the Horror Hill Podcast and Viking Guitar Productions!
Next up: Wabi Sabi and Weird Fiction
Study 067 - The Bet
Could you do fifteen years in solitude for thirty million bucks? We put the question to the test in Anton Chekhov's The Bet!
Special thanks to our reader, Jeff C. Carter, host of We Bleed Orange and Black and author of We Bleed Red and Green!
Readings are accompanied by Prelude No. 4 and 22 of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, Opus 87.
Next up: Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron and 2BR02B!
Feedback 017 - Who Put Bella in the Witch Elm?
We're reading your comments from October and they're horrifically insightful!
Macho Man Randy Savage - The Cream of the Crop!
Study 066 - The Rocking-Horse Winner
It's your lucky day! We're discussing The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence and the odds are good you'll enjoy the ride!
Special thanks to our reader, George Woodruff of Full Throttle Sound. You can hear his COMPLETE READING of The Rocking-Horse Winner on the Full Throttle Sound Podcast.
Next up: Feedback, then some Vonnegut!
Study 065 - The Living Dead
Treat that Halloween hangover with a shot of Blochtober! We're discussing Robert Bloch's Nazi vampire fable, The Living Dead!
Special thanks to reader Paul Fricker of Mason and Fricker's Eldritch Stories and The Good Friends of Jackson Elias!
Check out this 90s-lookin' book cover for Great Tales of Madness and the Macabre, compiled by Charles Ardai.
Study 064 - August Heat and Berenice
It's a Halloween double feature of August Heat by William F. Harvey and Berenice by our old friend Edgar Allan Poe!
Special thanks to our reader Greig Johnson! Check out his Etsy shop and his awesome werewolf film The Wilds!
Outro Track: Gettin' Spooky on the Dance Floor
Next up: Extra Credit on various movies such as The Fly ('86), Sator, Mandy and more!
Study 063 - The Tower
What could go wrong on a visit to The Tower of Sacrifice? Let's all find out together as we read The Tower by Marghanita Laski! The transcribed story is available here or here.
Special thanks to our reader, Rachel Lackey of Rachel Watches Star Trek!
Here's that article on Laski from Furrowed Middlebrow.
Feedback 016 - Exciting Headlights
It's a no-holds-barred reading of your thoughts on science fiction!
Study 062 - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
It's a Halloween classic! We're taking a ride with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - climb on!
Special thanks to master reader Andrew Leman!
Check out this 1922 Silent Film version of the story.
Next up: The Tower by Marghanita Laski
Study 061 - The Fly
Catch the buzz as we discuss George Langelann's short story, The Fly!
Special thanks to reader Andrew Leman!
Here's that Return of the Fly song by the Misfits that Lackey keeps singing.
Next up: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
Study 060 - The Anything Box
We are delighted to discuss Zenna Henderson's short story about childhood magic: The Anything Box!
Special thanks to equally delightful reader Heather Klinke!
And don't forget to check out Manos: The Hands of Fate - A Coloring and Activity Book by friend of the show Keith McCaffety!
Closing track is Jubilation by Anything Box - BUY THEIR MUSIC!
Extra Credit 015 - Fire in the Sky & Why the Sci-Fi
We're discussing the alien abduction classic Fire in the Sky as well as recent alien testimony in the US and Mexico. Also covered:
Escape from the Planet of the Ant Men
And then a bunch of obscure stuff like Star Wars and The Expanse.
Study 059 - Nobody Bothers Gus
It's an unforgettable episode on the Aldris Budrys story Nobody Bothers Gus! Or is it?
Special thanks to our reader, Paul Fricker! Dig into his blog, The Frickerverse, and don't forget to check out his new podcast: Eldritch Stories!
Next up: The Anything Box by Zenna Henderson and Sci-Fi Extra Credit!
Feedback 015 - Riding Dracula
We're reading your Komments on Klein™!
Once more, Erik Peabody's FULL READING of T.E.D. Klein's amazing story The Events at Poroth Farm on the Horror Hill podcast. Listen on YouTube here.
September 30th, peep Lackey and Greig Johnson at the Innsmouth Literary Festival!
Study 058 - Allamagoosa
We're taking inventory space-style with the Hugo award-winning story Allamagoosa by Eric Frank Russell!
Special thanks to reader Greig Johnson! Check out his Patreon NOW!
Here's that article on Russell's book Wasp from TOR.com!