Auditory Anthology (Keith Conrad / Darren Marlar)

Light pollution is increasingly a problem in 2024. If you live in a big city, it’s a pretty good bet you can only see a handful of stars when you look up at the night sky. You would think the pioneering souls who move to the first colony on Mars wouldn’t have to deal with that issue quite as much. However in this week’s story “$1000 a Plate” by Jack McKenty our characters learn that you can’t avoid some problems even if you’re on the frozen tundra of Mars.

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

uJYNQS7mHmWKQpURWJkR

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the next few years, NASA will be sending astronauts back to the Moon for the first time since the 1970’s. While those brave astronauts might not be the first humans to visit the Moon, they’d still be very surprised if they found out they had unexpected company. That’s exactly what happens in this week’s story, Project Hush by Philip Klass.

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People have been fascinated by the paranormal forever. Whether it’s Bigfoot, ghosts or alien visitors. These days there are entire TV networks devoted to amateurs investigating the paranormal. In this week’s story, two mountain climbers try to find the source of mysterious lights. They find out what causes them, but no one would ever believe them. It’s The Lights on Precipice Peak by Stephen Tall

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop culture over the past twenty years or so is riddled with stories about pioneering scientists visiting new worlds. In the 1990’s there was Sliders, there was also Stargate SG-1 with a different planet every week. In this week’s story "Dimension of the Lost," three scientists visit three different dimensions. Two of them have life-changing experiences, while the third ends up solving a mystery that has haunted humanity for generations.

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever taken the time to read the Terms of Service before you click “Accept?” Of course not. No one does. It’s basically become a meme at this point. In this week's story, An Elephant For the Prinkip by L. J. Stecher, we learn it’s probably a good idea to at least skim the fine print of any contract before you actually sign on the dotted line.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in the 1950’s when Stephen Arr wrote Chain of Command, it was pretty common to imagine the worst possible unintended consequences from the atomic age. This story does revolve around animals who are forever changed by atomic radiation, but at the end of the day the message of this story is that the chain of command is the same for everyone, even radioactive mutant mice.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is Bad Memory by Patrick Fahy. There’s nothing wrong with making big changes in your life to achieve your dreams, but if you’re going to do that, sometimes writing those goals down is a good idea for more than one reason.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is Man’s Best Friend by Evelyn E Smith. It’s an election year and it’s easy to get annoyed at the constant barrage of political ads and hot takes. But always remember, there are worse ways to pick our leaders

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that in 2024 a person making the average salary in the United States can’t get qualified for the average priced home? It’s bad out there. So much so that many are giving up on the idea of owning a home all together. In this week’s story “Time Arbitrage” a couple is just about ready to give up themselves, when they learn about a company offering an unexpected solution to the problem.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If we’ve learned anything from pop culture, it’s that there are rules for time travel. This week’s story, “Security Plan” by Joseph Farrell introduces us to one inventor that probably should have spent a little more time watching time travel movies for educational purposes.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Trap” by Betsy Curtis. People have been dreaming of living forever since the dawn of time, but there are a couple of potentially problematic details they probably didn’t consider.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Ask a Foolish Question” by Robert Sheckley. The secret to learning the answers to life, the universe and everything is knowing the right questions to ask.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As human beings venture out into the cosmos, it’s pretty certain they’re going to run into all sorts of unexpected threats to their health and well-being. It happened to explorers hundreds of years ago when European explorers arrived in the New World and were exposed to all sorts of new diseases… then they decided to return the favor by giving blankets infected with small pox to the people they met. Of course it’s also entirely possible that explorers out in space will run into problems that are a little more familiar. As is the case in this week’s story, Operation Distress by Lester Del Ray.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our story this week is“Sweet Tooth” by Robert F Young. If we ever do actually meet aliens there will be plenty of people who will be worried about ending up in a “To Serve Man”-type scenario. But it might turn out human beings aren’t the ones who have to worry about being devoured by our visitors.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Scent Makes a Difference” by James Stamers. They say scent is so strongly tied to our memory that it can help trigger all sorts of long lost memories even years later. Now one man learns it can also help you meet different version of yourself from alternate realities

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Undersea Tube” by L. Taylor Hansen. Back when Hansen wrote this story in 1929, a project like the Chunnel was a far off dream. Of course he envisioned things going a little differently when we started digging under the sea.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Merchants of Venus” by A. H. Phelps. If you were trying to recruit people for a new colony, who would you choose? Most people would be looking for the next George Washington, or at the very least the next Neil Armstrong. History suggests, they’d be wrong.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our story this week is  “Don’t Shoot” by Robert Zacks. If you invent something Earth-changing, you need to be careful who you sell the technology to. You might end up inadvertently creating a cryptid.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Welcome Martians” by S.A. Lombino. What if we landed on Mars and discovered people who were so much like us that they wouldn’t actually believe you were from Earth?

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “A Matter of Protocol” by Jack Sharkey. A lot of writers have speculated about what aliens would do here on Earth if they ever showed up, but what if humans were the aliens visiting a new world?

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is The Snowball Effect by Katherine MacLean. In a clash between academia and administration, a university president challenges the real-world value of sociology, prompting an experiment that could change the world forever or at the very least one sewing circle.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our story this week is “The Snowbank Orbit” by Fritz Leiber. It's the story of a young spaceman grappling with the surreal and isolating vastness of space and the shadow of interstellar conflict.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is  “The Luckiest Man in Denv” by Simon Eisner. In a future dystopia where social climbing and technological manipulation intertwine, a man stumbles upon a disturbing conspiracy.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Big Stupe” By Charles V. De Vet. If the human exploration of space goes anything like our exploration of Earth, we probably won’t think very highly of the aliens we meet, which means it would serve us right if they thought the same thing about us

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s story The Leech by Robert Sheckley, we explore a tale of a spore—a seemingly lifeless entity that has drifted through the cosmic void for millennia, until the fateful day it lands on Earth. Unbeknownst to humankind, this tiny seed holds within it a hunger that defies comprehension, an insatiable thirst for energy and mass. As it stirs to life and begins to grow, it falls to an unwitting professor and an overconfident general to confront the unknowable.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is The Man Who Remembered, an original story by Spiritus Dei. We meet a young man named Randy, a man who found himself at the tender age of 29, just beginning to see his life take shape. He had a job he could tolerate, was contemplating the future with a newfound optimism, and was thinking about re-entering the world of romance. But Randy's plans took an unexpected detour when fate dealt him a fatal hand—an accident that ended his life and set him on a path through a surreal afterlife bureaucracy.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is  We're Civilized! by Alex Apostolides and Mark Clifton. The fate of Mars and its inhabitants hangs in the balance, as the self-assured captain and the thoughtful scientist grapple with the consequences of their actions. Will they recognize the value of the life they have found, or will they repeat the mistakes of history?

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Prime Difference” by Alan Nourse. It’s a story that dives into the complexities of identity, the nuances of love, and the unintended consequences of tampering with the human experience. In this tale of desperation and deception, one man  learns that the perfect solution may come with an unexpected price.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Green Grew the Lasses” by Ruth Laura Wainwright. A woman already on edge from the relentless summer heat and the unwelcome arrival of her cousin, is about to face an unimaginable upheaval in her seemingly mundane life.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Super Opener” by Michael Zuroy, which just might be the very first literary example of malicious compliance in the workplace. It’s a story that has everything really, a put upon employee, an overbearing boss and the world being overrun with tin cans.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Snare” by Richard Rein Smith. It could serve as a cautionary tale for NASA’s Artemis astronauts as they return to the Moon. If you find a doorway on the Moon, maybe it’s not such a good idea to go inside.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Other Now” by Murray Leinster. It’s a story all about dealing with loss, and then finding out maybe you don’t actually have to deal with it after all.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have a story called “Beyond Lies the Wub” by Philip K Dick. This story explores themes of empathy, the ethics of survival, and the often troubling intersection between human ambition and the natural world. Through the interactions between the crew and the wub, Philip K. Dick masterfully weaves a narrative that questions the boundaries of humanity and the nature of intelligence. It’s a story that proves the old saying “You are what you eat.”

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is "The Eternal Wall" by Raymond Gallun. The Eternal Wall is a story that weaves together themes of love, tragedy, and the passage of time. It reminds me of the 1973 Gene Roddenberry movie Genesis II, or Futurama. Both stories deal with people who suddenly find themselves in the far flung future. This story will tug on your heart strings a little more than either of those, though.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have "The Irritated People" by Ray Bradbury. Charles Crossley, the President of American Jet-Propelled Ships, finds himself in a world teetering on the edge of chaos. The World Organization keeps has banned all wars, so countries have to get creative to settle their differences.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Special Parts” by Matthew DeBlock, an original story that takes a look at a fascinating world all around us that we never see.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we have “Pen Pal” by Stephen Marlowe. We meet Matilda, a young woman looking for love by submitting letters to a literary magazine. That’s something much more common when the story was published in 1951 and probably pretty close to using a dating app these days. When she thinks she’s found the love of her life, things get really strange.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is ”The Furious Rose” by Dean Evans, which looks at a future where society punishes criminals by taking something unexpected from them.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Security Risk” by Ed M Clinton Jr. Over the years I’ve heard a few people say that if there’s a task you don’t want to do, do it once really badly and no one will ever ask you again. Here we learn that if there’s a fight you really don’t want to get involved in, all you have to do is make both sides think they can’t trust you.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we have an original story that was submitted to Auditory Anthology called ”It’s About Time” by DH Parish, which is a little like the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers, except the pod people do odds and ends for the community.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “Amateur in Chancery” by George O. Smith. If someone’s life depended on it, could you explain the concept of right and left to someone who had tentacles and had never heard of either?

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is Age of Anxiety by Robert Silverberg. If you could take a pill and never have to worry about anything ever again, would you? What if there was a time limit for you to make your decision?

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is The Troubled Atlas, an original story by Sander Wess. In it we meet a scientist in the midst of an accident in space who must make an impossible decision: risk everything to save another crewmember or ensure the survival of the few who remain. With time running out, he prepares to undertake a desperate rescue mission through the compromised corridors of the ship, knowing that even a slight misstep could doom them all.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s October, which means a couple of things: The weather is a little colder, everything is suddenly Pumpkin Spice-flavored and most importantly, it’s “Spooky Season. So in addition to our normal science fiction stories, this month we’re sharing some classic horror tales by Edgar Allen Poe to keep you up all night.

This week’s story for Spooky season is  "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s story is “The Beast of Boredom” by Richard R Smith. We all find ourselves wishing we had more time, but in this story we learn that it can be more of a curse than a blessing.

If you have a story you’d like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/

Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconrad

Narrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/

Other shows hosted by Darren:

Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/

Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymag

Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors

Retro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradio

Church of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.