Comments Show 19 - Boner of a Lonely Heart

I'm a bit late to the game, but... Evil Kid Month: "Oil of Dog" from Ambrose Bierce's "The Parenticide Club". The narrator is definitely more evil in the other three stories of the collection (e.g. see "My Favorite Murder"), but they've also already reached adulthood in those before they commit their various nasty deeds. With any mention of “Oil of Dog”, I always want to draw attention to Theodore Gottlieb’s over-the-top but amazing interpretation found as the second track on his “With a Tongue of Madness / Tears from a Glass Eye” album, which is available on Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon, etc.. Brother Theodore was friends with Clark Ashton Smith, but you may also know him as Uncle Ruben in “The ‘Burbs” or from his many appearances on David Letterman in the ‘80s (see YouTube). Another Evil Kid story that comes to mind is *something* by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro). Specifically, I would suggest “Gabriel-Ernest” or “Sredni Vashtar”. I see that Sredni Vashtar has already been mentioned repeatedly by others in this forum. Saki’s children aren’t really evil (except perhaps the one in Gabriel-Ernest), but instead tend to be contrarians dealing with–and in fact conditioned by–oppressive adults. Following on that theme, I would also add “The Open Window” and “The Lumber Room” to the list. The mischief is more whimsical in those two stories, but at the same time also more deliberate. Sredni Vashtar is definitely the most Lovecraft-adjacent of these four, but Gabriel-Ernest and The Open Window also both have a supernatural element to them.

YES! Sredni Vashtar is my favourite short story. It is also perfect. PERFECT. If you do not agree I will have to go down the end of the garden to pray that you learn more wisdom and maybe make some red offerings…

Beccameriel

Do these ideas seem interesting? Explore stories in groups. Where one writer influenced another and another, and oh! that's why he calls psychotherapists "Alienists." The influence of this or that scientific discovery or cultural fixation upon a group of stories--like, alchemy, planetary exploration, Pan or Theosophy for some admittedly soft ball for instances. For instance, there have been times where one writer wrote their own take on a storyline and another borrowed the story but changed it completely. I'm blanking on the novellas names. You could also have a round table discussion about what you think is actually going on in this or that story. You don't have to all agree. For instance, I think Cthulhu is in suspended animation within his spaceship (R'lyeh) in order to conserve resources. He crashed here by random accident, can't tolerate some essential aspect of Earth. He has been sending out an SOS (The Police) which is what people hear in their heads. In "Call of Cthulhu he's just pissed because it was a false alarm and he got all excited for nothing, only to find a bunch of Norwegians looking to steal stuff. By opening the door they let out a bunch of the cryo-whatsit-sauce and "What, were you raised in a barn?!? ) aaaand scene.

Random idea for an Evil Kid month but Srendi Vashtar by Saki is a good edition from like, 1911. Not really an evil kid, but definitely some slightly brutal stuff happens in. Very short, worth a look

Totally up for a revisit of HP, but absolutely no mic dropping and skedaddling. This is a golden age of the weird and Chris and Chad's insights and input should never stop. At least not until Wilbur gets that corrected copy of page 751.

I can’t believe I’ve been on this ride with you for ten years! I was re-listening to the oldest Lovecraft episodes, and much like Lovecraft himself, you definitely got better as you went along. The more recent weird fiction episodes are so far ahead of where you started in terms of insight, depth of knowledge, and maturity. Gentlemen, right now you are at the absolute top of your game. You know this. These newest episodes show the apex of your abilities. Your contributions to the appreciation of weird literature over this decade have now entered legitimate “legacy” status. Don’t you think you owe it to the Old Man to return to his stories once more with your now matured vision? Why not come back and re-do each Lovecraft story again, bookend your podcast, and dare I say, drop the mic and walk away?

If y'all covered living authors I would suggest Red Goat Black Goat by Nadia Bulkin for evil KID month lol

M S.

Two suggestions for "Evil Kid Month": 'The Bright Boy' by Arthur Machen, and 'Sredni Vashtar' by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro): https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Clovis/Sredni_Vashtar The first is fairly obscure, the second a classic – and both are Lovecraft-contemporaneous!

One of my first, (and worst), dates was to go see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Excited for you gents to cover it, thought hopefully yours will be free from snide comments the whole way through and insisting this ISN’T how you wanted to spend your evening and especially not with each other.

Robert Curtin

Are the new episodes coming out after Christmas?

Tom Král

Talent by Theodore Sturgeon is a fun story about a nasty little kid with powers. I read it in the anthology Gallery of Horrors edited by Charles L. Grant, though I'm pretty sure it was a reprint.

Pearce Duncan

It's seems obvious that Larry Cohen ran out of money on that, there are clearly entire scenes missing.

Pearce Duncan

Much better than the owner of a broken boner

Pearce Duncan

I met Dahl when I was around 7 or 8 (he was doing a book signing at a posh British school in Singapore where my mum was head librarian). This would have been a year or two before his death. I vaguely recall him being extremely curmudgeonly.

"expressing how that piece of fiction affected or came across to them" Exactly. I just taught some Lovecraft stories to a very diverse group of art students--I was the only straight white American male in the room—and I expected some discomfort, but we dealt with it just fine and had some good conversations about art and artists and so on (or at least I *think* they went well), and I know a few students ended up at least browsing the local Lovecraft bookstore. But then I was surprised by some pushback over Matt Ruff's _Lovecraft Country_, as a couple of the students of color felt 1950s racism wasn’t Ruff’s story to tell. That objection also led to a good conversation, but it was a perspective I hadn’t considered, and so I’m glad it came up. (This is generally a happy, peaceful comment section, but I can imagine someone reading what I wrote above and then grumbling about triggered snowflakes, so I'll stress that this was all in the context of having very respectful and productive conversations about literature, which was the whole point of being in that room together.)

You only need a couple of episodes, really. Just to get the flavour.

It's also important to understand that you can be critical of something and still enjoy it. It's not a binary thing. I like plenty of things and also recognise they are possibly problematic in some way

Tangentially related: a friend theorizes that Danny Elfman keeps a children's chorus chained up and forces them constantly to sing "la la la la la la la la" in 4/4 time; when he needs a film score, he just opens the basement door and drops a mike in. Anyway, that's my first association with the idea of keeping people locked up in basements. Yeah, my first one. I mean, it's not as if I have basement captives of my own! Ha ha ha, the very thought of it.

"They did this with Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman movie." Yes! By chance I just noticed this yesterday on a re-watch and had determined to myself to comment about that while I was still reading your first paragraph, but clearly you're on it. Of course, Pine is going to be in the sequel, so apparently they're putting their cake in the fridge and eating it, too.

Remake idea: The Stuff.

Patreon Exclusive: Chad and Chris watch Baywatch Nights.

Jeff C. Carter

I know a few years back I wrote a short story about patricide, (a little boy with too much imagination attacks his parents), though I know you don’t cover dead authors. Though that last bit could be arranged...👻

Robert Curtin

The only danger with reading deeper into most narratives (I suppose we are talking critical theory here) is the likelihood that someone (depending on the prof.) can read most anything they like into their chosen narrative. I can understand why a student might complain. There is a whole host of ideologically possessed professors out there who are more than happy to deconstruct whatever book they like, if only to reassemble it into a symbolic/cultural artifact illustrating the omnipresence of some victim hierarchy or other. This is not to say that there aren't power imbalances. There certainly are - but, I like to give my stories the benefit of the doubt.

Thank you for the note on power imbalances! I used to teach college English and it really annoyed me when students complained about reading deeper into film, literature, or advertising. Advertising in particular zeros in on these power structures and exploits them for profit. All art is part of the culture that produced it. If women find Bradbury off-putting, that says a lot about Bradbury’s intended audience. If black readers find Lovecraft off-putting, that says a lot about Lovecraft. Finally, it’s not a personal attack on taste if someone dislikes a thing. It’s important to recognize that everything has an intended audience, and there’s an out-group for every in-group. There’s no shame in being part of the in-group, but it’s important to recognize one’s position in order to empathize with those in the out-group.

Kelley Frank

I listened to this episode three days ago and I still have Boner of a Lonely Heart stuck in my head.

Also for evil rugrats, basically most of Roald Dahl? I can't think of any particular tales to prove my point, but I'm certain there are more than a few short stories contradicting the idea that Dahl was this great friend of all children. At the very least Augustus, Veruca, Violet and Mike always remind me why I am so happy to be only an uncle. Spending five minutes with that lot would make me scream for a lifetime babysitting Damien.

The above made no sense as I stopped to look up the title of the book half way through and didn't edit out the bit where I didn't know the name. DERP!

Beccameriel

I've just looked up that book, which I tragically no longer have, and it's also got Gabriel Ernest in it which is the best werewolf story ever. This is a fact and not up for debate. He's kind of still a child.

Beccameriel

Evil kids is a fantastic theme! I propose "Sweets to the Sweet" by Robert Bloch. I've only just found out he was the author. It was in one of my favourite horror story anthologies, Deadly Nightshade, when I was a kid and I didn't pay much attention to the author's names. I think the book was meant for children but possibly wasn't. I wish I could remember the title as it also had some other favourites: Mr Lupescu (does feature a child but not evil) and Lost Hearts (ghost children can only be considered evil if you are the person who murdered them in the first place).

Beccameriel

Hey I just want to say that it was awesome of you guys to point out that usually people pointing out power imbalances in fiction aren't trying to ruin it for everyone else but are instead just expressing how that piece of fiction affected or came across to them. Also, evil children by dead authors suggestions (unfortunately all are novels): The Bad Seed The Midwich Cuckoos (the novel on which Village of the Damned was based) Rosemary's Baby (the novel)

I love Nigel Bennett! It's great that you get to meet him! He was awesome as Lacroix. He was not just a power-crazed villain. He was a father figure, who at some level thought that what he was doing was best for Nick and his other "children". Tough Love, in an obsessive, controlling way, but still love. The Father's Day episode in season two really hammers that home. It created this really complex relationship between him and Nick that really elevated it above simple good guy vs bad guy. It really made that show sing. Obviously I talk about Forever Knight. I was the saying that I would become a vampire cop, since there is a precedent for it. I bought all 3 seasons of the show on dvd earlier in the year and watched them all over again. I remember Nigel Bennett from Shape of Water as well. He was in a Jesse Stone movie as well. And he was in Lexx for a while too, if I remember correctly. He is such an awesome actor! Ok /fangirling

Here it is! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Murderer

Tara Murphy

Holy crap, guys. I'm working on a film and today was Nigel Bennett's first day on set. I come home from a long day in the cold and put on my favourite podcast. Then Chad talks about freaking Forever Knight?!? When is the last time ANYONE talked about Forever Knight? I didn't even know it aired in the US! I'm telling Nigel tomorrow. He will be pleased. He also has a bit of a Lovecraft connection, as he was one of the baddies in The Shape of Water. Also, I love Bradbury. He made me nostalgic for childhood even when I was a little girl. He also wrote a story that predicted the social effects of cell phones. Let me see if I can find the title...

Tara Murphy

Oh, excellent - I really enjoyed the first season, wasn’t aware a second was out! Thanks, Forrest :-)

It’s more scary kid than evil kid but ”Born of Man and Woman” by Richard Mathieson.

Ben Gilbert

I should probably put this on the community page, but I would strongly recommend checking out the BBC 4 podcast The Whisperer in Darkness. This is season 2 to season 1's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward which I really liked and said at the time, I hope they continue it somehow. It was an adaptation/modernization and now they "continue" the story. I listened to the first four eps today and it was truly scary and creepy. The soundscape (is that the right term coving all the effects, music, etc) is just excellent, especially with headphones on. There were more than a few moments of glancing behind me or experiencing an actual jump scare. That's a first for any podcast for me. So, it looks like this is an ongoing thing. As far as I can remember from season 1, this is a world without Lovecraft and his books. Here's hoping it goes for many more seasons culminating in a big epic exploration of suddenly appearing islands housing a pissed off tentacled headed guy. Maybe he'll be most irked about all the plushies looking like him and takes revenge.

As far as evil kid goes, there is always The Omen, the novelization being rushed out a month or so before the movie. Though personally I prefer the Adam the Antichrist in Good Omens. He's more than a bit evil, but dealing with it.

Not really. The kid is very much a victim, and not a perpetrator. Also his family are asshats. It's still a goodun, though.

Mandy Reznor (She_It)

“Silent Snow, Secret Snow” sorrrrta counts as an evil kid story. It is actually from the kid’s perspective. A 1920s or 30s psychological horror tale.

Jason Thompson

I vote for evil kid month but have no examples.

A few more evil children tales - three by Ray Bradbury: The Small Assassin (was mentioned by Jason Thompson on the comments show) - Killer baby time! https://talesofmytery.blogspot.com/2013/01/ray-bradbury-small-assassin.html The Veldt - A couple of kids get hooked on a holographic nursey and Dad turns it off. What could go wrong? Maybe ask the TNG crew about that... https://www.juhsd.net/cms/lib/CA01902464/Centricity/Domain/256/2016_The%20Veldt.pdf Zero Hour - All the kids in the neighborhood are playing ‘alien invasion’ - or are they? https://www.holbrook.k12.ma.us/userfiles/134/my%20files/zero-hour-by-ray-bradbury.pdf?id=2634 And one from Jane Rice and James Rockhill, The Idol of the Flies - The fly-idol worshipping kid in this one is a real piece of work! https://www.unzcloud.net/PDF/PERIODICAL/Unknown-1942jun/90-101//

You can put us in the cellar Chad. But you'll always know our feet will be there and unshod. And when the cops come to investigate you'll give yourself away, screaming about "The bareness of their hideous FEET!"

Having a heart is overrated. You are just fine how you are.

A friend of mine once told me about Baywatch Nights, and I laughed. Then she showed me the opening credits. I shook my head. I could not watch any more.

With reference to Frankenstein, Boris Karloff was born about a mile from my house. There's an English Heritage plaque (https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/william-heny-pratt/) on the wall. It's now a fish restaurant called Sea Master (https://bit.ly/34FmIDM). They could have a least have a notice about for "monster portions".

Steve

I briefly discussed my views on Bradbury with Chris and show contributor Ken Hite yesterday. I think we agreed that I was wrong and probably had no heart. I'm not even going to claim it was because my cauterised on the inside. These views predate that.

Steve

For all manner of human remains, the Hunterian museum in London, attached to the Royal College of Surgeons has the lot. Including the bones of the Irish Giant, 7"7' Charles Byrne. "Byrne was living in London at the same time as the pre-eminent surgeon and anatomist John Hunter. Hunter had a reputation for collecting unusual specimens for his private museum, and Hunter had offered to pay Byrne for his corpse. As Byrne's health deteriorated, and knowing that Hunter wanted his body for dissection (a fate reserved at that time for executed criminals) and probable display, Byrne devised a plan. He made express arrangements with friends that when he died his body would be sealed in a lead coffin and taken to the coastal town of Margate and then to a ship for burial at sea. Byrne's wishes were thwarted and his worst fears realised when Hunter (allegedly) arranged for the cadaver to be snatched on its way to Margate."

Steve

I only watched season 2 of Baywatch nights, which I got through not entirely legal means, because I was told it was mostly dagons, draculas and aliens. It is entirely garbage, like a real life Garth Merenghi. I encourage everyone to watch the opening credits on YouTube.

Suggestion for evil kids: “It’s a Good Life” by Jerome Bixby

Hey guys, just to clarify, I don't mind using tropes, or even cliches or stereotypes in my writing. When you get down to it, everything is some trope or another. As someone said a long time ago, there are no new stories. They have all been written thousands of years ago. But there are new characters, and new ways to make those old stories interesting. Especially by telling them from a different point of view. The Ballad of Black Tom and Lovecraft Country are great examples. What I am concerned about are bad tropes. I don't want write a horror story with only one black character, and of course he dies. Or any genre story with one gay character, and of course he is the only one who dies. Or is the villain. Or rely on Deus Ex Machina to solve the protagonist's problems at the end. The Stuffed in the Fridge (Or Women In Refrigerators) trope in particular is bad because it is so incredibly overused in writing for comics, games, movies, books, pretty much everything. It is astoundingly skewed to it being a female character whose sole purpose is to die for a male character's story. It very rarely happens the other way around. To the point where when it does it is basically lampshading the trope. Maybe lampshading is not the right term. But the Inversion of the Trope really sticks out on the rare occasions it does happen, to the point where it is making a statement. They did this with Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman movie. I was literally stunned when I saw that, because this just does not happen. It was like reality just stopped working. I think I failed my Sanity roll, because I had this insane urge to start laughing. Like the archaeologist at the beginning of the original Mummy movie, who saw the Mummy take the scroll and walk away: "He went for a little walk!" Gail Simone was the trope namer for this. She made a list on this website: http://lby3.com/wir/ It focuses specifically on comics. But you can see the same trope being applied all over every other form of fiction. Vox goes much more in depth on it here: https://www.vox.com/2018/5/24/17384064/deadpool-vanessa-fridging-women-refrigerators-comics-trope Tbh, I see it so often that it gives me the impression that the sole purpose of a woman existing is to die. Like my life has no intrinsic meaning or value. I am just a thing to be destroyed to make someone else's life more interesting. It makes me glad I don't live in a fictional world. Because I would probably be killed by the writer very quickly. I certainly don't *want* to find this. Just like a person of color probably does not want to see every person who looks like them die in every horror movie ever made. Or read the name of the protagonist's cat in Rats In The Walls. It is not very pleasant. You turn a page in the book you are reading and bam! It's like a naked Harvey Weinstein smacking you in the face with his penis. Ugh.

Also, are you gents phasing out coverage of the Comments Show comments, or did you just not get any material you thought was entertaining out of the last two Comments Shows? I rather *like* the Comments on Comments. I wouldn't want it to go away.

Mandy Reznor (She_It)

On the theater seat handy, Chad said: "So you came to the movie theater--" Yes, Chad. They DID cum to the movie theater. *Bah-Dum-Tsss!*

Mandy Reznor (She_It)