The Good Friends of Jackson Elias

The Good Friends of Jackson Elias is a regular podcast devoted to the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game, horror movies, weird fiction and horror gaming in general. It is hosted by Paul Fricker, Matthew Sanderson and Scott Dorward, three writers who have worked on the new edition of Call of Cthulhu and other tabletop roleplaying games. Each episode focuses on a different topic, always related to our love of all things dark and horrifying.

312: Comedy Horror, with Evan Dorkin 05/05/2025

312: Comedy Horror, with Evan Dorkin We’re back and we’re and we’re putting on our ponchos. They look a bit silly, but that works for us here. The important thing is that they’ll keep some of the gore off our clothes. Comedy horror can be a messy business, especially once you bring gardening equipment into play. We’re not sure whether to laugh or cry, so we’ll probably just scream. Main Topic: Comedy Horror This episode sees us delve into the bloody world of comedy horror, trying to pin down what makes the two genres work so well together, looking at some examples from media, and trying to work out how to perform such alchemy ourselves. We take some serious digressions into why so many comedians turn to horror, what fun can be found in terrible films, and whether horror parodies are a form of comedy horror. As you might imagine from such a wide-ranging discussion, our chat went long. listening to the uncut version will find over an hour of extra material there. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome back to the Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Evan is a multi-award-winning comics writer and artist, known for creations like , , , , , and . With his wife, Sarah Dyer, Evan has also worked on TV programmes such as , , , and Along with Paul Yellovich, Evan is co-host of the excellent horror movie podcast, . And if you have any interest in the history of comics or learning how they are made, you should definitely check out , where he posts regular tales from the industry alongside all manner of cool pieces of work. You can also hear Evan in our earlier discussion about the relationship between . Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1940) (1974) (2010) (1984) (1995) (1936) (1945) (1972) (1967) (1965) (1971) (1992) (2010) (1977) (1986) (1990) (1946) (1985) (1992) (1987) (2004) (2010) (2017) (1994) (2010) (2012) (1991) (1981) (1987) (1992) (1985) (1980) (1980) (1982) (1964) (1959) (1959) (2009) (2010) (2003) (2006) (1980) (1978) (1981) (2010) (2012) (2009) (1992) (1982) (1978) (1970) (1933) (1935) (1932) (1940) (1940) (1988) (1978) (1985) (1988) (1960) (1982) by Jerome K Jerome by MR James (1981) by R Chetwynd-Hayes by R Chetwynd-Hayes (2023) (2023) (2013) (1988) (1967) by Bram Stoker (2014) from Inside No. 9 (1979) (1948) (2017) (1951) (1955) (1953) (1949) (1981) (1980) (1987) (1988) (1992) (1991) (1975) (1977) (1987) (1963) (1964) (1983) (1993) News A Weekend With Good Friends GM signups for will close very soon! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, taking place on the . Key dates are: GM signups: 23rd of April – 7th of May Player signups: 22nd of May – 5th of June A Weekend With Good Friends: 13th – 15th of June Games and panels will run throughout the weekend. We shall share more details are they become available. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/36431410

311: RPGs and Fiction, with Evan Dorkin 04/20/2025

310: Something Wicked This Way Comes, with Cuppycup 04/06/2025

309: Theme Parks and Horror, with Cuppycup 03/23/2025

309: Theme Parks and Horror, with Cuppycup We’re back and we’re learning about protein spills. What sounded like an innocent sexual innuendo has turned out to be more scatological than any of us would have liked. The unpleasant realities of theme parks are well hidden behind twee language and cute costumes. Happily, once we strip them away, we can find some good horror inspiration. Although we do wish it all smelled a bit better. Main Topic: Theme Parks and Horror This episode, we visit the topic of theme parks, amusement parks, funfairs and the like, looking for Call of Cthulhu inspiration. As with so many things rooted in childhood joy, theme parks can easily turn into something nightmarish in both our imaginations and in reality. We dip into personal experiences, urban legends, and our own wild ideas, looking for both the roots of these fears and ways of bringing them into our games. There is something of a focus on Disney parks in our discussion, only because our guest host used to work for Disney, as did Matt’s wife, Tiff. This gives us a wealth of personal anecdotes to draw upon. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome back Cuppycup! Cup, of course, has been on the podcast before, discussing with us a few years ago. He is best known as the mastermind behind the award-winning actual play podcast , where you will also find regular appearances by Scott alongside some of our other guest hosts, including Ross Bryant and Josephine McAdam. As well as ASN, Cup is producing a new Call of Cthulhu podcast called Walking Shadows, with Ross Bryant as Keeper, and a cast that includes Becca Scott, Rashawn Scott, and Zach Reino. The first episodes should be out within the next couple of months. And Cup’s first published scenario, “Deadwood on Lane 8”, will be out on the Miskatonic Repository soon. This is a 1990s extravaganza that puts the cosmic firmly into cosmic bowling. If you want to keep up with all these projects, you can follow on or join their . Links Things we mention in this episode include: in St Andrews (now Galactica) at Alton Towers at Alton Towers by Roald Dahl at Alton Towers “UNLAND” from on Ain’t Slayed Nobody (1973) (1993) at Universal Studios at Crystal Palace Recommended Media by Joe R Lansdale by Richard Laymon by Dean R Koontz by Dean R Koontz (1981) (1974) episode of The Twilight Zone episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark (1982) by Erin Morgenstern by William Lindsay Gresham by Ray Bradbury from Doctor Who from The X-Files (1932) (1962) (2013) (1976) by Cory Doctorow by Carl Hiaasen News A Weekend With Good Friends Summer 2025 will see the return of A Weekend With Good Friends! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, taking place on the . Key dates are: GM signups: 23rd of April – 7th of May Player signups: 22nd of May – 5th of June A Weekend With Good Friends: 13th – 15th of June Games and panels will run throughout the weekend. We shall share more details are they become available. Scott on Fear of a Black Dragon Scott recently joined Jason Cordova over on . They discussed the Call of Cthulhu scenario “The Necropolis”, written by Leigh Carr, from the collection. Jason and Scott delved into what makes “The Necropolis” such a perfect introduction to Call of Cthulhu, examining some of the tricks it uses to be tightly focused and accessible to newcomers. If you want more, you can also hear Scott run as a live game for How We Roll at PodUK 2019. Matt and Scott on RPG Reanimators Both Matt and Scott have been recording with , and our respective episodes are now out. Matt discussed “The Burning Stars” by David Conyers, from , offering his personal tips and insights. Scott talked to the crew about his own scenario “UNLAND”, from , revealing things he might change about the scenario and some of the content that never made it into the published version. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/35827095

308: The Appeal of Vampires, With Josephine McAdam 03/10/2025

307: Horror For the Nervous, with Josephine McAdam 02/23/2025

307: Horror For the Nervous, with Josephine McAdam We’re back and we’re hiding behind the sofa. Sure, the monsters, masked killers, and mutants can probably find us back here, but it still feels safer for some reason. Fear is rarely a rational thing, so why should our response to it be? Main Topic: Horror For the Nervous This episode came about when Scott was playing The Between with Josephine McAdam over on and she mentioned that she rarely watches or reads horror media because she finds it upsetting. Given how many horror projects Josephine has been involved with, this seemed like something worth exploring, so we pitched the concept of “horror for the nervous” to her. As we’ve explored in other episodes, horror is about as divisive as genres get. While plenty of us love ghosts, ghouls and gore, there are good reasons why others don’t. We’ve never really explored how you might engage with horror if you find it frightening, as it’s not something we’ve had to deal with much, so Josephine’s insights have been enlightening. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Josephine McAdam to the Good Friends. As well as her many, many actual play appearances on series like and , Josephine is an actor who has appeared in horror films such as and . You can find her streaming regularly on , and on various social media platforms, as JCVIM. You will also be able to find Josephine touring the UK later this year with Chaosium, playing live games of Call of Cthulhu. Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1980) (2000) (1980) (2019) (1984) (1985) (1990) (2008) (2005) by Emily C Hughes (2009) (1999) (2002) (1977) (2009) (1979) (2019) (1993) (1980) News A Weekend With Good Friends There will be another Weekend With Good Friends this summer! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, taking place on the . Key dates are: GM signups will run between the 23rd of April and the 7th of May Player signups will run between the 22nd of May and the 5th of June The convention itself will take place between the 13th and the 15th of June Games and panels will run throughout the weekend. We shall share more details are they become available. Matt Interviewed For Illusion Horror & Con Matt was recently interviewed by our good friends over at the YouTube channel, discussing his involvement in the . You can find the full video of the interview below. The Meat Trade on Ain’t Slayed Nobody For the last few years, episodes of “The Meat Trade” have been going on to of . This is based on the much briefer scenario of the same name that Scott wrote for the book. The final episode is going out on the 25th of February, so this is the perfect chance to catch up. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/35397785

306: Quatermass and the Pit 02/09/2025

306: Quatermass and the Pit We’re back and we’re digging up the past. Some of this excavation is purely physical, burrowing into the clay under London in search of the usual skulls and spaceships. The rest, however, is more atavistic in nature, uncovering the strange, alien memories buried within our minds. On reflection, we probably shouldn’t have used pickaxes for both jobs. Main Topic: Quatermass and the Pit This episode is our long-overdue exploration of the strange world of Professor Bernard Quatermass, and especially the 1967 film adaptation of Quatermass and the Pit. While we’ve mentioned Nigel Kneale on the podcast before, discussing his TV drama The Stone Tape and horror series Beasts, we’ve never really delved into his most famous creation. While Quatermass and the Pit is our main focus, we begin with a brief summary of the professor’s other appearances. As we mention, the Quatermass TV serials and films were a huge cultural phenomenon in the UK in the 1950s, shaping British science fiction media for generations. This fame did not travel beyond our borders, however, meaning the films have never had more than a cult following in the USA. Consider this episode our small part in trying to rectify this! Our Guest Host We are delighted to have YouTuber, podcaster and author Seth Skorkowsky join us for this episode. Most of our listeners will know Seth from his ENnie-Award winning , as well as the , which he hosts with Jon Hook. Seth is also the author of , spanning urban fantasy, sword and sorcery, and horror. His main focus right now is his ongoing for the campaign, . You can hear Seth’s previous appearances with the Good Friends here: Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Kim Newman by Andy Murray by Mark F Cain by Nigel Kneale (1955) (1957) (1956) (1979) from Doctor Who (1956) (1985) by Colin Wilson by Stephen King (1982) (1987) TV serial (1984) by HP Lovecraft by William Hope Hodgson by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft (1989) (1981) by James P Hogan from Doctor Who (1972) by Seth Skorkowsky /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/35212935

305: How to be an Investigator 01/27/2025

304: Haunted Landscapes 01/13/2025

304: Haunted Landscapes We’re back and we’re digging deep. While you might expect to find ghosts in these haunted landscapes, mostly we’re unearthing history. Oh, and carcinogens. On balance, ghosts seem like the healthier option. Main Topic: Haunted Landscapes Building on last episode’s discussion of Lovecraftian horror and detective fiction explored in Heather Miller’s , we’re delving into another part of the book, which lays out the idea of haunted landscapes. The landscapes in question are haunted by the past rather than ghosts, with layers of history transforming their geography and meaning. We take this concept and see how it might help us add depth to our Call of Cthulhu scenarios. Our Guest Host We are delighted to have Heather Miller join us for this episode. Heather is a Lovecraftian scholar who has presented a number of papers at and has recently published a book for — — which explores the relationship between Lovecraft and True Detective. Heather’s other papers include , which examines the connection between Lovecraft’s investigators and the cosmic horror of Moby-Dick, and . You can find Heather’s blog at , where, amongst other things, she discusses some of the research that went into her book. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by William Faulkner by HP Lovecraft by Richard Misrach and Kate Orff by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft (1965) (1972) (1982) by Bernice M Murphy by Robert W Chambers by HP Lovecraft “An Amaranthine Desire” from “The Secret of Castronegro” from the “Blackwater Creek” from the by HP Lovecraft “Hell in Texas” from “The Necropolis” from News Just One More Thing Often, we find ourselves with more to say than would fit into an episode. This may be because we’ve done a bunch of research that didn’t fit into the flow of the conversation, or simply because something occurred to us later. We’ve decided to try putting some of this to use in the form of bonus episodes for our . The first episode of Just One More Thing will hit the Good Friends early in the New Year. In it, Matt and Scott discuss some of the things they couldn’t quite fit into episodes 301 and 302, exploring a few other historical settings that appeal to us and offering more thoughts about Carnival of Souls. Please let us know what you think of this approach. We’d love to hear your feedback. Matt at ConTingency 2025 Matt is scheduled to attend in less than two short weeks. The convention takes place in Hunstanton, on the east coast of England, and will run from the 27th of January to the 3rd of February. While Matt is planning to carve out some time to play from the , he will be his usual unstoppable GMing machine for the rest of the con. Please say hi if you see him there and make sure he has enough tea to keep functioning. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/34840075

303: Call of Cthulhu and Detective Fiction 12/30/2024

303: Call of Cthulhu and Detective Fiction We’re back and we’re sifting through evidence. Being a good detective requires a keen eye for detail, an analytical mind, and a thorough knowledge of the genre. But that happens when you find yourself in a different genre than you were expecting? Is your uncanny ability to piece together disparate clues really an asset when it leads you to horrifying revelations? Maybe this new dark age thing we’ve heard about isn’t so bad after all. Main Topic: Call of Cthulhu and Detective Fiction This episode delves into the complex relationship between detective fiction and Lovecraftian horror. The two genres are closely related, both in their literary origins and their broad tropes. But, as our guest host argues, they serve almost opposing purposes. We explore how detective fiction works, and what this can teach us about running Call of Cthulhu. Our Guest Host Regular listeners will know that Paul has left the Good Friends. Matt and Scott are inviting interesting people we know to join us as guest hosts, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to our discussions. We are delighted to have Heather Miller join us for this episode. Heather is a Lovecraftian scholar who has presented a number of papers at Necronomicon Providence and has recently published a book for Hippocampus Press — Ripples From Carcosa — which explores the relationship between Lovecraft and True Detective. Heather’s other papers include “Melville and the Lovecraftian Gaze”, which examines the connection between Lovecraft’s investigators and the cosmic horror of Moby-Dick, and “Toward a Definition of Lovecraftpunk”. You can find Heather’s blog at notesonhplovecraft.blogspot.com, where, amongst other things, she discusses some of the research that went into her book. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Oscar Rios by René Girard by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets “Dead Man’s Stomp” from the by John Sanford by Ian Rankin by Agatha Christie by Patricia Highsmith (1974) by Victor LaValle by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by Edgar Allan Poe by ST Joshi by HP Lovecraft by Colin Dexter “Midnight Sunrise” from from Supernatural from Buffy the Vampire Slayer Version 1.0.0 News Just One More Thing Often, we find ourselves with more to say than will fit into our normal episodes. This may be because we’ve done a bunch of research that didn’t fit into the flow of the conversation, or simply because something occurred to us later. We’ve decided to try putting some of this to use in the form of bonus episodes for our . The first episode of Just One More Thing will hit the Good Friends early in the New Year. In it, Matt and Scott discuss some of the things they couldn’t quite fit into episodes 301 and 302, exploring a few other historical settings that appeal to us and offering some more thoughts about Carnival of Souls. Please do let us know what you think of this approach. We’d love to hear your feedback. Scott on Miskatonic Playhouse Scott recently joined our good friends at the for a guest spot, playing Sherlock Holmes in their current Cthulhu by Gaslight game, “Mr Whisper”. Expect some keen investigation, some even more unfortunate dice rolls, and a good helping of body horror. Scott on Pretending to be People Speaking of guest spots, Scott also joined our good friends at as a player in their most recent mini-arc, “Jackfruit Frog Island”. This is a Pulp Cthulhu prequel to their main campaign arc, taking place in the 1890s, and it goes from 0 to 100 almost instantly. Carnacki the Ghost-Finder Readings If you were unable to attend the live readings of our 2024 Christmas ghost stories, they are now available on the main Good Friends podcast feed. These two tales of William Hope Hodgson’s Carnacki the Ghost-Finder — and — were once again directed by our good friend Mike Perceval-Maxwell of . We would like to thank all our readers for bringing these stories to life: , , , , , , , and . /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/34657095

302d: The Horse of the Invisible part 2 12/21/2024

302c: The Horse of the Invisible part 1 12/20/2024

302b: The Searcher of the End House part 2 12/19/2024

302a: The Searcher of the End House part 1 12/18/2024

302: Carnival of Souls 12/16/2024

302: Carnival of Souls We’re back and we’re enjoying the salt air. Or should that be the Saltair? Either way, it would be even jollier if there weren’t all these ghouls around. We have nothing against them, and they do seem to serve a useful purpose, but they do have an unfortunate habit of popping up when you’re least expecting them. On the other hand, they are lively dancers, especially for dead folks. We suppose that if you are going to have a Carnival of Souls, some not-quite-live entertainment goes a long way. Main Topic: Carnival of Souls This episode delves into the 1962 horror film Carnival of Souls. While it wasn’t a commercial success by any measure, it has become a classic of the genre, influencing everyone from George Romero to David Lynch. The story of its origins is almost as strange as the film itself, and we go into both in detail, looking for inspiration for our games of Call of Cthulhu. As Carnival of Souls is in the public domain, you can watch it on YouTube. We highly recommend doing so before listening to this episode, as we will spoil the bejesus out of it. Our Guest Host Regular listeners will know that Paul has left the Good Friends. Matt and Scott are inviting interesting people we know to join us as guest hosts, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to our discussions. We are delighted to have join us again as our guest host for this episode. You may know Ross from , , , or the many improvised Call of Cthulhu games he and Scott have played together on . He is currently developing a new historical Call of Cthulhu actual play podcast called Walking Shadows, with Rashawn Scott, Becca Scott, and Zach Reino. The first episode will be out in 2025, wherever you find your podcasts. Links Things we mention in this episode include: on Ain’t Slayed Nobody on Ain’t Slayed Nobody (1949) (1999) (1971) (1968) (1962) by James Herbert (1981) (1979) (1980) (1997) by Neil Strauss (1986) by Arthur Machen from The Simpsons “UNLAND” from on Ain’t Slayed Nobody by Ambrose Bierce (2001) (1994) (1998) The Saltair Pavilion before the ghouls arrived News Blasphemous Tome Issue 13 We are hard at work on issue 13 of , the fanzine we put out twice-yearly for of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. This new issue will contain “A Social Responsibility” — a brand-new and gruesome Call of Cthulhu scenario from our own Matt Sanderson, set amidst the urban decay of modern-day Northampton. Anyone at the $5 level or higher by the end of this year can expect a printed copy of the Tome, signed by our own fair extremities. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a discounted print-on-demand copy, and everyone will receive the PDF. Don’t forget that also gives you access to the entire back catalogue of the Tome in PDF format, which includes a wealth of Call of Cthulhu scenarios you won’t find anywhere else. Christmas Story Reading on the Good Friends Discord With Christmas fast approaching, Mike Perceval-Maxwell of is once again organising a full-cast ghost story reading on . This time, we shall be reading two tales of William Hope Hodgson’s occult detective, . Specifically, we will be reading “The Searcher of the End House” and “The Horse of the Invisible”. So fire up your electric pentacle and join us by the fireplace at 22:00 GMT (note updated time — the time mentioned on earlier episodes is wrong) on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th of December. Don’t despair if you can’t make the live performances, as we plan to record them and release them as special episodes on the podcast feed. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/34468730

301: Bringing Historical Games to Life 12/02/2024

301: Bringing Historical Games to Life We’re back and we’re raising the dead. Well, sort of. After all that discussion about Joseph Curwen’s necromantic exploits, we thought we’d try something on a larger scale. Instead of tomes of forbidden knowledge, however, we’re poring over history books. Their visions of the past shall bring our historical games of Call of Cthulhu to shuddering, ghastly life! But can we get the details right enough to avoid subjecting our games becoming ye liveliest awfulness…? Main Topic: Bringing Historical Games to Life This episode delves into techniques and inspirations for enlivening our historical games of Call of Cthulhu. That said, the ideas we explore can be applied to any historical RPG scenario. We discuss why we’re drawn to historical settings, expanding on some of the media that influence us and how we can bring all this into our games. Regular listeners will know that Paul has now left the Good Friends, and that this is our first episode without him. Matt and Scott are keeping the podcast going, inviting interesting people we know to join us as guest hosts, bringing fresh perspectives and their own personal expertise to our discussions. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome as our inaugural guest host for this new era of the Good Friends. You may know Ross from , , , or the many improvised Call of Cthulhu games he and Scott have played together on . He is currently developing a new historical Call of Cthulhu actual play podcast called Walking Shadows, with Rashawn Scott, Becca Scott, and Zach Reino. The first episode will be out soon, wherever you find your podcasts. Links Things we mention in this episode include: “The Forcing Move” from “Cerulean Halo” from “Give Me Death” on by Laurie Anderson (mentioning Paul Revere) Bobby Fischer (1976) (1971) “The Threshold” on by Helen Schucman by Rhonda Byrne by Jane Austen “Cadenza” From (2000) (1959) (1951) by Donald Thomas by Russell Miller Jack Parsons (2021) (1977) by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson by Charles Dickens by Patrick O’Brian by Charles Nicholl News Blasphemous Tome Issue 13 We are hard at work on issue 13 of , the fanzine we put out twice-yearly for of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. This new issue will contain “A Social Responsibility” — a brand-new and gruesome Call of Cthulhu scenario from our own Matt Sanderson, set amidst the urban decay of modern-day Northampton. Anyone at the $5 level or higher by the end of this year can expect a printed copy of the Tome, signed by our own fair extremities. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a discounted print-on-demand copy, and everyone will receive the PDF. Don’t forget that also gives you access to the entire back catalogue of the Tome in PDF format, which includes a wealth of Call of Cthulhu scenarios you won’t find anywhere else. Christmas Story Reading on the Good Friends Discord With Christmas fast approaching, Mike Perceval-Maxwell of is once again organising a full-cast ghost story reading on . This time, we shall be reading two tales of William Hope Hodgson’s occult detective, . Specifically, we will be reading “The Searcher of the End House” and “The Horse of the Invisible”. So fire up your electric pentacle and join us by the fireplace at 22:30 GMT on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th of December. Don’t despair if you can’t make the live performances, as we plan to record them and release them as special episodes on the podcast feed. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/34246200

300: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 5 11/18/2024

300: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 5 We’re back and we’re peering through time. Handily, Yog-Sothoth has granted us the power to see he who is to come after us. Well, except Charles Dexter Ward actually turned up in 1926, around a hundred years earlier than anticipated. Time can be like that. Happily, Ward has been raised from his essential saltes several times since then — on screen, in audio, and even within the pages of the occasional scenario. We’ll try to catch up with him where we can. Let’s just hope that it’s really Ward we’re meeting and not Joseph Curwen. It’s so embarrassing when we mix them up! Main Topic: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward part 5 This is the conclusion of our investigation into HP Lovecraft’s novel . We start off with some final thoughts on the story itself, and then move on to discussing how it has found its way into other media. Considering what an overlooked tale this is, it has a rich history of being adapted. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft (1963) by Edgar Allen Poe (1963) (1964) (1991) (1979) (1990) (1985) by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets (1987) by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft News Paul’s Final Episode This is Paul’s final episode with The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. After 300 episodes, he has decided to step back from the microphone and focus on writing. Please join us in thanking him for his time on the podcast and in wishing him every success with the fresh horrors that await him. This is not the end of the podcast, however. Matt and Scott will continue with a roster of guest hosts, each bringing their own blasphemous knowledge and insights to our discussions. Our first three guest hosts will be comedian and writer , Lovecraft scholar , and gaming icon . We shall announce further guests as we book them. Blasphemous Tome Issue 13 We are hard at work on issue 13 of , the fanzine we put out twice-yearly for of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. This new issue will contain “A Social Responsibility” — a brand-new and gruesome Call of Cthulhu scenario from our own Matt Sanderson, set amidst the urban decay of modern-day Northampton. Anyone at the $5 level or higher by the end of this year can expect a printed copy of the Tome, signed by our own fair extremities. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a discounted print-on-demand copy, and everyone will receive the PDF. Don’t forget that also gives you access to the entire back catalogue of the Tome in PDF format, which includes a wealth of Call of Cthulhu scenarios you won’t find anywhere else. Matt and Scott at the Illusion Horror Con Matt and Scott will be attending the this December, running games and taking part in panels. This is an online horror convention with attendees from across the world. You can find full details of the schedule at the . Paul at Dragonmeet Paul will be on the Chaosium booth at this year. This is an annual one-day gaming convention held in London. Do stop by and say hi if you’re there. Christmas Story Reading on the Good Friends Discord With Christmas fast approaching, Mike Perceval-Maxwell of is once again organising a full-cast ghost story reading on . This time, we shall be reading two tales of William Hope Hodgson’s occult detective, . Specifically, we will be reading “The Searcher of the End House” and “The Horse of the Invisible”. So fire up your electric pentacle and join us by the fireplace at 22:30 GMT on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th of December. Don’t despair if you can’t make the live performances, as we plan to record them and release them as special episodes on the podcast feed. The Ice House on Symphony Entertainment Scott recently joined Bridgett Jeffries and Graham Walmsley for a live improvised horror story over on . Bridgett recorded the tale, which we dubbed “The Ice House”, and you can watch it below. Audio Player /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/33974157

299: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 4 11/04/2024

299: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 4 We’re back and we’re peering into wells. Perhaps it’s not unusual to find dead things in wells, but they aren’t generally this animated. Maybe the poor things would lie down and die if there was room for them to do so. Or maybe its just that gnawing hunger that keeps them going. Either way, we suppose they wouldn’t really be ye liveliest awfulness without being lively… Main Topic: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward part 4 We are continuing our investigation into HP Lovecraft’s novel , heading deep into the catacombs below Pawtuxet. This section contains some of the most horrific scenes Lovecraft wrote, as well as a brief introduction to Grecian pottery. Every day is an education with Howie. This episode brings us to the end of the story itself, but we shall return next time to discuss the various ways in which The Case of Charles Dexter Ward has been adapted for the screen, audio dramas, and Call of Cthulhu. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by ST Joshi by ST Joshi by HP Lovecraft, ST Joshi, and David E Schultz by ST Joshi , edited by Leslie Klinger by HP Lovecraft , including The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by HP Lovecraft (1985) (1991) Groined ceiling by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by TS Eliot (1973) A kylix. Essential saltes not included. News Innsmouth Literary Festival Matt and Paul discuss what they got up to at the . Much of this revolves around book purchases, specifically by John Tynes, by Heather Miller, and by Robert Poyton. The British setting of the latter put Matt in mind of his own scenario “An Amaranthine Desire” from . Matt also gives a shout out to , creators of the budgie lapel pin pictured below. Blasphemous Tome Issue 13 We are hard at work on issue 13 of , the fanzine we put out twice-yearly for of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. This new issue will contain a brand-new and gruesome Call of Cthulhu scenario from our own Matt Sanderson, as well as all the usual year-end features. Anyone at the $5 level or higher by the end of this year can expect a printed copy of the Tome, signed by our own fair extremities. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a discounted print-on-demand copy, and everyone will receive the PDF. Don’t forget that also gives you access to the entire back catalogue of the Tome in PDF format, which includes a wealth of Call of Cthulhu scenarios you won’t find anywhere else. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/33778057

298: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 3 10/21/2024

298: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 3 We’re back and we’re rearranging the furniture in the library. All perfectly normal stuff. Nothing to worry about. Everyone gives a strangled cry or two when lifting heavy objects. And that nasty smell? Furniture polish. Trust us. So normal. Main Topic: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward part 3 We are continuing our investigation into HP Lovecraft’s novel . Here, Dr Willett and Ward’s father start investigating the weird goings-on at the Pawtuxet bungalow, coming to some grim conclusions. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by ST Joshi by ST Joshi by HP Lovecraft, ST Joshi, and David E Schultz by ST Joshi , edited by Leslie Klinger (1936) by Oscar Wilde “What’s in the Cellar?” by Jon Hook from (2023) by Bram Stoker by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft Guy Fawkes’s signature before and after torture News October Horror Movie Challenge Scott is in the final stretch of his , in which he has been posting daily reviews on this very site. Highlights, so far, include the demonic and the art-house slasher, , the ghostly revenge tale , and the sheer bloody weirdness of . If you fancy taking part, or just talking about some of the films you’re watching, why not join the discussion on ? Blasphemous Tome Issue 13 We have started work on issue 13 of . This, of course, is the fanzine we put out twice-yearly for of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. If you have any articles or artwork you’d like to see in the Tome, we would be delighted. For articles, we’re looking for short pieces of up to 500 words, including fiction, essays, or poetry. Black-and-white artwork is ideal, from small spot illustrations to full-page pictures. The best way of getting submissions to us is to email them to Sadly, we shan’t be able to send out the usual Christmas cards with the Tomes this year. The arthritis in Scott’s hands is getting worse and the combination of signing cards and Tomes has become too painful. The Tomes will all be signed as normal, however. Scott on Symphony Entertainment Livestream Scott with be joining Bridgett Jeffries and Graham Walmsley for another improvised horror livestream this year. Our game last year was so much fun that we knew we had to do it again. This will take place on the , on the 5th of November, and run for around 60 minutes. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/33547272

297: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 2 10/07/2024

296: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 1 09/23/2024

296: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward 1 We’re back and we’re digging through our family tree. Or should that be digging up our family tree? Either way, we dig it. While The Case of Charles Dexter Ward doesn’t precisely advocate for raising the dead, it doesn’t make it look wholly unappealing either. Just remember to store your essential saltes in a robust container. We don’t want to be messing around with ye liveliest awfulness again. It took ages to get the stains out of the carpet last time! Main Topic: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward part 1 We are beginning our investigation into The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, which will run for five episodes. This is Lovecraft’s longest work, perhaps more deserving of the description of “novel” than At the Mountains of Madness or The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. Despite this, it is arguably the most overlooked of Lovecraft’s major works. A shame, as this represents Lovecraft at his most Gothic, weaving a surprisingly subtle tale of witchcraft, necromancy, and dark family secrets. As ever, we start out by discussing the origins and influences of the tale, before picking the story itself apart in search of gaming inspiration. We plan to conclude this run of episodes with a look into the various adaptations of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Links Things we mention in this episode include: Background and Influences by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by ST Joshi by ST Joshi by HP Lovecraft, ST Joshi, and David E Schultz by ST Joshi , edited by Leslie Klinger by HP Lovecraft by Edgar Allan Poe by Robert Louis Stevenson by HP Lovecraft by Walter de la Mare by HP Lovecraft by MR James by Nathaniel Hawthorne Salem witch trial – J Curwen esq not pictured by Cotton Mather , edited by Leslie Klinger by Mark Manson by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft An example of a medieval minuscule The Story by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by Dan Brown by Dan Brown by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft News Full Fathom Five on Into the Darkness Our good friends at are currently running Paul’s Call of Cthulhu scenario, . Why not join Stefan as Keeper and the rest of the crew for some nautical terrors? October Horror Movie Challenge October is nearly here, which can only mean one thing: Scott is about to watch a lot of horror films. Specifically, he shall post a review here every day throughout the month as his way of taking part in the . If you fancy taking part, or just talking about some of the films, why not join the discussion on ? /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/33174392

295: Call of Cthulhu Deities: Iod, Zu-che-quon, and Nyogtha 09/09/2024

295: Call of Cthulhu Deities: Iod, Zu-che-quon, and Nyogtha We’re back and we’re summoning. OK, we’re not quite sure why we’re performing these summonings, but here we are. It’s too late to worry about such stuff at this stage. We started off by calling up Iod. While he offered to take us on the journey of a lifetime, the final destination sounded less appealing. Zu-che-quon left us cold, especially with the whole eye thing. Maybe Nyogtha is the best option. Sure, an eternal undeath might drag on a bit, but it seems like the least worst option now. If only we’d thought all this through before starting that chant… Main Topic: Call of Cthulhu Deities – Iod, Zu-che-quon, and Nyogtha This episode is our latest exploration of the deities of the Cthulhu Mythos. We have devoted previous episodes to , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Here, we’re turning to the creations of Henry Kuttner, a member of the original Lovecraft circle. Specifically, we’re covering the gods Iod, Zu-che-quon, and Nyogtha. As usual, we discuss their origins in fiction, how they’ve been developed in the Call of Cthulhu RPG, and how we might use them in our own games. Henry Kuttner Links Things we mention in this episode include: Iod edited by Robert M Price by Madame Blavatsky by Henry Kuttner by Henry Kuttner by Frank Belknap Long by Henry Kuttner by Henry Kuttner by Richard Laymon Zu-che-quon by Lin Carter by Lin Carter (2000) Crux ansata Nyogtha by Henry Kuttner News Paul at Owlbear and Wizard’s Staff Paul will be attending in Leamington Spa, on Saturday the 14th of September. This is a one-day RPG convention that goes on for three days. Matt and Paul at the Innsmouth Literary Festival Matt and Paul will be attending the in Bedford on the 28th of September. Why not join them for a day of book readings, games, and seminars? /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/32965432

294: Listener Suggestions Meets the Wolf Man 08/26/2024

293a: Jason Cordova interview pt 2 08/18/2024

293: Under the Pyramids 08/08/2024

293: Under the Pyramids We’re back and we’re catching up with our sleep. You think we’d be trying harder to escape, given that we’ve been tied up and lowered into the abysmal depths under the pyramids. But, no, we’re just going to nod off for a while and hope our dreams offer some useful clues. It’s how Harry Houdini himself would have handled the situation, at least when he was being written by HP Lovecraft. Now, let’s drift off again and see if we can find a way out of this labyrinth! Main Topic: Under the Pyramids Following last episode’s , we thought we’d follow up with a look at his collaboration with HP Lovecraft — “Under the Pyramids”, also known as “Imprisoned With the Pharaohs”. We spend a little more time than usual discussing the origins of the story, partly because they offer insight into the unlikely relationship between the two men, but mostly because they’re just so damn weird. The story itself may be a minor one in Lovecraft’s canon, but we still find gaming inspiration. But, mostly, we delight in the phrase “corpse gurgle”. And why shouldn’t we? Harry Houdini, trying to work out where that gurgling is coming from Links Things we mention in this episode include: by ST Joshi by ST Joshi by HP Lovecraft, ST Joshi, and David E Schultz by HP Lovecraft for Zealia Bishop by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft and CM Eddy Jr by HP Lovecraft and CM Eddy Jr for Harry Houdini by HP Lovecraft by Lord Dunsany by Tennessee Williams (2023) by Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by William S Burroughs by William S Burroughs by William S Burroughs by Tim Powers by HP Lovecraft by Robert Bloch News Matt and Paul at Necronomicon Matt and Paul will be attending the this month. Please do say hi if you spot them in the wild! /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/32502667

292a: Jason Cordova interview part 1 08/05/2024

292: Strange NPCs - Houdini 07/28/2024

292: Strange NPCs - Houdini We’re back and we’re squirming. Sure, the best way to get out of all these chains would be to have someone undo them, but where’s the fun in that? Then again, now that we’re getting lowered head first into this water tank, just being untied sounds a lot more appealing. At least it’s all less distressing than travelling everywhere by sea. That’s the real ordeal. Main Topic: Harry Houdini This is the latest instalment in our Strange NPCs series, offering discussions of the lives of interesting individuals from the classic ages of Call of Cthulhu, along with thoughts about how we might use them in our games. Previous subjects have included , and , as well as the various luminaries covered by our series. This episode is an exploration of the life of legendary escape artist Harry Houdini. The word “legendary” is particularly apt with Houdini, as the myths he and others created about him make the truth difficult to ascertain sometimes. This probably makes him a more interesting candidate for games, however, as everything about him is woven in stories. As many listeners almost certainly know, there is a direct connection between Houdini and Lovecraft, but we shall delve into that next episode as we head “Under the Pyramids”. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Adam Begley by William Lindsay Gresham by Joe Posnanski by Kenneth Silverman (2021) by William Lindsay Gresham by HP Lovecraft for Harry Houdini by Harry Houdini by Harry Houdini and CM Eddy Jr by CM Eddy and HP Lovecraft (1953) by Rudy Rucker News Big Changes for the Podcast After 11 years of co-hosting the podcast, Paul is stepping down after the release of episode 300. While this does mean big changes ahead, The Good Friends of Jackson Elias will continue. Matt and Scott have invited an exciting series of guest hosts to keep Paul’s seat occupied, bringing their own special area of expertise to the discussions. We shall announce the first of them soon, once we have a few recordings in the can. Paul at Gen Con Paul will be attending as part of the Chaosium presence. Seek him and the rest of the team out on booth 511 or in room 134, off the Hoosier Concourse, or at any of the events in which he is participating. These include the scenario writing seminar and workshop, with Mike Mason, and a game with . will also be running some Call of Cthulhu, and our good friends from the will be showing their film adaptation of The Call of Cthulhu. “Getting the Band Back Together” at Gen Con If you are attending Gen Con, do try to check out the from , running at 3 PM on the Friday. This will be based on a new scenario written by Scott, called “Getting the Band Back Together”, and run by Troy Lavallee for an all-star cast. at the time of posting, but they are going quickly. Matt Running Heaven & Earth for RPG Reanimators Matt recently ran an actual play of for the crew at , appropriately enough by resurrecting one of his old convention scenarios. Join a bunch of hapless mafiosi as they track through weird woodland in search of a frog pond. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/32324482

291: Non-Human Characters in Call of Cthulhu 07/15/2024

291: Non-Human Characters in Call of Cthulhu We’re back and we’re doubting our humanity. It’s easily enough done. Whether it’s these gill slits on our necks, that pervasive smell of death surrounding us, or just the weird way our shadow shifts and twists, there’s always been something a little off. Normally, that doesn’t cause any problems beyond the usual revulsion. It does make us wonder, however, whether we’re really protagonist material. Is a background role the best a non-human character can hope for in this game, or it is finally our time to shine as investigators? Main Topic: Non-Human Characters in Call of Cthulhu There are plenty of creatures in the Cthulhu Mythos that resemble humans, both in appearance and intelligence. While it’s easy to categorise them as monsters, we explore how to present them as fully formed characters. Normally, their role would be as an antagonist, but the Mythos is more ambiguous and nuanced than that. Some of your best friends might be ghouls! And, of course, Lovecraft’s protagonists often discovered that they weren’t quite as human as they’d believed. Why shouldn’t the same be true in Call of Cthulhu? What are some of the considerations of having non-human characters as investigators in your game? Links Things we mention in this episode include: by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by Michael Shea by HP Lovecraft (2008) (1956) arc of Doctor Who (1978) (1979) by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society by Ruthanna Emrys episode of The Twilight Zone News Paul at Gen Con Paul will be attending as part of the Chaosium presence. Seek him and the rest of the team out in room 134, off the Hoosier Concourse, or at any of the events in which he is participating. These include the scenario writing seminar and workshop, with Mike Mason, and a game with . will also be running some Call of Cthulhu, and our good friends from the are offering one of their legendary LARPs. The Blasphemous Tome Issue 12 Issue 12 of will be shipping very soon. This is the fanzine we produce for backers of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. The latest issue contains “A New Dark Age”, a modern-day Call of Cthulhu scenario by our own Paul Fricker, set in a town near you. Every will receive a PDF of issue 12 as soon as it’s available. Anyone us at the $5 level or above by the end of July will also get a printed and signed copy. /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/32142932

290: Media Catch-Up - Books 07/01/2024

289: Possession in Call of Cthulhu 06/17/2024

289: Possession in Call of Cthulhu We’re back and we’re under the influence. Sure, the alien entity taking up residence in our heads may not technically be a demon, but that feels like an academic distinction right now. It’s little comfort to learn that the thing messing with your thoughts is a giant insect from another planet or a discorporate consciousness from the primordial past. If it walks like a demon and quacks like a demon, we’re happy to call it a badly mangled metaphor. Possession in Call of Cthulhu is a messy business, leading to madness and terror, and not even innocent clichés are safe. Main Topic: Possession in Call of Cthulhu Following last episode’s discussion of Late Night With the Devil, we thought we’d look at the role of possession in Call of Cthulhu. While there may not be any literal demons in the Cthulhu Mythos, that doesn’t mean there’s no possession. Between Yithians, shan, deathless sorcerers, and whatever horrors you create for your own games, there are plenty of entities that can take over a human host and drive them to do weird or horrible things. But how do we handle all this in our games? Can having their investigator possessed be a fun experience for players? Is possession an all-or-nothing deal? And what inspiration can we take from horror media? Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1973) by Sara Gran Discussion of werewolves in by Aldous Huxley (1971) by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by Ruthanna Emrys by Ramsey Campbell by CL Moore, A Merritt, HP Lovecraft, Robert E Howard, and Frank Belknap Long from by Stephen King by Stephen King by Stephen King (1987) (2011) (2017) (2022) (2022) (2017) News The Blasphemous Tome Issue 12 Issue 12 of will be going out in early August. This is the fanzine we produce for backers of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias. The latest issue will contain “A New Dark Age”, a brand-new Call of Cthulhu scenario by our own Paul Fricker. Every will receive a PDF of issue 12 as soon as it’s available. Anyone us at the $5 level or above by the end of June will also get a printed and signed copy. Matt on RPG Reanimators and Roll to Save Matt has recorded guest spots with a couple of podcasts recently. He appeared on the Acquisition Disorder series on , talking about Heaven and Earth. And then he took part in a roundtable discussion about Call of Cthulhu wit . /episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/31777422

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