The Avram Davidson Universe

Today we celebrate Avram Davidson's 101st birthday. In this episode, we sit down with one of our favorite repeat guests, Richard Horton. Rich Horton is a distinguished editor and columnist, known for his contributions to Locus as a short fiction columnist. He also curated "The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy" anthology series for Prime Books. Rich shares his insights and passion for speculative literature on his blog, Strange at Ecbatan. https://rrhorton.blogspot.com/ We listen to "Polly Charms, the Sleeping Woman," originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in February 1975 and nominated for a Locus and Nebula Award. It is the first published story in "The Adventures of Doctor Eszterhazy."

In this episode we sit down Tim Anderson. Tim Newton Anderson is a former journalist and PR manager. He started writing fiction seriously three years ago and has now placed more than 50 pieces in a wide variety of genres and publications. He has been reading science fiction and fantasy from an early age. His blog is at https://atjentertainments.wordpress.com/ and his author Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/timnewtonanderson He also has an Amazon author profile as Tim Newton Anderson. We listen to "Bumberboom" originally published in F&SF December of 1966. At the end of the podcast we listen to a symphony adaptation of Bumberboom: Scherzo Diablique - Sidney Hodkinson.

In this episode we sit down once again with Josh Pachter. Josh is a writer, editor, and translator, and the 2020 recipient of the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement. Almost a hundred of his short crime stories have appeared in EQMM, AHMM, and many other places. We listen to "The Last Wizard" originally published in EQMM, December of 1972. You can find more information about Josh at https://joshpachter.com/.

In this episode we sit down with Josh Pachter. Josh is a writer, editor, and translator, and the 2020 recipient of the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement. Almost a hundred of his short crime stories have appeared in EQMM, AHMM, and many other places. We listen to "The Trefoil Company" originally published in EQMM, August 1971. You can find more information about Josh at https://joshpachter.com/.

In this episode we sit down with Kory Christensen - Kory is a patent attorney and an aspiring writer, who recently completed three novels of speculative fiction set in the San Francisco Bay Area. His current project is a historical fiction novel, which takes place in renaissance Italy. We listen to "Pebble in Time" originally published in F&SF, August 1970 and written with Cynthia Goldstone. Cynthia Goldstone was a highly regarded San Francisco artist. Ray Bradbury once wrote her a letter of appreciation. Cynthia and her late husband, artist Lou Goldstone, exhibited their work at many science fiction conventions, and were a much-loved couple in the Bay Area science fiction community. Avram and the Goldstones were good friends in San Francisco during the lively 1960s and 1970s. For more information see www.avramdavidson.com

In this episode we sit down once again with Jack Seabrook - The author of two books on popular fiction: Martians and Misplaced Clues: The Life and Work of Fredric Brown (1993) and Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney (2003). He has had articles published in crime fiction magazines such as The Armchair Detective and he is a lifelong reader of comic books! Among other things he intends to educate the world to the joys of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and DC War and Horror comics. We listen to "Thou Still Unravished Bride" originally published in EQMM, October 1958. I would also encourage you to watch the Alfred Hitchcock episode so you can compare and contrast the story and adaptation. For more information see www.avramdavidson.com

In this episode, we sit down with Joseph D'Agnese to discuss "Captain Pasharooney" originally published in The Saint Detective Magazine in May, 1967. Joseph D'Agnese is a journalist, author, ghostwriter and editor who has written books for kids and adults. He has written for publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Discover, Wired, Saveur, This Old House, and other publications for both for adults and children. He has won Educational Press Awards, and been featured twice in the annual anthology, Best American Science Writing. His short stories have been finalists for the Derringer Award for short mystery fiction three times since 2014. (He won the award once, in 2015.) To learn more about Joseph D'Agnese, visit his website: Joseph D'Agnese (josephdagnese.com).

In this episode, we sit down with Erica Satifka to discuss "Naples," a World Fantasy Award-winning story originally published in Shadows, Ed. Charles L. Grant (Doubleday, 1978). Erica Satifka is the author of three books: STAY CRAZY (novel), BUSTED SYNAPSES (novella), and HOW TO GET TO APOCALYPSE AND OTHER DISASTERS (collection). In 2017, she won the British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer. Her short fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, Interzone, Shimmer, and many other places. To learn more about Erica Satifka, visit her website: http://www.ericasatifka.com/. We'll also explore her wonderful story, "Loving Grace," and I highly recommend checking out her recent collection. You can find "Loving Grace" here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/satifka_09_15/.

Join us for a captivating episode as we sit down with Kenneth Hite, a renowned writer and role-playing game designer. We will be treated to David Pickering's complete narration of "Who Fired the Phoenix?" This intriguing story was originally published in Asimov's in May 1981 and is part of the Adventures in Unhistory collection. At the end of the interview with Ken, we will also have the privilege of hearing Avram himself narrating the story, although, unfortunately, the narration is not complete. Kenneth Hite is well-known for his significant contributions to role-playing games, including Trail of Cthulhu and Night's Black Agents, and for his lead role in designing the 5th edition of Vampire: the Masquerade. Notably, Ken's most Davidson-coded credit is the SUPPRESSED TRANSMISSION series: http://www.sjgames.com/suppressed/ Don't miss out on his engaging podcast co-hosted with fellow game designer Robin Laws, where they explore numerous Davidson-ish trails as well: https://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/

In this episode we sit down with Athena from One Reading Nurse and listen to Murder is Murder Originally published in EQMM in June 1973. Athena is a passionate book enthusiast and the curator of the Sunday Brunch Author Interview Series. With a penchant for fantasy and science fiction Athena explores a diverse range of genres and shares her honest reviews alongside captivating bookish content.

In this episode we sit down with Igor Teper and listen to The Man Who Saw the Elephant Originally published in the magazine Yankee, Oct 1971 as What More Is There to See. Igor Teper is an author of fiction, poetry, and scientific essays, and a physicist who uses lasers to teach old atoms new tricks. He lives with his wife and sons in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about his writing, check out www.igorteper.com.

In this episode we sit down with Zac and Jon hosts of Genre Podcast and listen to "Dagon" originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1959. Each month Genre Podcast pick a genre to deep-dive into. Novels, short stories, and film--each conversation builds off the last as they try to understand what makes each one tick. Find Genre Podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, or any podcast platform of your choice.

In This episode we sit down with Michael Santiago and listen to Mr. Folsom Feels Fine Originally published in Ellery Queen's Prime Crimes 4, Fall 1986 Michael is a serial ex-pat, avid traveler, and writer of all kinds. Originally from New York City, and later relocated to Rome in 2016 and Nanjing in 2018. He enjoys the finer things in life like walks on the beach, existential conversations, and swapping murder mystery ideas. Keen on exploring themes of humanity within a fictitious context and aspiring author. He is also the managing editor of the literary journal and publishing house, Deep Overstock.

As we countdown to 100 — next up on The Avram Davidson Universe Podcast — part of Avram’s lecture on Dragons. As a child Avram would send me his lecture prep cassettes. I want to share his voice with friends & fans. 100% Avram. Please feel free to share and invite fans to follow us. This is the foundation of Adventures in Unhistory from An Abundance of Dragons originally published in Asimov's, July 1981.

As a child Avram would send me his lecture prep cassettes. As we countdown to 100, I wanted to share his voice with friends & fans. 100% Avram. Please feel free to share and invite fans to follow us. While not complete - grab a cup of tea and enjoy Prester John. This was the foundation for Adventures in Unhistory. Originally published in Amra V2n71, July 1982. Sorry it's not complete.

In this episode we celebrate Avram's 100th birthday by listening to What Time Is It a never before published Avram Davidson story! One of his best! We sit down with Ben Railton a Professor of English Studies and Coordinator of American Studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. He is the author of five previous books, most recently We the People: The 500-Year Battle over Who is American (also in the American Ways series). His public scholarly efforts also include the daily AmericanStudies blog, the monthly Considering History column for the Saturday Evening Post, and contributions to many other online conversations including HuffPost and We’re History.

In this episode we sit down with Jack Seabrook - The author of two books on popular fiction: Martians and Misplaced Clues: The Life and Work of Fredric Brown (1993) and Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney (2003). He has had articles published in crime fiction magazines such as The Armchair Detective and he is a lifelong reader of comic books! Among other things he intends to educate the world to the joys of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and DC War and Horror comics. We listen to "The Ikon of Elijah" originally published in EQMM, December 1956 For more information see www.avramdavidson.com

In this episode we sit down with Henry Sussman. Henry Sussman was born in Philadelphia in 1947. His childhood of classical science geekdom turned to a lifelong literary obsession in junior high. Among his early literary influences: U.S. drama of the 1930’s-1950’s, Poe, Mad Magazine, and post-War sci-fi. He received his PhD in Comparative Literature in 1975 from Johns Hopkins and spent time studying and teaching in France, Germany, SUNY-Buffalo and eventually Yale, where he developed the course German Fairy Tales out of his interests in critical theory, philosophy, psychoanalysis, and cybernetics which our host Emma Speer took while attending Yale. Like Avram, he is one-of-a-kind, and the perfect person to have on to discuss this episode’s story, "The Slovo Stove" which was originally published in August 1985 in Universe 15 which was edited by Terry Carr Below is a link to one of Henry's books: https://books.google.com/books/about/Around_the_Book.html?id=Sb63nQAACAAJ&source=kp_author_description

In this episode we sit down with Ryan Sprinkle. Ryan is the product of over 5 million years of evolution, culminating in a sort of strange hairless ape that walks on two legs. When not coping with the curse of human sentience you can find Ryan as a perennial panelist on the Late Night Pomes Radio podcast or moonlighting as the Tavern Wizard, author of Tipples N Taverns, the cheap, portable, and completely hand-made RPG zine that you can buy at tipplesntaverns.com. We listen to Sacheverell originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1964.

In this episode we sit down with Laura Scott. Laura lives south of Portland, Oregon with her Irish husband, all-seeing, all-knowing teenage daughter, and her sock-stealing dog, Pluto. She makes her living as a college composition instructor, helping others to write. https://deepoverstock.com/2020/06/30/felita-and-the-green-bean-laura-scott/ We listen to "A Quiet Room with a View" originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, August 1964