What Was It? by Fitz-James O'Brien

Taking up residence at a supposedly haunted house in New York, the narrator and his friend are visited by a highly mysterious individual whose very nature defies explanation.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

When a travelling salesman looks for accomodation in a remote coastal village, he discovers buried secrets, long harboured resentments, and a mysterious presence on the nearby sand dunes.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

Whilst conducting an experiment into the projection of his image across space, a psychical investigator becomes trapped in the spirit realm when a malign entity steals his body. Can his partner discover the truth in time to save him?If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

A railway enthusiast harbours a bitter resentment towards his business partner. As he ponders this on his train journey his imagination causes him to wonder what would happen if a junction to another line were to lead to another reality altogether.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.socialMy thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

This month's story is a listener request! My thanks to Dr Monkeyface for the suggestion.Far out at sea, the crew of an oceangoing vessel are faced with a mysterious and horrifying foe lurking somewhere in the thick impenetrable mist that surrounds them.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠If you are enjoying these tales, why not leave a review on your listening platform of choice.My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

Haunted since his youth by a recurring nightmare, a man discovers to his horror that sometimes dreams are more than simply the mind's anticipation of everyday waking routine.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠If you are enjoying these tales, why not leave a review on your listening platform of choice.My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

On this, the 5th anniversary of the podcast I read a special, slightly longer story than usual.In H.P. Lovecraft's archetypal tale of cosmic horror, the narrator describes how after finding a number of unusual items in his late uncle's belongings he discovers details of a series of increasingly disturbing events. Further investigation reveals evidence of an ancient horror lying deep beneath the Pacific and the terrible realisation that there are still those in the world that may be affected by its malevolent influence.Certain terms used and attitudes held by characters in this tale may not be suitable for all listeners or sensibilities. Please listen at your own discretion.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠⁠ and Bluesky ⁠⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠⁠If you are enjoying these tales, why not leave a review on your listening platform of choice.My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

In this western horror, a young farmer discovers the horrifying reason why his neighbour avoids the hillock on the edge of his land, as its history is reluctantly revealed to him. Certain terms used and attitudes held by characters in this tale may not be suitable for all listeners or sensibilities. Please listen at your own discretion.If you're enjoying these stories, why not buy me a nice cup of tea? ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at ⁠https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/⁠ and Bluesky ⁠@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social⁠If you are enjoying these tales, why not leave a review on your listening platform of choice.My thanks to Scott Dorward for audio post-production processing.

A chance encounter in a country inn reveals the history of two old men with a dark past. Whilst medical students in the city of Edinburgh many years ago the pair were involved in an illicit and grisly trade that culminated in one terrifying night where the consequences of their actions were visited upon them in a most ghastly fashion.If you would like to support the podcast with a small donation, you can do so by visiting ⁠https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories⁠.Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/ and Bluesky @grahamwalmsley.bsky.socialIf you are enjoying these tales, why not leave a review on your listening platform of choice.

A very Happy New Year from the podcast!With the New Year comes a new feature - you can now make a wee donation, large or small or nothing at all, by visiting https://ko-fi.com/mrspikesbedtimestories and clicking on the "Donate" button.Any and all contributions very gratefully received. Thanks to everyone who's either a long-time listener or has just happened upon the podcast. I really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy the stories. Onwards and upwards!Mr Spike's Bedtime Stories theme and incidental music composed by Graham Walmsley.Graham is the creator of role playing games including 'Cthulhu Dark' and 'Cosmic Dark' and you can find him on Substack at https://grahamwalmsley.substack.com/ and BlueSky @grahamwalmsley.bsky.socialIf you are enjoying these tales, why not leave a review on your listening platform of choice.