Podsothoth: A Lovecraft Book Club

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 Liquids

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!

Note: This episode was originally published November 22, 2022 In which Tod reads Azathoth, which was first published in the Winter, 1938 issue of Leaves. A discussion of this story will follow. While this reading isn’t particularly scary, do note, that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for all listeners. This very short story touches on nihilism, urbanization, a longing for the natural world, innocence lost, and an out of body experience. If any of these topics are likely to upset you, please skip this podcast. For ambience, we will hear Open Window New York City Soundscape at Night (Midtown Manhattan City Sounds) 4k by Nomadic Ambience and Relaxing Meadow with Ambient Nature Sounds, Wildflowers, and Mountain View - 8 Hours by Calmed by Nature You can follow Podsothoth: A Lovecraft Book Club on Mastodon now, at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth! We’re very likely to retire our Twitter account, but email also works at hideous@podsothoth.club. Since we’ve just moved to a new hosting solution, do let us know if something is weird in the podcast!

Note: This espisode was originally published December 11, 2022 Tod 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.

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!

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...

Tod 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...

In which Tod reads Azathoth, which was first published in the Winter, 1938 issue of Leaves. A discussion of this story will follow. While this reading isn’t particularly scary, do note, that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for all listeners. This very short story touches on nihilism, urbanization, a longing for the natural world, innocence lost, and an out of body experience. If any of these topics are likely to upset you, please skip this podcast. For ambience, we will...

In this episode, Claire and I discuss "The Curse of Yig" by By H. P. Lovecraft and Zealia Bishop, first published in the November, 1929 issue of Weird Tales. We have a whole bunch of trigger warnings for this, the primary being, if you're a sufferer of ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes, you will definitely want to skip this one. We also talk about an implied fictional rape, some wistful wishing for fictional euthanasia, actual Nazis (because apparently you can't talk about anything without bringing up Nazis any more), a fictional dead dog who is described as "useless," fictional supernatural birth defects, rock and roll music, Oklahoma (both the actual state and the musical production), fictional asylum commitment, the real and horrifying Honduran jungle, the very real and awful tropical disease of leishmaniasis, and many other icky things. It's Halloween. It's a horror podcast. We went all out on this one. Recorded back in September, but released right in time for Halloween, anyway. You want links? We got 'em right here, in the order they were mentioned: New York Times article about NecronomiconThe Salem WolvesNecronomicon 2022 core programming The Forgotten AgeLost City (Paramount Pictures)The Lost City of the Monkey GodThe real sample, not Hollywood foley work, of a disturbed rattlesnake that plays every time Yig's name is mentioned is from this video by Michael Delany, and it's completely terrifying. Finally, while it was mentioned in the show, the @podsothoth Twitter account is going away, because Twitter just got way, way more awful. We'll re-establish our social media on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth. It might be a little confusing and kind of a pain to migrate, but I'm sure we can all figure it out. You can always reach us at hideous@podsothoth.club, too.

For tonight's episode, I'll be reading "The Curse of Yig," by HP Lovecraft and Zealia Bishop, which was first published in the November, 1929 issue of Weird Tales. This reading includes, first and foremost, some unkind descriptions and misunderstandings of traditional Native American and Central American culture, as well as the displacement of those people by white American settlers. However, the most obviously racist terms used by Lovecraft and Bishop to describe American Indians have been excised from this reading, and replaced with the more textually appropriate term, "Indian." It is this reader's understanding that the term "Indian" is not immediately and obviously offensive, and has been used throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries to describe the the specific cultures Lovecraft and Bishop are referring to, both within and without those cultures. While other terms certainly exist, none seem to be universally adopted as the most correct term, and most are much more modern than the period written about. A Wikipedia article on this sensitive topic can provide more background. With that said, this reading also touches on the horrors of Oklahoma barbecue, a poorly performed Ozarkian accent, supernatural birth defects, nonconsensual asylum commitment, a dog that dies in the end, snake violence, and acute ophidiophobia. If these subjects are likely to upset you, you are urged to skip this podcast episode. The ambient background sounds are by Michael Ghelfi Studios, and is available on YouTube by searching for "Serpents Temple Adventure Ambience." Follow the show on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth!

Please be aware, this story contains visions, portents, and omens regarding the end of days; mass hypnosis; and a mispronunciation of the word "tenebrous." If you feel you might be unduly disturbed by these elements, then please skip this episode. Also: We're going to be in Providence, Rhode Island, for NecronomiCon! Come say hi and hang out with us! Follow the show on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth.

For tonight's episode, you'll hear the prose poem, "Nyarlathotep," which was first published in the November, 1920 issue of The United Amateur. Analysis, explorations, and jaunty banter will follow later, in episode 24. Please be aware, this story contains visions, portents, and omens regarding the end of days; mass hypnosis; and a mispronunciation of the word "tenebrous." If you feel you might be unduly disturbed by these elements, then please skip this episode. Follow the show on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth!

In which Tod and Claire discuss Episode 21, "Dagon," by HP Lovecraft, first published in the 1919 issue of The Vagrant, and Tod edits this in a hotel room, his very first hotel edit since starting the show. Absolutely critical to understanding some of this episode is gazing upon the work of Gustave Doré, most notably, that crazy vase, which I hope to see some morning this week when I'm in San Francisco. Also, read up on Piltdown Man, as I'm sure we got some facts wrong. Hey, does anyone actually read the show notes? If so, let us know at hideous@podsothoth.club, or toot about the show and mention https://defcon.social/@podsothoth when you do. You can talk about what a dummy I am, like Mike's daughter did, by not calling ourselves Tod-Sothoth and Clairethulhu. A six year old noticed this! Six! Man. She should come to Providence, Rhode Island, in August and guest on a panel, since she's obviously a Lovecraft pun genius. In the meantime, I'm marking this episode explicit so maybe we won't get any more primary school age wunderkinds picking up obvious jokes we left on the table. :) (Just kidding, but we do swear a little bit in the discussions (and talk about unspeakable horrors).)

Tonight's episode is a reading of HP Lovecraft's Dagon, which was first published in the 1919 issue of "The Vagrant," and later republished in the October 1923 issue of "Weird Tales." Please be aware: this story contains depictions morphine addiction, suicidal thoughts, the odor of rotten fish, Piltdown man, and an unkind characterization of Pacific Islander religion. If any of these are likely to unduly bother you, please stop listening now. Note, I expect to have the discussion episode edited and published early next week, possibly even Monday. We went a little off the rails recording it, so it'll be an editing challenge. :) Special thanks to Master Pancake Theater for mentioning the podcast during their riff of Conan: The Barbarian! Robert E. Howard was a contemporary and friend of Lovecraft, so it was totally appropriate to watch while editing this episode! Ambience provided by Creaky Wooden Pirate Ship on the High Seas in a Thunderstorm. Follow the show on Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth!

In this episode, Claire and I will be talking about The Book by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in the 1938 in the journal Leaves. Please note, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be suitable for all listeners. If stories involving witchcraft, creepy books, assorted deviltry, getting unpinned from time and space, or the Mariko Aoki phenomenon are the sorts of things that bother you, you might want to skip this episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know, either by writing in to hideous@podsothoth.club, or tell your friends on Mastodon while mentioning our handle at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth.

In this episode, I'll be reading The Book by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in the 1938 in the journal Leaves. Please note, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be suitable for all listeners. If stories involving witchcraft, creepy books, assorted deviltry, and getting unpinned from time and space are the sorts of things that bother you, you might want to skip this episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know, either by writing in to hideous@podsothoth.club, or tell your friends on Mastodon, mentioning our handle, https://defcon.social/@podsothoth.