Strange Fiction

167 - "Zero Hour" by Ray Bradbury

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The Year of Pulp continues as David, Kaela and Abysmii take a crack at a story in the public domain from a young Ray Bradbury. We get a vision of a optimistic future that never happened, and discuss the sad lack of hopeful sci-fi these days and the fears of the time possibly channeled through the story’s lens.

First published in Planet Stories, Fall 1947. Read it on Project Gutenberg here.

Creative Horror asks our listeners to check out Operation Olive Branch to see how to aid in humanitarian efforts in Palestine.

New Pulp Writing Challenge

167 - "Zero Hour" by Ray Bradbury
David King/Kaela King/Abysmii
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166 - "You Do Not Have Permission to Read This Story" by Rorshack Rorshan

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David and Kaela touch base with Kylie Keen of Animal Fact Files and spring a Rorshack Rorshan trap on their unsuspecting guest! But surprises await, even for those well-versed in the unique and head-scratching style of these stories, and by reading this one the hosts might have just doomed the planet Earth!

Be sure to check out our New Pulp Revival Writing Challenge here!

166 - "You Do Not Have Permission to Read This Story" by Rorshack Rorshan
David King/Kaela King/Kylie Keen
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163 - "The Consuming Flame" (Part 2) by Paul Ernst

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The rip-roaring conclusion to this recent adventure sees Doctor Satan delving into the art of necromancy on top of his static electricity research, Ascott Keane stoically neglect to name his scientist friend, and David, Allen and Abysmii keep at the nonsense jokes that basically write themselves.

Story by Paul Ernst, first published in Weird Tales, November 1935.

163 - "The Consuming Flame" (Part 2) by Paul Ernst
David King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii
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162 - "The Consuming Flame" (Part 1) by Paul Ernst

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Though we accidentally begin the fourth Doctor Satan story instead of the second, it does little to throw David, Allen and Abysmii off of the tropes that have already been established. The (good) doctor seems to be targeting fancy car manufacturers, but what does this next diabolical scheme entail? Is Doctor Satan actually the real inventor of the flux capacitor? And will Ascott Keane drag his long self out to confront his nemesis once again?

Story by Paul Ernst, first published in Weird Tales, November 1935.

162 - "The Consuming Flame" (Part 1) by Paul Ernst
David King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii
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160 - "Doctor Satan" (Part 2) by Paul Ernst

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The thrilling conclusion of the first Doctor Satan story finds our erstwhile hero, Ascott Keane, meeting his arch-nemesis face-to-mask. David, Kaela, Allen and Abysmii are joined by Mastt Holley this time as they explore such uncanny powers as magical trash cans, blind noclipping through the city, and T-posing to call on the power of God and anime.

Story by Paul Ernst, first published in Weird Tales, August 1935.

160 - "Doctor Satan" (Part 2) by Paul Ernst
David King/Kaela King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii/Matt Holley
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159 - "Doctor Satan" (Part 1) by Paul Ernst

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A pulp-infused saga unfolds as Abysmii shares a public domain discovery with David, Kaela and Allen. Straight form the pages of Weird Tales, the gang are introduced to the baffling crimes of the eponymous Devil-themed ne’er-do-well, and meet his arch-nemesis, the logical longboy Ascott Keane. Who will win? Who will lose? How many women will faint over the course of these stories? UCA is on the case!

Story by Paul Ernst, first published in Weird Tales, August 1935.

159 - "Doctor Satan" (Part 1) by Paul Ernst
David King/Kaela King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii
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158 - "Elf on the Shelf: A Tale of Darkness" by Jay Connett

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Nearly two weeks after Christmas and, timely as ever, David, Allen and Abysmii are opening their last gift from the Holiday season. If you’ve ever been unnerved by a certain plastic elf that is supposedly always watching for the big man up north, this one’s for you.

Story submitted by Jay Connett.

158 - "Elf on the Shelf: A Tale of Darkness" by Jay Connett
David King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii
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156 - "When Ray Is In a Bad Mood" by Rorshack Rorshan

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Can we not go even three episodes before returning to the existential exercise that is reading a Rorshack Rorshan story? Apparently not, because David, Kaela, Abysmii and Papreeka are all together in person to read one featuring the dreaded Reality Man.

Story submitted by Rorshack Rorshan.

156 - "When Rays Is In a Bad Mood" by Rorashack Rorshan
David King/Kaela King/Abysmii/Papreeka
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153 - "Chapter 4, Page 7" by ClericofMadness

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David, Kaela, Allen and Seid celebrate Allen’s birthday and the beginning of spooky month with a story about a house, a dog, and several books that are not actually there. There’s drinking involved (for our readers, not in the story) and dice get rolled. Also, news about Midnight Marinara’s future.

Story submitted by ClericofMadness. Read along here.

153 - "Chapter 4, Page 7" by ClericofMadness
David King/Kaela King/Allen Chaney/Jesse "Seid" Reyes
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152 - "Even Darkness Needs Hugs" by Rorshack Rorshan

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David, Allen and Abysmii will never in their lives be prepared for the twists and turns of these oddball stories. Also in this episode: anecdotes about Japan, Einstein jumpscares and a real reminder of the show’s credo.

Story submitted by Rorshack Rorshan.

152 - "Even Darkness Needs Hugs" by Rorshack Rorshan
David King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii
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144 - "Unsplit Bonds" by neosaiyanangel

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Oh good golly gosh, it looks like things are going a little kooky over there with our friends David, Allen and Abysmii, donchaknow. Maybe they got in a little too deep with this haunted doll story, but it probably has more to do with them getting into the mindset of a new character that may just have some meme staying power, oh yes she does!

Story submitted by neosaiyanangel. Read along here.

144 - "Unsplit Bonds" by neosaiyanangel
David King/Allen Chaney/Abysmii
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