Rob Hughes thought his kid was a genius--or, if not a genius, at least a very smart boy. Aaron was only five years old and already he could tie his shoes, count to 120, identify pictures of animals in books and recognize the constellation of Orion. Sure, he referred to it as `Oh-wyan,’ but he knew it when he saw it. Aaron was possessed of a powerful imagination, one which was sometimes frustrating to Rob, particularly when it clashed with reality as he knew it. But imagination and belief can be a powerful thing. Civilizations have risen and fallen due to it. Rob Hughes is about to learn a few lessons about the power of belief, and of the thing that feeds on it, stalking the woods near his in-laws' farm. This recorded live reading was captured on August 21, 2015, during a signing event at the Book Mart & Cafe in downtown Starkville, MS.

Consternation of Monsters: The Podcast

EPISODE 08: "The Hocco Makes the Echo" a recorded live reading [REDUX]

The end of the world is an event that has been predicted for millennia. It is always on the horizon, but so far has not come to pass. Mr. Daniels, however, has his own prediction and, unless he’s wrong, the danger of the end of the world is very real indeed. And it just might begin at Starbucks. This live-reading of "Nigh" was recorded at the 2015 Summer Conference of West Virginia Writers, Inc., on June 12, 2015.

EPISODE 07: "Nigh" a live reading [REDUX] UPDATED

EPISODE 07: "Nigh" a live reading [REDUX]

The Mexican Gray wolf is among the rarest of North American wolf species. Few humans have seen them, fewer still have heard them growl, and far fewer have heard the pangs of hunger from the stomach of one. One old man, seated on the cliff of an Arizona mesa, could possibly lay claim to all three of these feats if only he could be bothered to pay attention. He is a puzzle that most of the local wolves have given up on--save for one. The strange, silent, unmoving, and seemingly invulnerable old man makes for the ultimate unattainable prey, as the wolf's own teeth (chipped from previous attempts) are a constant reminder. When more men arrive at the mesa, the wolf's frustration and hunger give way to hope--if only he can survive against these two-legged predators, intent on harming one of their own. This podcast adapts the short story "Wolves Among Stones At Dusk" found in the collection A Consternation of Monsters, available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats.

EPISODE 06: "Wolves Among Stones at Dusk" REDUX

 The Mothman of West Virginia is reported to be a winged creature, the size of a man, but with glowing red eyes. There have been a few plays written about this creature. This is one of them. Presenting the stage adaptation of Eric Fritzius’s short story "...to a Flame" as recorded during its performance at the Opera House PlayFest, at the Pocahontas County Opera House, in Marlinton, W.Va., in 2016. The adaptation stars John C. Davis as Jeff, Dwayne Kennison as Virgil Hawks, and the author himself as Rik Winston.

EPISODE 05: "...to a Flame" the stage play (live from the Pocahontas County Opera House)

 Episode 04 of the REDUX version of the Consternation of Monsters Podcast features a recording of a live radio adaptation of the short story "Old Country" as found in the collection A Consternation of Monsters. On a day in 1983, Martin Riscili receives the most important phone call of his life. His late father’s mobster "associate," Jimmy Jambalaya, has just phoned to alert Martin to his imminent death by Jimmy’s own hand. His house is watched. His phone line is dead. Jimmy’s on his way. And the only thing Martin can think of that might yet save his life is his grandmothers’ quilt. If only he could remember where he put it. A story of crime and punishment and contractual terms with forces beyond our understanding. This is a live radio-style adaptation was recorded live on October 12, 2015, at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, W Va. It stars Sarah Elkins as Melissa, Shane Miller as Martin, the author himself as Tino and The Warrior, and a special appearance by Dr. AC as Jimmy Jambalaya.

EPISODE 04: "Old Country" a Live Radio Adaptation REDUX

 A story of bitter rivalries, stolen opportunities, forgery, and the angel of death, set in the cut throat world of public television antiques appraisal--a world in which one of the most powerful objects is a fork. This podcast is an excerpt of the audiobook adaptation of the short story "Limited Edition" found in the collection A Consternation of Monsters as well as the unabridged audiobook.

EPISODE 03: "Limited Edition" (excerpt)

 The Seward Whale Strike Tragedy, they called it. Twenty-five people dead. The worst accident in Alaska’s tourism history since Will Rogers’ plane went down in ‘35. Only one man left alive knows the truth of what really happened--the man everyone agrees caused the tragedy to start with. And if there’s one thing he’s sure of, the thing they hit that day was no whale. Presented here is his testimony, as transcribed for an interview with Paranorm Violations Magazine. This podcast adapts the short story "The Ones that Aren’t Crows" found in the collection A Consternation of Monsters as well as the unabridged audiobook of the collection.

EPISODE 02: "The Ones that Aren’t Crows" REDUX

 The Mothman of West Virginia is reported to be a winged creature, the size of a man, but with glowing red eyes. It was reportedly witnessed on multiple occasions around the area of Point Pleasant, W.Va., during the 1960s and has been reported around the world since. An ominous creature, its presence often seems to portend doom for those who see it. When Virgil Hawks shoots one behind his tool shed, he knows the portents for his own future aren’t good. He seeks help from the one man he can trust--his good buddy Jeff. This podcast adapts the short story "...to a Flame" found in the collection A Consternation of Monsters as well as the unabridged audiobook of the collection .

EPISODE 01: "...to a Flame" REDUX

The Consternation of Monsters Podcast is an ongoing project, adapting and excerpting a few of the stories found in the short story collection A Consternation of Monsters as well as the unabridged audiobook of the collection. While many of these stories have been featured in the previous iteration of this podcast from 2015, this redux edition will feature new stories, new live readings and stage play adaptations, as well as excerpts from the official unabridged audiobook of the collection now available through Amazon.com, iTunes, and Audible.com. This EPISODE 00 features the foreword to the book by noted paranormal radio host Rik Winston.

EPISODE 00: Foreword

A podcast adaptation of stories from the fiction collection A Consternation of Monsters, by Eric Fritzius. A consternation, as you should remember from grade school, is the collective noun for monsters. It is therefore a fitting title for a collection of short stories that each contain monsters of various sorts and shades. In these tales, a creature of make-believe proves difficult to disbelieve, a trickster-god takes an unkindly interest in witnesses, eldritch horrors can be summoned using a quilt, frustrated wolves face dangerous prey, the angel of death wears a plaid sport coat, wise old women are to be feared and heeded, the corpses of legends can be perilous to have around, Elvis remains the once and future king of rock & roll, and where one of the most powerful and potentially destructive objects in the world is a fork. This podcast will adapt selected stories from this book, which can be found at mrherman.com and can now be found as an unabridged audio book via Audible.com.

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Consternation of Monsters: The Podcast

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