The Grim Reader

Better late than never, I guess? We are back, uploading episodes, old and current. This time we discuss Brian McAuley's Candy Cain Kills from the Killer VHS series and whether at Christmas time its even appropriate to be reading such things. Spoiler alert: it is.

On this episode we discuss the New Yorker article The New Literalism Plaguing Movies and whether or not we're seeing that trend in fiction as well. Then we ooh and aah over Stephen Graham Jones's newest novel Buffalo Hunter Hunter.

Thanks to NetGalley we received an ARC of Chuck Wendig's newest book, The Staircase in the Woods. Five friends go out into the woods to party when they find a staircase leading nowhere. One of them climbs to the top and disappears forever. Many years later the four remaining friends are reunited by the discovery of another staircase. Payton and Lance discuss the book as well as their favorite scary video games in this episode of the Grim Reader Podcast.

March seems like a slow month for holiday horror, so Payton and Lance suggest some ways St. Patrick's Day can get more love. Then they discuss the book of the month: The Queen by Nick Cutter. Lance shakes his head at kids these days with their cell phones and social medias while Payton shakes his head at Nick Cutter.

This month we read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix as well as discuss "Still a superstition, witches go way back in Arkansas," and article by Tom Dillard published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 

A magician lurks in the woods promising young children the opportunity to learn real magic, but at what cost? Payton and Lance kick off the new year with Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi and spend some time discussing new releases coming out in January. Also, where did that mysterious December episode go? Maybe it's best not to ask too many questions.

Lance and Payton enjoy a meaty discussion of Monika Kim's debut novel "The Eyes are the Best Part" while also chatting about the strange foods they have enjoyed.

Payton and Lance talk about the disastrous election results and each gives 5 book recommendations to read while books are still allowed to exist. Only kind of joking. 

Payton and Lance discuss Silvia Moreno-Garcia's take on the cursed film genre, Silver Nitrate and dip into the golden age of horror cinema and what makes these movies stand the test of time.

Lance just finished Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman and just really needed to talk about it.