Staring Into The Abyss podcast is a round-table discussion of all things horror. Join hosts and authors Richard Gerlach, Matt Brandenburg, and Villimey Mist as they discuss a horror story of the week, along with the latest releases in horror films, television, games, and literature every Thursday.
A is for Alphabet by Steve Rasnic Tem
When this baby hits 88 miles per hour... your podcast is going to explode! The Abyss gang gets all time travelly this week when they discuss Steve Rasnic Tem's A is for Alphabet. Before, or after, they step into the phone booth, they chat about Thanksgiving, Alex Jenning's The Ballad of Perilous Graves, Along the River of Flesh by Kristopher Triana, Bernardo Esquinca's The Secret Life of Insects and Other Stories, Megg & Mogg, Thomas Ligotti's Noctuary and The Spectral Link, and Only Murders in the Building. Now, remember to not mess up the timeline and listen in! Click here to read A is for Alphabet
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73:24 | 11/30/23 | |
Cold, Black & Infinite with Todd Keisling
What's up people of earth?! Part of the Abyss gang is joined by Todd Keisling to stare and chatter about Keisling's Cold, Black & Infinite: Stories of the Horrific & Strange. Before digging into the collection they discuss Five Nights at Freddy's, Barbie, Alan Wake 2, Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt, Manly Wade Wellman's John the Balladeer, Appendage, The Dark & The Wicked, and Fright Night. Now take a step into the unknown!
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95:47 | 11/2/23 | |
Spooky stories with Matt Wildasin
It's almost time children, do you have your masks ready? This week the Abyss gang sits down by the fireside to chat local spooky legends with Matt Wildasin. Before they freak themselves out they discuss The Crow, The Fall of the House of Usher, Frost Bite by Angela Sylvaine, Jordan Peele's Out There Screaming, The Vile Thing We Created by Robert P. Ottone, and Red Lagoe's Impulses of a Necrotic Heart: and Other Afflictions. Now, check that those marshmellows don't burn and enjoy!
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103:16 | 10/26/23 | |
The Library Policeman by Stephen King
Aww snap, it's happening again! This week the Abyss gang ventures into your local library with special guest Rami Ungar to discuss Stephen King's The Library Policeman. As they attempt to check out how to get rich books they chat about When Darkness Lurks, The Fall of the House of Usher, Chet Williamson's The Crow: Clash by Night, House of Rejects by Dustin McNeill, Brian Evenson's Fugue State, Land of the Dead, Christopher Golden's All Hallows, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Robert P. Ottone's The Vile Thing We Create. Now watch out for that librarian! Buy HANNAH and Other Stories
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95:37 | 10/19/23 | |
The Abyss Wants Them Back!
Some things can't be killed. After a temporary break to reclaim their sanity, the Abyss gang trudges back to the depths to discuss what has been consuming them for the last couple of weeks. Find out about A Black and Endless Sky by Matthew Lyons, Maggots Screaming! by Max Booth III, Bauldur's Gate III, Susan Hill's The Man in the Picture, Ben Arzate's Music is Over!; or The Facts Concerning the Disappearance of Juntaro Yamanouchi, No One Will Save You, and Castlevania: Nocturne. Now discover how the Abyss is endless!
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78:09 | 10/12/23 | |
Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman
The bells are ringing! This week the Abyss gang is joined by Daniel Braum to talk about those damn bells in Robert Aickman's Ringing the Changes. Before dancing the night away they chat up Braum's The Serpent's Shadow, God is a Bullet, Kiersten White's Hide, The Changeling, and White Cat, Black Dog: Stories by Kelly Link. Now if only those bells would shut up so you could listen! Buy The Serpent's Shadow
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72:29 | 9/14/23 | |
Gore by Matt Wildasin
Doom comes to Abyss town!!! This week the Abyss crew gets jacked up to chat Matt Wildasin's Gore. Before punching a demon in the throat they talk One Piece, Don Winslow's Savages, The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett, Keirsten White's Hide, Invasion, and How to be a Cult Leader. Now punch in the cheat code and get some! Buy Gore
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82:25 | 9/7/23 | |
Into the River by Clara Madrigano
Let's all go down to the water! The Abyss crew visits a small village in Brazil to check out Into the River by Clara Madrigano. While stopping by a masoleum they chat up Bones and All, Horror in the High Desert, Blood on the Tracks, Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus, Tribal Screams by Owl Goingback, Shadow of the Sith by Adam Christopher, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Hell of a Boss, and Caitlin Marceau's A Blackness Absolute. Now it's time to get outta here before the water rises!! Read Into the River
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66:30 | 8/31/23 | |
The Woman in the Wood by Daniel Mills
Greetings and welcome stranger! Listen as the Abyss gang get into trouble reading a strange journal titled The Woman In the Woods by Daniel Mills. As they creepily dig into a stranger's thoughts they chat about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Cobweb, Solar Opposites, Daniel Braum's The Serpent's Shadow, Experimental Film by Gemma Files, Howls From Hell, Afterparty, Netflix's The Midnight Club, Renfield, Consecration, Talk to Me, Twisted Metal, and Into the Sublime by Kate A. Boorman. Did you get all that? Now, let's see what this journal says about those woods! Buy Among the Lillies by Daniel Mills
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83:19 | 8/24/23 | |
Pretty Good Neighbor by Jeffrey Ford
Hey, we're podcasting over here! The Abyss gang is hanging out in the Jersey swamps to chat about Jeffrey Ford's Pretty Good Neighbor. Before the lizards appear they discuss This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal E-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, Daniel Braum's The Night Marchers, Vastarien vol 6 issue 1, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Philip Fracassi's Boys in the Valley. Now get in the car and listen in! Read Pretty Good Neighbor
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72:31 | 8/10/23 | |
Venio by Gemma Files
Ooooh buddy, this is happening! The Abyss gang has pens in hands and are following Gemma Files' writing prompt from her story Venio. Before they describe what's behind the door, they chat up Stephen Graham Jones' My Heart is a Chainsaw, Talk To Me, Shin Kamen Masked Rider, Twisted Metal, The Wind Began to Howl by Laird Barron, David Peak's Corpsepaint, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Evil Dead Rises, Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi. Now, put those ears up to the wall and listen in! Listen to Venio by Gemma Files
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83:39 | 8/3/23 | |
Gavin's Field by Steve Rasnic Tem
Ahhh yeahh boyyeeee, let's go to Vermont! This week the gang travels to a quaint town in the middle of nowhere to check out Gavin's Field by Steve Rasnic Tem. As they play with some bugs they discuss I Am A Ghost, The Walking Dead: Dead City, Eric Williams' Toadstones, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, Fake Documentary "Q", Skull Island, From, and Lucy A. Snyder's Sister, Maiden, Monster. It's time to explore the woods, enjoy! Read Gavin's Field
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90:08 | 7/20/23 | |
Why Didn't You Just Leave Kickstarter
Hey! Don't go in that basement....unless you really need to, then just ignore the monsters, it's cool. This week the Abyss gang is joined by Nadia Bulkin, Julia Rios, and Christa Carmen to discuss the Kickstarter campaign for Why Didn't You Just Leave. Before they explore the attic, they talk their favorite haunted house stories and movies, including Ghostwatch, Mike Flanagan's Haunting of Hill House, Kane Pixel's Backrooms, The Haunting of 13 Olúwo Street by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, and I Am A Ghost. Now, just accept the noises in your house and listen to us! Read The Haunting of 13 Olúwo Street Support the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cursedmorsels/why-didnt-you-just-leave
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55:34 | 7/13/23 | |
Gordon by Caitlin Marceau
Hey yo, check this crazy podcast out! This week two of our hosts are joined by Aquino Loayza to chat about Gordon by Caitlin Marceau. Before diving in, they dig into Across the Spiderverse, From, Black Mirror, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, The Pope's Exorcist, and Willy's Wonderland. Now get ready to listen some cat talk!
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80:12 | 6/22/23 | |
Horror Story by Carmen Maria Machado
Greetings and well met stranger! Sit here with the Abyss crew and listen to them tell you a tale of broken relationships with Carmen Maria Machado's Horror Story. They might get distracted first and discuss things like How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Shivers, The Witch Part 1, Shortwave Publishing's Obsolescence: A Dark Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Anthology, Encyclopedia Sharksploitanica by Susan Snyder, Criminal Minds: Evolution, and The Unholy. Are you comfortable? Good, because this is going to be a good one. Read Horror Story
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83:40 | 6/15/23 | |
The Tulsa Experience by Lawrence Block
Hey, listening to a podcast? That's cool. Why not go on a trip with the Abyss crew and Judith Sonnet as they go and have The Tulsa Experience by Lawrence Block. Before they take the tour they discuss Barry, I Think You Should Leave, Diablo IV, John Langan's Corpsemouth, The Man Without a Transit Pass by Jaroslav Hasek, Jonathan Raab's Project Vampire Killer, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Slasher, Lure by Tim McGregor, and The Jade Unicorn by Jay Halpern. Now, let's just stop by a grocery store real quick as we listen!
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89:04 | 6/8/23 | |
Sticks by Karl Edward Wagner
Hey, come here and check out these lattices! The Abyss gang is joined by Zachary Rosenberg as they chat about the great Karl Edward Wagner's Sticks. Before they tromp through the woods they discuss Succession, Preston Fassel's Landis: The Story of a Real Man on 42nd Street, True Detective, Our Own Unique Affliction by Scott J. Moses, Caroline Kepnes' For You and Only You, The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, Whalefall by Daniel Kraus, and John Langan's Technicolor. Now, listen to us and don't go in that cabin!
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105:15 | 6/1/23 | |
Do you read Uncle Steve?
What's up Doc? This week the Abyss crew is joined by Daniel Barnett to dissect Stephen King's legacy (and put it next to the child's heart on King's desk). Before this deep dive, they discuss Primal Fear, the Dungeons & Dragons movie, From, Zachary Rosenberg's The Long Shalom, Humanity Lost by Meghan Douglass, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Frank Bill's Back to the Dirt, Polyphemus by Zachary Ashford, House of Rot by Danger Slater, and the WGA strike. Now sit around the camp fire and listen to Uncle Steve tell you a tale!
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110:46 | 5/25/23 | |
Wild Acre by Nathan Ballingrud
Are you ready to dig into the dark side of a werewolf attack? Robert P. Ottone joins the Abyss gang to discuss Nathan Ballingrud's Wild Acre. Before their trip into Ballingrud's America they chat about Last Prayer, Blood on the Tracks, Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes, Scott J Moses' Our Own Unique Affliction, Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman, Witchboard, and Yellowjackets.
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111:50 | 5/18/23 | |
The Intoxicated Years by Mariana Enriquez
Hey y'all wanna getta taste of this podcast? The Abyss gang takes a rough trip with Mariana Enriquez's story The Intoxicated Years. While they read between the lines and see the real life horror, they ramble about Kids vs Aliens, Silo, Fired on Mars, Dennis Lehane's Small Mercies, Saint's Blood by Ryan C. Bradley, Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories by John Jackson Miller, Mandalorian, and Corporate Body by R.A. Busby. Now listen in and question what you are hearing! Read The Intoxicated Years
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79:23 | 5/11/23 | |
Abyss 150 episodes!
The Abyss crew has been creeping around for 150 friggin' episodes and they've tried like hell to learn a thing or two. This week they share some of their favorite, stick with you, stories they've read or talked about on the show. Before they wax poetic, they dive into their current consumptions and discuss Evil Dead Rise, Don Winslow's City of Dreams, Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, Little Miss Apocalypse by Danger Slater, Shane McKenzie's Addicted to the Dead: Relapse Edition, Salamander Justice by Tamika Thompson, The Mandalorian, Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Theives, and Morgan K. Tanner's An Army of Skin. Thank you all for staying with us for 150 episodes!
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84:56 | 5/4/23 | |
Root Canticle by Natasha King
Hey, you wanna ding dong ditch that creepy house?! Join the Abyss crew as they explore a fleshy house and chat about Natasha King's Root Canticle. While they check out the tongue door knob they discuss Beau is Afraid, Barry, Don Winslow's City of Dreams, Ai Jiang's Smol Tales From Between Worlds, a Ghoulish Bookfest recap, The Croning by Laird Barron, Christopher Hawkins' Suburban Monsters, Kill Radio by Lauren Bolger, Michael Patrick Hick's Consumption, Waif by Samantha Kolesnik, Hallowed Oblivion by Katherine Silva, and The Owl House. Now, why don't we go down to the basement and check out the stomach! Read Root Canticle
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73:50 | 4/27/23 | |
The Lost Art of Twilight by Thomas Ligotti
Are you ready to go nuts?! The Abyss crew is joined by Carson Winter to get all gothy and discuss Thomas Ligotti's The Lost Art of Twilight. As they go completely off the rails they discuss Hell's Paradise, My Home Hero, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Ted Lasso, Succession, David Wellington's Paradise-1, Ring and Spiral by Koji Suzuki, Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Matt Wildasin's The Backrooms, XCRMNTMNTN by Andrew Hilbert, Laura Keating's Agony's Lodestone, Dark Cutter by Luciano Marano, and Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock. Now go greet your relatives and determine if you like being a daywalker. Pick up Carson Winter's Soft Targets
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108:05 | 4/13/23 | |
The Backrooms by Matt Wildasin
Hey! Did you see that cat? Let's see where it's going. This week the Abyss gang goes down some corridors with Matt Wildasin to discuss his new novella The Backrooms. As they try to figure out what's going on they chat about Unicorn Wars, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Yellowjackets, Ed Lee's The Bounce House, Festival by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, Life is Strange: True Colors, Sarah Gailey's Just Like Home, and Stephen King's Fairy Tale. Now, keep walking and listen in! Buy The Backrooms
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100:04 | 4/6/23 | |
Pugelbone by Nadia Bulkin
Hippty Hop on down to the Warren! Join the Abyss crew as they explore the tunnels and streets of Nadia Bulkin's Pugelbone. As they check out the strange lumpy thing in the corner, they discuss History of the World Part 2, Netflix's The Last of Us, Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez, Joe R Lansdale's The Complete Drive-In, Rooster Fighter by Shu Sakuratani, Christi Nogle's The Best of Our Past, The Worst of Our Future, Jo Kaplan's It Will Just Be Us, and The Great North. Now, stick your hand into the wall and have some fun! Read Pugelbone
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56:59 | 3/16/23 | |
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Are you ready? Because we're ready! This week the Abyss gang takes a long look at the ocean and imagine the stories under there as they check out Rivers Solomon's The Deep. Before they dive in, they discuss Creed III, Rich finally finishes Stephen Markley's The Deluge, The Secret of Ventrilquism by Jon Padgett, The Consultant, V. Castro's Aliens: Vasquez, Re/Member, and Little Demon. It's time now to listen and learn. Buy The Deep by Rivers Solomon
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84:51 | 3/9/23 | |
Bettina by R.J. Joseph
Good day friends! Join the Abyss crew as they check out the excellent R.J. Joseph's Bettina. While discussing this story of amputations and betrothals, they also dig into The Outwater, the Rocky series, The Last of Us 2, The Deluge by Stephen Markley, Roland Topor's The Tenant, Ferdydurke by Witold Gombrowicz, a podcast called Bridgewater, and Theresa Braun's Dead Over Heels. Listen to Bettina
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64:35 | 3/2/23 | |
I Make People Do Bad Things by Chesya Burke
Oh hey! You're here! The Abyss crew has something to talk to you about, it's this killer story from Chesya Burke called I Make People Do Bad Things that's up on Nightmare Magazine. But wait, there's more! They also want to squeeze in some recommendations! Such as Pearl, The Outwaters, Skinimarink, Grady Hendrix's How to Sell a Haunted House, Jackal by Erin E. Adams, Tananarive Due's Ghost Summer, and Josh Malerman's Decorum at the Deathbed. I do hope you enjoy it! Read I Make People Do Bad Things
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72:36 | 2/23/23 | |
Who the Final Girl Becomes - Dominique Dickey
It's time children!!! Join the Abyss gang as they tackle what happens after a slasher with Dominique Dickey's Who the Final Girl Becomes. Before they cover this wonderful story they discuss Infinity Pool, The Last of Us, Harley Quinn Valentine's Special, Velma, Brian Asman's Neo Arcana, The Legend of Vox Machina, Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry, Hailey Piper's No Gods For Drowning, How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, Alex Ebenstein's Curse Corvus, You, and Knock at the Cabin. Read Who the Final Girl Becomes
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81:09 | 2/16/23 | |
Shiver: Selected Stories by Junji Ito
Hehehehe, welcome children!!! Pull up a chair and join the Abyss crew as they explore the wonderful world of Junji Ito's Shiver: Selected Stories. Before they chug vegetable oil and study balloons in the sky, they chat about The Deluge by Stephen Markley, Jeff Strand's Demonic, Knock at the Cabin, The Last of Us, Madness at the End of the World by Julian Sancton, Tim Meyer's Pteranodon Canyon and The Sea, The Stars, Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, the podcast Conspriacy Theories, and The Legend of Vox Machina. Now check out this cool record I found and dig into some horror manga!
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83:37 | 2/9/23 |