Strange Shadows
Hosted by Tim Mendees and Rob Poyton of the Innsmouth Book Club, Strange Shadows is a fortnightly podcast devoted to the weird fiction of Clark Ashton Smith. One of the Trinity of Weird Tales authors, Smith, alongside Lovecraft and Howard, redefined cosmic horror and fantasy fiction.
With his distinct baroque style, Smith's work remains rich, powerful and evocative. Using the five volume Night Shade Press collection of Smith's work as our guide, we will be covering each of his stories in chronological order, as well as screen adaptations and aspects of the author's life.
Occasional guests will be joining us to share their knowledge and opinions about this most poetic of the Weird Tales writers. Episodes are free, with bonus content and other rewards available for patrons - click Subscribe or visit our Patreon page for details. See you in Zothique!
Episodes
97 episodes
SS4 07 The Isle of the Torturers
It's a grim tale this episode with The Isle of the Torturers. We talk Achenar, WH Hodgson, safe words, Melnibone, unseen horrors and goth skin care. Reader: Simon Frazier Nash.Favourite words: pythonomoprh, lapidaries, halcyon,...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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1:16:34
SS4 06 The Ice Demon
Frozen Hyperborea beckons for the creeping doom that is The Ice Demon. We talk D&D, the Pleistocene era, Ithaqua, £50 notes, nematodes, potholes and inclement weather.Reader: Scott Dorwar...
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1:26:06
SS4 05 The White Sybil
It's a return to Hyperborea with Smith's classic tale of allure and creeping doom. We chat Sybil, the Frost Giant's Daughter, tropigoths, the children of Woolpit, elevated horror and technicolour prose. Oh, and Rob tells the moth joke....
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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1:07:38
SS Bonus 12 The Three Phases of Smith
We discuss two CAS poems - For An Antique Lyre and The Muse of Hyperborea - and take a look at the three phases of his creative career. Plus we get to peek inside the libraries of both Smith and Lovecraft!
Subscriber Episode
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1:02:45
SS4 04 The Disinterment of Venus
Averoigne draws us into its arms once more as we visit the naughty monks of Périgon for The Disinterment of Venus. We talk Venus, moving statues, Carry On, posterns, Mary Whitehouse, playing the incubus and rumpy monks.Reader: ...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:17:30
SS4 03 The Star-Change
Tim and Rob slip dimensions with Smith's tale of altered perception, The Star-Change. We talk Donner, moonfish, cubism, goblins, Mi-go and creative restrictions. Plus news and the mailbag.Reader: Simon Frazier NashFavourite wor...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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1:36:12
SS4 02 The Beast of Averoigne
Join us in the summer of 69 as we plunge back into the haunted forest with The Beast of Averoigne. We talk comets, antique demons, Terileptils, goth hair product and The Averoigne Legacy. Plus Tim sings, we check the mailbag a...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:29:47
SS4 01 The Mandrakes
Episode One of Season Four returns us to Averoigne for Smith's tale of revenge from beyond the grave, The Mandrakes. We talk Gahan Wilson, Mandragora, Carry on Abroad, the ghost of Cromwell and the quite remarkable GP Olsen.Reader:...
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1:10:21
SS Reading 3 The City in the Sea
Just prior to Season Four starting, here's a reading of Poe's classic tale of underwater doom and decay, The City in the Sea.
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Season 3
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4:43
SS3 027 CAS Reviews
Tim runs through some reviews of Smith's work from the likes of HPL, August Derleth, Lillith Loraine, & Benjamin De Casseres.Download M...
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22:56
SS3 026 Mailbag
Season Three concludes with a deep delve into the mailbag. We talk scientifiction, genres, editorial mishaps, Benjamin De Casseres, our favourite Old One, and how to spell Chthuhlhuh.A Cyclopean thanks to all our readers, patrons, and liste...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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58:55
SS3 025 Season Three Wrap Up
Our Auburn correspondent Nils Hedglin joins us for a look back at Season Three. We talk favourite words and stories, least favourite story, Strange Shadows Bingo, Auburn, CAS going to church, and Goat Rock. Plus an exclusive end of season...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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1:04:10
SS3 024 The God of the Asteroid
David D. Perlmutter joins us for our final story of Season 3 - The God of the Asteroid. We talk art vs commerce, the perils of space travel, SETI, U-boats, writing advice ...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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1:35:27
SS Bonus 11 CAS and WHP
We read and discuss poems from both Clark Ashton Smith and a writer very influenced by him - WH Pugmire. Twilight of the Gods, Amithaine, The Departed City, The Remorse of the Dead, The Outre Violinist, Destruction, Muse.<...
Subscriber Episode
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1:01:19
SS3 023 The Colossus of Ylourgne Part 2
We are joined by our friends from 30+Minutes with HPL podcast to conclude our look at Smith's classic tale of necromantic vengeance, the Colossus of Ylourgne. We chat Ikea, wicker...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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1:09:03
SS3 022 The Colossus of Ylourgne Part 1
We are joined by our friends from 30+Minutes with HPL podcast for a look at Smith's classic tale of necromantic vengeance, the Colossus of Ylourgne. In Part 1 we chat medieval news, ghoulish ...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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52:23
SS3 021 The Supernumerary Corpse
We delve into Smith's tale of jealousy and poison, The Supernumerary Corpse. We talk poisoners, Margrave, choice insults, bumble bees and Theatre of Blood. Plus listener correspondence.Reader: James ConradFavouri...
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1:07:38
SS3 020 The Plutonian Drug
Join us for a jaunt through space and time with a pinch of Smith's The Plutonian Drug. We talk Farquar, LSD, romantic poets, Pluto, Banshee Chapter, and time travel - and meet Shamanic Basil!Reader: Shelley de ...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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1:25:28
Bonus Episode 10 - The Dark Chateau
We look at one of Smith's poetry anthologies and read and discuss six poems. Song of the Necromancer, Warning, Harlot of the World, The Dark Chateau, Exorcism and Zothique.
Subscriber Episode
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1:11:25
Xmas Reading 7 - Selected Poems
Robert Poyton reads a selection of poems - Nyaghoggua by Robert AW LowndesTo Clark Ashton Smith by HP LovecraftThe Winter Moonlight by Clark Ashton SmithThe Eldritch One by Pauline Brooke...
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9:15
Xmas Reading 6 - Christmas with the Lovecraft Circle
Join Tim in the Ye Olde Innsmouth Bookshop for a delve into the correspondence between the circle at Festival Time and any seasonal works they may have put out. Includes a reading of Christmas poems by H.P. Lovecraft, August Derleth, R.H. Barlo...
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26:38
SS3 019 The Double Shadow
Join us in Poseidonis for Smith’s classic story of creeping terror, The Double Shadow. We chat rituals, King Kull, fart machines, The Double Shadow podcast, fear and loathing, and Rob unleashes his best mummy impression. Plus listener ...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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1:15:44
SS3 18 Ubbo-Sathla
Join us in the primordial ooze as we discuss Smith's mythos classic, Ubbo-Sathla! We talk conspiracy theories, Poe, Mu and Thule, Azathoth and Rob's trip to Averoigne.Reader: Matthew Wood, Edwyrdian...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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1:24:14
SS3 017 The Second Interment
We pay tribute to the late Scott Connors before discussing one of Smith's more gruesome tales, The Second Interment. We chat Poe, premature burial, the SPPBBA, Magbane, yew trees, pallbearers and Tim gives us his best Skeksis impressio...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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1:08:44
