AMBIENT ARCANA

 What would you do if you suddenly found your worst enemy completely at your mercy? Would you take revenge? Would you forgive?" Here are two stories that explore what happens when, out of the blue, the opportunity for vengeance arrives. "One Of These Days" by Gabriel García Márquez "Razor" by Vladimir Nabokov All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narration by Jim Billbrough

A man finds himself struggling against an invasive intelligence taking over his mind and trying to eradicate everything the man had previously revered and admired in Stefan Grabiński’s “Strabismus.” Translated by Miroslaw Lipinski All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narrated by Jim Billbrough

Have you ever felt like a helpless pawn being manipulated by mysterious and hidden higher-dimensional beings? If so then this is the episode for you! It's Nebula Award Winning Author Bob Leman's  trans-dimensional, mind and body altering trip through an almost endless game of bizarre, sanity shattering, yet seemingly mundane tasks: "Instructions." All Music, Audio Production, and Narration by Bob Familiar

 Once again we spend the Yuletide season high up in the Himalayas with three stories from Albert Leroy Shelton's 1925 book Tibetan Folk Tales: "The Wiley Poor Man," "The Story Of The Two Devils," and "The Story Of The Violinist." All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narration by Bob Familiar and Jim Billbrough

 In this episode we explore what happens when a mild-mannered man is not only addicted to train travel but is actually transformed into a bold and charismatic person each time he rides the rails...and the consequences he must face when the ride comes to an end. "In the Compartment' by Stefan Grabiński Translated by Miroslaw Lipinski All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narrated by Jim Billbrough Train sound effects by Pond5   Please note: this story deals with some adult themes so parents might want to give it a listen first before letting young kids hear it. No obscene language or explicit descriptions are used and the adult themed passages are portrayed in a rather outdated, quaint, and metaphorical way. At least we hope Grabiński is using metaphors...

 This Halloween, in the grand tradition of horror duo team-ups such as “Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman,” “Billy The Kid vs Dracula,” and “Sharktopus X Whalewolf,” we bring you David Mulholland and Robert Billbrough performing Edgar Allan Poe’s OG dungeon crawl - “The Cask Of Amontillado.” Robert Billbrough as Montresor David Mulholland as Fortunato Music by Man Tray: Kelvin Weston, John Gunther, and Paul Billbrough Music Production by Paul Billbrough Post Production by Bob Familiar Sound Effects by Pond5

 In this episode a selfless Nightingale sings her heart out to create a Red Rose for a lovelorn Student, but is he truly worthy of such a precious gift? It's Oscar Wilde's poignant tale of blood thirsty horticulture - "The Nightingale and the Rose." All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narration by Joey Pesce   Nightingale recordings by Pro Sound Effects

 In this episode we present a twisted tale of twin brothers. The younger brother -a murderous, narcissistic hedonist who will stop at nothing to get what he wants; the older brother -a man who enjoys wearing silk kimonos, taking early morning walks in the garden, and neatly folding his towels after every use. Physically identical except for a small mole on the younger brother's thigh - a mole with a suspiciously sinister looking goatee!  "The Twins" by Edogawa Rampo. All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narration by Jim Billbrough        

It's Family Values Gone Wild in Ambrose Bierce's Dark Comedy "A Bottomless Grave." Narration by David Mulholland Music by Man Tray Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar.

 This is a special episode of Ambient Arcana marking the 80th Anniversary of V.E. Day - Victory in Europe Day - May 8th, 1945 when Germany officially surrendered to the Allied Forces ending World War II in Europe. A reading from “Jeep Show” by Robert B. O’Connor. Jeep Show is the story of entertainment specialist Jim Tanzer who finds himself trapped in the front lines during the Battle Of The Bulge. The unexpected German assault catches the American forces off guard, yet determined not to give way, even at the cost of their own lives. "Jeep Show" by Robert B. O’Connor is out now and available at most booksellers. https://jeepshowbook.com/ All music and audio production by Bob Familiar. Narration by Rick Weidner Bob Familiar as Henry “Allie” Allison and Sergeant Kowalski Jim Billbrough as Jim Tanzer Matt Gruenberg as the 2nd Lieutenant and Captain Rose   Additional sound effects by Pro Sound Effects Ambient Arcana will be back to our usual schedule at the end of June.

 We finish our current coverage of the works of British author Robert Aickman with a story that explores what happens when the face looking back at you in the mirror is not your own. "Le Miroir" by Robert Aickman All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narration by Jim Billbrough

 In this episode two young British women, serving in the 'Woman's Land Army' during WWII,  decide to skip a dour farmer's Christmas party only to discover there are worse ways to spend the Holiday in Robert Aickman's "The Coffin House."  All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar  Narration by Jim Billbrough      

Mod dress? Thigh-boots? Impossibly long worm-infested hallways? It's Robert Aickman's  strange tale of a mysterious, ageless woman orbiting the life of a hapless man: "Laura." All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narrated by Alex Fitzsimmons

In this episode we explore the heavy price of turning back the hands of time with Philip K. Dick's "The Cookie Lady."   All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar. Narration by Jim Billbrough    

Once again we spend our Holiday Season at the Top Of The World with yet more stories from Albert Leroy Shelton's 1925 book "Tibetan Folk Tales" All music and audio production by Bob Familiar Narrated by Bob Familiar and Jim Billbrough      

 Just when we thought we were done with Bradbury he pulls us back in! “The October Game” a disturbing Halloween horror story where the terrors are real…or are they? All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar. Narration by Jim Billbrough. Additional Voices by Izzy Q. and The Artist Known As Φ.

In this episode we explore two stories of Retrofuturism by science fiction/fantasy icon Ray Bradbury: “The One Who Waits” - A lonely old soul gets closer to the new neighbors in the worst possible way. “The Pedestrian” -  A solitary man walks the empty streets of a TV dominated dystopia. All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narrated by Bob Familiar and Jim Billbrough

 In this episode we tell a tragic story of forbidden love and dire consequences- “The Legend of U Raitong” as described by Mrs. K.U. Rafy in her 1920 collection “Folk-Tales Of The Khasis.” All Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narration by Jim Billbrough While researching this story we found two more recent translations of “U Manik Raitong” by contemporary Khasi authors, both of which are worth checking out: “Khasi Myths, Legends & Folk Tales” by Bijoya Sawian (No direct link to the story on Google Books, but open the Table of Contents and follow the link to “U Manik Raitong”) https://www.google.com/books/edition/Khasi_Myths_Legends_Folk_Tales/Unr2BEAEezoC?hl=en …and “U Manik Raitong” by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih from his book “Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends” U Manik Raitong - Monash Indigenous Studies Centre   Apologies to the Khasi people for any mispronunciation of Khasi names or places in this episode. To balance things out we mispronounced some English words as well.

Two stories about the elusive dream of freedom- A secret dream suddenly dashed and a dream unlooked for fulfilled. Kate Chopin’s “The Story Of An Hour” and “A Pair Of Silk Stockings.” Narrated by Arline Billbrough Music by Paul Billbrough Produced by Bob Familiar  

In 1950 Akira Kurosawa merged two of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s short stories together to make his classic film “Rashomon.”Last episode we covered the story that gave the film it’s name and in this episode we explore the story of the murder at the heart of that film, told by seven characters with seven different, often conflicting accounts: “In A Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa Music and Audio Production by Bob Familiar Narrated by Mandy Familiar, Bob Familiar, Joey Pesce, Shannon Wilson, Jace Wilson, Danielle Barry, Matt Gruenberg, and Jim Billbrough