Strange Shadows
Episodes
SS4 Ep15 The Dark Eidolon
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailJoin us for what is widely regarded as Smith's finest tale, The Dark Eidolon. We talk infernal spectacles, noisy neighbours, spec...
SS4 14 The Charnel God
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textJoin us for a dark trip into Zothique with Smith's classic The Charnel God. We talk cover art, the parade of nudes, dromedaries, Xutha...
SS4 013 The Secret of the Cairn
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textJoin 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, Alg...
SS4 12 Genius Loci
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us in the isolated desolation of Genius Loci. We talk Bowman, The Willows, creepy locations, pareidolia, Swamp Thing and more.Reade...
SS4 11 The Third Episode of Vathek
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us for a look at Smith's posthumous collaboration, an unfinished sequel to the classic Gothic novel, Vathek. We talk William...
SS4 10 The Maze of the Enchanter
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us in the lush undergrowth of Xiccarph as we discuss The Maze of the Enchanter! We talk Argosy magazine, Greek mythology, sorcery a...
SS4 09 The Dweller In The Gulf
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIt's subterranean Martian horror this episode, with The Dweller in the Gulf. We talk editors, alpha chaps, hope, interesting villai...
SS4 08 The Dimension of Chance
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are back in scientifiction territory with Smith's tale of future war, The Dimension of Chance. We talk planes and parachutes, sa...
SS4 07 The Isle of the Torturers
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIt's a grim tale this episode with The Isle of the Torturers. We talk Achenar, WH Hodgson, safe words, Melnibone, unseen horrors an...
SS4 06 The Ice Demon
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textFrozen Hyperborea beckons for the creeping doom that is The Ice Demon. We talk D&D, the Pleistocene era, Ithaqua, £50 notes, nemato...
SS4 05 The White Sybil
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIt's a return to Hyperborea with Smith's classic tale of allure and creeping doom. We chat Sybil, the Frost Giant's Daugh...
SS4 04 The Disinterment of Venus
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAveroigne draws us into its arms once more as we visit the naughty monks of Périgon for The Disinterment of Venus. We talk Venus, movin...
SS4 03 The Star-Change
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim and Rob slip dimensions with Smith's tale of altered perception, The Star-Change. We talk Donner, moonfish, cubism, goblins, Mi...
SS4 02 The Beast of Averoigne
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us in the summer of 69 as we plunge back into the haunted forest with The Beast of Averoigne. We talk comets, antique demons, Teril...
SS4 01 The Mandrakes
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEpisode One of Season Four returns us to Averoigne for Smith's tale of revenge from beyond the grave, The Mandrakes. We talk Gahan ...
SS Reading 3 The City in the Sea
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJust prior to Season Four starting, here's a reading of Poe's classic tale of underwater doom and decay, The City in the Sea.D...
SS3 027 CAS Reviews
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim runs through some reviews of Smith's work from the likes of HPL, August Derleth, Lillith Loraine, & Benjamin De Casseres.Do...
SS3 026 Mailbag
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSeason Three concludes with a deep delve into the mailbag. We talk scientifiction, genres, editorial mishaps, Benjamin De Casseres, our ...
SS3 025 Season Three Wrap Up
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textOur Auburn correspondent Nils Hedglin joins us for a look back at Season Three. We talk favourite words and stories, least favourite sto...
SS3 024 The God of the Asteroid
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDavid D. Perlmutter joins us for our final story of Season 3 - The God of the Asteroid. We talk art vs commerce, the perils of space tra...
SS3 023 The Colossus of Ylourgne Part 2
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by our friends from 30+Minutes with HPL podcast to conclude our look at Smith's classic tale of necromantic vengean...
SS3 022 The Colossus of Ylourgne Part 1
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by our friends from 30+Minutes with HPL podcast for a look at Smith's classic tale of necromantic vengeance, the Colo...
SS3 021 The Supernumerary Corpse
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe delve into Smith's tale of jealousy and poison, The Supernumerary Corpse. We talk poisoners, Margrave, choice insults, bumble ...
SS3 020 The Plutonian Drug
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us for a jaunt through space and time with a pinch of Smith's The Plutonian Drug. We talk Farquar, LSD, romantic poets, Pluto,...
Xmas Reading 7 - Selected Poems
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRobert Poyton reads a selection of poems - Nyaghoggua by Robert AW LowndesTo Clark Ashton Smith by HP LovecraftThe Winter Moonlight by ...
Xmas Reading 6 - Christmas with the Lovecraft Circle
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin Tim in the Ye Olde Innsmouth Bookshop for a delve into the correspondence between the circle at Festival Time and any seasonal work...
SS3 019 The Double Shadow
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us in Poseidonis for Smith’s classic story of creeping terror, The Double Shadow. We chat rituals, King Kull, fart machines, The ...
SS3 18 Ubbo-Sathla
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us in the primordial ooze as we discuss Smith's mythos classic, Ubbo-Sathla! We talk conspiracy theories, Poe, Mu and Thule, A...
SS3 017 The Second Interment
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe pay tribute to the late Scott Connors before discussing one of Smith's more gruesome tales, The Second Interment. We chat Poe, p...
SS3 16 The Seed from the Sepulcher
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textOur Auburn correspondent Nils Hedglin joins us to discuss a tale of botanical body horror! We talk sepulchers, the Moody Blues, plant pe...
SS3 015 The Empire of the Necromancers
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us in far-future Zothique as we discuss The Empire of the Necromancers! We talk magic circles, cocaine, Benny Hill, D&D, Franke...
SS3 014 The Immortals of Mercury
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by David D Perlmutter to discuss CAS' Immortals of Mercury. We chat editors, art vs commerce, Smith's vocabulary...
SS Reading 2 Three Poems by CAS
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRob Poyton reads Artemis, The Return of Hyperion, and The Sea-Gods. Download MP3Music by Innsmouth GoldSupport the showContact us at i...
SS3 013 The Invisible City
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us for a trek into the desert as we search for The Invisible City. We chat dodgy publishers, Genghis Khan, Aurora monster kits, S...
SS3012 The Weird of Avoosl Wuthoqquan
14 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe plunge back into Hyperborea with one of Smith's most published stories. We talk the word weird, world building, snakes, Venus fl...
SS3 011 A Vintage From Atlantis
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us on the high seas for a discussion on Smith's pirate yarn, A Vintage From Atlantis. We talk Captain Kidd, the Jolly Roger, p...
SS3 10 The Boiling Point
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim delves into Dawnward Spire, Lonely Hill, to bring us the story of an argument that raged in the letters column of The Fantasy Fan ...
SS3 09 The Nameless Offspring
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSmith goes all Lovecraft with this tale of dark family secrets at Tremoth Hall. We talk the Necronomicon, inference, disappointment room...
SS3 08 The Demon of the Flower
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSmith goes full technicolour in this episode's story, the Demon of the Flower. We talk fan wars, triffids, pigeons, invasive plants...
SS3 07 The Eternal World
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe blast off into the cosmos again with a Smithian epic, The Eternal World. We talk time travel, Yes album covers, alien abduction, eyes...
SS3 Ep 6 The Vaults of Yoh Vombis
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe return to Mars for a top tier Smith story, The Vaults of Yoh Vombis. We chat atmosphere, hats, Star Trek, health & safety, Dr Who...
SS3 05 The Seedling of Mars
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis episode we cover a CAS tale with a unique genesis - The Seedling of Mars. We talk 50s sci fi, space food, san loss, G-force and b...
SS3 04 Beyond the Singing Flame
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis episode we cover a rare direct sequel with Beyond the Singing Flame. We talk the rules of writing, liminal spaces, wormholes, propr...
SS3 03 The Maker of Gargoyles
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe return to Averoigne, to discuss The Maker of Gargoyles. We talk Le Stryge, gargoyles and grotesques, Derleth, endings, genius loci, c...
SS3 02 The Holiness of Azédarac
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textOur study of Volume Three of the Night Shade Press series begins with The Holiness of Azédarac. We talk medieval naughtiness, Deep Purp...
SS3 01 The Emperor of Dreams
13 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSeason Three opens with a look at the 2018 CAS documentary, The Emperor of Dreams. We chat influence, Carnegie, libraries, rude trees,...
Xmas Reading - A Prehistory of Tsathoggua
16 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe read an extract from Dawnward Spire, Lonely Hill, in which Lovecraft relates to Smith something of the prehistory of the mysterious...
SS Season 2 Wrap Up
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim and Rob look back over Season 2 and choose our favourite words and stories. Plus chat about prequels, dinosaur bones, letters ...
SS2 Ep14 The Hunters From Beyond
11 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe reach the final story in Vol 2 of the Night Shade set, and what a great one to round off Season 2! We talk Goya, bookshops, purple, r...
SS2 Ep13 - The Letter From Mohaun Los
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoin us as we plunge into the depths of time and space with more scientifiction from CAS. We talk railroading, Dr Who, petrol pumps,...
SS2 E12 A Captivity in Serpens
14 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis episode we continue the ether-ship Alcyone's five year mission with a look at Smith's longest story, A Capitivity in Se...
S2 E11 The Testament of Athammaus
30 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAthammaus, Athammaus, oh oh... Tim and Rob return to Hyperborea and discover the reason for the fall of Commorium. We talk executions ...
SS Reading 1 Three Poems by CAS
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRob Poyton reads In the Desert, Sinbad It Was Not Well to Brag, and Revenant.Support the showContact us at [email protected]...
SS2 10 City of the Singing Flame & The Good Embalmer
02 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe cover two stories, the classic City of the Singing Flame, and The Good Embalmer. We chat geology, Freud, Star Trek, Dr Who, the Londo...
SS209 The Return of the Sorcerer
05 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by David, Mark and Richard of 30 Minutes+ with HP Lovecraft podcast to discuss a Smithian classic, Return of the Sorcerer....
SS208 An Adventure in Futurity & The Justice of the Elephant
22 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRob and Tim cover a long and short story today -An Adventure in Futurity & The Justice of the Elephant. We talk puns, futuristic...
SS207 The Ghoul & The Kingdom of the Worm
08 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim and Rob again cover two shorts stories, The Ghoul and The Kingdom of the Worm. Chat includes Vathek, ghūls, career choices, Wright ...
SS206 The Kiss of Zoraida & The Face by the River
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe cover two short stories again this time, both with a similar theme - extra marital affairs gone wrong! We talk poisons, cuckolds, nig...
S2 E5 The Gorgon & An Offering to the Moon
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim and Rob cover two short stories this episode, starting with The Gorgon. We talk Greek myth, Olde London, the abnatural, liminal sp...
SS204 Rendezvous in Averoigne
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by author Gavin Chappell to discuss a Smithian classic, Rendezvous in Averoigne. We talk Weird Tales trends, haunted lak...
S2 E3 Told in the Desert, The Willow Landscape
29 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe cover two stories this time, beginning with the tale of a mysterious wanderer, Told in the Desert. That is followed by the story of a...
S2 E2 The Red World of Polaris
15 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis episode sees us deep in interstellar space once more with Captain Volmar and the crew of the Alcyone! We talk manuscripts, Star Tre...
S2 E1 The Door to Saturn
01 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWelcome to Season Two! For our first episode, Jeff Goad of the Appendix N Bookclub podcast joins us as we step through the Door to Sat...
S1 E18 Season One Wrap Up
18 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by Mark Griffin and Richard Wilson of the 30+ Minutes with HP Lovecraft podcast for a look back over our first season.We ...
S1 E17 Voyage to Sfanamoe
04 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe end Season One with another trip to Venus, this time from Poseidonis! Author Gavin Chappell joins us, and we chat lost islands, a...
S1 E16 The Necromantic Tale, The Immeasurable Horror
21 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe find Smith back on form with two cracking stories. Beginning with The Necromantic Tale, we talk gothic tropes, witch trials, MR James...
S1 E15 The Root of Ampoi
07 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe start the New Year with a look at Smith's rarely printed jungle adventure, the Root of Ampoi. We talk pulp magazines, Cockney hi...
Xmas Reading 1 - The Crypts of Memory
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRob Poyton reads Smith's prose poem, The Crypts of Memory.Music by Innsmouth GoldWatch out for links to more Xmas readings over the...
Festival in Innsmouth
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTim and Rob host a chat from Innsmouth in Festival season. We talk shopping in Innsmouth, Tolkien and Lovecraft, ideas and names for w...
S1 E14 Marooned in Andromeda
10 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe blast into outer space this episode and follow Captain Volmar on his five year mission to, er, kill half of his crew. We talk tweed...
S1 E13 The The Planet of the Dead, The Uncharted Isle
26 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe start our two story episode with Smith's ultra-goth tale of doomed love, The Planet of the Dead. We talk HPL on Zoom, Cimmerians...
S1 E12 The Devotee of Evil, The Satyr
29 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTwo more short stories this episode. We start with the Dev of Ev and talk obscure pulps, the 8th Circle of Hell, Faust, impersonal evil,...
S1 E11 The Epiphany of Death
15 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe cover two short stories this episode, starting with The Epiphany of Death. We talk Randolph Carter, Ptolemy, Lovecraft's voice...
S1 E10 - The Metamorphosis of the World
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis episode we cover another of Smith's longer stories, a tale of alien invasion! We talk money troubles, sandstorms, Star Trek ...
S1 E9 - The Monster of the Prophecy
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis episode sees us get into our longest Smith tale yet, and it's an interplanetary romance - of sorts! We talk Ambrose Bierce, ...
S1 E8 - The Tale of Satampra Zeiros
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAuthor Gavin Chappell joins us to discuss one of Smith's best loved works, and his first Hyperborean tale. We talk burning books,...
S1 E7 - The Venus of Azombeii
20 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe move to Africa for the first of Smith's longer stories and chat about Venus, tropical tress, William Seabrook, colonialist attit...
S1 E6 - The Resurrection of the Rattlesnake
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe once again cover two short stories - The Resurrection of the Rattlesnake and 13 Phantasms. We talk gopher snakes, HPL as a characte...
S1 E5 - The Phantoms of the Fire
23 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe cover two stories this episode. The Phantoms of the Fire, which sees a more conventional plot from Smith. Then the wonderful, nightma...
S1 E4 - The End of the Story
09 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe are joined by our first guest, Jeff Goad of the Appendix N Podcast. We cover the first Averoigne story, speculate on Smiths' a...
S1 Ep3 - Sadastor
25 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe cover three short stories this episode - Sadastor, The Ninth Skeleton and The Last Incantation. We talk Roman graffiti, puffy grave w...
S1 Ep 2 - The Abominations of Yondo
11 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe Inquisitors of Ong banish a prisoner to the lifeless wastes of Yondo. But they may not be as lifeless as they first appear... We d...
S1 Ep1 - By Way of Introduction
28 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWelcome to the first episode of Strange Shadows! Your hosts Tim Mendees and Rob Poyton introduce themselves, and tell of their first e...