Fear on Demand Episode 3 – The Red Spectre by M.F. Korn and David Mathew

Welcome to Episode 3 of Fear on Demand featuring a short story by M.F. Korn and David Mathew

Read by Glen Hallstrom aka SmokeStack Jones.

Music is provided by Black Pharaoh from the new tune “The Return of the Beautiful.”

“Ten minutes in from the start of the session, and the class was waiting – impatiently.  A few students had started to repack their equipment – their spiral notebooks, their ballpoints; one had clicked on the Shut Down option on his laptop.  The atmosphere was pricklish.

For the first time since the beginning of the semester, their grad film student teacher was late.

When the young man finally entered, the group became wildebeest, nervously sensing rain.  Something was obviously different.

“Let’s settle,” said the young man.  And he introduced the subject of the day’s lesson: “The Red Spectre – by an unknown director, but I think it is actually by George Melies.”

After a brief preamble he added: “Could somebody get the lights?”

The film ran.  The print was grainy.

But it was clear enough for the young man to see all that he needed to stir the hour-dead lunch in his belly.  Only the students seated closest to him, however, in the first two rows, heard him mutter, “Jesus God” at the screen that was beaming out into the gloom.

The reels nimbly circled.  And it was on them that the young man settled his gaze – for comfort – when he knew for certain that he could take no more of what the film had to offer…

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8 Responses to “Fear on Demand Episode 3 – The Red Spectre by M.F. Korn and David Mathew”

  1. First, I really like the new intro by Smokestack. And the music is a nice touch. I just met M.F. Corn at the Babel Con this past summer. Nice guy and fine writer.

    I enjoyed this collaboration. A lot of atmosphere. It was interesting to hear a mix of British and American elements in the story and I think it worked very well. There was a little bit of a British Ghost story to it that came through nicely.

    Well done and congrats to the authors.

  2. fearondemand Says:

    Thanks, Charles!

  3. Very cool story, and a great read by Smokestack. Count me in as a subscriber. (And thanks for the promo!)

  4. Hey Charles, thanks for the kind words. Looking forward to being on panels with you at Babelcom.

    all best,
    Mike

  5. Make that Babelcon.

    not Babelcom…

  6. David Mathew Says:

    Thanks Charles! Thanks Kevin!

    Mike and I are really happy with this, so thanks also to Sid and Smokestack!

    Dave

  7. Thanks, Kevin.

    all best,
    Mike

  8. The audio by Smokestack is incredible as well.

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