ACTS OF INK AND BLOOD: The Book of Vengeance

Something is hunting Tarker’s Mills. Each month, under the full moon, someone dies. Brutally. No one sees the beast — but everyone feels the fear. In this quiet Maine town, the cycle of the moon… is a cycle of terror. IN THIS EPISODE: There’s no better source of horror fiction than the King of Horror himself, Stephen King. Each chapter of “Cycle of the Werewolf” is a short story unto itself. It tells the story of a werewolf haunting a small town as the moon turns full once every month. It was originally published as a limited-edition hardcover in 1983 by Land of Enchantment, and then in 1985 as a mass-market trade paperback by Signet. If it sounds familiar to you, it’s because Stephen King also wrote the screenplay for its film adaptation, Silver Bullet which was released to theaters in 1985 – although if you have seen the film, you won’t be disappointed in the book, as there is a lot that changes from the original pages before it hit the big screen. The movie received mixed reviews at the time, but has since achieved cult status in the US, after appearing on television regularly. In 1985, Signet Books re-issued Cycle of the Werewolf under the title Silver Bullet in an edition that included King's screenplay alongside the original novella. This re-published edition also included a foreword by King, recounting the impetus of the novella and the background of the film adaptation. In this episode of Weird Darkness, however, I will be narrating the original novella. The book, at 127 pages, is technically a novella rather than a novel, but there is no shortage of scares, I assure you. The novella wasn’t even supposed to be a novella at first. The entire concept started out, believe it or not, as a calendar by the Zavista company, with illustrations by renowned comic-book artist Bernie Wrightson. Each month of the proposed calendar featured a drawing by Wrightson complete with a short vignette by Stephen King. But King found the size of the vignettes, which were both small and extremely limited, to be problematic for his writing style. So he proceeded instead with the short novel and had it published by Land of Enchantment in 1983, but kept Wrightson’s illustrations for the publication because they were so beautifully or horrifically brilliant. In the author's notes at the back of the novella, King admits to taking liberties with the lunar cycle. For example, if a full moon was on New Year's Day, another one wouldn't occur on Valentine's Day, but these dates are widely recognized in January and February. He explains that this was done to focus the relevant months more clearly in the readers' minds. But then, this is fiction, so of course liberties are going to be taken – and who are we to question Stephen King? SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… Cycle of the Werewolf” by Steven King: https://amzn.to/2YNP4u6 Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make...

Based on Richard Matheson’s short story, “Third From The Sun” follows a scientist and his friend who, upon discovering that their planet is on the brink of nuclear war, plan to escape with their families by stealing an experimental spacecraft. Their destination is a distant planet called… Earth. Hear the story in Future Tense! Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “You Can Change Your Life” (December 11, 1975) ***WD 00:47:02.579 = Five After The Hour, “Forty Writers” (September 12, 1945) ***WD 01:11:24.529 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Death In a Turkish Bath” (Late 1940s) 01:16:35.559 = Future Tense, “Really Heavy” and “Third From The Sun” (May 15, 1974) ***WD 01:44:07.669 = Gang Busters, “Jersey Butcher Bandits” (November 08, 1947) 02:09:19.049 = Green Hornet, “A Racket In The Ring” (August 03, 1939) 02:38:43.919 = Hall of Fantasy, “Markheim” (April 24, 1947) 03:04:59.339 = The Lives of Harry Lime, “Dead Candidate” (February 15, 1952) ***WD (LQ) 03:30:52.189 = BBC Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Decoy” (July 26, 1980) 03:59:33.579 = The Haunting Hour, “Unidentified Body” (July 28, 1945) ***WD 04:24:34.529 = Have Gun Will Travel, “The Gunsmith” (April 26, 1959) 04:48:37.219 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0370

An emotionally detached scientist becomes aware of an unseen presence in his home—a formless entity that expresses an intense, unwelcome romantic affection toward him. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Stitch In Time” (December 09, 1975) ***WD 00:46:52.129 = Eleventh Hour, “Goof Is Oft Interred” (1941-1946) 01:13:40.119 = Escape, “How Love Came To Professor Guildea” (February 28, 1948) 01:43:18.459 = Everyman’s Theater, “This Precious Freedom” (October 11, 1940) ***WD 02:10:45.049 = Murder By Experts, “Murder By Prescription” (July 11, 1949) 02:40:22.609 = Exploring Tomorrow, “The Mutants” (March 26, 1958) ***WD 02:58:45.329 = Faces In The Window, “Pit And The Pendulum” (January 24, 1953) ***WD 03:29:55.989 = Dark Fantasy, “Men Call Me Mad” (December 19, 1941) 03:54:22.779 = Diary of Fate, “Trina Crowley” (March 09, 1948) ***WD 04:23:02.949 = BBC Fear on 4, “Every Details But One” (February 07, 1988) 04:51:39.045 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0369

In 2006 Ukraine, beams split the sky. Time stopped. Something inhuman came to Earth — and took people from their homes. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate IN THIS EPISODE: The Dubno alien abduction case, and Ukraine’s long history of UFO encounters. SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Ukraine Alien Abduction” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p82rjjp VIDEO: UFO Spotted Near Explosion In Ukraine: https://weirddarkness.com/ufo-spotted-near-explosion-in-ukraine/ ===== (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. ===== Originally aired: July, 2022 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/UkraineUFOs

When a teenage girl and her lover were gunned down in 1948, the murders stunned a small Illinois town — and sparked a ghost story that refuses to die. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate IN THIS EPISODE: In 2016, near the infamous Nazca Lines, an incredible find came to light – not gold or jewels, not remnants of pottery, but a tomb. But what was found within the tomb has raised more questions than answers, as the resident mummies appears not to be human… just humanoid. (The Nazca Three-Fingered Mummy) *** Once in a while you’ll hear of a horrible tragedy and the victim will be described as “ground into mincemeat”. In some case, this is not much of an exaggeration. (Ground Into Mincemeat) *** In 1983 Diane Downs shot her own children – Christie, Danny and Cheryl, in the backseat of the car. Miraculously, Christie Downs survived. (The Survival of Christie Downs) *** When it comes to demonic possession, it’s often chalked up to mental illness – but sometimes the events surrounding the possessed person are so bizarre and unexplainable, you are almost forced to believe in the supernatural. Such was the case with Don Decker. (The Pennsylvania Rain Man) *** Cannibalism – just the word itself is enough to creep you out. Fortunately, cases of it are usually distant, in some far-off, remote, jungle area, done by natives who have yet to discover civilization. At least, that’s what we like to believe. Unfortunately, it happens worldwide, nearer than you think. Like… in America. And in some cases, not so long ago. (American Cannibals) *** The death of a young girl and her boyfriend leave an Illinois town devastated… and it also left behind a lingering ghost. (The Ghost of Mary Jane Reed) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00.00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In 00:00:57.179 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode) 00:03:26.239 = The Ghost Of Mary Jane Reed 00:20:23.639 = The Pennsylvania Rain Man 00:32:10.973 = The Survival Of Christie Downs 00:41:20.126 = Nazca’s Three-Fingered Mummies 00:46:05.373 = American Cannibals 00:57:20.608 = Ground Into Mincemeat 01:02:19.802 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… Albert Fish episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/46rmaca3 “The Nazca Three-Fingered Mummy” from TheSchareChamber.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/364kxnar “Ground Into Mincemeat” posted at StrangeAgo.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3rmddv3e “The Pennsylvania Rain Man” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8bz5ez “The Survival of Christie Downs” by Marco Margaritoff for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p98ek5s “The Ghost of Mary Jane Reed” from American Hauntings Ink: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/582z7w4j “American Cannibals” from Ranker Crime: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8j83p4 ===== (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked...