Episode 106: Richard Matheson's Shadow on the Sun

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The Two Mike's mosey out West with Richard Matheson in Shadow of the Sun. They might dig up a long slain demon, but nothing that can't be solved with a few shots of whiskey.

It's Cocktail Time! 

Tequila Sundown

1 shot Tequila

2 ounces OJ

2 ounces Club Soda

Pour into a Tom Collin's glass of ice and top with

1/2 shot Campari

1/2 shot of Chambord

Allow these liquors to trickle down.

Episode 105: Richard Matheson's A Stir of Echoes

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The Mikes enter again the echo chamber of the Forbidden Books Group Studios and stir things up with another Matheson classic. We also get to explore the horror of the suburbs and neighbors.

It's Cocktail Time!

A Stir of Liquors

Go to your liquor cabinet. Randomly select 5 bottles and set them in a row.
Open your eyes and pour a half-shot of each into a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake, and decant.
You take your chances.

Closing music: "Can You Read My Mind" by Maureen McGovern 

Episode 104 Richard Matheson's Hell House

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The Two Mike's pack their bags and spend a night in Richard Matheson's Hell House.  Is it that they are in a drunken, hallucinogenic fugue state or did they really spit up ectoplasm?  You'll find out in this epitome of the haunted house novel. ( So take that Shirley Jackson!)

Cocktail Time! 

The Resonator

Take a Champagne flute and drop in one Raw Sugar Cube that has a few drops of grapefruit bitters.  Pour in one shot of Absinthe and top with very cold dry sparking wine.

Chin Chin!

Episode 103: Steven Rasnic Tem's The Excavation

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The Mikes round out their first deep dig into an artist with a discussion of Steven Rasnic Tem's first novel. One Mike disappoints everyone by not even finishing the 

It's Cocktail Time!

The Jamesontown Flood

Fill a pint glass with cold wheat beer to about an inch from the top.

Drop a shot glass filled with Jameson Whisky in it.

Watch if foam over. 

Drink.

Closing Music: "The Flood" by the Stanley Brothers

Episode 102 Melanie Tem's Prodigal

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The Mikes squander their inheritance, take up residence in a pigpen, and eventually beg to come home. Just like in the late Ms. Tem's fictional family horror novel Prodigal. Sure, the older brother gets jealous and the father kills the fatted calf for the welcome-home feast, but in the end Jeebus was right—wasn't he?

IT'S COCKTAIL TIME!

THE RUNAWAY

• Take 2 cups of watermelon and purée with a sprig of fresh tarragon.
• 
  
• Open a nice, cold grapefruit beer, like Ballast Point's Grapefruit Sculpin of Schofferhofer's Grapefruit Hefeweizen.
• 
  
• Pour beer into a pilsner glass to half full and then fill remainder with watermelon purée. Stir gently and drink.

closing music: "Howl" by The Family Crest (You are commanded to see them when they visit your town)

Episode 101: Steven Rasnic Tem's Deadfall Hotel

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Launching Necronomipod 2.0, the Mikes dig a little deeper into an author or a theme. We start with a reading of some works by married writing duo Melanie Tem and Steven Rasnic Tem. Starting with Steven's recent spooky hotel novel, we confront a bit of grief and try to figure out how to better deal with annoying parts of books.

Cocktail Time

Deadfall Gimlet

In a cocktail shaker mix:

• 2 shots gin (or vodka)
• 1/2 shot simple syrup boiled with cherry pits and stems
• juice of half a lime

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with cherry stems to create a nice little deadfall on the bottom of the glass. 

Closing Music: "Heartbreak Hotel" by Grump

Episode 100, The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

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The Two Mike's celebrate their 100th Episode with Iain Banks in  The Wasp Factory.   Well there is no cake or balloons but there sure is a lot of mayhem and murder along with a bunch of messed up family crap.  Sounds like a party!  

It's Cocktail Time!

The Scotch Stinger

2 shots Blended Scotch Whiskey

1 shot White Creme de Menthe

Pour over crushed ice and garnish with heather.

Episode 99: Gene Wolfe's Peace

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The Mikes at last turn to a book that's been sitting on the pile for almost seven years. Now, in our ninety-ninth episode, we finally read it. Twice. We find a lovely, subtle, and ultimately creepy tale of small-town life, and we suspect the main story exists in what is not written in the book.

It's Libation Time!

No Rest for the Wicked

In a Tom Collins glass filled with ice cubes mix:

2 oz. rye whisky

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 oz. simple syrup

2 oz. strong Earl Grey tea (cold)

Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy, while thinking about what you have done. You know what I'm talking about.

closing music: Ghosts of My Lonely Past" by Johnny Sikes with The Harmony Ranch Hands 

Episode 98 - The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliot

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The Two Mikes quit their jobs, pack their bindles and run away to  circus - Will Elliott's The Pilo Family Circus.  Is it the smell of the greasepaint or the smell of the manure of old dinosaur gods that beckons?  You'll have to read to find out.

IT'S FREAK'N COCKTAIL TIME!

Greasepaint

2 Shots Rumchata

1 Shot Pepper Vodka

1 Egg white (used a pasteurized egg)

1 Squeeze lemon wedge

Put crushed ice in a shaker. Shake vigorously to get the egg white frothy. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a de-stemmed maraschino cherry.