Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 084 - Nellie Foster

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August Derleth redeems himself with the excellent vampire story Nellie Foster!

Special thanks to our lovely reader Heather Klinke!

Check out Vampires and Corpses and Cats—Oh My! from the Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles.

Next up: an extra credit episode on Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Feedback 21 - Everything Has Changed

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We're doing a readback of the feedback on our month of sci-fi.

Don't forget to check out STAY GOLD BOOKS in Pittsburgh! Grand opening April 5th and 6th!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 083 - Drink My Blood

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Richard Matheson returns to the show with a very human vampire story: Drink My Blood!

Special thanks to our reader, Adam Kozlowski!

Next up: Sci-Fi Feedback and Nellie Foster by August Derleth, plus a bonus episode on Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 082 - The Skeleton Count

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We're taking a skeptical look at The Skeleton Count, or The Vampire Mistress, a story from the penny dreadfuls attributed to Elizabeth Caroline Grey.

Special thanks to our reader: Maeve Sawyer!

You can investigate the authorship of this story along with us, starting with these resources:

Taliesin Meets the Vampires 

The Elizabeth Caroline Grey Hoax at Yesterday's Papers

The Many Mrs. Greys from The Papers of the Bibliographic Society of America

This episode features an excerpt from Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor by Frédéric Chopin.

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 081 - School for the Unspeakable

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March is for Draculas begins with the Manly Wade Wellman story School for the Unspeakable -- special guest Jamie Brittain in attendance!

Thanks to our reader Marsh Davies -- you can pick up his game TEETH here!

Check out that naughty Weird Tales cover!

And here's all the info you could want on the movie if.... 

Finally, don't forget to tune into The Crate and Crowbar podcast!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Extra Credit 020 - High Concept: What Is It?

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We're talking about our time doing rounds of pitches to studios on "high concept" movies. But what the heck does "high concept" even mean?

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 080 - Microcosmic God - Part 2

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We're back with the conclusion to Theodore Sturgeon's Microcosmic God, and it's action-packed!

Special thanks to reader Greig Johnson! You can see all the cool things he's making by joining his Patreon, or grab everything you can from his Etsy page!

Check out They're Made out of Meat by the late, great Terry Bisson!

Next up: Extra Credit - What Does "High-Concept" Mean?

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 079 - Microcosmic God - Part 1

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Join us as we examine Theodore Sturgeon's Microcosmic God - one of the best sci-fi stories of all time!

Special thanks to reader Greig Johnson! You can see all the cool things he's making by joining his Patreon, or grab everything you can from his Etsy page!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Feedback 20 - Nostalgia for Quicksand

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We're talking about your takes on vintage weird - it's the feedback show!

Here's that scene from Dunston Checks In. Wow.

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 078 - The Plattner Story

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We're entering the fourth dimension with The Plattner Story by H.G. Wells!

Special thanks to reader Erik Peabody of Viking Guitar Productions. Check out his full reading of our own Chris Lackey's short story SNACK TIME on the Horror Hill Podcast!

What is the Fourth Dimension? by Charles Howard Hinton.

MADBALLS!

Outro track - OBLITERATOR by Viking Guitar

Intro track - Gnossienne: No. 1 by Erik Satie

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 077 - The Last Question

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We're laser-blasting into a month of science fiction, starting with Isaac Asimov's beloved short story, The Last Question!

Special thanks to reader Ryan Negron!

And don't forget to check out The Key of Dreams - an immersive theater experience with delicious Weird Fiction flavor!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Extra Credit 019 - Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

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ZOINKS! We're talking about the 90s Scooby movie in which the monsters are real! It's Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island!

Also referenced: The 20-Minute Workout 

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 076 - The Spirit Fakers of Hermannstadt

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One hundred years ago a ripping yarn by celebrity illusionist Harry Houdini graced the pages of Weird Tales - it's The Spirit Fakers of Hermannstadt!!

Special thanks to reader Andrew Leman - grab up The Temple of Jupiter Ammon now!

Investigate this article on Houdini's ghost writers, as well as this one from Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein.

Check out the silent film Terror Island featuring a swimming Houdini.

And don't forget to pick up your copy of FHTAGN! which will be releasing February 2nd from Mayhem Lettuce!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 075 - The Monstrosity

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We're putting our eyes on The Monstrosity by George W. Crane, a story that appeared in Weird Tales 100 years ago this month!

Special thanks to reader Levi Nunez of Loot the Body!

Learn more about Crane's computer dating program and his marital rating charts!

And here's more information about the Organ Autonomy trope!

Up next: The Spirit Fakers of Hermannstadt by HOUDINI!!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Feedback 019 - Grimm Revelations

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We're discussing your comments on our month of Grimm's Fairy Tales and uncovering STUNNING facts about Lenin's body, Commando's literary heritage, dolls crapping gold, Santa "The Cannibal" and so much more!

And here's that Atlas Obscura article on the Hansel and Gretel hoax!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 074 - The Thing of a Thousand Shapes - Part 2

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Jump in as we conclude our look at The Thing of a Thousand Shapes by Otis Adelbert Kline, featured in the second issue of Weird Tales!

Special thanks to reader Andrew Leman - grab up The Temple of Jupiter Ammon now!

Non-Fifer musical selection: Gnossienne: No. 1 by Erik Satie

Next up: The Monstrosity by George W. Crane

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 073 - The Thing of a Thousand Shapes - Part 1

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We're celebrating 101 years of Weird Tales with a look at The Thing of a Thousand Shapes by Otis Adelbert Kline - straight outta the first issue!

Special thanks to reader Andrew Leman - grab up The Temple of Jupiter Ammon now!

Enjoy Kline's essay "Why Weird Tales?" in full!

Non-Fifer musical selection: Gnossienne: No. 1 by Erik Satie

Next up: more shapes!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 072 - Hansel and Gretel

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We take our final trip into the woods of Grimm's Fairy Tales, accompanied by the original wonder twins: Hansel and Gretel!

Special thanks to our reader, Rachel Lackey of Rachel Watches Star Trek!

Check out Harryhausen's Hansel and Gretel.

And here's Bugs Bunny's version: "Bewitched Bunny"

Save big money AT MENARDS!!!

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: XIII. The Swan and VII. Aquarium by Camille Saint-Saëns | Nocturnes in C-Sharp Minor and E Minor by Frédéric Chopin

Next up: a look at 100 years of Weird Tales with The Thing of a Thousand Shapes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Study 071 - The Elves & Rumpelstiltskin

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It's a double-feature of Grimm's Fairy Tales!

First up, The Elves, a tale in three parts, followed by our headliner: Rumpelstiltskin.

Special thanks to our reader, Heather Klinke!

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: XIII. The Swan and VII. Aquarium by Camille Saint-Saëns | Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor by Frédéric Chopin | It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Meredith Willson.

And here's all the info you need on the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index!

Next up: Hansel and Gretel

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Chris Lackey Chris Lackey

Feedback 018 - Cabo Wabo and Wabi Shabby

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We're talking Grand Guignol, WW2 PSYOPs, Back to School (the movie) and so much more!

Next up: The Elves and Rumpelstiltskin

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