The Avram Davidson Universe

Send a textIn the first half of our discussion of “The Bloody Man,” we focus on atmosphere, language, and the unsettling calm that defines Limekiller's world. From social tensions to the weight of rumor and belief, this episode explores how Davidson builds meaning through voice and setting rather than exposition.#TheBloodyMan#AvramDavidson#JackLimekiller#WeirdTales#LiteraryAnalysis#SpeculativeFictionPodcast

Send a textVirgil and Bob introduce Jack Limekiller through the lens of Lucius Shepard's remarkable introduction—part literary appreciation, part personal reflection. This conversation explores Limekiller as character, avatar, and aspiration, and reflects on Avram Davidson's relationship to place, voice, and imagination.#LuciusShepard #AvramDavidson#JackLimekiller #LiteraryIntroductions #SpeculativeLiterature #WritersOnWriters

Send a textOriginally published in Asimov's Science Fiction (June 1986), “The Bloody Man” introduces Jack Limekiller—a restless, observant outsider navigating a place where history, folklore, and uneasy truths overlap. In this episode, we set the stage for Avram Davidson's singular voice, its rhythms, humor, and moral complexity, and the world Limekiller inhabits.#AvramDavidson #JackLimekiller #TheBloodyMan #WeirdFiction #LiteraryFantasy #Asimovs#ClassicSpeculativeFiction

Send us a textChapters 17–20 bring everything to a rolling boil, as power changes hands, jobs vanish, pressure mounts, and the town's many moving parts drift toward the same crowded moment. Avram Davidson balances tragedy, farce, and dark humor with astonishing ease—moving from private grief to public spectacle without ever tipping his hand. Old loyalties surface, institutions close ranks, and a few quietly overlooked people turn out to matter more than anyone expected. When celebration, denial, and mechanical inevitability collide, Yokums proves it can turn even a parade into a moral stress test. The result is funny, unsettling, and deeply human, with Davidson letting cause and effect do the talking.#BeerBeerBeer#AvramDavidson#ParadeDayChaos#SystemsFailing#PublicSpectacle#CauseAndEffect#AmericanAbsurdism

Send us a textIn this episode, Virgil and Bob discuss “The King's Shadow Has No Limits,” unpacking Davidson's portrayal of empire in decline and the quiet, unsettling ways power manifests among the poor, the faithful, and the forgotten. They explore the story's historical texture, its use of religious ritual and civic tradition, and the unsettling ambiguity at its core. The conversation touches on themes of identity, sacrifice, political decay, and the blurred boundary between ruler and subject—along with why this story feels both ancient and eerily modern.#PodcastDiscussion#AvramDavidson#WeirdFiction#PoliticalFantasy#EmpireAndDecline

Send us a textChapters 12–16 widen the lens, moving from the streets and sewers of Yokums into offices, courtrooms, newsrooms, and living rooms where everyone has an opinion and nobody has a clear answer. The mystery grows more elaborate, but Avram Davidson keeps it human—showing how power talks past itself, institutions protect themselves, and ordinary people quietly carry the weight of all that confusion. There's a wonderful sense here of systems grinding on while individuals improvise, dodge, rationalize, and dream their way through the Depression. Humor and menace sit side by side, and the satire sharpens without ever losing its sympathy. By the end, the story feels larger, stranger, and much harder to contain than anyone first imagined.#ProhibitionSatire#DepressionEraAmerica#BeerBeerBeer#AvramDavidson#PowerAndAbsurdity#ClassicSpeculativeFiction#HumanSystems

Send us a textIn this episode, we listen to “The King's Shadow Has No Limits” by Avram Davidson, originally published in Whispers #8 (December 1975).Set in a fading, multi-ethnic empire straining under age, tradition, and unrest, the story follows Dr. Eszterhazy, a learned observer moving through the city and witnessing moments of labor, devotion, and poverty that quietly echo the fate of the nation itself. Davidson weaves history, politics, religion, and myth into a dense, atmospheric meditation on power, impermanence, and what it means for authority to extend beyond the throne. Subtle, haunting, and deeply human, the story unfolds less through action than through implication—and lingers long after the final page.#AvramDavidson#WeirdLit#SpeculativeFiction#LiteraryFantasy#DecadentEmpire#ClassicSF

Send us a textChapters 9–11 deal with the morning after—when consequences arrive wearing sensible shoes and asking pointed questions. The town of Yokums sobers up just enough for authority, ambition, and self-preservation to reassert themselves, though not always in the order you'd expect. Avram Davidson is at his sharpest here, letting irony do the heavy lifting as plans unravel, alliances shift, and everyone insists they were reasonable all along. The comedy tightens, the satire deepens, and the story quietly pivots from celebration to reckoning. It's less about beer now, and more about what people do once they've tasted the impossible.#AfterTheParty#SmallTownSatire#BeerBeerBeer#PowerAndConsequences#ClassicSpeculativeFiction#DryHumor#AvramDavidson

Send us a textChapters 6–8 kick the door open on pure, gleeful chaos as Yokums stumbles into an impossible discovery that turns an ordinary workday into a civic fairy tale. The town reacts exactly as you'd expect during hard times: with wonder, hustle, disbelief, and a very practical approach to joy. Avram Davidson leans hard into his gift for turning civic minutiae, oddball characters, and moral gray areas into comedy that feels both mythic and deeply human. There's laughter, suspicion, authority figures scrambling to look authoritative, and the unmistakable sense that something magical has briefly elbowed its way into the everyday. It's funny, sharp, and affectionate, with Davidson quietly reminding us how thin the line is between order and delight.#ProhibitionChaos#SmallTownAmerica#SatireAndSuds#LiteraryComedy#BeerBeerBeer#AvramDavidson#BootlegLogic

Send us a textChapters 3–5 plunge us deeper into Yokums, where politics, ethnicity, morality, and money collide with the steady thrum of everyday life. We meet larger-than-life civic figures, reformers who truly believe they're saving souls, and working stiffs just trying to get through the week without losing their jobs—or their dignity. Avram Davidson's voice shines here: wry, generous, and sharp enough to skewer hypocrisy without ever losing affection for his characters. These chapters quietly braid power, temptation, and history together, setting forces in motion that feel inevitable long before anyone realizes what they've touched. Nothing explodes yet—but you can hear the fuse hissing.#BeerBeerBeer#AvramDavidson#ProhibitionEra#AmericanSatire#SmallTownPolitics#BootlegCulture#ClassicSF#LiteraryHumor

Send us a textThe opening chapters of BEER! BEER! BEER! drop us into a Depression-era New Jersey town that feels loud, crowded, funny, and just a little bruised, seen mostly through the wandering eyes of a sharp, restless kid. Chapter One is a street-level ramble full of smells, characters, rules, and small humiliations, where “go home” becomes a kind of local anthem. Chapter Two zooms out to City Hall, where politics, paperwork, and personality collide in a very Avram Davidson way—wry, talky, and quietly absurd. Together, they set up a world where nothing is simple, authority is slippery, and everyone's improvising. It's richly observed, dryly hilarious, and already humming with trouble—without tipping its hand. #BeerBeerBeer, #AvramDavidson, #ClassicSF, #LiteraryPodcast, #DepressionEra, #AmericanFiction, #CityPolitics, #ComingOfAge

Send us a textIn this special holiday episode of the Avram Davidson Universe, Virgil & Bob turn the season of giving into a season of reading by hand-picking the perfect Avram Davidson books for friends, creators, family, and fellow weird-fiction travelers. From occult detectives and haunted walls to eccentric wizards and classic science fiction, we match stories to readers with joyful enthusiasm and a little mischief. It's all in service of one simple holiday wish: MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE READING AVRAM DAVIDSON.  #AvramDavidson #WeirdFiction #HolidayReads #BookGifts #SpeculativeFiction #FantasyAndSF #OccultFiction #LiteraryWeird #PodcastRecommendations #GiveBooks #HolidayPodcast #ReadersOfWeird #ClassicSF #FantasyReaders #SmallPressLove 

Send us a textVirgil & Bob revisit the hilarious “Milord Sir Smiht, the English Wizard,” as collected in The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy (1975). In this episode of The Avram Davidson Universe Podcast, they return to Bella's Court of the Golden Hart, where an English “wizard,” a roomful of snuff, and some very dubious odyllic forces somehow add up to one of Davidson's strangest comic investigations.We previously featured this story with the great Tim Anderson — you can watch or listen to that reading here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1310005/episodes/15173599 https://youtu.be/MibdctVmI2kThis time around, Virgil & Bob try to decide what's more dangerous: the odyllic machinery, the bureaucracy, or the sheer quantity of Rappee being inhaled. Side effects of this episode may include spontaneous phrenology, sympathy sneezing, and an irrational desire to visit Brothers Swartbloi for “just a pinch” of Imperial. #fantasybooks , #fantasyhistory , #scifi , #weirdfiction , #booktube , #shortstory , #storytime , #audiobook , #literature , #fiction , #podcast , #podcastclips , #storyanalysis , #readingcommunity , #narration , #classicbooks , #bookdiscussion , #speculativefiction #Snuff @PBSBooks @Tor @PenguinRandomHouse @Nerdwriter1 @crashcourse @WisecrackEDU @britishlibrary @LofiGirl @nytimes ​ 

Send us a textIn this episode of The Avram Davidson Universe Podcast, Virgil & Bob try to figure out what the HELL is going on in “The Church of Saint Satan and Pandaemons,” originally published in Fantastic (December 1975) and later collected in The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy and The Adventures of Doctor Eszterhazy.This one left them baffled, amused, and occasionally questioning their own sanity. Please comment — they need help!

Send us a textIn this episode of The Avram Davidson Universe Podcast, we present “The Church of Saint Satan and Pandaemons,” originally published in Fantastic (December 1975) and later collected in The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy and The Adventures of Doctor Eszterhazy.In the next episode, Virgil and Bob will try to unravel what this story is really about — and they may need a little help from the fans on this tricky one.

Send us a textJoin Bob and Virgil for an in-depth conversation about Avram Davidson's unique storytelling. They discuss “The Old Woman Who Lived with a Bear” (from The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy, 1975). They explore: The strange blend of folklore, satire, and legal reasoning in the Triune Monarchy, Eszterhazy's role as a rational observer in a world full of myth and superstition, The story's humor, humanity, and mysterious ambiguity. Perfect for readers who enjoy literary discussions, speculative fiction, and uncovering hidden gems in classic fantasy.#avramdavidson #DoctorEszterhazy #weirdfiction #FantasyDiscussion #bookpodcast #literarypodcast  @sffaudio @SpecFicWriters 

Send us a textStep into the Triune Monarchy with Avram Davidson's unforgettable story “The Old Woman Who Lived with a Bear” (from The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy, 1975).  This professional narration brings to life the wit, mystery, and folkloric strangeness of Dr. Engelbert Eszterhazy's world — where Gothic traditions, superstition, and rational inquiry intertwine. Whether you're a longtime Davidson devotee or new to his genius, this is a chance to immerse yourself in one of his finest Eszterhazy adventures.  

Send us a text Avram Davidson (himself) warms up for a lecture and pulls you aboard a lateen-rigged dhow to ask the irresistible question: where, exactly, did Sinbad sail—Borneo, Sumatra, Serendib, even Madagascar—or only through our imaginations?  Show notes: • Paul Bunyan vs. Sinbad: why tall tales can still point to real shores • Baghdad's golden age, Harun al-Rashid, and merchants' cargo lists like poetry • Dhows, monsoons, “islands” that breathe (whale? turtle?), and apes near Sumatra• The rukh/roc, Aepyornis eggs, and dagobas that look like giant eggs from afar • Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and the joys of pure serendipity  Hashtags:  #AvramDavidson #AdventuresInUnhistory #sinbad #arabiannights #mythology #indianocean #baghdad #dhow #rock #borneo #sumatra #srilanka #madagascar #historynerd  @FolkloreThursday @ARABliterature  @britishlibrary  @SmithsonianMagazine  @SFWA  @CaptainSinbad 

Send us a text Bob and Virgil unpack Avram's clues—dhows, monsoons, Borneo and Sumatra, Sri Lanka's dagobas, Madagascar's giant eggs—and debate how far a fable can take you toward the truth. • Reading the text like a chart: Kabil/Kasil → Borneo? • Sumatra's “island of apes,” ears to the shoulders, and traveler's overlap with the Odyssey • The roc vs. Aepyornis: why giant birds matter even when they can't fly • Serendip/Anuradhapura: when a white dagoba becomes a “roc egg” on the horizon • Takeaways for modern readers: how to spot facts hiding in folklore  Hashtags: #podcastdiscussion #AvramDavidson #sinbad #mythology #historypodcast #IndianOceanWorld #borneo #sumatra #srilanka #madagascar #marcopolo #ibnbattutamall  @asiasociety  @HISTORY  @HistoryHit  @OUPAcademic  @ArabianFairyTales 

Send us a text A polished, front-to-back performance by David Pickering of Avram Davidson's masterwork on Sinbad: a lyrical, scholarly, and funny voyage that charts the blurred edge where sailors' yarns become maps.  • From Baghdad to Basra and out across monsoon routes • Kabil/Kasil and the “drums” of hollow rocks; giants with barge-long ears • Diamond valleys, sea-horses, and why travelers fib (beautifully) • Roc feathers, Raphia palms, and the spoor of real geography inside fable • How “Serendip” gave us serendipity  Hashtags:  #audiobook #AvramDavidson #sinbad #Unhistory #folklore #worldliterature #arabiannights #exploration #maritimehistory #mythology #storytelling  @LocusMagazine  @tordotcom  @Bookshop_org_TV  @davidpickering8483 

Send us a textAdventures in Unhistory is a literary journey into the strange, the mythical, and the half-forgotten—led by the genius of Avram Davidson and explored by Bob & Virgil. Each episode dives into Davidson's witty and erudite examinations of myths and legends: mermaids, dragons, werewolves, unicorns, the phoenix, Sinbad, Prester John, Aleister Crowley, and more. Davidson's essays, at once scholarly and playful, reveal the hidden roots of stories that have captivated humanity for centuries. Expect dazzling digressions, deep dives into ancient texts, and the kind of humor and erudition that make Davidson's work timeless. As Peter S. Beagle once said, his prose “cries out to be read aloud.” Bob & Virgil bring that spirit to life—part literary salon, part campfire storytelling, part detective hunt through history's margins. Whether you're a scholar, a fantasy fan, or just a curious traveler through the world's oldest mysteries, Adventures in Unhistory will entertain, educate, and make you wonder: what if the myths were true? #fantasyhistory #podcastcommunity #booktok #dragons #mermaids @worldfantacy

Send us a text Bob & Virgil go deep on Avram Davidson's Eszterhazy tale: lurlies vs. Lorelei, undines and baptismal souls, why “Mud” matters, how Davidson blends courtly satire with folklore, and where Eszterhazy fits in the occult-detective lineage (think Hodgson/Machen—but funnier, kinder, and sneakier). We hit publication context (Fantastic, 1975), the expanded Eszterhazy collection, and the story's quiet ecological thread (buckwheat, wudkey, and the costs of progress). Spoiler-light for newcomers, juicy for devotees. #OccultDetective #AvramDavidson #DoctorEszterhazy #weirdfiction #fantasyhistory #literarydiscussion #SFFPodcast #classicsfeature #mythandmystery #StoryDeepDive #booktube  @ScienceFictionStation @literallybooks ​ 

Send us a textPerformed by David Pickering.  @davidpickering8483 Set in Avram Davidson's sly, Mitteleuropean corner of the map, this stand-alone performance brings Doctor Eszterhazy to life as he follows a trail from a humble sewing box to lurlies on the Vlox-Minor and a mystery tangled up with folklore, industry, and an undine's old grief. David Pickering's rich narration highlights Davidson's humor, history-deep worldbuilding, and the story's gentle twist on the “occult detective” tradition—no gore, just genius. Settle in for steam runabouts, button-makers, buckwheat anxieties, and Paracelsian whispers. Hashtags: #AvramDavidson #DoctorEszterhazy #OccultDetective #weirdfiction #historicalfantasy #speculativefiction #audiofiction #classicsfeature #fantasymystery #shortstory @LocusMagazine ​ 

Send us a text In this episode, Bob & Virgil discuss the many genres of Avram Davidson. 

Send us a text  In this episode, Bob & Virgil discuss El Vilvoy de las Islas, originally published in Asimov's (August 1988) and later collected in The Other Nineteenth Century. 

Send us a text In this episode, we listen to El Vilvoy de las Islas, originally published in Asimov's (August 1988) and later collected in The Other Nineteenth Century. A follow-up discussion will be led by Virgil and Bob in the next episode.

Send us a textIn this episode, Robert from The Wheel of Genre podcast sits down with Virgil from Literally Books for a deep dive into “The Caravan to Illiel,” originally published in Flashing Swords #3 : Warriors and Wizards, Ed. Lin Carter (Dell, 1976)They explore the story—plus a shoutout to Orbis, which came up in the discussion. https://www.youtube.com/@wheelofgenrepodcast/videos https://www.youtube.com/@UCW1FScyVs3JjysB9wiBb3Gw https://orbis.stanford.edu/ 

Send us a textVirgil & Bob Discuss Their Five Most Anticipated Avram Davidson Stories! 

Send us a textWe are Super excited to have new hosts for the Avram Davidson Universe Podcast. We love where they're taking us.

Send us a textIn this episode, Robert from The Wheel of Genre podcast sits down with Virgil from Literally Books for a deep dive into “And Don't Forget the One Red Rose,” originally published in Playboy (September 1975).Also worth checking out: The Price (1989), a short independent film adaptation of And Don't Forget the One Red Rose, directed by Fareed Al-Mashat. Highly recommended for fans of the story.

Send us a textIn this episode, we sit down with S.T. Joshi. S.T. is an American literary critic whose work has largely focused on weird and fantastic fiction, especially the life and work of H. P. Lovecraft. We listen to “Death of a Damned Good Man,” originally published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (January 1991), and an excerpt of Avram Davidson on H.P. Lovecraft from his book review column in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (January 1963).To be honest, the story had a much greater impact when read alongside the narration. I also suspect that, although it was published in 1991, it may have been written earlier.

Send us a textIn this episode, Damon LaTorella sits down with Taj Bin John.  Taj is a podcaster, DJ, and ice cream lover.We listen to “Ogre in the Vly,” originally published in If, July 1959.  For more information see www.avramdavidson.com

Send us a textIn this episode we sit down with Scott Bradfield.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Bradfield  We  listen to “The Hills Behind Hollywood High” and discuss the story. Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1983. It was written by Grania Davis and Avram Davidson.  Scott has a new "audio book" being read on Substack.  It was written in 1994 and concerned a world where all the political parties agreed on treating animals as badly as human beings and vice versa. And a stupid celebrity thug who takes over the world (about the same time he's bought out by corporate villains.) Here's the link:https://masterbather.substack.com/p/animal-planet-as-read-by-the-authorpart?r=bk78wFor more information see www.avramdavidson.com      

Send us a textIn this episode, Damon LaTorella sits down with Missy Erin. She is a director, producer and writer out of Huntsville Alabama. We listen to “The Deed of the Deft-Footed Dragon,” originally published in Night Cry, Fall 1986. 

Send us a textIn this episode, I sit down with Damon LaTorella.Damon is a writer and comedian from Orlando, Florida, and a former voice actor for Super Mario Logan.We listen to "The Cobblestones of Saratoga Street," originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, April 1964. 

Send us a textIn this episode, J.E. Coleman sits down with Dr. Joshua Begley and we listen to "Revolver," originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, October 1962. Joshua Begley has over a decade of experience teaching English Composition and Creative Writing. He earned his Master's in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Eastern Kentucky University in 2006. Following graduation, he taught for two years at Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, before pursuing a PhD in Literature and Criticism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. For the past 14 years, Joshua has served as the Course Director of Creative Writing at Full Sail University. He is also an accomplished author.

In this episode, J.E. Coleman sits down with his friend Nathanial House, Co-Founder of Select Start Films. We listen to "The Power of Every Root," originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1967. 

Part 2 - In this episode, we continue listening to Avram Davidson himself as he prepares for a college lecture and reads Silk and Stuff or The Theft of the Mulberry Tree, originally published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine on October 26, 1981. It's 100% Avram, and I'm excited to share his voice with friends and fans. Please feel free to share this with others and invite fans to follow us. This is part of what became Adventures in Unhistory. Enjoy! 

Part 1 - In this episode, we listen to Avram Davidson himself as he prepares for a college lecture and reads Silk and Stuff or The Theft of the Mulberry Tree, originally published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine on October 26, 1981. It's 100% Avram, and I'm excited to share his voice with friends and fans. Please feel free to share this with others and invite fans to follow us. This is part of what became Adventures in Unhistory. Enjoy!

In this episode, J.E. Coleman sits down with his friend Alice Rea, a freelance artist who has worked on private commission pieces for the past 15 years. Alice enjoys painting both fantasy and sci-fi subjects, as well as real-life subjects.We listen to "The Certificate," originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1959 All Star Issue.

In this episode we sit down with J.E. Coleman. J.E. Coleman is a Chicago based pulp novelist and tabletop designer currently republishing their works on Amazon and DMSGuild.We listen to "Vergil and the Caged Bird" originally published in Amazing Stories, January 1987.

In this episode we sit down with a fantastic returning guest Tim Anderson. Tim Newton Anderson is a former journalist and PR manager. He started writing fiction seriously three years ago and has now placed more than 50 pieces in a wide variety of genres and publications. He has been reading science fiction and fantasy from an early age.His blog is at https://atjentertainments.wordpress.com/ and his author Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/timnewtonandersonHe also has an Amazon author profile as Tim Newton Anderson.We listen to "Milord Sir Smiht, the English Wizard" originally published in The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy December of 1975.

Today we celebrate Avram Davidson's 101st birthday.In this episode, we sit down with one of our favorite repeat guests, Richard Horton. Rich Horton is a distinguished editor and columnist, known for his contributions to Locus as a short fiction columnist. He also curated "The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy" anthology series for Prime Books. Rich shares his insights and passion for speculative literature on his blog, Strange at Ecbatan.https://rrhorton.blogspot.com/We listen to "Polly Charms, the Sleeping Woman," originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in February 1975 and nominated for a Locus and Nebula Award. It is the first published story in "The Adventures of Doctor Eszterhazy."

In this episode we sit down Tim Anderson.   Tim Newton Anderson is a former journalist and PR manager. He started writing fiction seriously three years ago and has now placed more than 50 pieces in a wide variety of genres and publications. He has been reading science fiction and fantasy from an early age.His blog is at https://atjentertainments.wordpress.com/ and his author Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/timnewtonandersonHe also has an Amazon author profile as Tim Newton Anderson.We listen to "Bumberboom" originally published in F&SF December of 1966.At the end of the podcast we listen to a symphony adaptation of Bumberboom: Scherzo Diablique  - Sidney Hodkinson.

In this episode we sit down once again with Josh Pachter.  Josh is a writer, editor, and translator, and the 2020 recipient of the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement. Almost a hundred of his short crime stories have appeared in EQMM, AHMM, and many other places.We listen to "The Last Wizard" originally published in EQMM, December of 1972.  You can find more information about Josh at https://joshpachter.com/.  

In this episode we sit down  with Josh Pachter.  Josh is a writer, editor, and translator, and the 2020 recipient of the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement. Almost a hundred of his short crime stories have appeared in EQMM, AHMM, and many other places.We listen to "The Trefoil Company" originally published in EQMM, August 1971.  You can find more information about Josh at https://joshpachter.com/. 

In this episode we sit down  with Kory Christensen - Kory is a patent attorney and an aspiring writer, who recently completed three novels of speculative fiction set in the San Francisco Bay Area.  His current project is a historical fiction novel, which takes place in renaissance Italy.We listen to "Pebble in Time" originally published in F&SF, August 1970 and written  with Cynthia Goldstone.Cynthia Goldstone was a highly regarded San Francisco artist. Ray Bradbury once wrote her a letter of appreciation. Cynthia and her late husband, artist Lou Goldstone, exhibited their work at many science fiction conventions, and were a much-loved couple in the Bay Area science fiction community.  Avram and the Goldstones were good friends in San Francisco during the lively 1960s and 1970s. For more information see www.avramdavidson.com    

In this episode we sit down once again with Jack Seabrook -  The author of two books on popular fiction: Martians and Misplaced Clues: The Life and Work of Fredric Brown (1993) and Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney (2003).  He has had articles published in crime fiction magazines such as The Armchair Detective and he is a lifelong reader of comic books! Among other things he intends to educate the world to the joys of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and DC War and Horror comics.We listen to "Thou Still Unravished Bride" originally published in EQMM,  October 1958.  I would also encourage you to watch the Alfred Hitchcock episode so you can compare and contrast the story and adaptation. For more information see www.avramdavidson.com     

In this episode, we sit down with Joseph D'Agnese to discuss "Captain Pasharooney" originally published in The Saint Detective Magazine in May, 1967.Joseph D'Agnese is a journalist, author, ghostwriter and editor who has written books for kids and adults. He has written for publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Discover, Wired, Saveur, This Old House, and other publications for both for adults and children. He has won Educational Press Awards, and been featured twice in the annual anthology, Best American Science Writing.  His short stories have been finalists for the Derringer Award for short mystery fiction three times since 2014. (He won the award once, in 2015.)To learn more about Joseph D'Agnese, visit his website: Joseph D'Agnese (josephdagnese.com).

In this episode, we sit down with Erica Satifka to discuss "Naples," a World Fantasy Award-winning story originally published in Shadows, Ed. Charles L. Grant (Doubleday, 1978).Erica Satifka is the author of three books: STAY CRAZY (novel), BUSTED SYNAPSES (novella), and HOW TO GET TO APOCALYPSE AND OTHER DISASTERS (collection). In 2017, she won the British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer. Her short fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, Interzone, Shimmer, and many other places.To learn more about Erica Satifka, visit her website: http://www.ericasatifka.com/.We'll also explore her wonderful story, "Loving Grace," and I highly recommend checking out her recent collection. You can find "Loving Grace" here: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/satifka_09_15/.

Join us for a captivating episode as we sit down with Kenneth Hite, a renowned writer and role-playing game designer. We will be treated to David Pickering's complete narration of "Who Fired the Phoenix?" This intriguing story was originally published in Asimov's in May 1981 and is part of the Adventures in Unhistory collection. At the end of the interview with Ken, we will also have the privilege of hearing Avram himself narrating the story, although, unfortunately, the narration is not complete.Kenneth Hite is well-known for his significant contributions to role-playing games, including Trail of Cthulhu and Night's Black Agents, and for his lead role in designing the 5th edition of Vampire: the Masquerade.Notably, Ken's most Davidson-coded credit is the SUPPRESSED TRANSMISSION series: http://www.sjgames.com/suppressed/Don't miss out on his engaging podcast co-hosted with fellow game designer Robin Laws, where they explore numerous Davidson-ish trails as well: https://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/