Comments on: Pseudopod 017: Upon The Midnight Clear http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/ The Sound of Horror. Pseudopod is the world\'s first audio horror magazine. We deliver bone-chilling stories from today\'s most talented authors straight to your computer or MP3 player. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:00:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mari Mitchell http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-20169 Mari Mitchell Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:38:07 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-20169 <p>I feel that the story would have worked better without the girl telling us about Red Cap. It gave it all away.</p> <p>The Christmas carol at the was very nice.</p> I feel that the story would have worked better without the girl telling us about Red Cap. It gave it all away.

The Christmas carol at the was very nice.

]]> By: Scott http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-467 Scott Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:12:53 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-467 <p>This worked for me for the most part. The phonebooth bit did bleed out the tension, which isn't good. It should have ramped it up to 11. The head in the bag did make me laugh (in a good sinister sort of way). I especially loved that red cap was basically Satan Claus. Nothing wrong with a holiday theme and Santa can be creepy. He knows when you've been sleeping, he knows when you're awake. Santa Claus, Jolly Old Elf, CIA Spook, or serial killer?</p> This worked for me for the most part. The phonebooth bit did bleed out the tension, which isn’t good. It should have ramped it up to 11. The head in the bag did make me laugh (in a good sinister sort of way). I especially loved that red cap was basically Satan Claus. Nothing wrong with a holiday theme and Santa can be creepy. He knows when you’ve been sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. Santa Claus, Jolly Old Elf, CIA Spook, or serial killer?

]]> By: Pam M. http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-461 Pam M. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:54:47 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-461 <p>I really like this story. It was a wonderful twist on christmas themes.</p> <p>J.R. Blackwell's performance brought me into the story. I loved the HP Lovecraft Historical Society music at the end. It was just right.</p> <p>As soon as the story was done, I listened to it again.</p> <p>I submitted the podcast feed to digg.com</p> I really like this story. It was a wonderful twist on christmas themes.

J.R. Blackwell’s performance brought me into the story. I loved the HP Lovecraft Historical Society music at the end. It was just right.

As soon as the story was done, I listened to it again.

I submitted the podcast feed to digg.com

]]> By: Chris http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-412 Chris Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:23:49 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-412 <p>I didn't really dig it. I don't know - I don't like holiday-themed horror stuff.</p> <p>All I can think of is Fran Drescher getting killed in Santa's Slay.</p> <p>Kudos for trying though, and decent twist at the end.</p> I didn’t really dig it. I don’t know - I don’t like holiday-themed horror stuff.

All I can think of is Fran Drescher getting killed in Santa’s Slay.

Kudos for trying though, and decent twist at the end.

]]> By: Jonathan G. http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-395 Jonathan G. Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:51:03 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-395 <p>Okay...there's my stupid moment for the day. Everyone (especially you, Colin!) please understand that I POSTED THE ABOVE POST. For some reason I read "Name" to read "Subject" that time. Thanks -- Sorry for the goof.</p> Okay…there’s my stupid moment for the day. Everyone (especially you, Colin!) please understand that I POSTED THE ABOVE POST. For some reason I read “Name” to read “Subject” that time. Thanks — Sorry for the goof.

]]> By: Colin F http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-394 Colin F Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:47:37 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-394 <p>Colin, let me clarify. I refer to the constant allusions to Red Cap early on, at which point we're just waiting on him to show up, the cliched phone-booth panic scene, and the like. This felt like "Scream" for the better part of the intro, through the initial attack. That has it's own merit, but I don't care for the style. Personal preference. I dug the description of Red Cap, but I found his arrival in the tale forced. I don't feel obligated to finish a story when I find the first fiteen minutes or so this predictable. I realize I'm in the minority here and most people loved the tale. More power to them--it just wasn't my cup of tea.</p> <p>The back half of the story could have revealed Red Cap to be zombie Hitler -- still doesn't change the fact that if my interest isn't held by half time, I'm not sticking around for the third quarter. Nothing a typical reader won't tell you.</p> Colin, let me clarify. I refer to the constant allusions to Red Cap early on, at which point we’re just waiting on him to show up, the cliched phone-booth panic scene, and the like. This felt like “Scream” for the better part of the intro, through the initial attack. That has it’s own merit, but I don’t care for the style. Personal preference. I dug the description of Red Cap, but I found his arrival in the tale forced. I don’t feel obligated to finish a story when I find the first fiteen minutes or so this predictable. I realize I’m in the minority here and most people loved the tale. More power to them–it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

The back half of the story could have revealed Red Cap to be zombie Hitler — still doesn’t change the fact that if my interest isn’t held by half time, I’m not sticking around for the third quarter. Nothing a typical reader won’t tell you.

]]> By: Pete S http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-393 Pete S Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:17:47 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-393 <p>Loved it. And I thought the narrator was fine. Better than fine, actually, I found her very easy to listen to. Although I never got that she was saying Carlisle. That didn't detract from the story for me though.</p> <p>phignewton, I'm curious if you'd heard of Red Cap before? I had, and maybe that's why I didn't miss the 'proper frame of mind' bit?</p> <p>Loz actually makes a good point about the phone box seeming to be a much safer place than it should've been, but I didn't think of that while listening. On the other hand, that kind of leads weight to the theory that it was all in her head and that she killed her ex.</p> Loved it. And I thought the narrator was fine. Better than fine, actually, I found her very easy to listen to. Although I never got that she was saying Carlisle. That didn’t detract from the story for me though.

phignewton, I’m curious if you’d heard of Red Cap before? I had, and maybe that’s why I didn’t miss the ‘proper frame of mind’ bit?

Loz actually makes a good point about the phone box seeming to be a much safer place than it should’ve been, but I didn’t think of that while listening. On the other hand, that kind of leads weight to the theory that it was all in her head and that she killed her ex.

]]> By: Colin F http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-388 Colin F Tue, 02 Jan 2007 11:24:55 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-388 <p>Just to be pedantic, Jonathan - if you didn't finish the story, how do you know if you really saw what was coming? :-)</p> <p>I certainly didn't see the very end coming.</p> Just to be pedantic, Jonathan - if you didn’t finish the story, how do you know if you really saw what was coming? :-)

I certainly didn’t see the very end coming.

]]> By: Jonathan Gillespie http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-382 Jonathan Gillespie Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:12:00 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-382 <p>Couldn't finish it. Saw everything coming a mile away. Maybe that's just me.</p> Couldn’t finish it. Saw everything coming a mile away. Maybe that’s just me.

]]> By: Loz http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-362 Loz Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:43:29 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-362 <p>I did like everything up to when the lead character makes it to the telephone box. Despite everything I didn't get any sense of her being in danger any more, possibly it was that the author concentrated too much on what the lead was doing in there, the menace outside seemed to have been forgotten. Similarly, I didn't feel the end was left open as to what had happened, it just... stopped.</p> I did like everything up to when the lead character makes it to the telephone box. Despite everything I didn’t get any sense of her being in danger any more, possibly it was that the author concentrated too much on what the lead was doing in there, the menace outside seemed to have been forgotten. Similarly, I didn’t feel the end was left open as to what had happened, it just… stopped.

]]> By: Kyle_Carm http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-340 Kyle_Carm Sun, 24 Dec 2006 20:58:13 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-340 <p>I liked it. Good story and I liked the ending myself. Having her ex's head in her backpack. The narration was also very well done I feel. Added to the story for me. And loved the closing song also.</p> I liked it. Good story and I liked the ending myself. Having her ex’s head in her backpack. The narration was also very well done I feel. Added to the story for me. And loved the closing song also.

]]> By: phignewton http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-339 phignewton Sun, 24 Dec 2006 10:13:55 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-339 <p>nothing wrong with the narration, as a horror story though.... i think it lacked the 'now here comes the scary part' that is required to put things in the proper frame of mind, doesnt seem right for demon santas to just pop up and start doing their thing, teh scary has to be properly invoked or she might as well be running to catch a bus.....</p> nothing wrong with the narration, as a horror story though…. i think it lacked the ‘now here comes the scary part’ that is required to put things in the proper frame of mind, doesnt seem right for demon santas to just pop up and start doing their thing, teh scary has to be properly invoked or she might as well be running to catch a bus…..

]]> By: Luce http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-338 Luce Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:10:33 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-338 <p>Loved this story. Although I have to raise an issue that came up on an Escape Pod comment a few weeks ago about pronounciation of British place-names. As a Brit it does jar a story for me when something just doesn't sound right, in this instance Carlisle is pronounced Car-LYLE rather than CARLS-le</p> <p>Apologies for this little niggle - keep up the good work</p> Loved this story. Although I have to raise an issue that came up on an Escape Pod comment a few weeks ago about pronounciation of British place-names. As a Brit it does jar a story for me when something just doesn’t sound right, in this instance Carlisle is pronounced Car-LYLE rather than CARLS-le

Apologies for this little niggle - keep up the good work

]]> By: Jacob http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-337 Jacob Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:23:15 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-337 <p>I really enjoyed the story, and the narrator did a great job. I didn't notice any lisp. One thing is, I didn't know the story took place in England until the end (probably because I wasn't paying attention in the beginning). British accent for the Goth character would have lent more to the ambiance of the story.</p> <p>I really liked the ending, since it leaves the question, "was she really crazy, killed her ex-fiancee that cheated on her, cut herself in a depression/suicide attempt while in some delusional state?" or "was Red Cap real?" I liked the former possibility since it makes the story much more dangerous and scary for me.</p> <p>Anyway, I 'm glad I discovered your website. Thank you thank you thank you!</p> I really enjoyed the story, and the narrator did a great job. I didn’t notice any lisp. One thing is, I didn’t know the story took place in England until the end (probably because I wasn’t paying attention in the beginning). British accent for the Goth character would have lent more to the ambiance of the story.

I really liked the ending, since it leaves the question, “was she really crazy, killed her ex-fiancee that cheated on her, cut herself in a depression/suicide attempt while in some delusional state?” or “was Red Cap real?” I liked the former possibility since it makes the story much more dangerous and scary for me.

Anyway, I ‘m glad I discovered your website. Thank you thank you thank you!

]]> By: Joseph http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-336 Joseph Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:15:23 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-336 <p>The ending . . . if left the story feeling very unresolved. Not in a horror-like "It's not over!" sort of way, but a "Where did the end of the story go?" kind of way.</p> <p>The song was hilarious. Absolutely loved it.</p> <p>The narration didn't bother me one bit, in contrast to the opinion stated by Matt W.</p> The ending . . . if left the story feeling very unresolved. Not in a horror-like “It’s not over!” sort of way, but a “Where did the end of the story go?” kind of way.

The song was hilarious. Absolutely loved it.

The narration didn’t bother me one bit, in contrast to the opinion stated by Matt W.

]]> By: Matt W http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-335 Matt W Sat, 23 Dec 2006 02:30:42 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/2006/12/22/pseudopod-017-upon-the-midnight-clear/#comment-335 <p>The story this time wasn't bad, just kind of abrupt in the end. There was no real punch to it. That said, biased opinion.</p> <p>I haven't had any problem with any of the previous narrators, and if anything I've liked them all; when I quit noticing the voice telling the story, they're doing it right.</p> <p>In this instance, however, that was not the case. The reader seemed to have a lisp or some such similar issue with 's' sounds. It really took me out of the story, and distracted me a lot from what was going on. I'm sure they're a very talented person and all, but I would thank pseudopod to never, ever let this woman narrate again.</p> The story this time wasn’t bad, just kind of abrupt in the end. There was no real punch to it. That said, biased opinion.

I haven’t had any problem with any of the previous narrators, and if anything I’ve liked them all; when I quit noticing the voice telling the story, they’re doing it right.

In this instance, however, that was not the case. The reader seemed to have a lisp or some such similar issue with ’s’ sounds. It really took me out of the story, and distracted me a lot from what was going on. I’m sure they’re a very talented person and all, but I would thank pseudopod to never, ever let this woman narrate again.

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