The Endless Library

"The atomic bomb meant, to most people, the end. To Henry Bemis, it meant something far different - a thing to appreciate and enjoy."

Gather round for a story, spooky friends! Aurelien reads aloud "Time Enough At Last" (1953) by Lynn Venable, the source material for your favorite original Twilight Zone episode. It's a subtle horror story, that draws you in and knifes you in the back.

Read the story for free at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32633/32633-h/32633-h.htms/32633/3

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod

We start books with the best of intentions, but sometimes the timing isn't right.

Aurelien introduces five strange, mysterious, intriguing, and eerie recently started books. No spoilers!

Secretive Scottish boarding schools, cosmic crime scenes, ghosts (of course), seances, and more questions than a crossword.

• Madam by Phoebe Wynne (2021)

• Department Zero by Paul Crilley (2017)

• Small Town Monsters by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (2021)

• Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson (2018)

• The 39 Steps by John Buchan (1915)

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod * Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

"It was as if all the pain in the world had found a voice."

Aurelien took a short trip to "The Island of Doctor Moreau" (1896) by H.G. Wells. It's an unfortunately readable classic about brutality, ego, torture, and humanity.

To paraphrase Hobbes: it was nasty, brutal, and not short enough.

Add "Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?" by Frans de Waal to your tbr: https://wwnorton.com/books/Are-We-Smart-Enough-to-Know-How-Smart-Animals-Are/

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod * Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

"A little special. A little strange. Not quite alive but definitely not …"

It's that time of year, spooky friends! The spookiest season of all. Let's tell ghost stories!

Gather round the fire for "City of Ghosts" (2018) by Victoria Schwab, the story of a strange girl with a dead best friend, the ability to see ghosts, and, ironically, ghost-hunting parents!

Part Lydia Deetz, part Lyra Belacqua, and all her excellent spooky self, Cassidy Blake is your next weird best friend.

No spoilers in this one!

Find more from Victoria Schwab at https://www.veschwab.com/books/

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod

* Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

"It's impossible. But it's here. Can we keep it?"

Grab your canoe and meet Aurelien at the secret lake for "A House At the Bottom of A Lake" (2016) by Josh Malerman.

Let yourself be swept away in this weird dreamy story of first dates, summer love, and the thrill, and horror, of discovery.

Listen for the spoiler warning around 19:50!

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod

* Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

"I can't decide if the effect is beautiful or creepy or something in between."

Throw on a deerstalker hat and join Aurelien in the library for "The Stitchers" (2020) by Lorien Lawrence. It's a spooky middle grade mystery where amateur detectives Quinn and Mike try to find out just what is up with their strange neighbors who don't seem to age, and the eerie pond at the end of the lane. Are they ghosts, immortals, vampires? Is it all connected? And what is in the pond, just under the water?

No major spoilers in this one! Episode covers up to chapter 9.

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod

* Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

Join Aurelien for a recap of the darkly funny (and fully bloody) Lady Killer vol 1 by Joëlle Jones and Jamie S. Rich. This bold graphic novel tells the story of a mid-century American woman trying to have it all: a loving husband, adorable children, killer style, and successful career as a hit woman.

• Buy Lady Killer from Dark Horse comics: https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/26-356/Lady-Killer-TPB
• Read it before it hits Netflix: https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/05/07/netflix-to-adapt-joelle-jones-lady-killer-comic-series-with-blake-lively-and-diablo-cody/

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod

* Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

Avoid the roads at night and keep your wits about you for "58 Rules to Ensure Your Husband Loves You Forever" (2019) by Rafeeat Aliyu. It's a deep dark story that asks: what are you willing to do (to someone else) for love? And it's a little gross.

• Read the story at Nightmare Magazine: http://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/58-rules-to-ensure-your-husband-loves-you-forever/
• Read more from Rafeeat Aliyu: https://www.rafeeataliyu.com/publications/

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* Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

What has eerie red eyes, a pronounced widow's peak, surprisingly fang-like fangs, and a soft pink nose? It's "Bunnicula" (1979), a spooky cute middle-grade comedy adventure written by Deborah & James Howe.

This time, Aurelien is joined by Dustin, fellow podcaster and magical library elf!

• Find Dustin's podcast episodes and social media: https://linktr.ee/DustinCanRead
• Explore the Bunnicula series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/43326-bunnicula

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* Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod * Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com

Hey, spooky friends! Aurelien astral-projected over to the new horror deep dive podcast Autopsy of a Horror Movie to discuss the straight from quarantine horror hit, Host (2020).

Brucker and Aurelien get into how impressive the editing is, the different types of fear, the scariest scenes, and Aurelien invents a new subgenre. If you're a horror movie fan, give it a listen!

Follow Autopsy of a Horror Movie:

Instagram: @bruckerhorror

Twitter: @bruckerhorror

Email: [email protected]

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/autopsyofahorrormovie

Host (2020) was directed by Rob Savage, written by Jed Shepherd, and stars Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Caroline Ward, and Seylan Baxter.

Music & Sound Effects:

• Cancun by Topher and Grace
• Mixkit (thunder ambiance)
• virtualambiance (Haunted Halloween Mansion Fireplace with Thunder Rain and Howling Wind)
• Big Sound Bank (glass, ice, drink pour)