RAS #692 – The Incredible World Of the Short Story

In this episode, “The Incredible World of the Short Story,” we explore a diverse collection of captivating tales that will ignite your imagination, provoke thought, and perhaps even send a shiver down your spine. From chilling brevity to eerie cosmic twists, these stories showcase the power of concise storytelling.

Stories Featured:

  • Knock by Fredric Brown – A legendary two-sentence horror story that encapsulates fear and suspense in its simplest form.
  • The Ultimate Experiment by Thornton DeK – Originally published in Comet (July 1941), this story delves into the legacy humanity might leave behind—artificial intelligence.
  • Untechnological Employment by Ed M. Clinton – From Analog Science Fact · Science Fiction (November 1962), this tale examines a quirky, speculative scenario rooted in the space race era.
  • Beyond Pandora by Robert J. Martin – Published in Analog (September 1962), this story explores how seemingly dangerous elements can have hidden benefits, much like snake venom’s role in medicine.
  • Quiet, Please by Kevin Scott – A humorous yet cautionary tale from Worlds of If (November 1961), emphasizing the subjective nature of value and peace.
  • The Untouchable by Stephen A. Kallis, Jr. – From Analog Magazine (December 1960), this tragicomic tale deals with frustration and desire, with a nod to Greek mythology’s King Tantalus.
  • An Incident On Route 12 by James H. Schmitz – A creepy, justice-driven story from Worlds of If (January 1952), where a thief unknowingly becomes the prize.

Thank you for joining this journey through the incredible world of short stories. Whether contemplating AI’s legacy, the silver lining in medical breakthroughs, or existential dilemmas, each tale offers a unique lens on the human condition.

Stay curious, keep your mind open, and maybe—just maybe—leave the door open a crack. You never know what might come knocking.

Thank you for listening to Ron’s Amazing Stories!

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

RAS #680 – Guadalcanal Diary

On Ron’s Amazing Stories, we bring history to life through the power of audio storytelling. In this episode, we delve into a pivotal chapter of World War II—the Battle of Guadalcanal. This significant clash between Allied forces and Japanese troops marked a turning point in the Pacific theater.

Ron will explore “Guadalcanal Diary,” a memoir by war correspondent Richard Tregaskis. His firsthand account offers a vivid portrayal of the challenges and heroism experienced during the early weeks of the campaign. The memoir’s compelling narrative led to its adaptation into a successful film and a Lux Radio Theater adaptation. Prepare to embark on an engaging journey back in time, where you can gain inspiration and valuable lessons from these historic events.

Lux Radio Theater

So, what can you expect to hear? Lux Radio Theater had a talent for adapting popular films of the time for radio. You’ll hear a captivating chapter from “Guadalcanal Diary” that skillfully retells history. This adaptation features most of the original cast from the film and first aired on February 28, 1944.

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

RAS #662 – Can AI Write A Story

On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week we have Ghost Stories With Sylvia. Sylvia Shults and Ron are going to dive into the realm of the supernatural with a spine-tingling first-person ghost story. Join them as they venture into the haunted Wolfen Woods in Spooksville, Arizona, in search of the hidden grave. Also, on the show we have three listener submitted stories. Future Gadgets, a fictional story sent in by Abigail Ackinsen, Tricked on Halloween, a true experience from Bonnie Hernandez, and Cold Shadow from MacSweet302. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

About Sylvia Shults:  Sylvia  is a Librarian, Author, and Ghost Hunter. She has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of the weird and strange. Her non-fiction works include Ghost of the Illinois River, Fractured Spirits, Fractured Souls, 44 Years in Darkness, The Spirits of Christmas, Days Of The Dead, and her latest release Grave Deeds and Dead Plots. All of her books are available on Amazon and you can find out more on her blog page.

Sylvia’s Links:  Facebook, Twitter, Blog Site, Amazon Author’s Page

On the Podcast  – At the end of the GSWS discussion Sylvia and Ron created a prompt for Google’s Gemini. The results are below. Here is the prompt that they came up with: Write a third person ghost story on the east coast in a Victorian style mansion. Ron and Sylvia enter the home to find a table set for afternoon tea waiting for them. Spooky sounds echo through the house. The house is haunted by a clown.

The Clown Of Blackwood Manor

The rusty wrought iron gates groaned open as Ron and Sylvia steered their car up the overgrown driveway. Looming before them, shrouded in the oppressive humidity of the East Coast summer, stood Blackwood Manor. Its Victorian grandeur had faded, replaced by peeling paint, boarded windows, and an air of ominous neglect.

“Charming,” Sylvia muttered, her voice heavy with sarcasm. Ron, ever the optimist, simply chuckled and grabbed their bags.

The heavy oak door, surprisingly, swung open with a gentle push. Dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight that pierced the gloom of the entrance hall. A thick layer of dust coated the ornate furniture and the once vibrant Persian rug. An unsettling silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant scuttling of unseen creatures.

As they ventured further into the house, a chill settled over them despite the stifling heat. They found themselves in a grand dining room, where a scene awaited them that was both bizarre and unsettling. A long, mahogany table was set for afternoon tea. Fine china cups and saucers sat beside silver teaspoons, and a three-tiered stand held an assortment of pastries that, despite the thick layer of dust, looked eerily fresh.

“This is…creepy,” Sylvia whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Suddenly, a high-pitched giggle echoed through the room, followed by the distinct squeaking of a rubber shoe on the hardwood floor. Ron and Sylvia exchanged startled glances.

“Did you hear that?” Ron asked, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

Before Sylvia could answer, a teacup lifted from the table, seemingly of its own volition, and shattered against the wall. A cold gust of wind swept through the room, sending the remaining cups and saucers clattering.

Terror gripped them. They weren’t alone.

This art was also created using Google Gemini using the story as a prompt

As they backed away from the table, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a clown, grotesque and unsettling. Its painted smile was stretched into a nightmarish grin, its eyes two black pits in its chalk-white face. It moved with an unnatural jerkiness, its oversized shoes squeaking with every step.

Ron and Sylvia, paralyzed with fear, could only watch as the spectral clown glided towards them. It raised its hand, revealing a long, silver knife glinting in the dim light.

A scream tore from Sylvia’s throat as she turned and fled, Ron close behind. They scrambled through the house, the clown’s maniacal laughter echoing behind them. They raced down hallways, stumbling over unseen obstacles, the clown’s squeaking shoes always close behind.

Finally, they burst out of the front door and into the blinding sunlight. They didn’t stop running until they reached their car, the rusty gates clanging shut behind them like a prison door slamming shut.

As they sped away from Blackwood Manor, they could still hear the faint echo of the clown’s laughter, a chilling reminder of the horror they had encountered within its walls. They knew they would never return, and the image of the ghostly clown would forever haunt their nightmares.

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

The Month Of Spooky 2024

This week begins the Month Of Spooky 2024. During the month we will have themed podcasts with ghost stories, monsters, and even some creepy discussions. It is going to be a very spooky month. Here are just a few of the highlights:

The Month Of Spooky 2024
  • Emma Lynn Down will be here for the second year in a row. This time we are going to be doing what can only be described as a “Creepy Talk”. 
  • We will have a special edition of Ghost Stories With Sylvia. This time Sylvia and Ron face off with an A.I. ghosty! 
  • There will be an entire show dedicated to your stories. These are tales sent in by you for you. Ron has been working on this one all year long.

You can listen to these podcasts on Thursdays at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listings or find the station closest to you at this link

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron