The Other Stories | Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller, WTF Stories

It’s Halloween.

Which means, for one night only, we’re legally required to make The Other Stories approximately thirty-seven percent more sinister.

So lock your doors. Turn down the lights. Ignore whatever just moved behind you.

And whatever you do…

Don’t go...

OFF-BOOK

Desperate for a gig, a struggling actor goes method, pushing the boundaries of his sanity in pursuit of perfection.

Written by Dan Howarth (https://www.danhowarthwriter.com)

Narrated by Josh Curran

And Georgia Cook (https://www.geor...

S3.8 The Retreat

Corporate success requires sacrifice. Have you given 110 per cent?

Written by Penny Durham

Narrated by Georgia Cook (https://www.georgiacookwriter.com/)

And Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by James Barnett (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Velleitie (https://velleitie.us/)

And Umcorps (https://soundcloud.com/umcorps)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www.mattseffbarnes.com/)<...

S3.7 47 Seconds

A young man ignores a phone call from the love of his life, only to find that if he had answered he might have changed her fate. Now he's forced to find a way to live with himself, alone, and to see if he can find a way back home again.

Written by Jerry Enni

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by James Barnett (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by North Without End (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/north-without-end/)

And...

S3.6 Claws

The crew of an isolated lighthouse discover something alarming washed up in the latest storm.

Written by Georgia Cook (https://www.georgiacookwriter.com/)

Narrated by Josh Curran

Produced by James Barnett (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Duncan Muggleton (https://temporalrecordings.wordpress.com)

And Brylie Christopher Oxley (https://brylie.bandcamp.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org and pixabay.

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www...

S3.5 Mechanical

The original Mechanical Turk appears to be a fraud, but just how dangerous is it to its young female chess-playing operator?

Written by Liam Hogan (http://happyendingnotguaranteed.blogspot.co.uk)

Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Tim Kulig (https://timkulig.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www.mattseffbarnes.com/)

Joshua Boucher is our...

S3.4 Eagles and Shamblers

Cheerleaders in love at the end of the world.

Written by Donna J. W. Munro (https://www.donnajwmunro.com)

Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Epic Stock Media (https://epicstockmedia.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by https://getsoundly.com/

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www.mattseffbarnes.com/)

Joshua Boucher is our...

S3.3 My Writing Partner

Reading someone’s mind can have horrific consequences, even when you don’t do it.

Written by Sol Roberts-Lieb (http://sol.roberts-lieb.com/)

Narrated and Produced by James Barnett (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Myuu (https://www.thedarkpiano.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www.mattseffbarnes.com/)

Joshua Boucher is our story programmer.

Jasmine Arch manages our...

S3.2 Like Silver

Grappling with the loss of his significant other, a haunted man struggles to allow her spirit -- and his own -- to rest.

Written by Derek Alan Jones

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Epic Stock Media (https://epicstockmedia.com/)

And Grzegorz Rusin (https://freemusicarchive.org/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by https://getsoundly.com/

The...

S3.1 The Collecting

*The young ones would appear strange on most days, but tonight they draw no notice. Tonight is the night of the collecting, and it is the one night of the year when the young ones move about in peace.*

Written by Cassandra Daucus (https://linktr.ee/residualdreaming)

Narrated by Georgia Cook (https://www.georgiacookwriter.com/)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Guided meditation (https://freemusicarchive.org/)

And Kirk Osamayo (http://www.kirkosamayo...

S2.8 My Brother Roy

During a hot, humid, summer night in downriver Detroit, a lonely man looking for love meets a woman at a local bar. Unfortunately for her, the man and his brother prove to be more bizarre than her most deranged nightmare.

Written by Edward. R. Rosick

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by James Barnett (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by North Without End (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/north-without-end/)

And Mantis Shrimp (www.freemusicarchive.org)

And...

S2.7 Confession

After being arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, Paul is relieved to discover that everyone believes him. However, he soon finds that even though they know he is innocent, they want him to confess.

Written by Harley Carnell

Narrated by Josh Curran

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Cyberleaf Studio (https://andreabaroni.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was pr...

S2.6 Holiday Bonus

A well-intentioned bonus by a department manager leads to chaos in the workplace.

Written by Russell Richardson (https://www.russellrichardson.org)

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by James Barnett AKA Jimmy Horrors (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Boom Library (https://www.boomlibrary.com/)

And Dark Fantasy Studio (http://darkfantasystudio.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by...

S2.5 Alina's Ring

During World War II, a wounded German soldier stumbles into the home of an Italian peasant family. As the daughter nurses the soldier back to health, she falls madly in love with him without realizing—or does she?—that it was his comrades who murdered her mother and father. Her obsessive, uncompromising passion can lead only to a grisly finale

Written by Nicola Lombardi

And translated by Joe Weintraub

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com...

S2.4 Child in a Mirror Dark

A horror took his daughter from him years ago. He hasn't stopped searching for a way back to her, but what has he sacrificed in the process?

Written by Chris DeStefano (social media link)

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Epic Stock Media (https://epicstockmedia.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by https://getsoundly.com/

...

S2.3 Never Use the Last Page

A woman seeks revenge upon the person who killed her fiancé in a most unusual manner.

Written by Morgan Chalfant (https://www.instagram.com/eyesonly34/)

Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Chris Logsdon (https://chrislsound.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www.mattseffbarnes.com/)

Joshua Boucher is our story p...

S2.2 Long Live The Prom King

*Bobby never expected himself to die. Nobody with a girlfriend like Clara Jones in their life was about to die.*

Written by Georgia Cook (https://x.com/georgiacooked)

Narrated by Josh Curran

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Dark Fantasy Studio (http://darkfantasystudio.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration...

S2.1 Warm-blooded

James Morello works the night shift on a far away space station. During one of his shifts, he realizes there’s something else out there with him in vast, emptiness.

Written by Trey Stone (https://www.facebook.com/TreyStoneAuthor/)

Narrated and produced by James Barnett AKA Jimmy Horrors (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Tim Kulig (https://timkulig.com/)

And Daniel Birch (https://danielbirchmusic.com)

And Soularflair (https://freemusicarchive.org/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects pr...

Fair

Lily, frustrated by her tyrannical manager at her cinema job, shows him a cursed film which causes him to be ripped apart by a demon.

Written by Caolán Mac An Aircinn (https://www.instagram.com/writercaolan/)

Narrated by Georgia Cook (https://x.com/georgiacooked)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff Barnes (https://www.mattseffbarnes.com/)

Personal Growth

Percival’s monochrome existence is about to change. Personal growth is expected, he is responding in terrifying ways very much outside of office protocol.

Written by Simon Ward (www.x.com/simon_W_writes)

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by James Barnett AKA Jimmy Horrors (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Daniel Birch (https://danielbirchmusic.com)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was pr...

How To Brew A Perfect Cup Of Tea

Ben and Marie are having tea and coffee before work. They're not alone.

Written by Cassandra Daucus (https://linktr.ee/residualdreaming))

Narrated by Georgia Cook (https://x.com/georgiacooked))

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Cyberleaf Studio (https://andreabaroni.com/)

And North Without End (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/north-without-end/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode...

The Debt Collector

Artificial Intelligence, Bee, inhabits the bodies of those who miss subscription payments to utilize their own brains, voluntarily pulled from their heads and enhanced. When opportunity arises, Bee enacts a daring plan to break the cycle of her monotonous existence.

Written by Sophia Wells (www.instagram.com/sophia.wells)

Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Phat Phrog studio (https://www.phatphrogstudio.com/)

And Dark Fantasy Studio (http://darkfantasystudio...

The Tail End

After nearly drowning in a shipwreck, a young man mistakes a village girl for his savior, not knowing it was a mermaid from old sea lore who pulled him from the depths. Scorned, she calls upon ancient tides to claim what was promised—his heart, or his life.

Written by Mary Pastrano (www.instagram.com/MaryPWriter)

Narrated by Josh Curran

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.co...

Butterfly Bites

Aideen finds a lush thriving garden behind an old abandoned house, filled with beautiful butterflies. But, wait, butterflies don’t bite, do they?

Written by Susan E. Rogers(https://www.facebook.com/sarahjanejusticewriting)

Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Brylie Christopher Oxley (https://brylie.bandcamp.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by...

Glitch

*As CEO of a company standing on the frontlines of the war against deception technology, Ash Cavanaugh wants the public to remember that whatever they’re seeing, it might not be real.*

Written by Sarah Jane Justice (https://www.facebook.com/sarahjanejusticewriting)

Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://instagram.com/efventu)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr )

With music by Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

The episode il...

I Think My Sock Puppet Hates Me

The bond between a man and his sock puppet is a sacred thing, but what happens when the relationship is in trouble?

Written by Andy Morris (https://blackcattales.weebly.com/)

Narrated by Josh Curran

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Dark Fantasy Studio (http://darkfantasystudio.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by Matt Seff...

80.1 Speed Awareness Course

One of our cameras detected a violation of the speed limit. You can either accept 3 points on your driving license, or take the Speed Awareness Course. What is your choice?

Written by Joanne Askew (www.jaskewauthor.com)

Narrated by Alexandra Elroy (social media link)

Edited by Duncan Muggleton (http://soundcloud.com/duncanmuggleton)

With music by Duncan Muggleton (http://soundcloud.com/duncanmuggleton)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

The episode illustration was provided by Luke Spooner of Carrion House (https://carrionhouse...

A struggling artist turned gallery owner launches his attempt to become remembered.

Written by Dan Howarth

Narrated by Josh Curran

Edited by Karl Hughes

With music by Umcorps and Thom Robson

And sound effects provided by Zapsplat.com and Freesound.org

Dan Howarth is a writer from the North West of England. He has co-edited three anthologies, the most recent of these, Pareidolia was launched by Black Shuck Books in July 2019. His chapbook Dulce Et Decorum Est is available from Demain Press. Dan can be found on...

90.2 She Burns

A struggling actress visits a cryptic Seer, who hands her a crooked match, and a choice.

Written by Luke Kondor (https://www.instagram.com/lukeofkondor/)

Narrated by Georgia Cook (https://twitter.com/georgiacooked)

Edited by Duncan Muggleton (http://soundcloud.com/duncanmuggleton)

With music by Duncan Muggleton (https://temporalrecordings.wordpress.com)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by Luke Spooner of Carrion House (https://carrionhouse.com/)

A...

89.1 The Incomparable Freddy Red

When seven-year-old Kim Barnes wills her imaginary friend, Freddy Red, into existence, who spills over with games and laughter and titters and blood.

Written by Luke Kondor (https://www.lukekondor.com)

Narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies (https://twitter.com/mldAudio)

Edited by Karl Hughes (https://twitter.com/karlhughes)

With music by MusicLFiles (https://cemmusicproject.wixsite.com/musiclibraryfiles)

And Duncan Muggleton (https://temporalrecordings.wordpress.com)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

The episode illustration was provided by Luke Spooner...

C.S.U

A near immaculate crime scene, a homicide specialist and a pioneering piece of investigative technology. Is it the perfect murder or can it be solved in minutes?

Written by Richard Reynolds (groundzerocomics.co.uk)

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.twitter.com/justinbfife)

Edited by Duncan Muggleton (http://soundcloud.com/duncanmuggleton)

With music by Duncan Muggleton (https://temporalrecordings.wordpress.com)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided by...

78.2 Husk

Today’s episode has been sponsored by Territory is the new novella from Dan Howarth.

In a remote Finnish hunting community, darkness and the cold hold the villagers close. As a pack of wolves threaten the village’s future, grief-stricken hunter Jari must unite the population to reclaim their territory.

Old feuds and dark habits rear their heads as Jari tries to lead the villagers through their toughest season, but it soon becomes clear that not everyone will survive the winter.

Territory is available on 10 June.

Husk

Th...

87.5 Crawlspace

Dennis' quiet evening of reading is interrupted by thumping music coming from his neighbour's house. Or at least he thinks that's where it's coming from.

Written by Kev Harrison (www.kevharrisonfiction.com

Narrated by Narrator and edited by James Barnett AKA Jimmy Horrors (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by Daniel Birch (https://danielbirchmusic.com)

And Andrew kn (https://freesound.org/people/Andrewkn/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was provided...

81.2 Desire & Sons

"Desire & Sons" is a translation of Nicola Lombardi's short fiction "I Desideri." The translation has never been published, and Mr. Lombardi has authorized me to translate his fictions and seek publication for them.

The sign in the window reads “Ghosts--Bought & Sold.” Surely the proprietor of this curio shop is joking; but the narrator soon discovers that the owner is far more serious than he could ever have expected.

Written by Nicola Lombardi & Joe Weintraub (social media link)

Narrated by James Barnett AKA Jimmy Horrors (social media link)

Edit...

Impersonatorus Rex

Gerald thinks he’s found another heartbroken woman to manipulate — until he meets Tor’s husband. At first, Thomas seems like just another loser, but Gerald soon realises Thomas isn’t quite all there; apparently, he does a great dinosaur impersonation... of the carnivorous variety

Written by Luke Kondor (https://www.instagram.com/lukeofkondor/)

Narrated by Josh Curran

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Myuu (https://www.thedarkpiano.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And...

We hope you're enjoying the summer, and thank you for your continued support of The Other Stories.

We wanted to bring you something special today that we think many of you will enjoy. The Hawk & Cleaver team have been working on recording and editing the first book in The Aelfraver Series, The Rave. We even have TOS narrator Erika Ventura cast as the narrator.

Author J.R Traas describes it as an arcanepunk cyberfantasy about teenage rebellion against the ruling elite and their gods. TOS editor Karl Hughes said it reminded him of...

Hey Patrons!

After nearly a decade of bringing you the weirdest, most wonderful tales this side of the apocalypse, The Other Stories is taking a well-earned summer break.

We’ve been riding this beast weekly for years — an exhilarating, terrifying motorbike from hell — and while we love every second, it’s left little time to step back, reflect, or breathe. So we’re pulling over for a short pit stop to rest, recharge, and give the engine a little TLC.

While we’re away, we’ll be rebroadcasting some of our all-time favourite epis...

106.4 The Diary

Tired of flogging books to the wealthy the find of a lost diary sets in motion a mystery that could harken a new fortune or something more sinister.

Written by R.N. Krantz

Narrated by Georgia Cook (https://x.com/georgiacooked)

Produced by Georgia Triantafyllopoulou (https://www.instagram.com/audiogeekgr)

With music by Epic Stock Media (https://epicstockmedia.com/)

And Haunted Me (https://hauntedmeofficial.wordpress.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by https://getsoundly.com/<...

106.3 Blind Cast

Two space engineers just finished repairing an old satellite in low orbit when they see a very unexpected item floating just outside of their space ships.

Written by Alexandra Elroy

Narrated by Alexandra Elroy

And Tycho Francis

And Nick Herman

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)

With music by Chris Zabriskie (https://chriszabriskie.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration was...

106.2 Yellow Tape

Mourning the loss of their close friend, Elle and Lionel come home to watch a mysterious yellow tape that was bequeathed to them in their friend’s will. But by the end of the tape, the couple wish it had never come to them.

Written by Xavier Garcia (twitter.com/xavier_agarcia)

Narrated and produced by James Barnett (https://www.JamesBarnettCreative.com)

With music by North Without End (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/north-without-end/)

And Myuu (https://www.thedarkpiano.com/)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.co...

106.1 The Reid Property Tape

Coins turn up heads on the Reid property. Mr. Reid wants your skull, but he's not unfair. He'll let you flip for it.

Written by Heinrich von Wolfcastle (https://www.facebook.com/HeinrichvonWolfcastle/)

Narrated by Justin Fife (https://www.threads.net/@justin.fife)

Produced by Karl Hughes (**https://bsky.app/profile/karlhughes.bsky.social)**

With music by Umcorps (https://soundcloud.com/umcorps)

And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)

And sound effects provided by Freesound.org

The episode illustration...