Achtromagk shuddered, lost in nightmare images: crimson lightning dotting a wasteland, twilight despair and feeble railings, isolation in a mewling throng. It thrashed and twisted but could not escape, could not stop the unwanted vistas in its mind.
It was silent. And soft. And dark…
Next up in Lovecraft month, a heart-warming tale of an extra-dimensional Lovecraftian horror (an ‘oh so huggable’ one) by Drabblecast favorite Eugie Foster.
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No point repeating all that'd been said here, 'cause I can't compliment as eloquently as others here. But I bet you I can top where/how the story was listened to.
I was at our local state park doing Geocaching. Lo an behold, but it starts to rain. Being more than 1/2 mile from the nearest shelter, I look at the nearby forest. Hm, no thunder. Dare I take shelter there? Well, I dared. The rain was the thoroughly soaking variety. I had some gadgets with me in a pack, including my iPad. Not wanting it (or me) to get soaked, I dig deeper and deeper into the woods, eventually scrunching up at the base of a big bush under a evergreen under a large deciduous. As long as I didn't move more than a few inches, I stayed pretty dry.
So, to pass the time, I pull out the iPad which happened to be loaded with this story. Ah! Magnifique! The rain took almost an hour to let up, but the whole time I was kept warm thinking of teddy bears.
Bravo, people!
I was at our local state park doing Geocaching. Lo an behold, but it starts to rain. Being more than 1/2 mile from the nearest shelter, I look at the nearby forest. Hm, no thunder. Dare I take shelter there? Well, I dared. The rain was the thoroughly soaking variety. I had some gadgets with me in a pack, including my iPad. Not wanting it (or me) to get soaked, I dig deeper and deeper into the woods, eventually scrunching up at the base of a big bush under a evergreen under a large deciduous. As long as I didn't move more than a few inches, I stayed pretty dry.
So, to pass the time, I pull out the iPad which happened to be loaded with this story. Ah! Magnifique! The rain took almost an hour to let up, but the whole time I was kept warm thinking of teddy bears.
Bravo, people!
Posted: August 26, 2011, 1:05 am
Very nice! This is now my favorite Lovecraftian story. (It might possibly explain my ex, too. 
)
)alhilton wrote:
"Yes, it's important that Bear feels loved. You have no idea how important."
Posted: August 29, 2011, 12:06 am
My little Goddaughter, who is about five years old, has a plush Cthulhu. I bought it for her a few years back, and she was too young to have much of a reaction to it at the time. But now...she LOVES it. I just visited home over my vacation got to witness first hand, how she squeezes the sleeping Old One tight and says, "Cthulhu!" in a little voice. BEST. PURCHASE. EVER.
The best part was seeing her show another little girl Cthulhu, demonstrating how it not only has arms and legs, but tentacles and wings, and the realization on the other girl's face that maybe...maybe her stuffed animal was now found wanting.
I love this story. I love how it's written, to a nigh maniacally envious degree. I can't promise I would not try and eat the brains of the author if I were to run across her...but I can say it would be purely out of love and desire for her powers.
You really captured that stomach tightening dread of being a child in that sort of situation, knowing something is wrong, but not fully understanding it (easily as frightening as the cosmic horrors). An outer god in a teddy bear! Excellent production, and I really dig this week's story artwork too.
The best part was seeing her show another little girl Cthulhu, demonstrating how it not only has arms and legs, but tentacles and wings, and the realization on the other girl's face that maybe...maybe her stuffed animal was now found wanting.
I love this story. I love how it's written, to a nigh maniacally envious degree. I can't promise I would not try and eat the brains of the author if I were to run across her...but I can say it would be purely out of love and desire for her powers.
You really captured that stomach tightening dread of being a child in that sort of situation, knowing something is wrong, but not fully understanding it (easily as frightening as the cosmic horrors). An outer god in a teddy bear! Excellent production, and I really dig this week's story artwork too.
Posted: August 31, 2011, 3:38 am
nevermore_66 wrote:
My little Goddaughter, who is about five years old, has a plush Cthulhu.
I just visited home over my vacation got to witness first hand, how she squeezes the sleeping Old One tight and says, "Cthulhu!" in a little voice. BEST. PURCHASE. EVER.
The best part was seeing her show another little girl Cthulhu, demonstrating how it not only has arms and legs, but tentacles and wings, and the realization on the other girl's face that maybe...maybe her stuffed animal was now found wanting.
L.O.V.E. it!!! there's a fun mythos story in that somewhere also.
Posted: August 31, 2011, 7:22 am
I'm not particularity delicate but this story actually made me quite upset. In fact I cried. It was a good story, but it was way too close to home and the non-mythos details were way, way too familiar (cowering in bed pretending to be asleep, heart hammering, hugging your comfort animal). I guess I'm not over events that happened 30 years ago after all.
While I am usually not into warnings, one here would have steeled me a bit at least, and not given away any bits of the tale.
While I am usually not into warnings, one here would have steeled me a bit at least, and not given away any bits of the tale.
Posted: August 31, 2011, 6:14 pm
normsherman wrote:
L.O.V.E. it!!! there's a fun mythos story in that somewhere also.
I think you are right, sir. A story...or maybe poem cycle...
Posted: September 4, 2011, 4:14 am
A great main story (love me some Eugie Foster), a snappy 100 word story, and a snickeringly good tabble.
Sandra M. Odell
Sandra M. Odell
Posted: September 5, 2011, 2:16 am
Algernon Sydney is Dead wrote:
Very nice! This is now my favorite Lovecraftian story. (It might possibly explain my ex, too.alhilton wrote:"Yes, it's important that Bear feels loved. You have no idea how important."
^ all of this
This instantly became my favorite story here (well, tied with Mongoose, maybe). Love love loved it. The rest of the podcast and the reading tied it all up. The drabble killed me, also a new favorite. Thank you for this.
Posted: September 7, 2011, 2:47 pm
moonowl wrote:
In fact I cried.
/hug
Posted: September 7, 2011, 2:49 pm
It's nice to have one's heart warmed every now and again.
Posted: September 13, 2011, 7:39 am
StalinSays wrote:
It's nice to have one's heart warmed every now and again.
Tis indeed. Cold heart is just too tough.
Posted: September 13, 2011, 11:31 am
Awesome story!! I love it. Excellent reversal, the reading was excellent as well.
I'm extra biased. I have a daughter named Ellie, and she calls me Momma. I want to point her to it, but she's 10. I think if I read it to her it won't be quite as disturbing, then again maybe not. Do printed copies exist somewhere? I did a cursory search of the internets to no avail.
No matter what I'm totally checking out "Returning my sister's face".
Great Drabblecast! I love you guys.
I'm extra biased. I have a daughter named Ellie, and she calls me Momma. I want to point her to it, but she's 10. I think if I read it to her it won't be quite as disturbing, then again maybe not. Do printed copies exist somewhere? I did a cursory search of the internets to no avail.
No matter what I'm totally checking out "Returning my sister's face".
Great Drabblecast! I love you guys.
Posted: October 28, 2011, 9:50 pm
Welcome to the forums, Ms. Marney!
Put your feet up, stay awhile.
Put your feet up, stay awhile.
Posted: October 29, 2011, 4:04 pm
I had a friend direct me to Drabblecast in August. He had told me the reading of the Haunter of the dark was the best audio reading he had ever heard. Being a big fan of ol Lovecraft I decided to give it a try. I didn't check my feed, and I got the Wish of the Demon Achtromgk instead.
This show single handedly made me a fan of the Drabblecast.
I loved this show on a level that is hard to describe. The story captured the raw madness of the events in a striking and powerful way. The performance of the story was masterful. the background music and the inonatations were spot on, and evoked a more meaningful and dramatic experience.
I have to give the author a ton of credit. The language in this story is perfect. The human characters speak in normal patterns, while the demons think and speak in a more Lovecraftian prose. It's a slight touch and extremely well done.
I cannot put my finger on what exactly moves me about this piece. There is no one defining moment, or sequence that stands out. The story is a journey. It has to be experienced to be appreciated.
The thing that gets me the most is in the end Achtromagk and Ellie need to trust each other, even though they cannot relate to each other.
This story, and the performance of it are a work of art.
This show single handedly made me a fan of the Drabblecast.
I loved this show on a level that is hard to describe. The story captured the raw madness of the events in a striking and powerful way. The performance of the story was masterful. the background music and the inonatations were spot on, and evoked a more meaningful and dramatic experience.
I have to give the author a ton of credit. The language in this story is perfect. The human characters speak in normal patterns, while the demons think and speak in a more Lovecraftian prose. It's a slight touch and extremely well done.
I cannot put my finger on what exactly moves me about this piece. There is no one defining moment, or sequence that stands out. The story is a journey. It has to be experienced to be appreciated.
The thing that gets me the most is in the end Achtromagk and Ellie need to trust each other, even though they cannot relate to each other.
This story, and the performance of it are a work of art.
Posted: November 2, 2011, 2:50 am
