In this, the third episode of our Attempted Conversations About Robert Aickman, we welcome John Thorne back to the show. John is co-creator of the legendary Twin Peaks fanzine Wrapped in Plastic, the book Ominous Whoosh, and most recently, Devious Dreams: Reimagining David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive.

First, we talk to John about his book, which guides the reader through the strange world of Mulholland Drive, and its unlikely journey from TV pilot to one of the most heralded works of cinema in this still-young century.

Afterwards, we delve into two Robert Aickman stories, “Your Tiny Hand is Frozen,” and his much-anthologized “The Hospice.” While John is a relative newcomer to the strange world of Robert Aickman, he’s a veritable expert on David Lynch, which makes him a perfect companion as we consider the eerie resonances between the two creators’ work, which, while being very different in theme and aesthetic, are both characterized by an abiding commitment to the preservation of Mystery above all else.

“The Hospice” is available for free online, and can be found in Aickman’s Cold Hand in Mine collection.

“Cold Hand in Mine” is available in Aickman’s The Wine-Dark Sea collection.

Music at the beginning: “Che Gelida Manina” from La Bohème, as sung by Enrico Caruso.

Edmund St. Jude – voiced by Ray Russell

Bothersome Caller – Ramsey Campbell