Comments on: Pseudopod 145: Infestation http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/ 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. Thu, 17 May 2012 04:59:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mark http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-208491 Mark Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:09:31 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-208491 <p>Very creepy....I was truly scared....and grossed out.</p> <p>Keep up the good work!</p> Very creepy….I was truly scared….and grossed out.

Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Yo Vinny http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-207406 Yo Vinny Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:51:27 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-207406 <p>Nice job Matt. Good visuals. It could be turned into a graphic novel or video/film short. Look forward to reading more.</p> Nice job Matt. Good visuals. It could be turned into a graphic novel or video/film short. Look forward to reading more.

]]> By: Barcomb http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-206149 Barcomb Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:07:28 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-206149 <p>Well done Matt. Vivid and enjoyable. Easy to visualize the story and the humor adds flavor. Keep on dreaming...</p> Well done Matt. Vivid and enjoyable. Easy to visualize the story and the humor adds flavor. Keep on dreaming…

]]> By: Anthony Desiderioscioli http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-206139 Anthony Desiderioscioli Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:43:27 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-206139 <p>Wow!!! Excellent writing and a great story line, it keeps you interested throughout. I had to go back and listen again a few times; I thought the narrator was too fast in some passages. Keep up your writing I love hear more stories.</p> Wow!!! Excellent writing and a great story line, it keeps you interested throughout. I had to go back and listen again a few times; I thought the narrator was too fast in some passages. Keep up your writing I love hear more stories.

]]> By: Nick http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-205325 Nick Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:43:38 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-205325 <p>Great story, easy to follow and very descriptive. Really enjoyed the humor as well. Thumbs up.</p> Great story, easy to follow and very descriptive. Really enjoyed the humor as well. Thumbs up.

]]> By: Pseudopod.com « Into the Maelstrom http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-204186 Pseudopod.com « Into the Maelstrom Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:47:02 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-204186 <p>[...] nothing terribly new or innovative about Infestation, but what it does is, literally for the protaganists, get under your skin and burrow away.  The [...]</p> [...] nothing terribly new or innovative about Infestation, but what it does is, literally for the protaganists, get under your skin and burrow away.  The [...]

]]> By: ZooLander http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-203569 ZooLander Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:14:01 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-203569 <p>Zethys? I believe your review of The Stand would go something like, "Flu killed everyone. Some good people lived. Some bad people lived. They fight. Good kind of wins. The end."</p> Zethys? I believe your review of The Stand would go something like, “Flu killed everyone. Some good people lived. Some bad people lived. They fight. Good kind of wins. The end.”

]]> By: Zethys http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-202504 Zethys Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:33:42 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-202504 <p>"I like to masturbate. So I did. Later, my wife comes home with a strange plant filled with ravenous alien bugs, and they kill her, my unborn child, and force me to kill myself just to stop them. The end."</p> “I like to masturbate. So I did. Later, my wife comes home with a strange plant filled with ravenous alien bugs, and they kill her, my unborn child, and force me to kill myself just to stop them. The end.”

]]> By: Nathaniel Lee http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-202497 Nathaniel Lee Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:26:48 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-202497 <p>In all honesty, this is probably one of the stories I've liked least so far in Pseudopod. (I'm working my way back; I'm down to the sixties now.) It was just gross-out horror for the sake of gross-out. Don't get me wrong; the language was evocative and cringe-inducing and the reading was spot-on, but "bugs under the skin" is one of the old reliable tropes and this story didn't really do anything interesting with it. Heck, it doesn't even give it a decent foundation.</p> <p>There's no reason for the bugs. They're just... there. From a plant the girl scouts were selling. So presumably there are now dozens of homes being filled with these plant-bug monsters that breed faster than bacteria. I guess that would be scary if the bugs weren't so ludicrous. The whole thing is wildly implausible, but doesn't have the resonance of a strong thematic/symbolic structure to give us a reason why these impossible creatures exist. I'm okay with hallucinatory, surreal action, but I'm less okay with it when it doesn't serve any purpose other than increasing the shock value. I was reminded of "Sealab 2021" and the discussion of putting human brains into robot bodies rapidly devolved into requests for an Adrienne-Barbeau-bot with chainsaw hands. The story became so unrealistic - after such a lovingly-detailed 'slice of life' at the beginning, too - that it stopped being scary and just started seeming kind of goofy to me.</p> In all honesty, this is probably one of the stories I’ve liked least so far in Pseudopod. (I’m working my way back; I’m down to the sixties now.) It was just gross-out horror for the sake of gross-out. Don’t get me wrong; the language was evocative and cringe-inducing and the reading was spot-on, but “bugs under the skin” is one of the old reliable tropes and this story didn’t really do anything interesting with it. Heck, it doesn’t even give it a decent foundation.

There’s no reason for the bugs. They’re just… there. From a plant the girl scouts were selling. So presumably there are now dozens of homes being filled with these plant-bug monsters that breed faster than bacteria. I guess that would be scary if the bugs weren’t so ludicrous. The whole thing is wildly implausible, but doesn’t have the resonance of a strong thematic/symbolic structure to give us a reason why these impossible creatures exist. I’m okay with hallucinatory, surreal action, but I’m less okay with it when it doesn’t serve any purpose other than increasing the shock value. I was reminded of “Sealab 2021″ and the discussion of putting human brains into robot bodies rapidly devolved into requests for an Adrienne-Barbeau-bot with chainsaw hands. The story became so unrealistic - after such a lovingly-detailed ’slice of life’ at the beginning, too - that it stopped being scary and just started seeming kind of goofy to me.

]]> By: Odds and Ends « The Badgerine http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-202446 Odds and Ends « The Badgerine Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:25:10 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-202446 <p>[...] On a lighter note INFESTATION, on Pseudopod.org, is still going strong with 45 comments.  If you haven’t, please check it out and leave a comment.  I would love to hit the big 5-0.  Go here to check it out:   Pseudopod 145: Infestation [...]</p> [...] On a lighter note INFESTATION, on Pseudopod.org, is still going strong with 45 comments.  If you haven’t, please check it out and leave a comment.  I would love to hit the big 5-0.  Go here to check it out:   Pseudopod 145: Infestation [...]

]]> By: Mancraft http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-200619 Mancraft Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:04:39 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-200619 <p>Well done Piskun. I felt every one of your emotions and the narration was great. It was one of the easiest stories to see, a great one to close your eyes to and be a witness.</p> Well done Piskun. I felt every one of your emotions and the narration was great. It was one of the easiest stories to see, a great one to close your eyes to and be a witness.

]]> By: Misscriss http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-199556 Misscriss Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:37:45 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-199556 <p>I've had notions of this before, you know...those insomniac 'what if' thoughts that keep you staring wide-eyed 'til dawn. Thanks for this. No, really. I didn't need to sleep tonight anyways.</p> <p>;)</p> I’ve had notions of this before, you know…those insomniac ‘what if’ thoughts that keep you staring wide-eyed ’til dawn. Thanks for this. No, really. I didn’t need to sleep tonight anyways.

;)

]]> By: Diane Miller http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-199216 Diane Miller Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:32:00 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-199216 <p>Incredible story ! Very well written and excellent narration. Impressed with the depth, enticement, and imagery. I could hear a low, rhythmic hum . . . . Keep writing Matt, you’re onto something.</p> Incredible story ! Very well written and excellent narration. Impressed with the depth, enticement, and imagery. I could hear a low, rhythmic hum . . . . Keep writing Matt, you’re onto something.

]]> By: Eric http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-198856 Eric Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:32:16 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-198856 <p>Great story that was extremely creepy. The humor was excellent - this had me laughing out loud....at least until the later half of the tale, by which time I was grimacing with the very detailed visuals (which by the way are still stuck in my head). Fantastic narration also. Well done and looking forward to another story!</p> Great story that was extremely creepy. The humor was excellent - this had me laughing out loud….at least until the later half of the tale, by which time I was grimacing with the very detailed visuals (which by the way are still stuck in my head). Fantastic narration also. Well done and looking forward to another story!

]]> By: Sonya http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-198215 Sonya Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:21:28 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-198215 <p>Good story, I thought, but I actually came to the website (for the first time!) because something about the reading bothered me. It sounded like it had some sort of post-production time-slicing done; there were too-short gaps in the pauses which made it sound unnatural at times. It started to really bother me after a while. Am I the only one who noticed this? Maybe this technology is so common now that people don't notice it?</p> Good story, I thought, but I actually came to the website (for the first time!) because something about the reading bothered me. It sounded like it had some sort of post-production time-slicing done; there were too-short gaps in the pauses which made it sound unnatural at times. It started to really bother me after a while. Am I the only one who noticed this? Maybe this technology is so common now that people don’t notice it?

]]> By: Kira http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-197650 Kira Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:24:17 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-197650 <p>scaryyyyyy</p> scaryyyyyy

]]> By: Natasha http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-197329 Natasha Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:34:24 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-197329 <p>The commenter who called it graphic and intense was absolutely right, however, I was a little disappointed. This story was my first introduction to Pseudopod, and I have to say, my first reaction was "Haven't I read/heard this before? People are still writing/reading stories about bugs crawling under skin and eating people alive?" I know it's a tried-and-true horror theme, but I just didn't think this version added much. I seem to be alone in this assessment, though, as this seems to be a very popular story!</p> <p>It was well written, and very well narrated. As I said, I enjoyed it, I just didn't find it special.</p> The commenter who called it graphic and intense was absolutely right, however, I was a little disappointed. This story was my first introduction to Pseudopod, and I have to say, my first reaction was “Haven’t I read/heard this before? People are still writing/reading stories about bugs crawling under skin and eating people alive?” I know it’s a tried-and-true horror theme, but I just didn’t think this version added much. I seem to be alone in this assessment, though, as this seems to be a very popular story!

It was well written, and very well narrated. As I said, I enjoyed it, I just didn’t find it special.

]]> By: Grant http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-197266 Grant Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:30:26 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-197266 <p>Great use of black comedy to keep the interest of the listener.</p> Great use of black comedy to keep the interest of the listener.

]]> By: Will http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-197263 Will Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:23:51 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-197263 <p>An "Instant Classic" candidate for Tales from the Crypt.</p> An “Instant Classic” candidate for Tales from the Crypt.

]]> By: Patrick http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-196746 Patrick Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:52:58 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-196746 <p>This was classic horror. Very scary, fast, witty, and leaving just enough slight room for hope to keep you listening intently 'till the final, horrific ending. Very good reading performance, too!</p> This was classic horror. Very scary, fast, witty, and leaving just enough slight room for hope to keep you listening intently ’till the final, horrific ending. Very good reading performance, too!

]]> By: Mar http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-196550 Mar Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:38:17 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-196550 <p>Loved it. I was an avid Stephen King reader thru-out my 20's and I felt the memroies of his books when I heard Infestation. You have what it takes to write a good sci-fi/horror episode - and the humor was a welcome addition! Keep it coming........</p> Loved it. I was an avid Stephen King reader thru-out my 20’s and I felt the memroies of his books when I heard Infestation. You have what it takes to write a good sci-fi/horror episode - and the humor was a welcome addition! Keep it coming……..

]]> By: Rish Outfield http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-196393 Rish Outfield Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:40:56 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-196393 <p>Gentlemen, excellent episode! THIS is the kind of story I'd write if I was about 160% more talented than I am. Kudos, Mr. Piskun!</p> Gentlemen, excellent episode! THIS is the kind of story I’d write if I was about 160% more talented than I am. Kudos, Mr. Piskun!

]]> By: Kristi http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-196323 Kristi Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:47:01 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-196323 <p>With dreams like this, why would you want to go to bed? Great story! Narrator is great 'cause the story is amazing. Hope to see another Matthew Piskun story very soon.</p> With dreams like this, why would you want to go to bed? Great story! Narrator is great ’cause the story is amazing. Hope to see another Matthew Piskun story very soon.

]]> By: Mike J http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-196256 Mike J Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:34:55 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-196256 <p>Great story, keep it up</p> Great story, keep it up

]]> By: Mississauga Mike http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195861 Mississauga Mike Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:53:01 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195861 <p>Good story but the narration is fantastic. You need to ask him to read for you again.</p> <p>Great job Cayenne Chris Conroy</p> Good story but the narration is fantastic. You need to ask him to read for you again.

Great job Cayenne Chris Conroy

]]> By: sylrrt http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195822 sylrrt Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:22:11 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195822 <p>Great story Matt! I'm glad I don't have the dreams that you do!!! Alot of imagination adn detail!</p> Great story Matt! I’m glad I don’t have the dreams that you do!!! Alot of imagination adn detail!

]]> By: DorfRx http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195810 DorfRx Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:32:32 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195810 <p>The images in this were flashing thru my mind in HD. Piskun is great with the details and metaphore. Listened while mowing my lawn, made have made me a little too aggressive with the weed wacker! Great Job Matt, proud of you!</p> The images in this were flashing thru my mind in HD. Piskun is great with the details and metaphore. Listened while mowing my lawn, made have made me a little too aggressive with the weed wacker! Great Job Matt, proud of you!

]]> By: Amy http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195800 Amy Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:55:26 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195800 <p>ps.. I think I'm going to puke.</p> ps.. I think I’m going to puke.

]]> By: Amy http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195798 Amy Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:51:43 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195798 <p>I hope I can sleep tonight... the reading of this was amazing. ugh! Amy</p> I hope I can sleep tonight… the reading of this was amazing. ugh! Amy

]]> By: Tkann http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195751 Tkann Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:14:00 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195751 <p>I listened to this story twice it was so good! I loved the narrator and the story was just chilling!</p> I listened to this story twice it was so good! I loved the narrator and the story was just chilling!

]]> By: Matt http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195732 Matt Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:04:45 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195732 <p>I really appreciate the comments so far. Click on my name to go to thebadgerine.com and check out an artistic interpretation of what the little critters look like. Thanks!</p> I really appreciate the comments so far. Click on my name to go to thebadgerine.com and check out an artistic interpretation of what the little critters look like. Thanks!

]]> By: Linda Phillips http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195594 Linda Phillips Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:56:44 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195594 <p>Very descriptive story. Kept me interested until it was over. Very scarey story. Right up their with Stephen King.</p> Very descriptive story. Kept me interested until it was over. Very scarey story. Right up their with Stephen King.

]]> By: vincent filippelli http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195592 vincent filippelli Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:49:00 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195592 <p>a story that grabs you by the seat of your pants and doesn 't let you go reminiscient of Hitchcock in his prime</p> a story that grabs you by the seat of your pants and doesn ‘t let you go reminiscient of Hitchcock in his prime

]]> By: Terry Crowley http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195398 Terry Crowley Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:30:49 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195398 <p>Can I get a subscription to SHAVED. Seriously, very graphic and intense!</p> Can I get a subscription to SHAVED. Seriously, very graphic and intense!

]]> By: Bingorage http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195285 Bingorage Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:42:04 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195285 <p>Wow. I haven't had that kind of physical reaction to a story in quite a while. I was driving while I listened, and was squirming, flinching and writihing while trying to steer. Made it to the studio, thanks to cruise control.</p> <p>:Eric</p> Wow. I haven’t had that kind of physical reaction to a story in quite a while. I was driving while I listened, and was squirming, flinching and writihing while trying to steer. Made it to the studio, thanks to cruise control.

:Eric

]]> By: Gee http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-195010 Gee Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:42:17 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-195010 <p>Excellent story very gripping & graphic. Paced just right. I echo the comment about a short movie.</p> Excellent story very gripping & graphic. Paced just right. I echo the comment about a short movie.

]]> By: mike http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-194994 mike Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:52:58 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-194994 <p>Chilling short story. Gave me goose bumps at times. This would have been a great story for "tales from the crypt."</p> Chilling short story. Gave me goose bumps at times. This would have been a great story for “tales from the crypt.”

]]> By: martha http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-194874 martha Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:33:33 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-194874 <p>Absolutly horride! I loved it! Keep yp the good work!</p> Absolutly horride! I loved it! Keep yp the good work!

]]> By: Urikson http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-194845 Urikson Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:39:13 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-194845 <p>I really loved the contrast created by the mundane details, humorous metaphors and utterly gruesome events.</p> <p>The setting, the pregnant woman and the siege atmosphere reminds me of an equally gruesome French film titled "Inside."</p> <p>I also really liked how the initially skeptical man, feels the "life inside me" and realizes this isn't a piece of cake...</p> I really loved the contrast created by the mundane details, humorous metaphors and utterly gruesome events.

The setting, the pregnant woman and the siege atmosphere reminds me of an equally gruesome French film titled “Inside.”

I also really liked how the initially skeptical man, feels the “life inside me” and realizes this isn’t a piece of cake…

]]> By: Gab http://pseudopod.org/2009/06/05/pseudopod-145-infestation/#comment-194780 Gab Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:42:22 +0000 http://pseudopod.org/?p=217#comment-194780 <p>Totally creepy. The story is written well. I can totally picture everything due to great detail by the writer. Great narrator also!</p> Totally creepy. The story is written well. I can totally picture everything due to great detail by the writer. Great narrator also!

]]>