If you wanta learn you somethin’, go on down to a place where two roads cross. Get there Saturday ’round midnight, and wait there ’til Sunday morning—do that for nine Sundays, all in a row. The dark man, he’ll send his dog to watch on you while you wait. And on the ninth morning, the dark man will meet you. And he will learn you—anything you wanta learn. But you remember this: that dark man, he don’t work for free.

PodCastle’s story Nine Sunday’s in a Row spins an interesting yarn leading up to one person’s ill-fated deal with the devil. It mixes character drama with a nice southern flavor and is told from the sympathetic viewpoint of the Dark Man’s dog himself.

Pseudopod – Love Like Thunder   December 7th, 2009

Pseudopod’s recent story Love Like Thunder is a wonderful mix of Native American folklore and mythology along with a nice tale of a sympathetic monster.

It has mature content due to bits of violence and horror imagery, but it also has some nice drama.

Catching up on back issues of the Drabblecast, a weekly podcast of weird fiction, I found this belated Halloween treat. The Great Old Pumpkin is a fun story which manages to blend the Cthulu mythos with the familiar world of Peanuts holiday specials. It was a nice bit of clever humor which was a lot of fun to listen to.

Our serialized novella concludes with a mix of action and drama. Happy Halloween!

“The Thing in the Toyshop” Chapter Four by Simon Barber

Read by Peter Katt

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Intro song: “Restless Spirits – Halloween 2″ by composer David Beard

Outro song: “Creepy Doll” by Jonathan Coulton

“The Thing in the Toyshop” also appeared in the dramatic horror fiction anthology Alone in the Dark.

Download or listen to the episode here.

AD Flash 009 – Halloween Tricks   October 27th, 2009

Halloween night brings its share of surprises, both tricks and treats.

“Halloween Tricks” by Will A. Sanborn

Read by Belic Bear

Download or listen to episode here.

The next installment of the novella continues, revealing more about the old house and those who lived there.
“The Thing in the Toyshop” Chapter Three by Simon Barber

Read by Peter Katt

Music from the Podsafe Music Network.

Intro song: “Restless Spirits – Halloween 2″ by composer David Beard

Outro song: “Halloween Girl” by Ghosts on the Radio

“Mind of a Toy” song lyrics used in this chapter are by Visage

“The Thing in the Toyshop” also appeared in the dramatic horror fiction anthology Alone in the Dark.

Our Halloween serialized novella continues. It’s a strange world where a magically-reanimated corpse is your ally and a cute and snuggly bunny is an agent for the enemy.

“The Thing in the Toyshop” Chapter Two by Simon Barber

Read by Peter Katt

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Intro song: “Restless Spirits – Halloween 2″ by composer David Beard

Outro song: “re: Your Brains” by Jonathan Coulton

“The Thing in the Toyshop” also appeared in the dramatic horror fiction anthology Alone in the Dark.

Download or listen to the episode here.

Continuing the Halloween season, we bring you the first chapter of a serialized novella, equal parts dramatic horror and dry humor.

“The Thing in the Toyshop”  Chapter One by Simon Barber

Read by Peter Katt

Music from the Podsafe Music Network

Intro song: “Restless Spirits – Halloween” by composer David Beard

Outro song: “Halloween” by The Coffinshakers

More information on “Alone in the Dark” can found here.

Download or listen to the episode here.

AD Flash 008 – Epitaph   October 9th, 2009

Welcome to the Halloween season, with this tale of love and loss and dark surprises in the graveyard…

“Epitaph” by Jason Gillespie

Read by Chris Hvidsten of the Outcast Podcast novel.

Music cues by Infinity Squared

Additional music from the Podsafe Music Network.

Sound effects from the FreeSound Project.

Download or listen to the episode here.

AD 007 – Campfire Tales   July 27th, 2009

Pull up a log and grab a marshmallow as we bring you two stories perfect for telling around a campfire on a summer night.

A Campfire Tale by Allen Kitchen
Inspired by and a retelling of “The Highwayman” poem by Alfred Noyes
Read by Peter Katt

The One with the Spooky House by Tim Susman
Read by Chris Hvidsten from the Outcast podcast novel.

Sound effects from the FreeSound Project

Music by Infinity Squared

Both stories appeared in Alone in the Dark, the dramatic horror anthology.

Download Episode