Come walk the road (or unsettling staircase leading down into the earth) less traveled this week on the Drabblecast, as we present author Rory Say’s story “The Bridge.” Enjoy!
Episode Art by Bo Kaier
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The Quantum Doctor is in! …on this week’s Drabblecast. We bring you “Fatal Conditions,” by Chris Campbell. Read by Onicia D Mueller.
Want to find more of this episode’s author Chris Campbell’s work? Find them on Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/chriscampbell.bsky.social or on their website: https://www.clundycampbell.com
Like many good stories, Chris Campbell’s (he/him) starts with a wrong turn, but after a few dark years working for a major multinational he was lucky enough to emerge with his soul mostly intact and a chance to do a little good as an activist and political consultant.
While best known for his work in campaign finance reform Chris is most proud of the work he has done getting BIPOC leaders elected to office. Chris credits the world of politics- full of strong personalities thrown together in the chaos of unending battle- for inspiring his appreciation of the powerful intersections between society and storytelling.
Chris writes Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Historical fiction.
The voice in this episode comes from the award-winning Caribbean comedian, Onicia Muller who regrets leaving sunny St. Maarten for windy Chicago. Her weekly humor column, Just Being Funny is chicken soup for the naive skeptic’s soul. She gave up crime reporting to write silly thoughts for American Greetings, The Daily Herald, Hello Giggles, TODAY.com, HuffPost, and others. Past comedy showcases: the kates, Mother Cluckers Comedy, the Lincoln Lodge, the Annoyance Theater, and Louder Than a Mom. Join her newsletter for funny stories and stand-up comedy at oniciamuller.com
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Silosibyn Sandalhemp (Cryptkeeper Norm) returns to host the Drabblecast Hallowellness Special, and the Drabblecast presents a production of Thomas Ha’s creepy short story, “Window Boy.”
This story originally appeared in Clarkesworld.
Did you know Norm is working on an album? More details here.
Thomas Ha is a Nebula, Ignyte, Locus, and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated writer of speculative short fiction. You can find his work in Clarkesworld, Lightspeed Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and Weird Horror Magazine, among other publications. His work has also appeared in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy and The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror. His debut short story collection, Uncertain Sons and Other Stories, is available for preorder and will be released by Undertow Publications in September 2025. Thomas grew up in Honolulu and, after a decade plus of living in the northeast, now resides in Los Angeles with his family. Find Thomas (he/him) here. Bluesky: @thomasha.bsky.social https://www.thomashawrites.com
The Creative Mercenary Originator of Electronic Imagery known as Umbra Ludus is a self-taught artist focusing on dark, dramatic, bold and colourful designs by exploiting 3D mediums in a traditional semi-impressionistic staging or just a pixel jockey who hides that can’t paint under layers of digital masturbation. Bluesky – @umbra-ludus.bsky.social X – @joel_bisaillon https://www.instagram.com/umbraludus
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Would you like to look on the inside of the Drabblecast to see if we look like what the outside does? Come look for fresh insides at our Patreon. We have ad-free episodes and bonus content to sate your curious mind.
Narrator: Norm Sherman
Norm Sherman’s latest CD, “The Instruction Book”
Author: J. M. J. Brewer
J. M. J. Brewer (he/him) is a staunch supporter of nature conservation. You can find more of his fiction at jmjbrewer.com.
Episode Artist: Bo Kaier
https://www.instagram.com/bokaier/
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We can, as well. Create. Respect. His. Might.
This story originally appeared in Clarkesworld.
Go here to learn more and vote for your favorite stories of 2023 and 2024:
Norm Sherman’s latest CD, “The Instruction Book”
Thomas Ha is a Nebula, Ignyte, Locus, and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated writer of speculative short fiction. You can find his work in Clarkesworld, Lightspeed Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and Weird Horror Magazine, among other publications. His work has also appeared in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy and The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror. His debut short story collection, Uncertain Sons and Other Stories, is available for preorder and will be released by Undertow Publications in September 2025. Thomas grew up in Honolulu and, after a decade plus of living in the northeast, now resides in Los Angeles with his family. Find Thomas (he/him) here. Bluesky: @thomasha.bsky.social
Samir Sirk Morató is a scientist, artist, and flesh heap. Some of their published and forthcoming writing can be found in ergot., Cosmic Horror Monthly, NIGHTMARE, and khōréō; their visual art can be found in Flash Fiction Online, body fluids magazine, and The Skull & Laurel. They are on Bluesky and Instagram @spicycloaca.
Kristin Holland (he/him) is Host, Creator, Producer and Humble Narrator at Nocturnal Transmissions Podcast. Kristin is a Tasmanian born, now ‘mainland’ residing, Australian. With a background in education and visual art, he decided to embrace a ‘Renaissance man’ approach to his working life and has subsequently worked as a professional musician, stage and screen actor and voice over artist. He has appeared on the small screen in Neighbours, Rush, The Pacific, Nightmares & Dreamscapes and City Homicide and on the large screen in Australian feature film ‘The Sunset Six’. Find him here.
Would you like some mounds of meat? Come look at our Patreon. We have ad-free episodes and bonus content to sate your curious mind.
We have a discord as well if you want to smear some brown and black with your own weird fingers and sizzle some of that meat on out fire.
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Listen to the Diggerman, the crooked music in his steps, the muddled drumbeat in his cusses. He can’t walk straight or talk straight. All those years of digging left him bent.
A story of change and renewel and supernatural bears on this week’s Drabblecast! We bring you “The Bleeding Tree,”by Joe Koch. Also, Norm announcies The Strangies awards! Go here to learn more and vote for your favorite stories of 2023 and 2024:
Norm Sherman’s latest CD, “The Instruction Book”
Joe Koch writes literary horror and surrealist trash. Their books include The Wingspan of Severed Hands, Convulsive, Invaginies, and The Couvade, a 2019 Shirley Jackson Award finalist. His short work appears in Nightmare Magazine, Vastarien, Southwest Review, PseudoPod, The Mad Butterfly’s Ball, and many others. Find Joe (he/they) at horrorsong.blog. Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/horrorsong.blog Twitter: @horrorsong
Łukasz Godlewski is a comic book creator from Gdańsk – Poland. He is an author of Painter, his first big graphic novel which is a tribute to Lovecraft and other classic weird fiction authors. Currently he is about to publish his new horror comic book – Black Heart. Story combines modern horror and the ancient history of India. Facebook: @godlewskiart Instagram: @godlewski_art
Would you like to look on the inside of the Drabblecast to see if we look like what the outside does? Come look for fresh insides at our Patreon. We have ad-free episodes and bonus content to sate your curious mind.
We have a discord as well so you could compare notes with our aspiring Small Emmas looking to hone their dissection skills.
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At last! Another touching dog story on the Drabblecast! This week we bring you an original by H. Robert Barland. Enjoy!
H. Robert Barland is a teacher, Viking re-enactor and black belt martial artist. A former climber, film extra, and resident of the UK, he has now returned to Newcastle, Australia where he lives with his wife and two boys. His work has been published in Etherea and Nightmare Fuel magazines and also in the Wicked Flashes of Fantasy and Written into the Wind anthologies. He considers himself well adapted for life on land and can be followed on X ( @hrobertbarland) and Instagram (@h.robertbarland).”
Episode Art: Ben Mueller
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In a little pastel house, a seer and a psychopomp have questions. This week on Drabblecast– something’s fishy in a curious small town. We bring you a paranormal murder-mystery by
Cormack Baldwin & EV Smith. Enjoy!
Cormack Baldwin (he/him) and EV Smith (he/she/they) are a daring duo of authors and editors. Together, they run Archive of the Odd, a found fiction press. Apart, they have done such jobs as “working in an abandoned lighthouse grinding up fish to feed to other fish” and “succumbing to madness among impossible maps” (no, really!). They went to the coast recently. It was nice. You should see it.
Episode Art: Shane Bevin
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John Brown wears brown John Brown pants, on this week’s Drabblecast! We present an original story by Kay Vaindal called “Nowhere.” Enjoy!
Kay Vaindal (she/her) is a coastal ecologist and weird fiction writer. Her work has appeared in Seize the Press, Dark Matter, and anthologies including This World Belongs to Us and Death’s Other Kingdom: Horror Tales of WWI.
Art by Bo Kaier
John Brown is hanging out in the Drabblecast’s patreon and in the Drabblecast Discord.
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A lesson on loneliness on this week’s Drabblecast– an original story by Arasibo Campeche called “The Sol Searching Fool.”
Arasibo Campeche (he/him)”Arasibo is originally from Puerto Rico and has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics. He writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror that’s often inspired by scientific principles. His work has appeared in numerous venues. His short story collection, Strained Sigma Bonds, will be published by Water Dragon Publishing.
Łukasz Godlewski (he/him) is a comic book creator from Gdańsk – Poland. He is an author of Painter, his first big graphic novel which is a tribute to Lovecraft and other classic weird fiction authors. Currently he is about to publish his new horror comic book – Black Heart. Story combines modern horror and the ancient history of India. Facebook – @godlewskiart Instagram – @godlewski_art.
Karlo Yeager Rodríguez is originally from the enchanting island of Puerto Rico, but moved to the Baltimore area some years ago where he now lives with his wife and one odd dog. His fiction has appeared in Nature, Uncanny, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Speculative Fiction for Dreamers, Seize the Press, Pseudopod, khōréō, and Strange Horizons. In addition to writing, Karlo has narrated stories in Strange Horizons, Podcastle, Pseudopod, and Escape Pod. He’s also an occasional guest on Rite Gud, and the main host of Podside Picnic. @Karlo.bsky.social Twitter: @kjy1066
Lonely? There’s even more episodes, art, and behind the scenes at the Drabblecast’s patreon. Still need more? Come over to the Drabblecast Discord.
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This week on the Drabblecast- a melancholy story about loss, abandonment, and the perils of old magic.
Avra Margariti is a queer author, Greek sea monster, and Rhysling-nominated poet with a fondness for the dark and the darling. Avra’s work haunts publications such as Strange Horizons, The Deadlands, F&SF, Podcastle, Asimov’s, Vastarien, and Reckoning. You can find Avra on twitter (@avramargariti).
Drabble: “The Hills,” by Jonathan Lee Wilson. Jonathan is an aspiring narrator and crafter of short stories. Some of Jonathan’s voice work can be found on the Dunesteef, Anklecast, and Dribblecast. You can find more of his stories @taletellersuniverse on Youtube.
Art by Cindy Fan
Give the gift of Weirdness this holiday season with a Drabblecast Patreon Subscription! Click here: www.patreon.com/drabblecast/gift
Come hang out at the Drabblecast Discord.
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Stop asking so many damn questions. Come and listen to the newest weird story from Pop-Pop. He’s got something important to tell you.
Zachary Olson(he/him) is a freelance writer and composer from Phoenix, Arizona currently residing in Chicago. Updates on his work can be found on Twitter @obfuscatingGod and here.
Steve Lillie Find them here: Twitter @SteveArtyPerson and Instagram instagram.com/lillie.steve
Come wander the Sherman Cabin at the Drabblecast’s patreon. Want to stand guard with other weirdos? Come over to the Drabblecast Discord.
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Lights!
Wheels!
Wipers!
Curtain!
This week, a marvel of machines and carbureted choreography awaits you.
Kay Vaindal (she/her) is a coastal ecologist and weird fiction writer. Her work has appeared in Seize the Press, Dark Matter, and anthologies including This World Belongs to Us and Death’s Other Kingdom: Horror Tales of WWI. Find them here.
John Sowder (he/him) is an illustrator from Kentucky whose work can be seen in the comic book series HALLOWEEN MAN, as well as the recent anthology collection CRIMINOLLY PRESENTS GARBOLOGY. John’s pen and ink artwork has been selected to be part of a contest associated with THE MAGIC OF HORROR FILM FESTIVAL that will be held in Wakefield, Virginia on October 5th. Follow him here: Instagram
Are you eager to see the tentacles and pulleys back stage? Sate your curiosity at the Drabblecast’s patreon. Looking for some strange dancers to duet you? Pirouette over to the Drabblecast Discord.
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You have a ring on your door bell, and laid on your stoop is a brown papered parcel, tied with damp twine. You bring the package inside, noticing that the sky is tinged a weird green. You smell burning hair.
You pull the ends of the twine, which is warm and wet and reminds you of manhandling spaghetti. Inside are dozens of magazines, “The Sherman Evening Post”, and as you move the issues, the covers invoke a strange feeling. The air around you is green now, and the last thing you see are the covers of these stories.
Our authors are: Samir Sirk Morató, Christi Nogle, and Megan Kiekel Anderson.
Our narrators: XioVox, Norm Sherman, and Nathaniel Matthews Lee
Our artist: Bo Kaier
Samir Sirk Morató (they/them) is a scientist, artist, and flesh heap. They are a 2022 Brave New Weird shortlister and a F(r)iction Fall 2022 Flash Fiction finalist. Some of their published and forthcoming work can be found in Rejection Letters, Seize the Press, and Neon Hemlock. They are on Twitter and Instagram @spicycloaca.
Christi Nogle (she/her) is the author of the Shirley Jackson Award nominated and Bram Stoker Award® winning First Novel Beulah (Cemetery Gates Media) and the collection The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future (Flame Tree Press). She is co-editor with Willow Dawn Becker of the Bram Stoker Award® nominated anthology Mother: Tales of Love and Terror (Weird Little Worlds) and co-editor with Ai Jiang of Wilted Pages: An Anthology of Dark Academia (Shortwave Publishing). Follow her at https://christinogle.com and on Twitter @christinogle
Megan Kiekel Anderson (she/they) is a nerdy queer neurodivergent dark fiction writer. Her work can be found or is upcoming in such places as Flame Tree Press, The Arcanist, Nightmare, and Monstrous Books. They live in Kansas City with her chaotic family including too many cats, chickens, and foster kittens. You can find them on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @megan_nerdnest or at her website at www.megankiekelanderson.com.
XioVox (he/him) is a voice from the depths, haunting your day, and bringing you into a world unknown. Follow him here.
Nathaniel Matthews Lee (he/him) puts words in various orders. Sometimes people give him money afterward. No one knows why.
Reach your full biological potential at the Drabblecast’s patreon. Share traffic updates with us on Discord!
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Your curiosity and your inner voyeur are calling. Will you be able to meet their gaze?
This week on the Drabblecast we bring you “China Doll,”by Kelsea Yu.
Our artists is Matt Driver. Sydney based artist. Instagram @mdriverart
Read by the Word Whore.
Kelsea Yu (she/her) is a Taiwanese Chinese American writer and mother living in the Pacific Northwest. Her debut novella, Bound Feet, was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award, and her debut novel, It’s Only a Game, is out now!. Over a dozen of her short stories and essays are published in (or forthcoming from) magazines such as Clarkesworld, Apex, Nightmare, Fantasy, and PseudoPod, and in various anthologies. Find her on Instagram and Twitter as @anovelescape and at kelseayu.com.
If you like what we do here, please consider joining in the weird on the Drabblecast’s patreon. You can also come hang out with us on Discord.
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This week on the Drabblecast, become something new! We bring you two stories about transformation by author Christine Nogle. Narrated by The Word Whore.
Reach your full biological potential at the Drabblecast’s patreon.
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One, two, three, what’s that staring back at me? Four, five, six, I know what this viscera predicts…
This week on the Drabblecast, we are going on a journey. Pack your bags, and bring extra socks for the clown.
“Learn to Count with the Doomed Expedition” is a reprint story by T.B. Jeremiah.
T. B. Jeremiah lives near the ocean with an AI researcher, some small children, and some medium-sized trees; she writes sad stories and draws silly pictures of monsters. Previously she has been a janitor, history instructor, nonprofit marketing drone, and freelance illustrator and designer. Her short fiction has been published in Mysterion, Amazing Stories, and Bourbon Penn. Find her here.
Our drabble, “Totally Normal Treasure” is by Chris Clemens. Chris Clemens lives in Toronto, surrounded by raccoons. His stories have appeared in Invisible City Lit, Apex Magazine, and elsewhere.
Secure your spot on the next expedition at the Drabblecast’s patreon.
The sounds from the deep are coalescing, writhing through to your screen. Norm Sherman’s THIRD studio album: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drabblecast/the-instruction-book
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This week on the Drabblecast, we have arrived in the seedy side of space. The sign on the front says, “Boffel’s”, and the sensation on your back you don’t recognize.
“Slime on My Hackles” is an original story by Jessica Jewell. Jessica Jewell (she/her) is a science fiction writer. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband and two daughters.
Our artist is Jen Czaja.
The sounds from the deep are coalescing, writhing through to your screen. Norm Sherman’s THIRD studio album: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drabblecast/the-instruction-book
Podcast: Download
This week on the Drabblecast, we bring you a dark ancient tale from a distant lost land called “The Black Waters of Lethe,” by Oliver Buckram.
Also, exciting news! Norm is launching a new Kickstarter for his 3rd album, “The Instruction Book.”
And how!
Follow the upcoming campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drabblecast/the-instruction-book
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