PseudoPod

by Caitlin Marceau.

“Hunger” was published through Sanitarium Magazine, issue no. 23, in July of 2014. The text can be read at Shadows At The Door.

“I’m Canadian and winters can be long and rough up here, and that was sort of the inspiration for this story. It wasn’t uncommon for people in rural areas not all that long ago to get horribly lost during a whiteout (a heavy and unrelenting snowstorm). People would leave their home to get something in their barn, and they’d be found a few days later in a pile of snow because they couldn’t find their way back. I always thought it was a terrifying idea, and I really hope the listeners at home think so too!”

CAITLIN MARCEAU is an author and professional editor living and working in Montreal. She prefers to focus her time on journalism and works of horror, but has also been published for poetry as well as creative nonfiction. When she’s not covered in ink or wading through stacks of paper, you can find her ranting about issues in pop culture or nerding out over a good book. She has a play coming out at the end of the year called SHADOW PUPPETS. Her work can also be found at at Sanitarium Magazine, Shadows at the Door, and Morpheus Tales. Look for her to be featured in “The Women in Horror Annual” issued by the Horror Writers Association. For more information on how to support this project visit: WOMEN IN HORROR ANNUAL and WOMEN IN HORROR ANNUAL. Caitlin blogs here.

Your narrator – Brian Rollins – is a voice actor living in Denver, Colorado where does double duty as a web developer and voice actor. Brian is probably best known in audiobook circles as the voice of the Glen & Tyler series. You can find out what he’s working on next or hire him for your next project at The Voices In My Head.

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Jean pulls a pine needle from inside his coat pocket and slowly begins to gnaw on it. “It’s better than dying lost in a forest, or being eaten by starving wolves.”

“I’d welcome the wolves, Jean. At least then I’d have a chance to bite some meat off one of them, and die with a full stomach. Besides, the dogs had enough brains to get out of here a long while ago.”

“There’s still some. How else do you account for the howling outside our cabin all night?”

“The wind,” he shoots back dismissively.

“Or a wendigo,” Jean says quietly, in a voice a whisper.

“Wendigos?”

“Wendigos. Mom used to tell me stories of how your father’s ancestors lived in these woods during the time of them. She said to me her, your, great grandfather was almost tricked into becoming one, but he saved himself from them in time.”

“My grandfather-”

“My great grandfather-”

“Was almost a wendigo?” Pierre laughs bitterly.

“It’s true! Mom told me when he was a young boy he was tracking a moose with some men from the tribe, when he and his friend got separated from them. The moose lead them all through the woods, for many days, until both of them were lost and hungry. The moose tracks had disappeared days before and there wasn’t any game to hunt. They grew so hungry, that one day an evil spirit overcame him. Mom told me he was possessed by the urge to eat his frie…”

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Author : B.T. Joy Narrator : Simon Meddings Host : Alasdair Stuart Audio Producer : Graeme Dunlop Discuss on Forums PseudoPod 468: The Angel In The Marble is a PseudoPod original. ‘The Angel In The Marble’ is an example of a kind of story that has haunted and fascinated me since early childhood and which, […]

by B.T. Joy.

“The Angel In The Marble” is original to Pseudopod.

‘The Angel In The Marble’ is an example of a kind of story that has haunted and fascinated me since early childhood and which, until writing this, I had never quite expressed in words. It’s one of those ‘stormy night’ stories we find in the darker corners of books of fairytales in which someone is lost in a deep wood and so follows the single light shining from a nearby cabin; wandering, unknowingly, even further from the road. It’s a story about two strangers, not desiring company and having their own personal reasons for solitude, who nevertheless meet on common ground and must reveal and complete one another’s stories. I see this as a trope very near to the heart of horror and dark literature and I’ve witnessed it play out time and again in such places as Pinter’s The Caretaker and No Man’s Land, Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night and, more recently, the 2008 Marek Losey film The Hide, which is probably the best contemporary example I can name.

B.T. JOY has been writing horror for some years now and has had around two dozen works of fiction included in magazines, journals, anthologies and podcasts worldwide. His intention is to produce tales set in a realistic environment in which the psychological preoccupations of the protagonist drive the narrative and any supernatural elements are left for the reader to infer; rather than being openly stated by the writer. Also a practicing poet, B.T. Joy’s verse has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize on three occasions and can be found in the pages and internet presences of over fifty markets. He is the holder of a BA from London Metropolitan University and a PGDE from Strathclyde. This year he was awarded an MLitt in Poetry from the University of St. Andrews and he relocated to Heilongjiang, in Northern China, where he writes and reads voraciously and teaches English at high school level. This year his first solo collection of poetry Teaching Neruda will be released through Popcorn Press. White Knuckle Press are also releasing a selection of his prose poetry in a chapbook due out in March. For information on all his writing and publications listeners should refer to his website: B.T. Joy: Online Poetry and his blog: Turning To Visuals

Your narrator – Simon Meddings is a freelance script writer, podcast etc and audio actor. The waffle on podcast can be found at waffleon.podbean.com You can follow simon @hawkeyemeds

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It’s always been the consensus that symmetry is synonymous with beauty.

But Adrian Speer disagreed.

What was more symmetrical than that block of rough, square-edged marble; fresh from the quarry? If symmetry was all we were looking for we’d be exhibiting a slab of raw, unchiseled stone on that glass-surrounded plinth in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.

They do say the great artist went personally to Carrara; to choose just the right marble for his masterworks. And so the raw resources were important. No one’s saying different. But, in the angles of the white stone, Michelangelo saw angels; and he chiseled until he released them into the air. Breaking symmetry for beauty’s sake.

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Author : Victoria Winnick Narrator : Wilson Fowlie Host : Alasdair Stuart Audio Producer : Graeme Dunlop Discuss on Forums PseudoPod 467: Doc is a PseudoPod original. Doc by V.N. Winnick It’s the first time they’re making me do it, and I’m giving the man a speech. One I’ve practiced in my head from the […]

by V N Winnick.

“Doc” is original to Pseudopod

V. N. Winnick is a writer and editor living in Canada’s oil money heartland, if such a thing can be said to have a heart. They have written on sex, arts, and culture for various local magazines (including GayCalgary and Beatroute), done editorial work for the venerable EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Press, and had several children’s educational books published. Oh, and they’re a slusher for Pseudopod, too. This story is V.N’s first published fiction.

Your narrator – Wilson Fowlie has been reading stories out loud since the age of 4, and credits any talent he has in this area to his parents, who are both excellent at reading aloud. He has been narrating stories for more people than his own family since late 2008, when he answered a call for readers on the PodCastle forum from PodCastle’s then-editor, Rachel Swirsky. Since then, he’s become PodCastle’s most prolific narrator, reading or appearing in nearly 30 episodes. He’s also narrated for many other podcasts, including PodCastle’s sister ‘casts, Escape Pod and Pseudopod, StarShip Sofa, Protecting Project Pulp, Crime City Central, Tales To Terrify, Beam Me Up, Cast Macabre, Dunesteef Audio Fiction magazine and the Journey Into… podcast. He fits in all this narrating between his day job as a web developer for a tech company in the Greater Vancouver area in Canada, and being the director of a community show chorus called The Maple Leaf Singers.

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It’s the first time they’re making me do it, and I’m giving the man a speech. One I’ve practiced in my head from the moment they told me what needed to be done.

“I’m not a doctor. I’ve got a bachelor’s degree in zoology. That’s the study of animals. I was pretty good with animal anatomy.

“I’ve never operated on a person, or anything living. You’re my first patient, and this is my first amputation. My hands are probably gonna shake. This is gonna be slow, and it’s gonna hurt a lot, because I’ll have to learn as I go. Other than that, no promises.

“You’re really, really sure you want me to do this?”

My head swivels about, looking at the rest of the group as I ask the question. I guess I want it to be a waiver; something to absolve me of responsibility when this whole, lunatic notion eventually goes pear-shaped, as I have no doubt that it will. To my complete astonishment, my “patient” nods, and says between shallow breaths, “Go for it, Doc.”

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Author : Moaner T. Lawrence Narrator : Dave Robison Host : Alasdair Stuart Audio Producer : Graeme Dunlop Discuss on Forums PseudoPod 466: Bad Newes from New England is a PseudoPod original. the story payment will be donated to RUNNING STRONG, a Native American charity. Bad Newes from New England by Moaner T. Lawrence This […]

by Moaner T. Lawrence.

“Bad Newes from New England” is original to Pseudopod – the story payment will be donated to RUNNING STRONG, a Native American charity.

in addition to being a regular contributor to the world’s largest horror publication, Rue Morgue: Horror In Culture & Entertainment (and a member of their Rue Crew), MOANER T. LAWRENCE is also a regular contributor to Germany’s largest horror publication, VIRUS. To date, his published works include several movie and book reviews, interviews with authors, actors, and other colorful individuals, as well as art and cultural articles pertaining to the genre. He has been listening to Pseudopod as of October of 2007, and in that time has come to dream that he might one day be worthy of riding the pod’s sacred sound waves before embarking on the rest of his fiction career.

Your narrator – Dave Robison’s voice work has appeared on audio fiction podcasts across the internet, including the Drabblecast, Starshipsofa, Tales to Terrify, and all the Escape Artist Podcasts. He’s been contracted – through his production company, Wonderthing Studios – to do the audiobook narration for Tim Ward’s novel “SCAVENGER: EVOLUTION” and Terry Irving’s “THE DAY OF THE DRAGON KING”. In addition to hosting the fabulous “Roundtable Podcast”, Dave has launched a new venture… Vex Mosaic, an e-zine featuring essays on culture and society through the lens of pop-culture media!

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“This act of goodwill stirred great cheer in the people of New Plimouth and, with freshly raised spirits, they bade the Wampanoag enter; opened home and hearth in the spirit of God, and offered to share their modest bounty; whereupon the Wampanoag made entrance, each savage family pairing off with one of our own. I, Chief Massasoit, the chief’s bodyguards, Hobomok, Captain Standish, and Pastor Brewster removed to Mr. Allteron’s house in front of the corn fields. Two of the chief’s children also joined us: His eldest son Wamsutta, a man of twenty years who was often short of patience, and suspicious of all Europeans, and his gentle daughter Amie, a girl of sixteen years who was ever amicable toward everyone.

As we entered Allerton’s cottage, I had expected to greet Mr. Billngton’s wife as she was to be our matron for the festival, however Goody Winslow stood in her place by the fire looking quite haggard and overworked. I inquired of Goody Billington’s whereabouts, whereupon Dr. Fuller quietly informed me that Mr. Billington had died a short while ago, as well as the vexing news that Captain Standish had known of this and had not seen fit to inform me. The captain begged pardon, and insisted that, though he had learned of Billington’s passing, he did not wish to interrupt the proceedings. Wishing not to spoil the festivities I held my peace, whereupon our guests removed took their places at the tables outside, whilst the women set to their proper places preparing supper. I informed Chief Massasoit of the recent losses from our peace party, and the satchem spoke in admonishment, stating that he had warned us not to trust the Massachusetts, but that he was not a little overjoyed to hear of Squanto’s passing; accusing him of being a trouble maker, and stating that if the Massachusetts had not killed Squanto, the chief may have very well done so himself. Amie, unlike her father, had been fond of Squanto. News of his death, caused her much distress. At length supper was prepared, and we soon found our table set with a cornucopia of delights: Cheate bread, butter, salt, a selection of fruits and cheeses, a few boiled lobster which I prayed with all sincerity the chief would not be insulted by, indian corn, fowl, deer, pompion pottage, and apple cider. We joined hands, and Pastor Brewster led us in grace, zealously giving thanks to God almighty for being on land, the generous bounty that He, and our savage neighbors, had bestowed upon us, and, that if it be His will[...]

Author : Evan Dicken Narrator : Mikael Naramore Host : Alasdair Stuart Audio Producer : Graeme Dunlop Discuss on Forums “Saturday” was first published in the September issue of Shock Totem, this is the first time it’s been reprinted. Saturday by Evan Dicken The city slept, unmindful of the doom creeping toward it at 61.38 […]

by Evan Dicken.

“Saturday” was first published in the September issue of Shock Totem, this is the first time it’s been reprinted.

Evan Dicken’s work has recently been appeared in: The Lovecraft eZine, Analog, and Daily Science Fiction, and he has stories forthcoming from publishers such as: Unlikely Story and Chaosium. His website is here.

Your narrator – Mikael Naramore – is the narrator of over 100 audiobook titles (and counting…) from authors including Clive Barker, Wesley Chu, Mark E. Cooper, and Ramez Naam. His website is here.

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“The city slept, unmindful of the doom creeping toward it at 61.38 meters per year.”

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Author : Xander M. Odell Narrator : Patrick Bazile Host : Alasdair Stuart Audio Producer : Graeme Dunlop Discuss on Forums PseudoPod 464: Fear is a PseudoPod original. “Who we are as a child defines who we will become as an adult, and never so much so as when we are afraid.” Fear by Sandra […]