About this podcast
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
The newest 20 of 93 episodes
- SS5 03 The Tomb Spawn · 1 h 0 min · Season 5 Episode 3Send us Fan Mail It's a return to Zothique this episode for a spot of tomb raiding! We chat pecuniary depletion, Black Adder, wine, ghouls, tapping the sap and Dr Who. Reader…
- SS5 02 The Death of Malygris · 1 h 8 min · Season 5 Episode 2Send us Fan Mail This episode we dare the wizard's lair in Smith's Poseidonis and chat worms, voyeurs, wind madness, Alice in Wonderland, adaptations, the Death of Stalin, plus…
- SS5 O1 The Dark Age · 1 h 15 min · Season 5 Episode 1Send us Fan Mail Season Five kicks off with Smith's post-apocalyptic tale of science vs. savagery. We talk Richard A. Lupoff, Dr Who, barbarism, the perils of science, 80s TV ads…
- SS Reading 5 The Death of Malygris · 32 min · Season 4Send us Fan Mail As a taster for Season 5, Rob presents a reading of The Death of Malygris. Art by Skinner. Download MP3 Innsmouth Literary Festival Innsmouth Forum Support the…
- SS Reading 4 The Charnel God · 55 min · Season 4Send us Fan Mail A reading from Rob Poyton of our favourite story from Season Four, The Charnel God. Download MP3 Innsmouth Literary Festival Continuum 26 Innsmouth Forum…
- SS4 20 Season Wrap Up · 1 h 19 minSend us Fan Mail Join us for a look back over Season Four! We choose our favourite and least favourite stories, and talk pig farms, art vs commerce, General Tabasco, the Brundage…
- SS4 19 The Flower Women · 1 h 15 min · Season 4 Episode 19Send us Fan Mail Our last story of Season Four sees us back in Xiccarph where Maal Dweb attempts to overcome his ennui by aiding The Flower Women. We talk Raymond Reddington…
- SS4 18 Weaver in the Vault · 1 h 27 min · Season 4 Episode 18Send us Fan Mail Join us in Zothique for a trip into the catacombs to meet the Weaver in the Vault. We talk relics, dromedaries, potholing, earthquakes, spider gods, D&D, and Red…
- SS4 17 Vulthoom · 1 h 23 min · Season 4 Episode 17Send us Fan Mail Join us as we plunge into the Martian underworld with Vulthoom! We talk radio drama, characters, Star Wars and Trek, the Smithian trip, fungal clubs, and…
- SS4 16 The Voyage of King Euvoran · 1 h 25 min · Season 4 Episode 16Send us Fan Mail It's as distinctly avian theme this episode as we take flight on The Voyage of King Euvoran. We talk Boris Dulgoth, Carry On/carrion, a surfeit of lampreys, beef…
- SS4 15 The Dark Eidolon · 1 h 28 min · Season 4 Episode 15Send us Fan Mail Join us for what is widely regarded as Smith's finest tale, The Dark Eidolon. We talk infernal spectacles, noisy neighbours, spectral equines, revenge, film…
- SS4 14 The Charnel God · 1 h 25 min · Season 4 Episode 14Send us Fan Mail Join us for a dark trip into Zothique with Smith's classic The Charnel God. We talk cover art, the parade of nudes, dromedaries, Xuthal and Charlton Heston…
- SS4 13 The Secret of the Cairn · 1 h 14 min · Season 4 Episode 13Send us Fan Mail Join us for a journey to the light beyond in CAS' unearthly The Secret of the Cairn. We talk the High Sierras, the Law of Fives, Algol and Alderbaran, angels and…
- SS4 12 Genius Loci · 1 h 22 min · Season 4 Episode 12Send us Fan Mail Join us in the isolated desolation of Genius Loci. We talk Bowman, The Willows, creepy locations, pareidolia, Swamp Thing and more. Reader: Clay Story Sculptor…
- SS4 11 The Third Episode of Vathek · 1 h 12 min · Season 4 Episode 11Send us Fan Mail Join us for a look at Smith's posthumous collaboration, an unfinished sequel to the classic Gothic novel, Vathek. We talk William Beckford, Shakespeare, the fall…
- SS4 10 The Maze of the Enchanter · 1 h 26 minSend us Fan Mail Join us in the lush undergrowth of Xiccarph as we discuss The Maze of the Enchanter! We talk Argosy magazine, Greek mythology, sorcery and science, Dr Who, Jack…
- SS4 09 The Dweller In The Gulf · 1 h 16 min · Season 4 Episode 9Send us Fan Mail It's subterranean Martian horror this episode, with The Dweller in the Gulf. We talk editors, alpha chaps, hope, interesting villains, plus a delve into the…
- SS4 08 The Dimension of Chance · 1 h 17 min · Season 4 Episode 8Send us Fan Mail We are back in scientifiction territory with Smith's tale of future war, The Dimension of Chance. We talk planes and parachutes, sang froid, Tomfoolery, chaps…
- SS4 07 The Isle of the Torturers · 1 h 16 min · Season 4 Episode 7Send us Fan Mail 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…
- SS4 06 The Ice Demon · 1 h 26 minSend us Fan Mail 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…
