Episode 40: Kim Paffenroth's Dying to Live: An Novel of Life among the Undead

click to listen

For our fortieth(!) episode, the Mike's revisit the subgenre that launched this podcast: the zombie novel. This time we select, almost at random, one of Permuted Press's many undead offerings. Unconvinced by the novel's highmindedness, we try to say something nice, but perhaps end up saying nothing at all.


It's Cocktail Time.

High-falutin' Pruno

big tablespoon of mixed berries (frozen is okay)
shot of simple syrup
fresh mint
2 shots rye
orange bitters

Muddle berries, syrup, and mint in bottom of rocks glass. Pour in rye. Fill glass with ice. Top with a dash of bitters. For added authenticity, make a large batch in a toilet.

closing music: "Expialadocius" mashup found on the the interwebs

Episode 39: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist

click to listen

Hitting a touchstone of modern horror, the Two Mikes wrestle with the demons of childhood trauma, belief, and audio production, to bring you an uncharacteristically focused discussion of William Peter Blatty's bestseller.

It's Cocktail Time!

Pea Soup

1 scoop vanilla ice cream, softened, per drink
1 shot electric green crème de menthe per scoop of ice cream
1 shot Kahlua per scoop of ice cream
a few chocolate chips and mint leaves

Place all ingredients in blender with the lid off. Blend on HIGH until walls, ceiling, and yourself are generously coated.


Closing music: "Little Demon" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Episode 38: John Farris's All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By

click to listen

The Mikes tackle an atypical horror novel from the heyday of shiny-title horror novels and are pleasantly surprised by this complex tale of family secrets, colonial angst, and America's original sin. And snakes—squirmy, nasty snakes.

It's Cocktail time!

American Snakebite
1/2 pint of hard cider
1/2 pint of lager
1 shot of Southern Comfort

drink it with a straw!


End music: "Black Snake Blues" by Peter Cleighton

Episode 37: The Man on the Ceiling by Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem

Click To Listen

What do you see on the ceiling when you wake up in the middle of the night? Is it an angel? Is it death? Is it Uncle Albert having a tea party with Julie Andrews?

Join the Mikes while they read Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem's The Man on the Ceiling. Mike S. commits all kinds of logical fallacies and Mike M. does not get the conceit of "let's talk about it as if it is horror." But they both agree this genre-busting book is one of devastating beauty. Seriously, go out and read it.

You bet - it is COCKTAIL TIME!

The Man on the Floor Cocktail

2 shots Bacardi 150 proof rum

and Coke over ice. Drop in a lime wedge.

Drink and hug the floor.

End music: Boston -- More Than a Feeling.

-------------------------------

-------------------------------

Post Script from Mike M: I was curious so I wrote to the authors and asked them about the forms they use when setting out to write and here is the reply from Melanie Tem:

Thanks so much Mike! We're pleased that your book group read The Man on the Ceiling and delighted that is touched you.

Your question is a good one. I don't think either of us very often sets out to write a horror story or science fiction, or Western, or crime/detective, or mainstream or literary or magical realism, all of which we also write. We really try to write whatever genre and using whatever techniques will tell the story best.

We both also write poetry ( Steve more than me) and plays ( me more than Steve), and I do some oral storytelling--again, I don't set out to "write a play" or "come up with something to tell orally," and I don't think Steve sets out to "write a poem"; the form is chosen to best tell the story. And we often find ourselves crossing genres ( I guess that's a genre itself now - slipstream), because the story requires it. That happened with The Man on the Ceiling. We're not even entirely sure what form it is-- hence the "a novel(maybe)" our publisher put on the cover.