The Alt-Hist File: Cthulhu in the Deep South by Kirk Battle

The world of audio fiction podcasts has gone through many changes over the years. The mid-2000s brought us short story podcasts such as Escape Pod, The Drabblecast, and Lightspeed Magazine. By the 2010s, the audio drama boom was in full swing, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Earlier than either, however, were podiobooks. Podiobooks, as their name suggests, were serialized audiobooks made available as podcasts. Podiobooks aren’t as common these days, but you do see some new ones pop up from time to time. Such is the case with the podiobooks we’ll be reviewing today. We’re taking a look at Cthulhu in the Deep South by Kirk Battle.

Cthulhu in the Deep South is a series of books set in South Carolina between the 1830s and 1860s. Usually, the action is set in or around Charleston, but two mysterious islands, named Ryland and Carcosa, also play a major role in the plot. Another common thread is people from New England, more specifically Arkham, finding themselves in South Carolina. But above all, the core of the series is the way that the creatures of H.P. Lovecraft combine with real world historical events to produce some fine historical horror.

Okay, so I think I ought to be upfront about a few things before we move forward. Many of you come here for my audio drama reviews. However, Cthulhu in the Deep South is a podiobook. It is like a standard audiobook; no bells and whistles beyond that. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, so I’m good with that. But I know some people feel differently, some I’m giving you all the info upfront. If that sounds good to you, let’s press on. I should also note that all six books of Cthulhu in the Deep South are also available as eBooks. 

I was approached by Kirk Battle to review Cthulhu in the Deep South after he saw my review of Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature. Each season of Cthulhu in the Deep South is a book in the series. I’ll give general thoughts and remarks before we get into each individual book. I liked the way that Kirk Battle incorporates actual history into the story. Kirk includes a bonus episode at the end of each season. In the bonus episodes, he explains his thought process when crafting each book. Naturally, he talks about which works of H.P. Lovecraft he draws upon. However, he also talks about which primary historical sources he uses. He will also spends quite a bit of time discussing what those primary sources are, and what they’re about. As someone with a history degree, I very much appreciate all of this.

Okay, so let’s get into the individual stories. Book one begins in the 1830s. It follows a man from Arkham, Massachusetts. He was part of an ice harvesting crew. The crew have collected their ice from the Arctic, and now they’re bound for balmy South Carolina to sell the ice. However, strange things begin to happen. Our protagonist begins to wonder if, perhaps, the crew has brought more than just ice with them. Things get even stranger when our protagonist finds himself on a pair of twin islands, located just off the South Carolina coast, called Ryland and Carcosa. They are a strange otherworldly place where White planters seem to take orders from their own slaves. There is something strange about the people of Ryland and Carcosa. Almost as if they aren’t exactly human.

Okay, so Cthulhu in the Deep South starts out strong. Out of all the books in the series, this is the one that comes closest to mimicking Lovecraft’s writing style, and the general feel of a Lovecraft story. I don’t mean that as a slight against the other books in the series. Kirk Battle has stated that he wanted each of the books to have their own style, and to play into other genres. Overall, I would say he succeeded in that goal. But all of that is to say that the genre for the first book is straight Lovecraft.

That being said, and as previously noted, Kirk Battle also included quite a bit of historical research into this one. One detail is that a lot of the crew of the ice harvester are Black. A lot of free Blacks did indeed find work on sailing ships. Quite a few whaling ships had predominantly Black crews. I also liked the details the bonus episode gave about the history of ice selling. I’m alway fascinated how people were able to preserve ice in the days before refrigeration. Apparently, ice water wasn’t then instant hit you might think it would be. A lot of people didn’t like that it made their teeth hurt, and others were worried that ice water would be dirty. To be fair, that latter concern probably wasn’t totally unfounded. Not that room temperature water was much better, mind you. Still, ice salesmen often had to pay people to give ice water a try, and to sing its praises. A little underhanded, perhaps, be it certainly bore fruit in the long run.

Book one poses a question that crops up a lot throughout Cthulhu in the Deep South. That question is this: at what point is turning a blind eye towards something horrible the same as being complacent in it? Our protagonist comes from an abolitionist family, and considers himself on as well. However, he clearly holds deeply racist views of Blacks. True, he doesn’t own any slaves himself. However, he doesn’t really do much to oppose slavery, beyond some hollow words. This is, sadly, not to far removed from actual history. Many abolitionists were opposed to slavery on philosophical grounds. However, this didn’t mean they believed Blacks should be equal to Whites. The number of people who did was comparatively small. Many abolitionists proposed sending Blacks back to Africa. The nation of Liberia was the results of such attempts.

Okay, history is all well and good, but what about the Lovecraft? Book one takes inspiration from “The Shadow Out of Time.” So, unsurprisingly, the inhabitants of Ryland are members of the Great Race of Yith. I always thought that “The Shadow Out of Time” was one of the more underrated stories from the Lovecraft Mythos. I loved the way all of the different authors put their own signature styles into the story. I have also found the Great Race of Yith to be underrated, as far as Lovecraft creatures. It is mentioned briefly, but our protagonist attended Miskatonic University, which frequently pops-up in the works of Lovecraft.

There were a few minor anachronisms. For example, at one point, one of the Yith makes reference to dinosaurs and genetics. The term dinosaur didn’t come into common use until 1842, and Gregor Mendel was still a kid in the 1830s. Granted, the Yith are time travelers, but the protagonist should have been tripped up by such terms. Still, just a minor instance that I noticed. Overall, the historical research was extremely well-done.

Cthulhu in the Deep South comes out of the gate with a strong first book. Let’s see if it can mainline that momentum.

Book two takes place in Charleston, South Carolina only a few years before the outbreak of the American Civil War. The protagonist of book two is a woman from New England who married the son of a wealthy plantation owner. Her family has pretty much disowned her, as they are all abolitionists. Still, she was convinced that she can build a happy new life in the Deep South. She assumed that she could reform her husband’s plantation into a kinder gentler place. Oh how very wrong she was. Our heroine finds herself drawn into the casually, and not so casual, cruelty of plantation life. This tears her apart mentally, and it only gets worse when her young son Daniel dies. The protagonist begins to hear voices that sound an awful lot like Daniel. Has he returned from the dead? Our heroine teeters on the edge insanity and mental breakdown as South Caroline, and the South as a who, draws ever closer to secession.

Well, well, it would seem that Cthulhu in the Deep South was able to maintain that momentum quite well indeed. The main Lovecraft influence for this one is the Dreamlands Cycle. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman was also a major influence on book two. However, the real horror from this one comes not from eldritch horrors, but from the all too real horrors of history. It is tempting to laugh at the protagonist’s naïvety. When you get down to it, there is no such thing as a truly benevolent slave owner. Slavery wasn’t horrible just because of the physical violence, but also the psychological violence that slaves endured. At any moment, you or your loved ones could be sold completely on a whim, and you’d never see them again. In fact, slave marriages often included the phrase “til death or distance do you part.” Slaves were property, not people, so slave marriages were not legally binding.

I’m reminded of something that Augustine of Hippo once wrote. He wrote about a friend of his who decided to go to a gladiator game. The friend assumed that, as a good Christian man, there was no way he’d get drawn into the violence and bloodshed of the arena. Well, suffice it to say, it didn’t take long for the friend to be jeering loudly for the gladiators to kill each other. The supposedly good Christian man had found himself drawn in by the arena.

It is in book two that we meet the most vile and despicable creature in all of Cthulhu in the Deep South: the heroine’s mother-in-law. Now, you might think I’m joking, but let me assure you that I’m not. On most plantations, it wasn’t the actual owner you had to watch out for. He’d usually be off playing sports, or hunting, or doing other rich people things. Oh, the overseers were certainly nasty, particularly to field slaves. However, it was the lady of the house you really had to watch out for. The wives and mothers of plantation owners were expected to run a tight ship. Many of them often took sadistic glee in the power they lorded over their slaves. They’d often do things like forcing slaves to whistle while they cooked, to ensure they slaves didn’t eat anything. Any slaves who failed to whistle would be hit with a wooden spoon. Kirk Battle drew upon the personal diaries of plantation owner’s wives for his historical research.

Our heroine is frequently tormented by her mother-in-law, who resents her for being a Yankee. Things only get worse when the protagonist’s husband becomes involved with the newly formed government of the Palmetto Republic. That was what South Carolina was called before the other Southern states formed the Confederate States of America. Kirk Battle mentioned that he wanted to tell a story where the protagonist is driven to insanity, per Lovecraft tradition. However, he wanted to depict that insanity as a means of escape and liberation, rather than a terrible fate. I won’t give away the ending, but Kirk certainly achieved that goal. Then again, given how horrible the main heroine’s life is, pretty much anything would be an improvement for her.

Book two of Cthulhu in the Deep South is a worthy follow-up to book one.

Book three takes place during the American Civil War. We follow a young Free Black man from Arkham. He felt the swell of patriotism and decided to enlist in the Union army. However, he soon finds himself facing discrimination from all sides. Many of his commanding officers assume that he’s trying to swindle money out of them. Most of his fellow Black soldiers are former slaves, and he has quite a bit of cultural difference with them. As for the Confederate soldiers he fights against, well, that goes without saying. Our protagonist is assigned to a dangerous mission to the islands of Ryland and Carcosa. It is a mission that will lead him straight into the heart of darkness.

I just didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought that I would. Don’t get me wrong, book three had its moments, and it did have some interesting historical and literary influences. Still, I just feel like it never quite came together for me.

Let’s take a moment to talk about those influences. The main Lovecraft influence on book three is “The Shadow Over Innsmouth.” The big non-Lovecraft influence is Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Kirk Battle admits that he’s always had a certain fondness for that novel. Yeah, I guess I can see the influence. Our protagonist goes on a riverboat trip with a man who slowly looses his mind. Some people say that Heart of Darkness is racist. I wouldn’t say that, but I do feel it could have been a bit harsher towards the horrors of the Belgian Congo. On the other hand, it was one of the first novels to speak-out against the horrors of European colonialism in Africa. Ultimately, Heart of Darkness is a product of its time; take a bad with the good.

I did like the historical details. Many freed slaves did indeed join the Union army. Many slaves ran towards the Union army whenever they were nearby. However, many of these former slaves needed to be taught how things were going to work now. Many slaves developed several forms of passive resistance against overseers. They might pretend that they didn’t hear the instructions, or they might do their work as slowly as possible. However, once the slaves joined the Union army, they had to be taught that doing such things was now treason. The Harriet Tubman cameo was also fun. Still it just wasn’t enough to salvage book three for me.

So, unfortunately, book three was a bit of a misfire. Let’s see if Cthulhu in the Deep South can shake it off and recover.

Book four begins in the middle of the American Civil War, and ends not too long after Reconstruction begins. We follow a Christian missionary abolitionist from Arkham. She is heading to South Carolina as part of an effort to help newly freed slaves make better lives for themselves. She finds herself on Ryland and Carcosa, naturally. She becomes acquainted with a conjuring woman named Mam Ruth. Mam Ruth is the leader of the Black community on the isles. Mam Ruth is also privy to the many supernatural happenings on the isles.

Ah, it would seem that Cthulhu in the Deep South recovered quite well. Book four is our first introduction to Mam Ruth. She becomes a very important supporting character from this point forward. Mam Ruth is a root doctor, which were practitioners of folk magic common in Gullah communities. Kirk Battle said he wanted to take a root doctor character, and make her into a wise sorcerer type character, like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. I liked that he drew from Gullah culture for inspiration. The Gullah are a very fascinating people group. They live in the Sea Isles, off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Unlike most other enslaved peoples, the Gullah managed to retain a fair bit of the ancestral African culture. They also have a very distinctive dialect.

Another fun bit of real history is one of the characters who is part of the main character’s group. He’s an anthropologist who is interviewing the newly freed slave about if their traditions have roots in African culture. He is heavily inspired by an actual anthropologist who did pretty much the same thing. This wasn’t necessarily bad in and of itself, but the Black people he interviewed wished that he would talk more about the racism and discrimination they were facing. The main character disparages him, but she’s not as different as she’d like to think. Sure, she is trying to give the former slaves an education, but she goes about it in a very White Man’s Burden kind of way. She tends to put most emphasis on teaching them the Bible, and her primary motivation for teaching them to read is so they can read the Bible.

Of course, later in the book, the protagonist runs into trouble trying to get charities in New England to help the former slaves. Most charities focus on helping Union soldiers and their families. Certainly an admirable cause, but it also highlights a major part of the North’s reaction to the Civil War. 

There are many reasons why Reconstruction failed. I would say the biggest was that the South was granted amnesty way sooner than it should have been. Thanks at lot, Andrew Johnson. Southerners, including several former Confederate generals, were able to fight Reconstruction from within Congress. That Confederate leaders never got hanged for treasons is, in my humble opinion, one of the biggest mistakes in American History.

All of that having been said, the second biggest reason Reconstruction failed was the apathy of Northerners. I would compare Reconstruction to the War in Afghanistan. It was a very controversial military operation, there were numerous calls to pull out, and everything went to hell when the troops actually did pull out. Northerners might have been willing to fight to end slavery, but weren’t necessarily going to invest in the Black community afterwards.

Cthulhu in the Deep South manages to dust itself off and stand proud once again with book four.

Book five is set in 1866. It follows a man from New England who has recently moved to Charleston. He’s a bit of a hustler and a conman, and is always looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. He has recently become part of a group of similar-minded men of fortune who are looking to strike it big by finding buried treasure.

I’m just going to be honest, this was probably the weakest book in the whole series. In fairness, Kirk Battle said that book five was where he struggled the most as a writer. He wanted to tell a story from the perspective of a Carpetbagger. Problem is, there aren’t really any primary sources to use. Carpetbagger was a pejorative used by Southerners against Northerners who moved to the South following Reconstruction. The Lost Cause Narrative painted Carpetbaggers as evil swindlers who swindled innocent Southerners. In reality, however, most “Carpetbaggers” were, basically, White Northerners who didn’t totally hate Black people. Same goes for Scalawags, who were viewed as basically like Carpetbaggers, but Southern rather than Northern in origin. Again, most “Scalawags” were simply White Southerners who didn’t totally hate Black people.

There were some fun ideas. I liked how book five drew parallels between the Plat-Eye of Gullah Folklore and the Shoggoth from the Lovecraft Mythos. And there’s a bit towards the end that draws upon “The Thing on the Doorstep” for inspiration. Unfortunately, on the whole, I just couldn’t get into book five. Oh well, maybe book six will improve things.

Book six takes place during the 1870s. We follow a young Black woman who managed to get sent up North to get an education. Unfortunately, the North didn’t prove to be the land of opportunity she was hoping for. So, she moved back to South Carolina to be with her sister. It is a very turbulent time for Charleston. There’s a lot of unrest and race riots. Still, our heroine has managed to land a job as a maid for a wealthy family. They’re very peculiar folks. In fact, at times they almost seem not quite human. Things only get strange when she discovers a mysterious metal box in the attic. The box introduces itself as Mam Ruth.

It has often been joked that the even number Star Trek movies tend to be better than the odd numbered ones. I’m not sure I’d agree with that; the only truly bad Star Trek movie was Final Frontier, though that was the fifth movie. I’m tempted to say that the same pattern holds true with Cthulhu in the Deep South. Book six was a significant improvement over book five.

Kirk Battle said that he wanted to write book six as maid fiction. Think like the parts of Downton Abby that focus on the servants. It is a genre that hasn’t been popular in decades, but I feel that Kirk Battle pulled it off pretty well. He also drew upon the novel Kindred by Octavia Butler. Well, not just in book six. Kindred informed Cthulhu in the Deep South in general. Kindred is a great book, so I’m glad to hear it was an inspiration. In terms of Lovecraftian influences, we’ve got “The Whisperer in Darkness.” The mi-go do appear, and their habit of putting brains into canisters plays a big role in the plot. We also get “The Thing on the Doorstep” once again.

We also get some insight into social dynamics. Our protagonist finds herself competing against another housekeeper named Maeve. Maeve is a recent immigrant from Ireland, and constantly tries to sabotage the protagonist. Maeve particularly resents that the protagonist got the coveted job of house cook, which pays better than being just a maid. Maeve can’t cook to save her life, but still resents loosing the position. Of course, our protagonist can give just as good as she gets. I’m reminded of something Chris Rock once said about how there’s nothing a White man who only has a penny hates more than a Black man who only has a nickel.

Our protagonist is presented with a tantalizing proposition. She could switch bodies with someone from 1968, and escape the horrors of her own time. Of course, to do that, she’d be condemning someone from 1968 to a life in the 1870s. And, as far as she knows, there’s no guarantee that 1968 will necessarily be much better. In fairness, while 1968 was better than Reconstruction, there was still plenty of racism and discrimination. Still, interesting plot to have someone from the past contemplate potentially escaping to a better future.

And with that, we’ve covered all six books that are part of Cthulhu in the Deep South. It is a series that combines Lovecraftian horrors with the real life historical horrors of the 19th Century South. There were a couple misfires along the way, but on the whole, it is an excellent series of novels. Kirk Battle is planning more entries in the series, however, he’s taking a break from Cthulhu in the Deep South. He’s currently working on a purely historical fiction novel set in the Reconstruction era South titled These Hallowed Halls. And yes, it is available both as an eBook and a podiobook. I wish Kirk Battle the best of luck with all his future endeavors. I’m sure they will be excellent.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Alt-Hist File: The Moonlit Road

We're taking a walk down The Moonlit Road in this edition of The Alt-Hist File

Named after the Ambrose Bierce short story of the same name, The Moonlit Road has been going since 1997 and bringing some of the best ghost stories and folk tales from across the American South. It is produced in Stone Mountain, Georgia and is headed by Craig Dominey. Since many of these stories are based on folklore and urban legends chances are that you may have encountered them in one form or another at some point, but that certainly does not take away from how chilling and entertaining they can be. It certainly helps that The Moonlit Road features a wide variety of narrators who know how to bring these stories to life. It’s not about the basic plot, but rather, how well you tell the story that matters. The end of the stories often include links to their history and inspirations.

Next to R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series and Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark trilogy, The Moonlit Road was always my go-to place for chills and thrills. Also, if you’re going to checkout their website you might want to make sure you have flash so you can see the site in its full glory. Though I’ve gotten older I, and listeners of all ages, still find so much to enjoy from this podcast. There are also plenty of great text-only stories, but since this is The Alt-Hist File we’ll focus on those with an audio adaptation. Also, because of the short and uncomplicated nature of these stories, expect the reviews for this post to be a tad shorter than usual.

For now, however, let's take a walk down The Moonlit Road...

Sop Doll by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Jim McAmis

This story is set in Mississippi during the Great Depression. It follows an adventurous man named Jack who comes to Abel, Mississippi in search of some temporary work. He soon come to suspect, however, that his new employer's wife might secretly be a witch.

You don't really see that many stories set in the American South during the Great Depression, so this was a nice change of pace. I should probably add at this point that due to the short and uncomplicated nature of these stories, my reviews will likewise be on the shorter side. I thought that Jim did a great job with the narration. Also, if you're wondering what a Sop Doll is...you might be disappointed because we never really get an explanation.

On the whole, however, a very good story that's well worth your time.

Green Eyes by Craig Dominey

Narrated by John Gentile

This story follows a young man from Tennessee driving to see his girlfriend in Georgia. He decided to take a shortcut through the historic Chickamauga Battlefield. Along the way he encounters a creature with piercing green eyes that grants him a vision of the infamous battle.

The Civil War was a major turning point for the United States. It was the first industrialized war and it killed about two percent of the overall population. Even today we still feel the influence of its echoes. This story did a really great job of capturing the emotional impact of the war. Also, apparently the green eyed monster in the story is based on actual sightings that have occurred at Chickamauga. Personally, I don't put much stock in such stories, but there you go.

I do, however, find that John's narration was spot on. A haunting tale about the echoes of history that I happily recommend.

The Sausage Ghost by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Kodac Harrison

This story is set in 19th century New Orleans and follows a German couple who run a sausage shop. After their marriage begins to fall apart the husband murders his wife and grinds her up into sausages, but how long will he get away with it?

This story is based off of a sensational crime that may have actually happened, minus the supernatural bits. To me that almost makes it a tad more horrifying. Most of us don't really think too much about where our food comes from, or what might be lurking inside it. On the other hand, similar stories have popped up in folklore before, so maybe it didn't happen. If nothing else this story might put you off of sausage for a while. I did enjoy that the story featured an immigrant couple; after all, New Orleans is a very cosmopolitan city with a long history of welcoming immigrants from throughout the world.

One thing that's sure not to leave a bad taste in your mouth is Kodac's narration. Another morsel of a story that I recommend.

A Beloved Teacher by Craig Dominey and Curtis Richardson

Narrated by Curtis Richardson

This story is set in the 19th century and follows a schoolteacher from Ohio who moves to Georgia to tutor a wealthy plantation owner's children. Along the way she befriends a slave boy named Joshua. There's a bit more to it than just that, but I can't tell you without giving the story away.

Well this story is really sad, heartwarming and touching. It was also adapted into a short film by the students of Dodge County High School in Eastman, Georgia. It is an excellent little film and you can find it at the bottom of this story's page on The Moonlit Road's website. Curtis did a good job capturing the emotions of this story.

It's a touching story that you won't want to miss out on.

The Slave Girl of Myrtles Plantation by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Veronica Byrd

This story is allegedly based on something that really happened, though the supernatural bits are up for debate. Then again, so are the non-supernatural parts, as no historical evidence supports them. It tells of a slave girl named Chloe who tried to temporarily poison her master's family in revenge for chopping her ear off. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go as planned. Some even believe that their unhappy spirits still haunt the old plantation.

Like I said, this story is supposedly based on actual event and you can visit the plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana if you're so inclined. If you want my advice, however, you really ought to go for the history rather than for the haunts. If nothing else this was an interesting little ghost story, even if you ought to take it with a few gains of salt. Considering the harshness of slave life, I can't say I blame Chloe for what she did. Veronica Byrd is, without competition, my favorite narrator from The Moonlit Road. She always knows how to bring the stories to life.

A historical haunt that, all things considered, I'll give a recommendation.

One More Room by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Jim McAmis

This story follows a Hollywood location scout named Jack who has come to Atlanta. While looking for a location for an upcoming film set in the 1940s he comes across the Hotel Scofield. Soon, Jack finds himself transported back in time to 1946, but is it all as innocent as it seems?

This story is a variation on the burned building legend. That's the one where the protagonist goes to a building, has a good time, but then returns only to learn that the building actually burned down long ago. Like I said before, it's not how many times the legend has been told, but rather, how you tell it. In this case, the story manages to provide a fresh take on a familiar tale. It it very much helped by Jim's great narration.

A new twist on a familiar tale and one you won't want to miss.

Lorenzo's Curse by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Lanny Gilbert

This story is set in the 19th century and follows a traveling preacher from Connecticut who brings a curse to a small Georgia town. Not much of a summary, but it is on the shorter side.

I found this story had a bit of unintentional humorous irony. We've got a firebrand preacher from New England whose message gets scoffed at by the residents of a small town in the Deep South. Quite the opposite of what you might expect these days. I guess it just goes to show the shift of social mores and attitudes in America. I thought Lanny really captured the feel of a traveling minister with his narration.

Another story that I readily recommend to you.

Hell Hole by Craig Dominey

Narrated by John Gentile

This story follows a Civil War relic hunter from Virginia who has come to New Hope, Georgia. The town is home to a major battlefield from Sherman's March to the Sea, and that should mean plenty of quality artifacts. Let's just say he gets far more than he bargained for.

Yes, this one is similar to Green Eyes, but it really stands on its own merits. Once again, John does an excellent job with the narration. Civil War battlefields and sites dot the South. The war and its impacts have long colored how Southerners approach the world. The shadow of history looms large, and even today Southerners struggle with reconciling that history. Just a little something to muse on.

Another great Civil War themed story that I happily recommend.

Ibo Landing by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Evelyn McCray.

This story follows Oba, the chief of a village of Ibo people. Life is good as Oba and his people receive guidance from their spirits. Then one day the village is captured by slave traders. Can Oba find a way to lead his people to freedom in the strange land of America?

Believe it or not this story is based on a slave uprising that actually happened, though certain details are still debated. The central message to this story is that you must persevere and stay strong even when times are tough. Evelyn not only did an excellent job narrating the story, but she also did a really great job singing an old slave spiritual towards the end.

It's a story about trials and defiance, and one you won't want to miss.

The Maco Light by Jim McAmis and Craig Dominey

Narrated by Jim McAmis

This story tells of a 19th century conductor named Joe Baldwin. It is said that he still haunts the rails of where he was tragically killed in a train accident in the town of Maco, North Carolina.

This story dates back to 1867 and is so famous that it was once featured in Life Magazine. Yeah, it's another haunting that's claimed to be true, but if nothing else it makes for a pretty good historical ghost story. As usual, Jim does an excellent job with the narration.  

Another story of a historical haunting that I recommend to you.

The Hall of Wonders by Thomas E. Fuller

Narrated by Thomas E. Fuller

This story takes place in 1867 in Charleston, South Carolina. An apothecary from the North named Dr. Rembrandt Cavanagh has arrived in Charleston to make a quick buck. One day he unveils his latest scheme: a public aquarium. Dr. Cavanagh has captured a mermaid as the aquarium's star attraction, but what are the consequences of his actions?

The audio version of this story was produced as part of a live production for Spoken Word, a radio program in Atlanta, Georgia. Live shows are always a bit hit and miss, but I thought that Thomas, and all the narrators for that matter, did a really great job. 

This story is a fun little creature feature that I think everyone, especially lovers of zoos and aquariums, such as myself, will enjoy. Thomas Fuller was another of those really top notch narrators from The Moonlit Road. I say "was" because he passed away in 2002. He was a beloved narrator who will be dearly missed. Still, let's not feel sad, but take joy in honoring the legacy of stories, such as this one, that he left us with.

It's a fun little creature feature that I very gladly recommend to you.

No Greater Love by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Jim McAmis

This story is set in Kentucky in 1935. It follows a miner named Henry Jacobs who has been trying to deal with his drinking problem. One day he gets lost in the mine while trying to sneak off to buy whiskey, but a gentle white light helps guide him home.

Doesn't sound like much, I know, but I wouldn't want to give the story away. This is another really touching and somewhat heartwarming story. If there's a message to this story it's that forgiveness and love can come even when you least expect them. Once again Jim handled the narration quite well. Not much more to add here.

A story about love and coal mines and one which I recommend.

The Town Without Death by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Lanny Gilbert

This story is set in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky and follows a widower named Sam who has recently moved to the town of Burning Creek. The townsfolk seem nice enough, and the restaurants serve delicious food, but something about the town troubles Sam. There are no cemeteries in Burning Creek, and there’s something just a tad familiar about the meat they serve for dinner.

Depending on how you look at it, Kentucky is either the Northernmost Southern state or the Southernmost Northern state. In any event, if it’s good enough for The Moonlit Road it’s good enough for me. Small remote little towns are some of the best settings for horror. All sorts of things can go down in the remote wilderness. Also, besides the longpork pies, there are some supernatural elements to this story, but I wouldn’t want to spoil that for you. Though I will say, even with what the meat turns out to be, this story always makes me feel hungry for some reason. Lanny really knows how to bring the story to life with his narration.

A delectable tale that’s sure to leave you hungry for more. Give it a taste. 

Wait Til Jessie Comes by Craig Dominey

Narrated by LaDoris Davis

This story follows a traveling salesman in rural Mississippi who has taken refuge in an old abandoned home during a storm. Each time he wakes up he sees a new cat, each bigger than the last, and they’re all waiting for someone named Jessie to come.

This story has appeared in a few other forms over the years. The one I remember the most is “Wait Til Martin Comes” from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. On the whole I’d say this is a pretty good adaptation of the story. LaDoris does a pretty good job with the narration, but personally I’m still partial to George S. Irving’s narration from the Scary Stories audiobook. That’s just my view, though, if this is your first time with this story you might find you like it better.

A familiar story that I nonetheless recommend.

The Click-Bok Tree by Lester Thomas

Narrated by Lester Thomas

This story follows the children of an African king who have been sold into slavery. Before the king was killed by slavers, he gave his oldest son a seed from a click-bok tree. The click-bok trees are magical and have protected their family in the past, and it will continue to do so in the strange land of Alabama.

This story really felt like it came straight out of folklore. It’s really nice to see a story where slaves get revenge on their masters. The page for this story includes some really cute little drawings to go along with it. This is another story that can be enjoyed by all ages. As for narration, Lester does a really great job bringing the story to life.

A tale about slavery and freedom with a magical twist. I happily recommend it. 

Mississippi Rose by LaDoris Davis and Craig Dominey

Narrated by LaDoris Davis

This story follows a young man named Joshua who has moved to rural Mississippi to help his grandfather on the farm. While driving a load of hay to a neighbor late at night he comes across a pretty girl named Rose. As you may have guessed, there’s more to her than meets the eye.

As you might have figured out, this story is a variant on the Vanishing Hitchhiker legend. Like I’ve said before, it’s not how many times the story has been told, but rather how it’s told. In this case, LaDoris provides a great narration to really make the story memorable. The story also has a slightly more humorous take on the legend than most retellings.

A humorous take on a familiar legend. Well worth your time.

Tsali by Craig Dominey

Narrated by Jim McAmis

This story takes place in North Carolina in 1838. It follows a Cherokee chief named Tsali. The Indian Removal Act has just passed, and he and his people face an uncertain future.

Yeah, not the best description, but a good story nonetheless. This is more of a historical fiction story up until the very end. The American Southeast used to have a fairly large Native American population prior to the Indian Removal Act. You do get to learn a bit about the Cherokee in this story. It is nice to see a story from a people who so often get left out of the storytelling of the American South.

Once again, Jim does a great job with the narration. A different sort of story, but one that I happily recommend. 

Irwin Tarheel and the Fair Folk by Sam McDonald

Narrated by Otis Jiry 

We'll end the list with a story that hasn't yet had an audio adaptation, but I feel it deserves a spot on the list. In 1840s Shreveport, Louisiana there lives a misfit named Irwin Tarheel. He's never really fit in, but one day when he's out fishing he encounters some fair folks who change his life forever.

Out of all the stories on The Moonlit Road this is my absolute favorite...mostly because I'm the one who wrote it. I can't really review this one objectively, but I can let you in on my thought process. I'd wanted to write a story for The Moonlit Road for a while, so I reviewed some folktales and legends. I noticed how the Japanese legend of Urushima Taro had several parallels to the stories involving the Fair Folk, so I decided adapt it to an American Southern setting. Plus, I'd been wanting to write a story about fairies that were closer to the original mythological versions for a while. Considering that I got published, I'd say it work out pretty well, and I figured it was a pretty good note to end the list and year on.

Do I really need to recommend this one?

Golem of the Gullah by Sam McDonald

Narration N/A

This story follows a rabbi from Charleston, South Carolina named Rabbi Moses. He was mugged by a highwayman and left for dead, but thankfully he is found by a secretive Gullah community. Rabbi Moses makes a golem as thanks for the villagers nursing him back to health. Hopefully it will help with the work around the village. They're going to need the golem more than ever when a band of slave hunters find the village.

Yeah, this is another of my stories, so I can't really review it objectively. This is, obviously, a variation on the legend of the Golem of Prague. It is one of my favorite folktales. It is a story that lends itself quite well to adaptation. In fact, the very first version I ever read was set in the Roman Empire. I've also always been fascinated with the Gullah people, so I suppose it was only natural that they'd factor into the story. I only regret that I didn't catch the typos before I submitted it.

Well, not much more to say on this one. Check it out for yourself.

Conclusion

And so we conclude our walk down The Moonlit Road for now. I've been noticing The Moonlit Road showing up more and more in articles and lists about great horror podcasts, and great podcasts in general. I've notice that this happened after I started writing about how great they are. Did I do that? If so, that's awesome. either way, The Moonlit Road certainly deserves more recognition for all the years of hard work and dedication they've done to bring us the best stories the American South has to offer. Here's to even more great stories to come in the future.

Well, I think that does it for now. I will see you guys next time.  

The Alt-Hist File: Pseudopod

I hope you weren't looking to get a good night's rest, because in this installment of The Alt-Hist File we're taking a look at Pseudopod. Every week Pseudopod brings listeners great stores from all across the horror genre. It's often said that Escape Pod kickstarted the short story podcasting revolution. However, Pseudopod is just as responsible, if not more so, for said revolution. Pseudopod proved that Escape Pod wasn't just a one-off fluke, and that there was a future for short story audio fiction podcasting.

Pseudopod was initially co-hosted by Ben Phillips and Mur Lafferty, but after the first year or so there came a man who would help to truly define Pseudopod. That man is Alasdair Stuart. In many ways, you could say that Alasdair practically is Pseudopod. At the end of each episode he always always provides some thoughts into the theme of the stories, or just life in general. Though, unfortunately, as of late he has a nasty tendency to pontificate and preach. One almost gets the impression that Pseudopod only runs Lovecraft stories so that Alasdair can lecture, for the millionth time, about how Lovecraft is responsible for everything wrong with modern speculative fiction.

 

But, even though Al has lost his ways as of late, we shouldn’t let that detract from his earlier monologues, which are quite good and very insightful. If even he should step down from his duties as host, he will undoubtedly leave quite the shadow in his wake. However, let us also take a moment to also thank Shawn Garrett, Alex Hofelich, and all of the other fine people who work behind the scenes to keep Pseudopod running week after week. The theme music for Pseudopod is proved by Anders Manga.

Now before we go any further, the staff of Pseudopod would like to emphasis that they are a horror podcast. That means that these stories are intended to frighten and disturb. If you're the kind of person who get's spooked easily, consider this your first and only warning. Also, this really isn't a podcast you want to play around kids.

 Okay, with that out of the way, get ready. I've got eighteen stories for you...

"The Murmurous Paleoscope" by Dixon Chance
Narrated by Christina Ellis
Originally published in The Three-Lobed Burning Eye

We start our list off with a steampunk story set during the fossil hunts of the 19th century. Fossil hunter Hazel Cardanell has recently arrived in the Utah Territory and has made an amazing discovery. The new fossil has been named Anomalocaris and it looks absolutely terrifying. Hazel has also been having a series of strange dreams. It's almost as if some mysterious force is reaching out to her from beyond the grave, but it's only a fossil, isn't it?

I always have a soft spot for paleontology stories and this story is no exception. I also enjoyed that the story is presented as a series of letters like many of HP Lovecraft's stories. Anomalocaris was a perfect choice for this Lovecraftian story; go ahead and Google that and tell me it doesn't look like something straight out of Lovecraft's imagination.

Christina's narration did the perfect job of capturing that feeling of a person who's found themselves confronted with forces they can't even begin to comprehend. I also appreciated how the steampunk elements actually played a role in the story rather than simply acting a window dressing. However, I mustn't elaborate on that point or else I'll spoil the story.

It's got fossils, steampunk and Lovecraftian elements. What's not to love about this story.

"The Burning Servant" by Steven Saus
Narrated by Stephanie Morris
Originally published in Chain Story

We all heard of Sherman's burnings of Atlanta and Savannah, but is there more to the story? According to former slave Sarah Freeman there is. It seems that during the day of the Civil War the plantation owners of the Confederacy went to some desperate lengths to see the South triumph. One might even call their efforts downright Lovecraftian.

Okay, if you haven't figured it out by now, the plantation owners performed a ritual to summon a Lovecraftian monstrosity, but it got out of their control and burned a path of destruction across Georgia. A spoiler, yes, but not too much of one.

This story is in many way an inversion of a typical Lovecraft story. You've got so called civilized men connected with unearthly monstrosities, people of color as the innocent bystanders and the whole thing is told by a woman. Speaking of this story being told by a woman, I thought that Stephanie did an excellent job with the narration. I also appreciated that the depiction of life for slave in the American South wasn't sugar coated or watered down.

Overall and excellent story and a meditation on the various tropes and conventions of Lovecraft stories. Very much recommended.

"Tales of the White Street Society" by Grady Hendrixs
Narrated by Alasdair Stuart
A Pseudopod Original

This story takes places in 19th century New York City as the White Street Society, a group of gentlemen adventures, are having a meeting. The evening's host, Augustus Morrison recounts his recent adventures in the slums of the Irish immigrants. It seems that the Irish were being plagued by a monster from their old nation. The question is, could more such creatures be on their way to America?

I'm going to slightly spoil what the monster is, but this important for our discussion. The monster is...a leprechaun. Yes, you read that correctly. I tried, but it just couldn't take that very seriously as a monster. However, that's not where the real horror in this story lies for me.

The part of this story that truly horrified me was the ghastly descriptions of daily life for the Irish immigrants. The descriptions of these people living to absolute squalor at the bottom rung of society, and with nobody caring about their plight, will be sure to haunt you for days. Tellingly, at the end of the story, when the characters talk of how evil leprechauns are, it easily sounds like they're talking about the Irish instead.

The story does a really good job of capturing the attitudes and prejudices of the 19th century. It certainly does come across as a satire/pastiche of Victorian Gothic novels, and that certainly helps.

When it comes to narration, I’ll be frank. Alasdair Stuart is an utterly mediocre narrator on good day. When he’s having a bad day, he sounds practically robotic and monotone. His performance in this story was, all things considered, passable. I suppose it could have been worse, but at the same time, it could have been better. Would have been better to have gotten an American narrator, given that the story is set in America. And a narrator with more emotional and tonal range. But I concede that I have heard worse narrations. 

A frightful satire of Victorian fiction well worth your time.

"Silver and Copper, Iron and Ash" by Nathaniel Lee
Narrated by Dominick Rabrun
Originally published in Coins of Chaos

This story is set in rural Colorado in the 1930s. Our protagonist James is struggling to made ends meet and provide enough to eat for his pregnant wife. While out hunting James discovers a mysterious Indian Head coin. He tries to get rid of the coin on the advice of a passing vagrant. The coin, however, keeps reappearing and each time it brings even stronger feeling of hunger.

If there's one central theme to this story it's hunger; be that for food, money or anything else. Even before the supernatural elements become more obvious you can almost see hunger as the main antagonist. The atmosphere to this story was absolutely perfect, and is a testament to Nathaniel's writing talent.

Dominick did an excellent job conveying that atmosphere and feelings of hunger in audio form. I also found the backdrop of the Great Depression to be more than fitting for a story centered around hunger and money.

It's a story sure to leave you hungry for more.

"Bophuthatswana" by Lavie Tidhar
Narrated by Elan Ressel
A Pseudopod Original

This next story is set in South Africa after years after the fall of Apartheid. Our protagonist would have been considered colored under the Apartheid. He's lost loved ones to various far-right extremist groups and he's out for revenge. Yet these are more than just racist extremists. The men he's after feed on the blood of the innocent and they have for centuries because they are vampires.

Okay, a couple things. First of all there's quite a few Afrikaans slang words throughout this story, but Pseudopod does provide a glossary of their meanings on their page for this story. Second, it's debatable as to whether the extremists are literally vampires or if that's simply a metaphor. Personally, I say both interpretations are equally valid, you just get slightly different stories.

I liked this story's depiction of post-Apartheid South Africa. You see people learning from the past and trying to move on, but at the same time there's still a lot of tension and resentment left over. It was also nice to see this aspect of South Africa as it is usually ignored in fiction. For example, there was a scene mentioning that South Africans of Asian ancestry didn't qualify as white under Apartheid, but also didn't qualify for compensation following its fall.

All in all a good, if dark, depiction of South Africa after Apartheid.

"Pran's Confession" by Joel Arnold
Narrated by Ben Phillips
A Pseudopod Original

We're taking a holiday in Cambodia for our next story. Samnang, a former prison guard, is revisiting a prison he worked at during the Pol Pot regime. He can stop thinking about one particular prisoner named Pran, who was defiant to the very end. Samnang also worries that the spirits of the dead might not be at rest after all these years.

I always knew things were grim under Pol Pot, especially during the Khmer Rouge, but until I listened to this story I'd never really envisioned just how bad things were. An all consuming ideology that would make North Korea blush, people with glasses sentenced to death, entire fields converted into mass graves and countless other horrors. I almost feel that the supernatural wasn't needed to add more horror to this story.

Ben did a great job conveying the stark hopelessness of this story. I feel there really isn't much more I can add. The story really speaks for itself.

For a glimpse into the nightmare of the Khmer Rouge, look no further.

"The Prophet's Daughters" by Michael J. DeLuca
Narrated by Tina Connolly
Originally published in Oniresmes.com

The story take place in the Ancient Greek colony of Sybaris and one character's quest to follow in their mother's footsteps by becoming soothsayer of Sybaris. Okay, not the most exciting of summaries, but this is a great story. The atmosphere of this story was absolutely top notch. I really felt like I was walking along side the religious processions and rituals. Speaking of which, loved the emphasis this story placed on the rituals and practices of Ancient Greek religion.

That being said, I did find it a bit annoying that the gods and goddesses were referred to by their Roman names given the story's Greek setting. As for the narration, I though Tina did an excellent job conveying the terror and mysticism present in the story.

It's short, Ancient Greek and incredibly descriptive. Very much worth your time.

"Acceptable Losses" by Simon Wood
Narrated by Ian Stuart
A Pseudopod Original

The story is set during World War II, and follows the British campaign against the Japanese. During an expedition the British discovered a strange gelatinous organism with the ability to predict the future and communicate telepathically. Unfortunately, the organism, since named Oracle, feeds exclusively on human flesh. Therefore, one out of ever five battles is an intentional failure to provide Oracle with food. The Captain in charge of Oracle is beginning to wonder how he'll be able to live with himself after the war is over.

It's often said that those who wage wars must be ready to pay the price of those wars. The heart of this story is really all about asking what is the price of war. At the same time, there aren't any clear answers. The price to keep Oracle alive is undoubtably horrible, but at the same time it saved more than a few lives with its predictions.

Ian does an good job conveying the human emotions of the captain as well as the otherworld, yet familiar, speaking style of Oracle. I also liked that this story featured British soldiers fighting the Japanese, a topic often ignored in most works of fiction involving World War II.

It's a Lovecraftian take on an often ignored topic. Very much recommended.

"The Three Chimes" by David Longshore
Narrated by Corson Bremer
A Pseudopod Original

This story follows Louis XVI in the days leading up to his execution. Louis spends his time thinking about a strange clock that seemed to bring doom wherever it went. The clock seemed to cause otherwise inanimate object to try to eat him and he worries about what it will cause next.

One of the things I love about this story is that way it took something Louis XVI loved and then turned it into a source of terror. In real life Louis XVI was absolutely obsessed with clocks, and in the story his beloved clocks have become the instigator of his doom. It seemed rather fitting that the clock caused things to try and eat Louis, give that in a way his death was due to having been fed to a guillotine.

Corson did a spot on job with his narration. I also liked how the story presented a very human and historically accurate depiction of Louis. I have, in the past, encountered works of fiction set during the French Revolution that depict Louis XVI as a corrupt tyrant. He might have been incompetent, and he inherited quite the mess from his predecessors, but he was hardly tyrannical in his rule.

A great historical horror centered around Louis XVI. I heartily recommend it.

"The Spirit of Nationalism" by Richard Marsden
Narrated by Mike Bennett
A Pseudopod Original

This story is set in 1812 during Napoleon's campaign against Russia. A young solider named Gregorie has become lost in the snow and feel abandoned by Napoleon. He's been found by a fellow soldier who demands that he push on. Together they set off through the wind and ice to find the great general once again.

This story is very much a Jack London style man vs. nature story; though supernatural elements do appear towards the end. The atmosphere for this story is great; you get a sense of just how bleak the Russian winter is. This is really a story that feels like something you might have read in school, but you can't remember when. As for the narration, well, I think you can guess by now that I thought Mike did a great job capturing this story's feeling.

A story of finding meaning in the face of great odds. Well worth your time

"Last Respects" by Dave Thompson
Narrated by Scott Sigler
A Pseudopod Original

This story is actually an alternate history, well, kind of sort of. It takes place in a world where not only do vampires exist, but they got into a war with humanity and won. Following the war humans have been reduced to little more than animals. Also, Jesus might have been a vampire in this world. The story itself follows an older vampire as he and his family mourn his wife's recent passing.

For those of you wondering, yes, this is the same Dave Thompson who is former editor and host of PodCastle. It takes a special breed of writer to craft a story that is simultaneously deeply touching and utterly horrifying. Fortunately, Dave is one of those authors. The story juxtaposes a deeply touching family drama about coping with the loss of a loved along side the utter horror of what's happened to humanity.

The way the story handled religion was both tasteful and respectful. The vampires' version of Christianity is presented as no different than human Christianity; albeit vampire communion is a tad more literal. Of the implication that Jesus was a vampire, I won't comment much; though as the story itself mentions, Jesus did encourage his followers to eat his flesh and drink his blood in hopes of rising from their graves.

Scott's narration did a perfect job of balancing the emotion and horror of this story. This is the first story I've ever found from Dave, and I've got a feeling his writing has a very bright future ahead of it.

It's a story that will touch your heart and made you cringe with terror. I couldn't recommend it more.

"The Corpse Army of Khartoum" by Grady Hendrix
Narrated by Alasdair Stuart
A Pseudopod Original

Yes, I've got another story of the White Street Society for you. This time Augustus Morrison is on adventure to Egypt and Sudan. In particular, he's investigating the city of Khartoum and the rumors that it's home to sorcerers who can raise the dead.

There's a lot of overlap between my thoughts on this story and the last White Street Society story, but I'll do my best to add something new. First of all, you do see a bit of a colonialist attitude throughout the story, but then it is a satire on Victorian literature. Overall I can say it's a great adventure story with a supernatural twist to it. Though I must admit that when Augustus encounters the corpse army and describes them as smelling like...spiced chicken, it slightly ruined the mood for me.

Another fine addition to the White Street Society series. i recommend it.

"The Land of Reeds" by Patrick Samphire

Narrated by Cheyenne Wright

Originally Published in Realms of Fantasy

This story is set in Ancient Egypt and takes place shortly after Alexander the Great's conquest. It follows a man named Amenhotep who has been murdered, but that's just the beginnings for his troubles. The afterlife is nothing like he expected. The great god Ra is nowhere to be found; there is only the glowing ball in the sky. There is no Osiris, no Halls of Judgement, no Land of Reeds. The dead simply linger as ghosts upon the Earth. Can Amenhotep avenge his death and find his way to the underworld?

The fear of death is one of humanity's most primal fears. Young or old, rich or poor, death claims us all eventually. The fear of death is believed to have been a major factor in the rise of religion. When you get down to it, religions typically have two main purposes: to explain that which cannot be explained, and to take away the sting of death. As long as humanity continues to fear death, we'll probably continue to have religion in some form or another.

Now, I bring all of this up because it ties into the horror of this story. The horror here is the fear that what comes after death isn't what you've been taught. It's a very existential kind of horror; the thought that something so fundamental about your world view could be utterly wrong.

I've been a fan of all things Ancient Egypt, particularly with regards to mythology, for as long as I can remember. So it goes without saying that this story had me at hello. I won't give away the ending, but I did like that it ended on an optimistic note. I also really enjoyed Cheyenne's narration.

It's an Ancient Egyptian existential horror story, and more than worthy of your time.

"The Great American Nightmare" by Moaner T. Lawrence

Narrated by John Bell

A Pseudopod Original

I've got another alternate history story for you guys. In this story, a group of political strategist wake Cthulhu up just in time for the 2016 American President Election. The Great Old One runs as a third party candidate and wins in a landslide. Cthulhu is set to remake America in his image, but to do that he'll have to face his greatest foe yet: his political strategy comity!

In its own strange way, this story was actually kind of heartwarming. As you may have guessed, this story came out shortly after the 2016 Election. It was...a very chaotic time. So here we have a story that take that turbulent time and reminds us all to laugh and smile. I really enjoyed Cthulhu's unique approach to solving the various problems facing America. For example, Cthulhu handles the transgender bathroom problem by proposing that all Americans be turned into genderless amphibian people. It's a very funny and lighthearted sort of story, with just a dash of satire.

In terms of narration, I thought that John did an excellent job. It's funny, lighthearted and heartwarming in a way that only Pseudopod can deliver. I happily recommend it.

"The Christmas Spirits" by Grady Hendrix

Narrated by Alasdair Stuart

Originally Published in Tales of the White Street Society

Yes, this is another story from the White Street Society. It's Christmas time, and Augustus Mortimer is back in action on the streets of New York. There's big trouble in Little Germany. A series of strange murders has occurred, and the people of Little Germany think it might have something to do with the Krampus.

Yes, this story is much better than the description makes it sound. You get plenty of thrills and chills just like you would with a good Victorian gothic and/or adventure story. You also get quite a bit of satire about those kinds of stories. I liked how this stories tied in with the earlier White Street Stories. It is proposed that all of these strange creatures might be coming to America because they arrive via the beliefs of the immigrants who bring their stories with them. It's rather evocative of American Gods, and that is good, because I'm very fond of American Gods

Personally, I can't think of a better way to spend a Pseudopod Christmas than with the lads from the White Street Society. Sorry if I struggle to find things to say. It is a good story, but it hits a lot of the same notes as the earlier stories, so it's hard to find new things to say.

It's a Yuletide tale courtesy of the White Street Society. Do I really need to say that I recommend this one?

"The Horror From the Mound" by Robert E. Howard

Narrated by Anson Mount

Originally Published in Weird Tales

This story is set in the days of the Old West. It follows a cowboy-turned-farmer named Steve Brill. He's growing increasingly suspicious of his Mexican assistant Juan Lopez. Juan is obsessed with an old Indian burial mound, but won't say why. Steve decides to investigate by reading Juan's diaries. What he finds is more than be bargained for.

This story is much better than the description makes it sound, I promise. I'm a big fan of Robert E. Howard, and I always get very excited when I find a new story of his to listen to. This story certainly didn't disappoint. So before we go any further, we need to talk about what was in the mound. Minor spoiler, though not really, it's a vampire. I did like how the vampire was linked to certain historical events, such as the expedition of Coronado. The story had a slightly Lovecraftian feel to it. That's certainly not too surprising, given what good friends Howard and Lovecraft were. I know some people find them a bit cliche, but I do enjoy a good vampire story.

Speaking of things I enjoy, I also enjoyed Anson's narration. One of the earliest example of the Weird West subgenre, and still well worth a listen.

"Fade to Gold" by Benjanun Sriduangkaew

Narrated by Jen Zink

Originally Published in End of the Road

This story is set in Thailand during the Burmese-Siamese War. Specifically, after the fall of Ayutthaya. It follows a young women, who has disguised herself as a man, returning home from the war. Along the way she meets another woman who turns out to be a Krasue. The two strike up a bit of an odd friendship, and perhaps a bit of romance. The Krasue needs to feast on human flesh in order to survive. Will she be able to find a place in human society.

I do enjoy stories that go off the beaten path and feature non-Western cultures. That having been said, sometimes you do have hold the reader/listener's hand to help them understand. For example, I was able to figure out the setting of the story as soon as Ayutthaya's fall was mentioned. However, most readers probably wouldn't have been able to figure that out on their own. Even without knowing the background, you can still probably enjoy the story, but you'll definitely be missing out on certain aspects.

Another minor issue I had was that this read more like a fantasy story than a true horror story. True, it's set during a war and it features a monster, but simply having those elements doesn't automatically make something a horror story. Don't get me wrong, it is still a great story and I quite enjoyed it, but to me, perhaps it would have been more at home over at PodCastle. Again, it is still a good story about two women traveling through war-torn Thailand.

In terms of narration, I though that Jen did an excellent job. Perhaps a bit more fantasy than true horror, but still well worth your time. I recommend it.

"The Western Front" by Patrick Samphire 

Narrated by Paul Jenkins 

A Pseudopod Original 

 

This story follows a group of soldiers as they make their way across France during World War I. They soon find themselves helping to guard a rose, but this isn't just any rose. It radiates warmth, light and hope. If the rose dies there's no telling how much worse their already hellish world could become. 

 

Okay, the description leaves something to be desired, but I promise you that the story is well worth your time. World War I was a major turning point in world history. It was the first time industrialized warfare was used on a global scale, and we still feel its effects even to this day. Even without the supernatural elements I have no doubt that this would still have made for an effective and terrifying story. 

 

For a story like this you need just the right sort of narrator or else it all falls apart. Fortunately, Paul is the right fit for this story. Not much more to add here, the story really speaks for itself. 

 

“Unheil” by Kathryn Allen 

Narrated by Elie Hirschman 

Originally Published in Pantheon Magazine and collected in Typhon: A Monster Anthology 

 

This story is set in 1909 in German Southwest Africa, what is now Namibia. It follows a man from British Rhodesia who has come to work for the German colonists. The work is hard, but he's sure it will be worth it in the end. Then, late one night, he is greeted by a woman caught between life and death. She tells him of the horrors she endured under the rule of the Germans. 

 

You don't often hear about German colonialism in Africa, so in that regard this story was refreshing. The description of life for the natives under German rule is absolutely chilling. What really sold this story for me was bit after the story where Alasdair Stuart gives more context to the horrors of German colonialism. That's not to say that the story doesn't stand on its own merits, it just that it was a little something extra that gave context to the horrors. It's a chilling tale, and apart from the supernatural bits, it's all true. 

 

Elie did a great job with the narration. Fittingly enough he's from Zimbabwe, which at the time of the story was known as Rhodesia. Another story of realistic chills, and one you won't want to miss. 

"The Republic of the Southern Cross" by Valery Bryusov
Narrated by Eric Luke
Originally published in Zemnaya Os, but is now Public Domain

I saved one of the best for last. It's not an alternate history per se, but it does have the feel of one. It's a Russian science fiction/horror mash-up for the early 20th century. Without further delay, let's talk about this story.

This story chronicles the rise and fall of the Republic of the Southern Cross. The titular republic is located in Antarctica, and is initially presented as a worker's paradise. Then several citizens come down with Contradiction; a disease that causes people to do the opposite of what they intend. At first the citizens take it in stride and find it all somewhat comical...then doctors and nurses start slitting their patients throats and pharmacists start handing out poison. Before long society begins to unravel at the seams.

Like I said before, this isn't exactly alternate history, but it does have the feel of one. The Republic itself has a predominately Russian feel to it, but there are hints if other cultures as well. In many ways this story feels like listening to an excerpt from a history book written in an alternate timeline. Fortunately, the writing never gets too dry and Eric's narration really brings things to life.

The famous comic book writer/artist Jack Kirby once said that you can tell a lot about a people based on their fantasies. With this story you really get a sense of the hopes and fears of the Russian people from the time this story was written. There as sense of wanting to improve the lot of workers, but also a considerable fear for what might go wrong.

It's one of my favorite Pseudopod stories, and I can't recommend it enough.

Conclusion

Well, here we are at the end of the list once again. I hope you enjoy these stories, and if you did, might I suggest tossing a few buck at Pseudopod? They have many options for donation, as do all four of the Escape Artists Podcasts. It would really help them out a lot if you could do that, but if you can't, then consider sharing this or any of my other posts. Help get the word out about all the great free audio fiction there is to discover.

And now for a bit of shameless self-promotion. If you really love what I do you can follow me on Twitter where I'm @ArthurDrakoni, you can like The Audiophile's fan page on Facebook. Well, I think that's enough from me for now.

I will see all of you next time, when we talk about PodCastle.