Comments on: Pseudopod 152: Hometown Horrible

By: Fiction Podcasts Part I – The Big 3 « Is this thing on?

Fiction Podcasts Part I – The Big 3 « Is this thing on? — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:27:44 +0000

[...] I just can’t help but come back to. I love it! So I have a lot of personal favorites here: Hometown Horrible, The Evil-Eater, Suicide Notes, Written by an Alien Mind, The Button Bin, and Bottle Babies, [...]

By: Jumper

Jumper — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:00:08 +0000

Can Mr Bey please write the stories mentioned in this piece please? I particularly want to hear the one about the postmaster getting lynched! Al - can any of the listeners have a go at writing them? Thanks!

By: Orrin Grey

Orrin Grey — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:41:32 +0000

A little late jumping on board here, but this was a wonderful story, one of the best I’ve come across lately!

By: Rish Outfield

Rish Outfield — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:10:07 +0000

I think part of what made this story so engaging was how real it all seemed. All the minute details about Finch’s life and writings might have been dull in less-talented hands, but wow, I absolutely loved this story and look forward to more work by Matthew Bey.

And isn’t that one of the delights of fiction podcasts like this one–discovering new writers that you then seek out the writings of, and opening up your eyes (or rather, ears) to talent you wouldn’t otherwise have known existed?

By: Pseudopod.com « Into the Maelstrom

Pseudopod.com « Into the Maelstrom — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:48:10 +0000

[...] the highlight of this week’s listening has to be Hometown Horrible, by Matthew Bey. Those who love Loevcraft, will love this. The reading is spot on, and the [...]

By: Dave (aka Nev the Deranged)

Dave (aka Nev the Deranged) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:42:46 +0000

Mmmmm, metafiction.

Somewhere, in an alternate universe, is that Helmut Finch Memorial Alcove, packed with binders full of photocopies of his work.

In dreams, may we visit it and learn its secrets.

In dreams, may we devour the flesh of the world with Helmut Finch's teeth.

By: CaroCogitatus

CaroCogitatus — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:52:31 +0000

Great story, and I didn’t see the twist coming. Is it strange that not only do I want to read more of Helmut Finch’s work, but my fingers are looking particularly tasty this morning?

By: Spork Fu

Spork Fu — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Good. Thank you.

By: D.K. Thompson

D.K. Thompson — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:23:51 +0000

@ Dean Seattle

I thought of Joe Hill, too. And I mean that as a compliment.

By: Miguel S.

Miguel S. — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:27:11 +0000

Excellent, I really liked the combination of Lovecraft and Memes.

By: ben

ben — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:16:25 +0000

MuseofChaos: The music at the end is “Frozen” by Hopeful Machines from the album I Am an Island (And She Is My Ocean), which at the moment you can actually download in its entirety from http://hopefulmachines.net

You will find us cribbing from it a lot in the near future. :) (With the band’s permission, I hasten to add.)

By: Speck

Speck — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:38:56 +0000

Whoa… just, whoa.

By: Sgarre1

Sgarre1 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:20:40 +0000

I don’t believe it was, but you’re right, that would be a fine piece of lit theater - especially if they drop the lights and hit the spasmodic, fitful strobe as the last 12 words are intoned…

I liked how “Hometown Horrible” not only gives us intriguing “fictional” story teases (thus really selling the concept), not only how it reincorporates a classic but sorely missing aspect of horror (well, a lot of fiction, honestly) which is the “regional” tinge, but what i most liked was how it’s also something of a cautionary tale for horror fans about the persona of H.P. Lovecraft (very slyly name-dropping around him but never naming him) and the dangers of blithely incorporating worldviews without consideration. Bey’s story seems to me in the same rank of writers like Ligotti. Amazingly good, I hope it wins some awards.

By: BingoRage

BingoRage — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:53:30 +0000

The only way that it could be better is if its premiere were a live reading at a con. Anybody know the history/ :Eric

By: Sleepyjonnie

Sleepyjonnie — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:24:56 +0000

Excellent story. This is going to sound like a foolish question, but is Finch entirely fictional? I thought so, but all of the place names are real (Wisconsin resident here).

In any case, I was really struck by this story. Pseudopod never fails to impress me though, kudos to all involved.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:57:35 +0000

That was pretty darn great.

By: MuseofChaos

MuseofChaos — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:39:09 +0000

Drat! No liner notes for the music during the comments at the end. I could -swear- it’s from a video game, but the title is tantalizingly out of reach…

By: Changwa Steve

Changwa Steve — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:54:39 +0000

I liked it better when it was called Snow Crash– kidding! Best pseudopod in a few weeks at least.

By: OhMeSoEmo

OhMeSoEmo — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:33:33 +0000

Very good, very interesting idea. Puts me in the mind of, “In The Mouth of Madness” Movie Starring Sam Neil. Saw when I was a kid and stayed with me until adulthood. Made me want to read Lovecraft as there are heavy influences.

By: Natasha

Natasha — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:15:22 +0000

Wow. I just have to say - this story was pure win. Haunting, creepy, and profoundly original storytelling. The narration was great too.

By: Sgarre1

Sgarre1 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:12:03 +0000

Nope, not bad at all! In fact, that’s part of the point!

By: themindfantastic

themindfantastic — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:09:08 +0000

In Pseudopod 029: Light Like Knives Dragged Across The Skin by Paul Jessup, Mur who was the host of the episode said “Is it bad that while listening to this story I actually wanted to buy this game?” I am struck with the same sort of feeling listening to this story.

Is it bad that while listening to this story I actually wanted to read Finch’s work?

By: Dean Seattle

Dean Seattle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:42:16 +0000

..reminiscent of Joe Hill…

By: Tangaroa

Tangaroa — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:04:09 +0000

Wow! Creep out complete! Scary story + haunting commentary + eerie music. One of my favorite parts of Pseudopod has been Alasdair’s bit of philosophy at the end. This time though, it really dovetailed right off of the story and with that music, made for a very chilling combination! Wow!