Podsothoth: A Lovecraft Book Club

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's The Music of Erich Zann, first published in the March, 1922 issue of The National Amateur, and first read by Tod on April 13, 2024.As this is a horror podcast, please know that this episode may not be for everyone. This story, in particular, features some poorly pronounced French, a number of awkward social encounters, some disturbing and dangerous architecture, descriptions of fantastic otherworldly musical elements, the implied, posthumous playing of the same, and the real otherworldly compositions of Kaija Saariaho, performed here by Jakob Koranyi on the ambiance track. Definitely check out her life and work, as it gets much, much weirder than what was used in this episode.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod and Claire discuss The Descendant, by HP Lovecraft, first published in the winter 1938 issue of Leaves. We also talk about Charles Fort and the Fortean Times, kind of a lot.Links to things mentioned in the show include Angela Collier's "physics crackpots: a theory" and https://hplovecraft.com. We also talked about NecronomiCON Providence, which I hope you go to in mid-August.Please be aware, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be for everyone. Notably, this story fragment touches on the troubling topics of the ravages of age and dementia, the Roman empire and medieval England, the dreaded Necronomicon, 90's-era Satanism, and a nihilistic longing to escape the natural world. If these topics are likely to trouble you, you are urged to skip this episode.Editor's note: At about 12m30s, Tod states that Rats in the Walls was written in 1929. That is incorrect. Rats in the Walls was published in 1924, two years before this was written, which implies that maybe this actually was intended as a sequel (but with different names and not really a sequel). In other words, Claire was right and Tod was wrong. That's fine.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's The Descendant, first published in the winter 1938 issue of "Leaves," and first read by Tod on February 25, 2024.Please be aware, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be for everyone. Notably, this story fragment touches on the troubling topics of the ravages of age and dementia, the Roman empire and medieval England, the dreaded Necronomicon, 90's-era Satanism, and a nihilistic longing to escape the natural world. If these topics are likely to trouble you, you are urged to skip this episode.Background ambience in the episode is Hidden Used Book Store ASMR, on YouTube.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Claire and Tod discuss the Rats in the Walls. Note we spend the first quarter talking about racism in literature sooooooooo there's that.Here's the Javascript to change the cats name, do with it what thou wilt: https://gist.github.com/todb/35aa059ef2a94cb86a2db63e5121ddebAnd here's Jason Buck's Linktree, if you get a chance to see him, he's real good, even though we make just a little bit of fun: https://linktr.ee/jasonbuckstoryteller/Okay I gotta pick Claire up from the airport like, right now.In the meantime, feel free to drop us a line!Email: hideous@podsothoth.clubMastodon: @podsothoth@defcon.socialTwitter: nahFacebook: idk, Claire runs that, but if you search "Podsothoth" I'm sure you'll find it.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod reads for you The Rats in the Walls by HP Lovecraft, first published in the March 1924 issue of Weird Tales. Please note, this is a horror podcast, so this episode might not be for everyone. This story contains depictions of cult worship, mispronunciations of various Anatolian and Roman deities, the American Civil War and the Great War, ancient and medieval architecture, Piltdown Man, The Marquis de Sade, surprise cannibalism, and of course, swarms and swarms of rats. If such things are likely to bother you unduly, you are encouraged to skip this episode.That said, the offensive cat name has been altered for this reading. My cat's name is Mephistopheles, so now he's in the story. He's also a black cat in real life. The intro and outro bits were recorded without a proper microphone, oops, and sound a little weird. Maybe I'll re-record those when I get back home.The ambiance is Haunted Catacomb Ambiance. There's some squeaky, scurrying rat noises in there. That might bug you.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod and Claire discuss "The Horror At Martin's Beach," by Sonia H Greene and HP Lovecraft, originally published as "The Invisible Monster" in the November, 1923 issue of Weird Tales.More about Sonia Greene:  https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/marriage-failure-and-exile-hp-lovecraft-in-new-yorkMore about Captain Orne's possible connection to the Marsh family of Innsmouth: https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Marsh_familyI used a bit of short ambience in this recording, but if you want nine whole hours of creepy whispering, check it out at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOCZe0rssPMMore about the Martin's Beach court fight over access:  https://www.surfer.com/features/scotus-ends-martins-beach-sagaWant to get in touch with us? Email works at hideous@podsothoth.club, and so does Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth -- I sometimes post other horror/gothy things there.Finally, we have another podcast! It's called, "Hot for Teacher: The Greatest American Hero Watch Party" and you can find it at https://hotforteacher.tv . It's pretty fun, and it's Claire's show, she calls all the shots!Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

Just in time for Halloween! In this episode of Podsothoth, a Lovecraft book club, Tod Beardsley reads to you The Horror at Martin's Beach by HP Lovecraft, which is also sometimes known as The Invisible Monster by Sonia H Greene. It was first published as the latter in the November, 1923 issue of Weird Tales.Please note, this is a horror podcast, so this episode might not be for everyone. This story contains depictions of fish monsters, Yankee capitalism, marine hypnosis, a decadent beachside hotel, and a mass oceanic drowning. If such things are likely to bother you unduly, you are enjoined to skip this episode.Ambiance is provided by Creaky Wooden Pirate Ship on the High Seas in a Thunderstorm by an unknown provider (it's since been deleted from YouTube, sadly).Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Claire and Tod discuss The Shunned House, by HP Lovecraft, first published in the October, 1937 issue of Weird Tales.  And here are some links in case you're a weirdo who reads these show notes.Link to the Kickstarter project for publishing The Shunned House: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/helios-house/shunned-houseWikipedia article about The Shunned House, including the Gorey-esque illustration by Virgil Finlay: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shunned_HouseGirl with All the Gifts trailer, go watch it, it's pretty much my favorite zombie movie, and definitely my favorite fungus movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjGkB_oWTe0Learn all about Crookes Tubes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_tubeSubscribe to our other podcast about The Greatest American Hero and also growing up in the 70s and 80s: https://hotforteacher.tvSupport the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod Beardsley reads The Shunned House, by HP Lovecraft, first published in the October, 1937 issue of Weird Tales. Since this is a horror podcast, it may not be for everyone. This reading contains detailed descriptions of 17th, 18th, and 19th Century architecture, a meandering genealogy, several child maladies and deaths, including stillbirth, an infectious madness, eerie fungi and vapors, a vampiric presence, and a rental property which certainly would not meet modern residential building codes. If any of these elements are likely to disturb you unduly, you are urged to skip this episode.Ambience provided by Haunted House Ambience 4 HOURS.If you like this episode, feel free to write to us at hideous@podsothoth.club, or hit us up on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod and Claire discuss HP Lovecraft's The Nameless City, which was first published in the November, 1921 issue of The Wolverine. Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone, especially if you have problems with claustrophobia and the 20th Century plunder of archeological sites.We talked about John Shirley's Lovecraft Alive! from Hippocampus Press and you should buy it and read it.We also mentioned "The Austin Frog" which is more properly referred to as simply Hi, How Are You.Here's this year's Human Era Calendar from Kurzgesagt but wait until October or so and they'll print a new one for 12,024. They make great gifts for archeology nerds.If you need to calculate HE dates on the fly, the Holocene Era Calculator works pretty well.Also, here's the Arkham Horror AH:TCG expansion, Guardians of the Abyss, which we are convinced is impossible to win. Prove us wrong!Follow on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, email at hideous@podsothoth.club, and join this unsanctioned Facebook group that Tod doesn't know anything about.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

HP Lovecraft's The The Nameless City, which was first published in the November, 1921 issue of The Wolverine, as read by Tod Beardsley in July of 2023.Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone. This story in particular contains depictions of amateur, penetrative archeology by an imperialistic foreigner; various supernatural winds and sandstorms; claustrophobia and sightless spelunking; a very frightened camel who presumably dies alone in the desert; the mummified remains of prehistoric lizardmen; a portal to the hollow Earth; and an attack of a million ghosts. If these topics are likely to upset you, please skip this episode.On the other hand, if you like this episode and this sort of thing, be sure to leave a glowing review on your podcast app of choice. You can get in touch with us directly on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, or by e-mailing us at hideous@podsothoth.club.Ambience for this episode is once again provided by Horror Wind Ambience. Scary Wind Sounds.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod and Claire discuss The Unnamable, a short story by HP Lovecraft, first published in the July, 1925 issue of Weird Tales. Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone. This is especially true if you have feelings about Cotton Mather.We discussed the Magnalia Christi Americana by Cotton Mather, not the "Christos Magnalia Americana" which is probably the cursed version.We also played a little of Modular Sessions 9, by Mark Jenkins, and you should defo spend real money and have it shipped to you by real postal mail!Feel free to strike up a conversation with us! We're on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. We also have a YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Podsothoth for some reason.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's The Unnamable, first published in the July, 1925 issue of Weird Tales. Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone. This story in particular contains depictions of the supernatural and spectral, as well as puritanism and religiosity, an 18th Century hanging, improvised burial rites, New England architecture, and a madness inflicted on a young boy after a terrible discovery. If these topics are likely to upset you, please skip this episode.Ambience for this episode is provided by Horror Wind Ambience. Scary Wind Sounds. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment or review on your podcast directory of choice, and you can follow the show on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod and Claire discuss The Horror at Red Hook by HP Lovecraft, which was first published in the January, 1927 issue of Weird Tales. Please note, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be for everyone. We swear some in this episode, but more importantly, we talk, at length, about Lovecraft's unabashed racism and nativism, as well as discuss many scenes of police brutality.This is, near as we can tell, the worst story we've read so far on the podcast, when it comes to both the story and the barely concealed subtext. We're glad to have had the opportunity to discuss it, and of course, the portrayal of Detective Malone in the Tell No Tales staging of The Atrocities at Arkham was an absolute delight. But, boy oh boy, that source material is not great.In any event, speaking of Tell No Tales, you should follow them on whatever social media they use these days, as well as our other new friend of the show, Screen Rebels. Our mission now is to get both West End London theater companies to come to Providence for NecronomiCON 2024 and perform for American audiences in Lovecraft's home town! Let's make this happen!Now for the links mentioned in the show:Nocturne, the vampire bar that might be owned by the band Massive Attack, is described here. It's really pretty neat. Go there if you have a chance.Nethack, the greatest video game ever made, is currently on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art. You too can dance with succubi and incubi.Read the 1902 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, if you want to delve into history.Alternatively, you can read a 2018 Norwegian Refuge Council report on present-day Yezidis and the recurring genocide they've been suffering since forever. They are real people and definitely not devil worshippers.For lighter listening, catch our ad on Greatest Generation episode 455. It's toward the end, but really, you should listen to the whole episode.And here's how I learned how to pronounce Pascoag.Claire mentioned the Magnificent Mile in reference to Chicago, and I only mention this is because Tod will be in Chicago in the middle of May, 2023 for a secret hacker conference. If you want to hang out, drop us a line at @podsothoth@defcon.social or hideous@podsothoth.club.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod reads The Horror at Red Hook by HP Lovecraft, which was first published in the January, 1927 issue of Weird Tales.Please note, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be suitable for everyone. Specifically, this story is concerned with Lovecraft's xenophobia regarding the immigrant population of Brooklyn, New York, as well as descriptions of post-traumatic stress disorder, police harassment, kidnapping, murder, and man-smuggling, as well as some poorly enunciated Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Rhode Islander fragments. Finally, the most egregiously racist descriptions of the varied people mentioned in this story have been omitted or replaced.If any of this sounds like it is likely to disturb or offend you, you are urged to skip this episode.For ambience, we have several tracks: Relaxing Meadow with Ambient Nature Sounds, Wildflowers, and Mountain View - 8 Hours  by Calmed by Nature,  Open Window New York City Soundscape at Night (Midtown Manhattan City Sounds) 4k by Nomadic Ambience,  Creaky Wooden Pirate Ship on the High Seas in a Thunderstorm by an unknown provider (it's since been deleted from YouTube, sadly), and Dark Tomb - | Cave Sounds | 45 Minutes by The Guild of Ambience. It's so much soundscape! Too much? Let us know on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, or by email at hideous@podsothoth.club. If you do write, we may read your missive on the podcast, so any hints about proper noun pronunciation would be appreciated.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

LIVE and UNEDITED! This is the raw export of the Februrary 15, 2023 live from London Lovecraft Festival discussion of HP Lovecraft's Herbert West -- Reanimator. We have not listened to this episode, at all, and is cut straight from our mighty podcasting deck to your mp3 player. It might just be an hour of unintelligible nonsense.  You have been warned.The next episode will almost certainly be an edited, and possibly re-recorded version of this episode. Note, this is a horror podcast, it's not for everyone, there are certainly several swears, and it's a little chaotic. We're pretty sure the audience audio didn't make it through, sadly, but maybe it did? We'll find out together!Thanks again for the London Lovecraft Festival 2023 for hosting us!Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod reads Herbert West -- Reanimator by HP Lovecraft, first published in serial form in the first six issues of Home Brew, from February through July of 1922.Please note, this is a horror podcast, and it might not be for everyone. Tonights story is, as you might have guessed from the title, primarily concerned with the scientific pursuit of reanimation of the dead. It also touches on murder, grotesque experimentation, an indescribable reptile, the death of a child, and some unkind descriptions of Italian, Polish, and African Americans.Certain specific terms in the text have been slightly altered or omitted in the reading to be slightly less unkind.Our next episode will feature a discussion of this story, and it will be recorded live at the Drayton Arms Theater in Greater London. I sincerely hope you can join us there when we record; tickets can be secured for a very modest fee. Just search the Internet for the London Lovecraft Festival. The festival will run from Februrary 13th to 19th, 2023, and this show will be recorded on Wednesday, Februrary 15th, at 9pm. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at hideous@podsothoth.club, or follow us on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social. We'll see you soon in London!Ambience: Science Lab with Bubbling LiquidsSupport the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod and Claire discuss The Hound, by HP Lovecraft, which was first published in the February, 1924 issue of Weird Tales. This episode is a little swearier than most, so kids, don't say these words in school. The other, usual content warnings apply, including subjects of drug use, suicide, and assorted gothery.You can read about the real-life unnamable museum in the The Washington Post, or head over to Boadgamegeek to check out Cthulhu: Death May Die.But most importantly, you can head over to https://bit.ly/podsothoth-tickets to get your tickets to our upcoming London show on Februray 15, 2023! It's a couple clicks from there, but they're only £12, which is not even 15 dollars in real money. Also, we expect it to be a pretty Covid-safe event -- judging by ticket sales so far, I'm pretty certain you can keep a 2 meter distance from other audience members. You can read up on the festival and other things going on that week at https://londonlovecraft.com, and I urge you to do so -- especially Reanimator: The Bloody Musical on February 14th, which we'll be at as well!As always, you can follow the show on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. We're no longer on Twitter, and never have been on Facebook. If you want to dive into Mastodon, head over to https://joinmastodon.org/ and pick an instance! It's like the FidoNET BBSes of the 1980s! It's k-rad!Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

In which Tod reads The Hound by HP Lovecraft, which was first published in the February, 1924 issue of Weird Tales magazine. As this is a horror podcast, it might not be suitable for all listeners. The story that follows contains graphic depictions of grave robbery, a violent attack by an unseen, supernatural being, suicidal thoughts and plans, a suspicion of madness, and the quest to feel something, anything, in the face of crushing ennui. It’s really quite goth. If these subjects are likely to upset you, please skip this episode.Our next episode will feature a discussion of The Hound with my insightful co-host, Claire Reynolds. If you enjoy the show, toot at us at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth, for Twitter is dead to us, or write to us at hideous@podsothoth.club.If you’re listening to this as it is released, know that our first ever live show will be in just one month, in London! Buy tickets for our February 15th, 2023 show directly at https://bit.ly/podsothoth-tickets. I hope to see you there! No hounds allowed!Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

Note: This espisode was originally published December 11, 2022Tod and Claire discuss Azathoth, which was first published in the Winter, 1938 issue of Leaves.Note, this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for all listeners. This discussion of Azathoth is mostly centered around a shocking revelation about the nature of the cosmos and the origin of Azathoth, thanks entirely to The Prophetess Claire. Unless you are well-grounded in your perception of reality, please avoid this episode if you’re at risk of accidentally joining a cult.In the meantime, see Lovecraft’s original manuscript for Azathoth at Brown University’s archival website.Note, we’re going to London in February, 2023 as part of the London Lovecraft Festival! For details as they come, check in on http://londonlovecraft.com/ and surely that’ll be updated with the latest news about the festival and all the other cool shows going on that week.Alternatively, you can cut out the middleman and just follow us on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth, from where ever you get your Mastodon toots, and you’ll catch the very latest news on our London show and the London Lovecraft Festival in general.Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!