EPISODE 175 Steven King's Dreamcatcher

 

 

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 Join the Two Mikes as they break their own rules reading the worst of Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz and Clive Barker.  They will depose this Horror Royalty and create an Era of Horror Anarchy.  Mwa-ha-ha!

 

It' Cocktail Time! 

SSDD

2 shot of Scotch

1/2 shot Sweet Vermouth

1/2 shot Dry Vermouth

1/4 shot Drambuie

Stir with ice. Double strain in a Nick and Nora glass. No garnish. We don't need no stink'n garnish.

 

 

Episode 174: Guy Endore's The Werewolf of Paris

 

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The Mikes gather once more to talk over a horror book, this time it's one of the earliest classics of werewolf fiction, and are surprised at what parts of werewolf lore it does and does not use. They also had no idea they'd be this shocked by a book this old.

It's cocktail time!

The Hairy Palm

In a shaker with ice, mix:

• 2 oz cognac
• 1 oz Tia Maria
• dash three of orange bitters

strain into glass and garnish with flamed orange peel.

Episode 173: Third Bonus Episode-The Lamb

 

                                                                         click to listen

 

The Two Mikes enter the culinary world with Lucy Rose and her debut novel The Lamb.  Are you going to Scarborough Fair?. Parsley, sage, rosemary and  ... Man! 

 

It Is Cocktail Time!

Stray Thoughts

In a large wine glass with ice:

1 shot of botanical gin.
1 shot of Crème de Violette.
Half full with sparking wine.
Top with Seltzer.
Push in sprig of fresh rosemary (that you’ve spanked.)
  

 

 

 

 

Episode 172: Joe Hill's Ushers

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The Two Mikes reunite for the holidays and bring along a Linda! We talk over Joe Hill's new short story and then spend a stupid amount of energy reimagining it as a Hallmark Christmas movie.

It's Cocktail Time!

The Shotgun

In a rocks glass with ice mix:

• two shots rye
• 1 shot Kahlua (or other coffee liqueur)
• dash orange bitters

stir and garnish with twist of orange.

Chin chin!

 

Episode 171 The Fourth Haunting by F. G. Cottam

 

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Join the Two Mikes and a little  Linda as they investigate the supernatural in F. G. Cottam's The Fourth Haunting. Is that a ghost in your in your pocket or are you just trying to get me to join a super evil, dark magic, sinister sex cult?

 

 It is Cocktail Time!

 GHOST GIN ( and tonic)

2  shots Blue Gin

Tonic

Get a tall glass, ice  ... come on, you know how to make a G & T.

Episode 170: The End (for now) of Necronomipod

 

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And so the Two Mikes finish their sixteen+ year journey to read scary books together and try to come up with intelligent and fun things to say about them. And make cocktails. We had a great time. Thanks to all who listened along! And thanks to all who've engaged with the site and with us. And thanks especially to all the authors. So many great books.

We'll keep the site alive, so no worries there. Feel free to reach out to our email or leave comments on individual episodes. We're still here, and—who knows?—maybe we'll drop a new episode once in a while.

Now what should we do with this one?

It's Cocktail Time, Blast from the Past edition!

 

The Frisky Witch
1 part Vodka
I part Sambuca

Mix Logistics
Pour into shaker of ice, shake, strain and enjoy.

Episode 169: Lisa Tuttle's Familiar Spirit

 

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We two Mikes tackle, for our penultimate episode, Lisa Tuttle's first horror novel. We struggle to recall the details (as we are getting on in years) and eventually things start to get more familiar. 

It's Cocktail Time!

Cocktails with Mr. Lunch

In a shaker with ice, pour

• 1 shot Cointreau
• 1 shot lime juice
• 1 shot gin
• 1 shot Chartreuse

Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime wheel and cherry

Chin chin!

Episode 169: Alma Katsu's Wehrwolf

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The Mikes belt out some wolf whistles and learn about men's accessories. And Nazis.

It's cocktail time!

Three Shots to the Head

Line up three shot glasses. In order, fill them with:

• Jägermeister
• Bärenjäger
• William Wolf pecan whiskey

Shoot them!

Episode 168 The Monk by Matthew Lewis

 

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Let's tonsure our hair, put on the scratchy robes and make the vows with The Two Mikes and Matthew Lewis in The Monk.  Celibacy is not all that is cracked up to be, so throw in a little Lucifer, a smidge of witchcraft and a pinch of lust and you got yourself one hell of a gothic tale. 

 

It's Cocktail Time!

The Bleeding Nun

You are going to layer these liquors.  

Hint: Put the bottle of booze in the fridge before you attempt this.

In a shot glass, pour in a half shot of Kahlua and on the back of a spoon pour in a half shot of Rumchata and then a trickle of Kinky Red.  Shoot it!

Chin Chin.

 

 

Episode 167: Grady Hendryx's Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

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The Mikes' book group reads a book about a book group. This won't end well.

It's cocktail time!

Shelby, Drink Your Juice!

In a champagne flute pour:

• 1/2 shot of Southern Comfort
• orange juice to about halfway fill the glass
• top with club soda

Episode 166 Clare Kohda's Woman, Eating

 No Picture Today

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Two Mikes learn all about Adult Vampring in Clare Kohda's Woman, Eating.   Sometimes you gotta pay your dues and sometimes you  just gotta drain the blood out of your intern supervisor.

It's Cocktail Time!

Hallucinogenic Milk

1 shot Pernod

Juice of 1/2 lemon

A teaspoon of powdered sugar, or sugar substitute

Shake with ice, pour into a glass, ice and all, and top with club soda.

Chin, chin.  

 

 

Episode 165: John Kelley's The Great Mortality

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In which the Mikes realize they're reading the same book at the same time and decide to record their thoughts, with no regard to what they're really supposed to be reading, which is Claire Kohda's Woman, Eating. 

It's Cocktail Time!

The Black Death

2 oz black vodka

3 oz limoncello

1 oz club soda

stir with ice and garnish with a lemon (or a dead rat)

Episode 164 William Hallahan"s The Search for Joseph Tully

 

                                                 
                     

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Pack up you belongings and quickly relocate with the Two Mikes and William Hallahan and his 70s horror novel The Search For Joseph Tully.   Maybe you'll find a new apartment or maybe you'll just loose your head.  That's one way to enforce rent control. 

 

 It's Cocktail Time

The Wrecking Ball

In a shaker of ice pour:

1 ounce Gin

1 ounce Rum

1 ounce Tequila

1 ounce Triple Sec

1 ounce Vodka

Shake for longer than you'd think and pour into a martini glass or serve over ice. Garnish with lemon or orange peel.  Stay home for the evening.

 

Episode 163: Scott Hawkins's The Library at Mount Char

 

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Wherein the Two Mikes look upon creation and find that it is good enough.

It's Cocktail Time!

Black Sunrise

Make coffee ice cubes

When ready, place in shaker.

Add:

    1 shot espresso

    1 shot Kahlua

    1 shot blackstrap rum

Shake and pour entire into tumbler.

Go to work.

Episode 162: Edgar Cantero's Meddling Kids

 

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The Two Mikes hop into the Misery Machine to solve a mystery, along with some damaged kids and a precocious Weimeraner. What they discover is a man in a mask behind a mask behind some tentacles, in a mine, behind a mask.

It's Cocktail Time!

Essential Salts

A day before you make this cocktail, prepare tomato water ice cubes.

• roughly blend four large tomatoes, a hot pepper, a selection of herbs, and a tbsp of balsamic vinegar
• pour into fine sieve lined with cheesecloth and let drip into container. Do not press: you want a clear orange liquid
• make ice cubes out of liquid (save the solids for chili or something)

When ready, rim margarita glasses with a mixture of salts: we recommend Hawaiian salt, smoked salt, and seasoned salt. Just run a lime or lemon wedge around rim, and dredge through salt mixture. Set aside.

In blender pour 1.5 shot of Cuervo Gold tequila and 1.5 shot of sage liqueur per serving you plan to make. Add in four ice cubes per serving. Blend and pour into glasses. Garnish with lime and cilantro or a fried sage leaf.

 

Episode 161 Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires

 

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Are you there God? It is us, The Two Mikes and Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires.  Listen as we journey through a plague ridden world devoid of compassion, and goodness and replete with superstition and horror. Here is where the leaders are most likely the actual spawn of hell.  No, it does not take place in 2022.

It's Cocktail Time!

Arrow in the Tongue

For 15 minutes, gently warm a quarter cup of cream or half and half, with either a Ghost Pepper or a Scotch Bonnett.  Let this cool.

In a rocks glass filled with ice combine:

1  shot of the infused cream

1 shot of Kahlua

1 shot of Cream de Cacao

Stir and garnish with a sliver of the hot pepper skewered by a cocktail sword.

Chin Chin.

Episode 160: T. Chris Martindale's Night Blood

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In a town that is not Salem's Lot, comes a man who is not John Rambo to fight a vampire who is really a vampire. What should we title it? Not First Blood. How about Night Blood! Yeah, that's good.

It's Cocktail Time!

The Hoosier Hot Shot

• Perk some crappy hospital coffee (not the goods stuff).
• Pour into a diner-style mug, leave an inch of space
• Float shot of James Dickel bourbon
• a shot or two of half-and-half
• shot of Kahlua

 

EPISODE 159 : Stephen Gilberts' Ratman's Notebooks

 

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Listen to the Mikes as they nibble that oh so tempting cheese in Stephen Gilbert's Ratmen's Notebooks. It is that time of the year the critters come in from the cold; Why not contemplate some petty revenge?

                                           

It's Cocktail Time.

 RAT POISON

Recipe:

A splash of Vermouth

2 ounces Gin

1 Tbs of Cornichon  Brine      

Place everything in a shaker of ice and shake well, Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a Cornichon.                                  

 

 

 

Episode 158: Nick Cutter's The Troop

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The Mikes pack their gear and head into the woods for some up-close encounters with nature. Worms are nature, right?

It's Cocktail Time!

As the Worm Turns

In a shaker mix

• 2 oz mezcal
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz ginger juice
• 1 oz agave nectar

strain into ice-filled glass and top with sparkling water. Garnish with worm from bottle.

Episode 157 - Simon Raven's Doctors Wear Scarlet

 

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Continue your studies abroad with the Mikes and Simon Raven's Doctors Wear Scarlet.  Will you graduate Summa Cum Laude? You will if you're a nasty young chap who get's his kicks from having his neck gnawed on.   

Cocktail Time!

Tbe Dick Fountain Cocktail

1 ounce anise flavored liquor

1/2  ounce simple syrup

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

one egg white 

Put everything in a shaker of ice, sans egg white. Shake well.  Now add the egg white and shake well. Pour into glass with the ice or strain into a martini glass. Chin chin.