This fun little story by H. G. Wells builds on fantastic language and haunted tropes to pull you into the moment. If you’ve ever experienced an irrational fear of the dark than you will relate to this story. Link to text: https://www.gutenberg

Nyarlathotep by H.P. Lovecraft

Nov 11th, 2019 10m 42s

Take a listen to my reading of one of my favorite pieces of prose poetry by H. P. Lovecraft. A lot of the conceptual pieces for Azathoth as well as many of the other popular mythos concepts owe their origins to this little piece. Apparently, t

The Abominations of Yondo by Clark Ashton Smith

Nov 11th, 2019 20m 37s

One of the first Clark Ashton Smith stories I ever read. The Abominations of Yondo is more prose poetry than a well-developed story, but the sheer brilliance of the language and the visceral descriptions of the landscape capture me as few thin

The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold

Nov 11th, 2019 17m 35s

This fantastic horror short story was first published in Weird Tales Magazine in 1926 by H. F. Arnold. It was popular in its day, and I think stands out as a real gem of the pulps. I hope you enjoy. Link to text: http://bit.ly/the-night-wire

14 – The Killer Ape

May 29th, 2019 31m 34s

Are you really insisting on bringing that bushel of bananas with you, even though you know we are going to be exploring the origins of the killer ape? It just seems like a bad idea, that’s all. This time it’s Edgar Allan Poe’s tale The Murder

13 – The Zombie

Feb 28th, 2019 28m 10s

Aim for the head, aim for the head! Henry S. Whitehead’s tale Jumbee is the focus of this month’s episode as we explore the origins of the zombie. A full episode list and other creative works by me: http://www.matthewtansek.com Twitter: http

12 – Science vs The Occult

Jan 17th, 2019 35m 2s

Better grab your unlicensed particle accelerator because we’re about to go ghost busting with William Hodgeson’s Gateway of the Monster. A full episode list and other creative works by me: http://www.matthewtansek.com Twitter: http://www.twit

A Message to the Listeners

Aug 14th, 2018 1m 28s

A brief message concerning the future of the show.

11 – The Cthulhu Mythos

May 9th, 2018 32m 22s

Take cover from the nightly sandstorm as we take a look at H.P. Lovecraft’s The Nameless City, and the origins of the Cthulhu mythos. A full episode list and other creative works by me: http://www.matthewtansek.com Twitter: http://www.twitter

10 – Killer Robots

Apr 16th, 2018 21m

Boot up that positron brain and juice up your servos because in this episode of Horrorigins we are going to be taking a look at Rossum’s Universal Robots and the origin of the killer robot. A full episode list and other creative works by me:

09 – The Swamp Monster

Mar 23rd, 2018 21m 27s

Gear up friends, we are about to head into the dangerous fen that is Theodore Sturgeon’s “It!“, the first story to have evil animated vegetation in the form of man. Can it be stopped? Let’s find out. A full episode list and other creative wo

08 – Creatures in the New York Subway

Mar 19th, 2018 24m 31s

Have you ever wondered just what sorts of horrors lie just beyond the little windows of the subway train? Well you’re about to find out because in this episode we are going to be taking a look at Robert Barbour Johnson’s short story from Weird

07 – The Horrifying Mummy

Jan 28th, 2018 17m 52s

Big mummy on campus! In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the fist tale to depict a mummy in a horror context. Its originating story: Lot No. 249 by Arthur Conan Doyle. A full episode list and other creative works by me: http

06 – The Modern Vampire

Jan 14th, 2018 14m 3s

Did you know that vampires were not always the pale aristocrats we know today? In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the fist story that depicted the modern vampire in English literature. Its originating story: The Vampyre by J

05 – The Silver Bullets

Jan 1st, 2018 11m 40s

Have you ever wondered what the origins of the werewolf killing silver bullet were? In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the fist story to ever fight back against wolf monsters with silver bullets and the folklore behind this oc

04 – The Christmas Special

Dec 14th, 2017 9m 30s

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? How about a haunted one? In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the first supernatural Christmas story to ever warn against the dangers of making a deal with your doppelganger. Its originat

03 – The Mad Scientist

Dec 14th, 2017 10m 21s

Grab your lab coats and goggles! In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the first mad scientist character to ever take science too far. Its originating story: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Links referred to in this episode: Fran

02 – The Invisible Monster

Dec 13th, 2017 11m 13s

Did you see this one coming? In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the first invisible monster to terrify pulp readers. Its originating story: What Was It? A Mystery by Fitz James O’Brien. Links referred to in this episode: Wh

01 – The Occult Detective

Dec 13th, 2017 10m 50s

Welcome to Horrorigins! A podcast that examines the firsts in horror literature. In this episode we are going to be taking a look at the occult detective, its originating story: The Pot of Tulips by Fitz James O’Brien. Links referred to in t

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