Pseudopod 206: Flash on the Borderlands IV

[Bdoomed]

Pseudopod 206: Flash on the Borderlands IV

Just when you thought it was finally dead… We’re back! And tragedies always come in threes.


A Natural

By Sylvia Hiven
Read by Cheyenne Wright

Bill glanced into the mirror, certain that the truth was etched into his features. But an oddly calm face stared back at him. Sure, it was thin and wrinkled — and perhaps paler than most — but it was decorated with friendly blue eyes, and there was no sign of distress. No, sir.


Shadows’ Bride

By Marie Brennan
Read by Ben Phillips
Music and atmospherics by Toby Chappell

Their laughter is the silence of empty rooms, the hush of dust lying decades thick. Their smiles leer from metal reflections marred by tarnish and rust. Their jest has entertained them for many a year.


Is This a Horror Story?

By Scott Edelman
Read by Kris Johnson

I wanted those photos out of our house, but no one in authority could be reached that night. I went to sleep expecting nightmares, but none came.

Connecting music in this episode by Harmaline


Listen to this week's Pseudopod.

[Scattercat]

Ah, so nice.  Yay.

Man, I would pay five dollars a month just to have Alasdair read random snippets off the Internet for a while.  He has such a soothing host voice.

Wasn't too thrilled with the stories overall.  Mostly in the "Okay" to "Good" range.  "A Natural" was cute but gimmicky (and predictable.  The only thing I didn't see coming was that it was his wife who he'd had to chop up.)  "Shadows' Bride" was intriguing but kind short and plotless.  "Is This a Horror Story" was heartfelt and a titch gruesome and probably my favorite of the three, though if we're going to talk about skin-crawling flash fiction about pedophiles, "Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7" is one of the most goddamned horrifying things I've ever read or heard.

Is it unfair to compare PP to PP?

[Schreiber]

You're back! Yay!

[kibitzer]

Guys, so good to have you back! Welcome!

Sounds like Al's mic troubles might be fixed?

That last one was genuinely disturbing. Is it true? Don't need to know, I guess. Glad it didn't happen to me.

Awesome to have Cheyenne Wright narrating again. Awesome. What was it you said, Al -- a voice like melted funk?

[insanity Claus]

I bumbled into your pod.  It was so great, I went to sign up.  Guess, what.  I was already signed-up.  I like this place, lots to discover

[yaksox]

Great to hear you guys again.

I too noticed the high fidelity sound during Al's speaking.
And I liked the ambient bits in the middle there - nice.

[kibitzer]

I bumbled into your pod.  It was so great, I went to sign up.  Guess, what.  I was already signed-up.  I like this place, lots to discover

Excellent. Be sure you don't miss out on this: http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=4344.0

[Marguerite]

Oh Pseudopod, it's so very, very good to have you back.  My Friday drives home haven't been the same without you.  And WHAT a comeback!  Alasdair seems to have conquered his microphone demons and I really liked the musical selections during the bumps.

And speaking of Alasdair, happy birthday to our well-loved host!

"A Natural" had Cheyenne Wright reading.  "Voice of liquid funk" indeed.  And congrats to Cheyenne on Girl Genius taking home it's second Hugo this year.  The story itself?  Eh, I could take it or leave it.  Interesting, but unsurprising.

"Shadows' Bride" was an interesting piece.  I'm not familiar with any of the author's other work, but I like the disembodied feeling to the story and it's utter lack of context.  What made it better was the fantastic echo effect on Ben's reading, and the sound production.  Is this a first?  I'm relatively new to Pseudopod (first episode was "Bone Mother", #128) but I can't remember there being another episode with effects like this.

And then there's "Is This A Horror Story?".  WOW.  Just, WOW.  But Scattercat said it best:

"Is This a Horror Story" was heartfelt and a titch gruesome and probably my favorite of the three, though if we're going to talk about skin-crawling flash fiction about pedophiles, "Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7" is one of the most goddamned horrifying things I've ever read or heard.

Couldn't agree with you more.  This one was right in the same ballpark for me as well, although it's almost better for the reader's near-deadpan voice and flat, even delivery.  There's nothing at all to distract you from the meaning of his words - you've got nowhere to hide as you listen.

[kibitzer]

Is this a first?  I'm relatively new to Pseudopod (first episode was "Bone Mother", #128) but I can't remember there being another episode with effects like this.

Off hand I can remember only one, another flash piece called "Scarecrow" (http://pseudopod.org/2008/08/15/flash-scarecrow/).

No wait, there was one other with minor effects, "Furnace Room Lullaby" (http://pseudopod.org/2008/10/24/pseudopod-113-furnace-room-lullaby/).

There's probably others.

[Unblinking]

Happy Birthday Alasdair, and welcome back Pseudopod--that empty place in my heart is filled again.

"A Natural" was good, I didn't see the final twist coming, I figured it was going the obvious direction but I didn't predict the twist that came with the reveal of the girl with the gun.

"Shadows' Bride" was okay, a good mood piece, but it didn't really seem to go anywhere.  It's premise was stated right in the title, and though it seemed to work it's way up to the final reveal, that reveal was right in the title so there wasn't much net movement.

"Is This a Horror Story?" was very creepy and disturbing, though I think the previous PP about the Werewolves/pedophiles hit me a  little harder, this one was well done as well.

[Marguerite]

The more I think about it, the more I think "Shadows' Bride" falls into "poem" category for me, as opposed to "story".  And I'm fine with that; I love horror in all it's guises.

[friendlybohemian]

I'm so happy to have Pseudopod back and having a new Flash on the Borderlands has made my day.
"A Natural" did a wonderful job of building enough tension to leave me in awe of the twist ending.
"Shadows' Bride" could have been good, but, like others have said, it didn't go anywhere. I think the lack of plot is what turned me off from this.
"Is This a Horror Story?" disturbed me, especially after reading a summary of "Serbian Film".

[Ben Phillips]

Is this a first?  I'm relatively new to Pseudopod (first episode was "Bone Mother", #128) but I can't remember there being another episode with effects like this.

Off hand I can remember only one, another flash piece called "Scarecrow" (http://pseudopod.org/2008/08/15/flash-scarecrow/).

No wait, there was one other with minor effects, "Furnace Room Lullaby" (http://pseudopod.org/2008/10/24/pseudopod-113-furnace-room-lullaby/).

There's probably others.

Ah, musical fiction -- my only original conceptual contribution to EA.  It's always an experiment.  My favorite is actually one I had no hand in producing, "Rite of Atonement" by Melinda Selmys, scored and narrated by W. Ralph Walters a.k.a. The Zombie Astronaut.

[Ben Phillips]

And yes, "Shadow's Bride" is extraordinarily short, by far the shortest story I've ever bought.  Definitely part poem.  (But if Ray Bradbury is to be believed, so is a lot of great fiction, and fictionists should train as poets.  Food for thought.)

[kibitzer]

Great to see you back, Ben!

[heyes]

Can I just say, Alasdair whatever you did to your recording setup you sounded downright melodious!  Seriously, your sound quality was great and I know that was an issue for me, and it wnet from sounding terrible to sounding really really good!  Now get back in there and narrate some!

[deflective]

fantastic to have you back!

one hundred percent agree with the praise for Alasdair's new sound.  it was an odd experience, listening to pseudopod without an edge of audio pain, but i look forward to more of it.  did you find the problem or build a new setup from scratch?

the reality oriented trifecta surprised me as a welcome back episode.  i was expecting something flashier.  you can always count on pseudopod to put you off balance by running a surprising variety of stories.

[Unblinking]

Well I thought Alasdair's recordings sounded good before, so they still sound good. 

[DKT]

Said it before but I'll say it again - sooooooooooooooooooo happy to hear PP back again!

And that last story really disturbed me.

[Sylvan]

Fantastic to have PseudoPod back!

Alasdair's voice was so fantastic (well, it always is but -this time- with a new mic) and his intros/outros were ideal.

The stories themselves ranged from "really good" to "ewww..."

"The Natural" was a very good piece that really showed some nice wordplay and misdirection. Granted, I got to the ending only about a paragraph before the story's end but that's not bad. I was able to appreciate the path taken to get there, regardless.

"Shadow's Bride" was my least favorite, I'm afraid.  I just wasn't able to follow it very well.  I couldn't see what the point was or if there was any kind of culmination.

"Is This A Horror Story?" was very well written but -boy- really creeped me out. I could all-too-easily envision that scenario and felt that I just really didn't want to expose myself to it, y'know?

But, in the end, I am SO glad you're back, guys!  Welcome!  Big Cthulhu hugs!

Yours,
Sylvan (Dave)

[Psycho(logy) Grad Student]

It is so fantastic to hear Pseudopod back!  Alasdair's mic is fantastic, and the stories were a good "welcome back" warm-up for some of the longer short stories to come.  Oooo, shivers down my spine, I've missed you guys!

[stePH]

Not bad. "The Natural" was okay. "Shadow's Bride" almost put me to sleep, but then the last one woke me back up again.

It is good to have you back.

[SanguineV]

Good to have Pseudopod back!

The third story was definitely the stand out for me. While I enjoyed the first as a story and the second as poetry/experimental language, the third was really "horrifying". I liked that it was so believable, so every-day and "could happen to anyone". Also that it doesn't try to answer the question, sometimes not knowing can be far worse.

One (re)request - any possibility to the flash pieces being made available individually? I often find myself wanting to share one of them, but not another, or knowing that one would NOT go down well with someone.

[Unblinking]

One (re)request - any possibility to the flash pieces being made available individually? I often find myself wanting to share one of them, but not another, or knowing that one would NOT go down well with someone.

In that past they've been done that way, as quick flash episodes between the features.  I think they've been doing them this way because of time crunch?  I could be wrong.

[Jabari Woods]

Ah, so nice.  Yay.

Man, I would pay five dollars a month just to have Alasdair read random snippets off the Internet for a while.  He has such a soothing host voice.

Wasn't too thrilled with the stories overall.  Mostly in the "Okay" to "Good" range.  "A Natural" was cute but gimmicky (and predictable.  The only thing I didn't see coming was that it was his wife who he'd had to chop up.)  "Shadows' Bride" was intriguing but kind short and plotless.  "Is This a Horror Story" was heartfelt and a titch gruesome and probably my favorite of the three, though if we're going to talk about skin-crawling flash fiction about pedophiles, "Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7" is one of the most goddamned horrifying things I've ever read or heard.

Is it unfair to compare PP to PP?

I wouldn't necessarily say plotless. I would say with the fact that it is flash fiction plot is really hard to come by at all. I think word choice and message is the importance behind flash fiction. Is This A Horror Story is good proof of that.

[Jabari Woods]

I am so glad to have found pseudo and happy to begin following their podcasts. They always produce stunning content with well established writers. Voice, music, and plot are always intriguing to me. Very enjoyable start for this year.

[Unblinking]

Ah, so nice.  Yay.

Man, I would pay five dollars a month just to have Alasdair read random snippets off the Internet for a while.  He has such a soothing host voice.

Wasn't too thrilled with the stories overall.  Mostly in the "Okay" to "Good" range.  "A Natural" was cute but gimmicky (and predictable.  The only thing I didn't see coming was that it was his wife who he'd had to chop up.)  "Shadows' Bride" was intriguing but kind short and plotless.  "Is This a Horror Story" was heartfelt and a titch gruesome and probably my favorite of the three, though if we're going to talk about skin-crawling flash fiction about pedophiles, "Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7" is one of the most goddamned horrifying things I've ever read or heard.

Is it unfair to compare PP to PP?

I wouldn't necessarily say plotless. I would say with the fact that it is flash fiction plot is really hard to come by at all. I think word choice and message is the importance behind flash fiction. Is This A Horror Story is good proof of that.

It is very possible (though difficult) to write flash fiction with a plot.  Lots of entries to the recent flash fiction contest, for instance. 

[ElectricPaladin]

Wow, did I ever miss Pseudopod. I even downloaded the opening theme music (BOOM BOOM bugata boom buga boom boom BOOM BOOM bugata boom buga boom boom...) and got all wistful every time it came on. Welcome back!

I'm also pleased with the reopening pieces. Some nice, subtle, creepy horror. Very good, solid stories. Especially the Brennan - I didn't know that she wrote horror and I was pleasantly surprised. Do you think it was meant to be a riff off Sleeping Beauty, or was that just me?

Anyway, welcome back!

[zoanon]

for me, act natural suffered from TMI.
there was no reason to have "that was before the gun shot" and no reason for the exposition at the end describing exactly what had happened, it was VERY obvious after the girl was in the closet that it was his wife that he had chopped.

is this a horror story, very creepy, very good.

[Marguerite]

Do you think it was meant to be a riff off Sleeping Beauty, or was that just me?

I hadn't thought of it that way before and I can see your point, but ... that doesn't ring true to me.  I read Sleeping Beauty as being more about the curse she's under and the struggle to wake her, whereas this flash story/poem seemed simultaneously focused on the entities of the dark and their goal of a child.  The bride is the vessel they use and practically inconsequential.

[Millenium_King]

Glad to see you guys back!

The Natural: I think I'll give this one just a shrug.  It's a pretty straightforward "killer vs. cop" story with a twist at the end.  Because the twist was due entirely to withheld information, I felt a little cheated - rather than impressed.  Narration was excellent though, the best narration of the three.

Shadow's Bride: This one was not for me.  Even as a prose poem, it felt vague.  I didn't get much of a sense of anything from it.

Is this a Horror Story?  This one was excellent.  Very powerful - landing with all the more force because it was true (probably?).  Great narration too.  This one definately leaves an aftertaste of dread and disquiet.

Again, glad to see PP back in action!

[The Far Stairs]

if we're going to talk about skin-crawling flash fiction about pedophiles, "Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7" is one of the most goddamned horrifying things I've ever read or heard.

Thank you, Scattercat!! That story, and Al's reading of it, stands out as one of the best reading/listening experiences I've had in any genre in my short life. It's like a perfect little uncut jewel of dread. The most foul, raw, insane human perversions hidden in a cute little fuzzy costume. Hearing it makes you feel like you yourself are losing your mind. Plus, it raises a very, very, intensely relevant moral question. It's like a philosophical treatise which uses the horror genre to address the issue in a completely new and affecting way; it slips the issue past your safeguards and makes you feel like you're thinking about it for the first time. Like Emily Dickinson said, "Tell all the truth, but tell it slant." Oh, "Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7!" Will I ever find another like you?

As for these stories, I liked "The Natural" okay. I mostly appreciated it for its tricky construction. "Shadow's Bride" was great. I'm a big fan of the context-less dreamy fable which allows you to invent your own story to go around it. I think Ben's comparison to Bradbury was right on. "Is This a Horror Story?" was very well done. My favorite thing about it was the way it lifted the idea of horror out of the realm of the "horror story" and pointed out that horror is something that actually happens to people. The image of the writer unable to think of any conceit that would match the horror of what he'd seen in real life was priceless.

The only thing that confused me was the last line: "If this is a horror story, is it one or two?" The meaning of that eluded me. Can anyone help?

[Millenium_King]

The only thing that confused me was the last line: "If this is a horror story, is it one or two?" The meaning of that eluded me. Can anyone help?

Here's how I took it:

The narrator finds himself asking: is what happened to me a horror story?  But worse, is what is represented by the pictures also a story with a horrific ending? ie. was the little girl molested? He will never know for sure.

[Scattercat]

The only thing that confused me was the last line: "If this is a horror story, is it one or two?" The meaning of that eluded me. Can anyone help?

Here's how I took it:

The narrator finds himself asking: is what happened to me a horror story?  But worse, is what is represented by the pictures also a story with a horrific ending? ie. was the little girl molested? He will never know for sure.

That was about how I read it; I think the policeman's offhand remark about "knowing" the name on the envelopes was meant to imply that he'd already seen the guy come through the system for similar crimes, which in turn implies that something horrific did happen that wasn't documented in those pictures.

[Sgarre1]

Yes, that's my take on the ending - is this just my horror story, or was it also a horror story for someone else?  That last line stayed in my mind since the mid-90s when I read the story and was the motivator for me to contact Scott Edelman about purchasing the story.

[Ben Phillips]

Alasdair's voice was so fantastic (well, it always is but -this time- with a new mic) and his intros/outros were ideal.

Actually the same mike, but different miking.  Long story.

[stePH]

Alasdair's voice was so fantastic (well, it always is but -this time- with a new mic) and his intros/outros were ideal.

Actually the same mike, but different miking.  Long story.

Whatever. I'm glad for the improvement, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[Marguerite]

That story, and Al's reading of it, stands out as one of the best reading/listening experiences I've had in any genre in my short life. It's like a perfect little uncut jewel of dread. The most foul, raw, insane human perversions hidden in a cute little fuzzy costume. Hearing it makes you feel like you yourself are losing your mind. Plus, it raises a very, very, intensely relevant moral question. It's like a philosophical treatise which uses the horror genre to address the issue in a completely new and affecting way; it slips the issue past your safeguards and makes you feel like you're thinking about it for the first time.

*Points*  That, yes that.  Exactly that.  Perfectly said.

[kaliara]

I really liked "A Natural" though it wasn't quite as good on the second listen.  However, the last story was thoroughly disturbing, and not really in a good way.

[rotheche]

Whatever the new mic dealio is, it's paying off.  Alisdair's always had great things to say and great delivery, and now the audio quality matches that of the contents

'Is This a Horror Story'...man, that gave me chills.  Like others, it took me back to the Exit Exam story.  Jeez.

[Fenrix]

Nice collection of stories here.

Is this a first?  I'm relatively new to Pseudopod (first episode was "Bone Mother", #128) but I can't remember there being another episode with effects like this.

Off hand I can remember only one, another flash piece called "Scarecrow" (http://pseudopod.org/2008/08/15/flash-scarecrow/).

No wait, there was one other with minor effects, "Furnace Room Lullaby" (http://pseudopod.org/2008/10/24/pseudopod-113-furnace-room-lullaby/).

There's probably others.

Ah, musical fiction -- my only original conceptual contribution to EA.  It's always an experiment.  My favorite is actually one I had no hand in producing, "Rite of Atonement" by Melinda Selmys, scored and narrated by W. Ralph Walters a.k.a. The Zombie Astronaut.

My favorite is the Hellraiser-ish Secret Boxes.

Also Connecting Door has nice audio production in it without veering into radio theater.

One (re)request - any possibility to the flash pieces being made available individually? I often find myself wanting to share one of them, but not another, or knowing that one would NOT go down well with someone.

Yeah, I'd like to relisten to the middle one a bunch to try to get all the tidbits and nuggets it has to offer. And I would like to recommend along a different Borderland minus the poop demon baby story.

Regardless, thanks for what you do. I need to send off my annual Halloween check.

[The Far Stairs]

I loved "Secret Boxes"! Genuinely terrifying.