Anthropomorphic Dreams Publishing » Horror

Drabblecast – The Outsider

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:10:45 +0000

The Drabblecast, the podcast of strange-fiction has a nice tribute for H. P. Lovecraft’s birthday again this year.

The Outsider does not have animal characters, but it is another wonderful use of anthropomorphism and dealing with The Other. It’s a nice bit of dramatic and sympathetic horror and Norm Sherman does a wonderful job narrating the tale.

Pseudopod – Oded the Merciless

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:21:39 +0000

Artificial and cybernetic constructs make for interesting characters because they offer the ability to glimpse into a non-human intelligence. Oded the Merciless by Tina Starr is a good albeit dark example of that.

While it doesn’t have any animal characters in it, the story makes good use of anthropomorphism. The computer AI is an intriguing and disturbing character which allows atrocities to be carried out first by passive limitations of its programming and then actively with dark experimentation on the nature of the human condition.

Warning: Pseudopod is a horror podcast and the story has strong horror elements of the visceral and psychological, and is for fans of the genre and not for the faint of heart.

Drabblecast Trifecta of Anthropomorphism

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:48:57 +0000

Drabblecast, the podcast of strange fiction for strange listeners, brings three odd and interesting tales. Trifecta XI’s theme is anthropomorphic animals, and includes the following stories:

The Existential Lizard by Alasdair Stuart

Cod Philosophy by Stephanie Campisi

Monkeys Imitating Humans Imitating Monkeys by Nancy Stebbins

Variant Frequencies – Heart of Clay

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:28:38 +0000

While it doesn’t have any animal characters, this Variant Frequencies podcast story has an interesting flavor of anthropomorphism to it. Heart of Clay: A Saint Darwin’s Spiritual by D.K. Thompson is a nice noir fantasy steampunk crime story.

Ever since Saint Darwin returned with harvested seeds from an Egyptian bush that wouldn’t burn, golem constables have worked alongside human and ghost inspectors. They patrol England’s cobblestone streets together, keeping them safe from the monsters the patron saint of scientists exposed to the world. But when inanimate golems are being trafficked by a shadowy group of businessmen dressed up in wicked smiles and sharp teeth, it’s up to the Paranormal Patrol’s newest created member – Constable Lump – to go undercover in the gaslit night and learn where his missing brethren have vanished to, without sacrificing his newfound life getting the answers.

AD 019 – The Crossroads

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:32:20 +0000

Balam the Aztec jaguar, who had been a proud prince, now finds himself a heretic hunted by the priests. He makes his escape into the night with a lowly coyote, running for his life in this tale of dark fantasy which mixes a historical setting with Mayan mysticism.

“The Crossroads” by Eric Hinkle

Read by Peter Katt

Sound effects from the FreeSound Project

gust of wind by Tony B kksm
moucho-I by galeku
nord analog howling wind storm by medialint
Rain30s by acclivity
StickCracks by CGEffex
Violent Storm by zimm
wingflap fast 2 by philberts

Music cues by Infinity Squared

Download or listen to the episode here.

PodCastle – Nine Sunday’s in a Row

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:01:41 +0000

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

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:53:55 +0000

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.

Halloween Treat – The Great Old Pumpkin

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:45:28 +0000

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.

AD 014 – The Thing in the Toyshop – Chapter 4

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:55:17 +0000

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

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