Study 087 - The Professor's Teddy Bear
Theodore Sturgeon's wholly original monster tale The Professor's Teddy Bear horrifies and mystifies. Good thing we've got Ken Hite along to help us decipher it!
BUY KEN'S BOOKS! Many are available directly from Pelgrane Press.
Special thanks to our reader, Greig Johnson!
Check out the Weird Tales issue in which this story first appeared.
Here's our episode on Sturgeon's swamp-creature story IT.
Other bear stories mentioned in this episode:
"The Third Bear" by Jeff VanderMeer
“Fur” by A.L. Barker
The Taste of Pomegranates” by D.K. Broster
Study 086 - The Command
Hyper-intelligent bear Johnny Black takes on a mad scientist in The Command by L. Sprague de Camp! It's Weird Bear Month!
Special thanks to our reader, Hazel Holmes of the I'm Funnier Than You podcast!
And here is some Advice for Time Traveling to Medieval Europe from Premodernist.
Study 085 - Bears Discover Fire
Weird Bear Month begins with a touching tale by Terry Bisson: Bears Discover Fire!
Special thanks to our reader, Craig Johnson of Chad Vader and Welcome to the Basement!
Next up: The Command by L. Sprague de Camp
Extra Credit 021 - Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
Happy Draculeaster! We're closing out the month with a look at Hammer's swashbuckling Captain Kronos as well as a glance at Twins of Evil!
Study 084 - Nellie Foster
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!
Feedback 21 - Everything Has Changed
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!
Study 083 - Drink My Blood
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!
Study 082 - The Skeleton Count
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:
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.
Study 081 - School for the Unspeakable
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!
Extra Credit 020 - High Concept: What Is It?
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?
Study 080 - Microcosmic God - Part 2
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?
Study 079 - Microcosmic God - Part 1
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!
Feedback 20 - Nostalgia for Quicksand
We're talking about your takes on vintage weird - it's the feedback show!
Here's that scene from Dunston Checks In. Wow.
Study 078 - The Plattner Story
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.
Outro track - OBLITERATOR by Viking Guitar
Intro track - Gnossienne: No. 1 by Erik Satie
Study 077 - The Last Question
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!
Extra Credit 019 - Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
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
Study 076 - The Spirit Fakers of Hermannstadt
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!
Study 075 - The Monstrosity
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!!
Feedback 019 - Grimm Revelations
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!
Study 074 - The Thing of a Thousand Shapes - Part 2
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