Strange Shadows
Strange Shadows
Innsmouth Gold
Hosted by Tim Mendees and Rob Poyton of the Innsmouth Book Club, Strange Shadows is a fortnightly podcast devoted to the weird fiction of Clark Ashton Smith. One of the Trinity of Weird Tales authors, Smith, alongside Lovecraft and Howard, redefined cosmic horror and fantasy fiction.  With his distinct baroque style, Smith's work remains rich, powerful and evocative. Using the five volume Night Shade Press collection of Smith's work as our guide, we will be covering each of his stories in chronological order, as well as screen adaptations and aspects of the author's life.    Occasional guests will be joining us to share their knowledge and opinions about this most poetic of the Weird Tales writers. Episodes are free, with bonus content and other rewards available for patrons - click Subscribe or visit our Patreon page for details. See you in Zothique! 
SS4 07  The Isle of the Torturers
Send us a text It's a grim tale this episode with The Isle of the Torturers. We talk Achenar, WH Hodgson, safe words, Melnibone, unseen horrors and goth skin care. Reader: Simon Frazier Nash. Favourite words: pythonomoprh, lapidaries, halcyon, promulgate, cresset, adicopere, engineries. Download MP3 The Smith Circle Convention Innsmouth Forum Support the show Contact us at [email protected] Night Shade Books Patreon Innsmouth Literary Festival Innsmouth Book...
Oct 12, 2025
1 hr 16 min
SS4 06 The Ice Demon
Send us a text Frozen Hyperborea beckons for the creeping doom that is The Ice Demon. We talk D&D, the Pleistocene era, Ithaqua, £50 notes, nematodes, potholes and inclement weather. Reader: Scott Dorward Favourite words: glabrous, commiseratively, parhelia, buskins, cleavage, bouleversement Download MP3 Innsmouth Literary Festival The Smith Circle Convention Support the show Contact us at [email protected] Night Shade Books...
Sep 21, 2025
1 hr 26 min
SS4 05 The White Sybil
Send us a text It's a return to Hyperborea with Smith's classic tale of allure and creeping doom. We chat Sybil, the Frost Giant's Daughter, tropigoths, the children of Woolpit, elevated horror and technicolour prose. Oh, and Rob tells the moth joke... Reader: Helena Nash Favourite words: austral, southroun, ells, gracile, preterhuman, eider, machicolate, mellifluous, vacillant. Download MP3 Innsmouth Literary Festival The Smith Circle Convention Monster in m...
Aug 31, 2025
1 hr 7 min
SS4 04 The Disinterment of Venus
Send us a text Averoigne draws us into its arms once more as we visit the naughty monks of Périgon for The Disinterment of Venus. We talk Venus, moving statues, Carry On, posterns, Mary Whitehouse, playing the incubus and rumpy monks. Reader: Robbie Dorman Favourite words: peccadilloes, chariness, Circean, maculations, satyriasis, indecorous Download MP3 Auburn CAS Conference IBC Key of Dreams episode Monster In my Bed, Legend ILF25...
Aug 3, 2025
1 hr 17 min
SS4 03 The Star-Change
Send us a text Tim and Rob slip dimensions with Smith's tale of altered perception, The Star-Change. We talk Donner, moonfish, cubism, goblins, Mi-go and creative restrictions. Plus news and the mailbag. Reader: Simon Frazier Nash Favourite words: vocable, Sisyphean, lugubrious, littoral, Lethe, uncongenial exigency Download MP3 Auburn CAS Conference Shadow of Chaos Tim Mendees ILF25 Video ILF Booking Clay Story Sculptor Support the show Contact u...
Jul 20, 2025
1 hr 36 min
SS4 02  The Beast of Averoigne
Send us a text Join us in the summer of 69 as we plunge back into the haunted forest with The Beast of Averoigne. We talk comets, antique demons, Terileptils, goth hair product and The Averoigne Legacy. Plus Tim sings, we check the mailbag and report news of a CAS event in Auburn! Reader: Shelley de Cruz Favourite words: rutilant, pernoctations, consanguinity, Malebolge, corposant, Satanry, Phlegethonian lustre Auburn CAS Conference The Cromcast The Ave...
Jul 6, 2025
1 hr 29 min
SS4 01  The Mandrakes
Send us a text Episode One of Season Four returns us to Averoigne for Smith's tale of revenge from beyond the grave, The Mandrakes. We talk Gahan Wilson, Mandragora, Carry on Abroad, the ghost of Cromwell and the quite remarkable GP Olsen. Reader: Ally Wilkes Favourite words: connubial infelicities, privily, termagant, recreant, quotidian, amatory. Download MP3 Innsmouth Excursion, London Squares Self Publishing Guide Support the show Contact us at innsmo...
Jun 22, 2025
1 hr 10 min
SS Reading 3  The City in the Sea
Send us a text Just prior to Season Four starting, here's a reading of Poe's classic tale of underwater doom and decay, The City in the Sea. Download MP3 Support the show Contact us at [email protected] Night Shade Books Patreon Innsmouth Literary Festival Innsmouth Book Club Facebook Youtube BlueSky Tim Mendees Innsmouth Gold Dragon's Teeth Gaming Channel Graveheart Designs Monster in my Bed podcast
Jun 8, 2025
4 min
SS3 027 CAS Reviews
Send us a text Tim runs through some reviews of Smith's work from the likes of HPL, August Derleth, Lillith Loraine, & Benjamin De Casseres. Download MP3 Support the show Contact us at [email protected] Night Shade Books Patreon Innsmouth Literary Festival Innsmouth Book Club Facebook Youtube BlueSky Tim Mendees Innsmouth Gold Dragon's Teeth Gaming Channel Graveheart Designs Monster in my Bed podcast
May 25, 2025
22 min
SS3 026 Mailbag
Send us a text Season Three concludes with a deep delve into the mailbag. We talk scientifiction, genres, editorial mishaps, Benjamin De Casseres, our favourite Old One, and how to spell Chthuhlhuh. A Cyclopean thanks to all our readers, patrons, and listeners for supporting us - Season Four will commence after we return from a short break in Averoigne. Download MP3 Emperor of Shadows essay Hippocampus Press Star Spawn Painting IB...
May 11, 2025
58 min
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