Havok Story Podcast: Recent Episodes
Havok Publishing
A semi-monthly audio narration of selected Flash Fiction stories from Havok Publishing. We cover genres from science fiction to fantasy, mystery to drama, humor to thriller! Hosted by Magnus Carlssen and written by authors from around the globe, there's a little something for every fiction lover in this podcast!
Also available on Stitcher, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and RadioLine.
A Personification of Deadly Vices meets a Personification of Heavenly Virtues face-to-face - in the form of little Tiny Tim Crachit, no less - and a moderate Crisis of Accounts occurs in the Department of Souls.
Written by: Hannah Carter
Narrated by: Jane Maree
Historical Consultant: Martin DeLorean
Tinsel Assistant: Tinklebell
Gift Wrapper: Little J.J. Tyke
A sandy-haired screenwriter wants revenge after a scriptwriter tanks her movie deal. The question is, who's left holding the bag?
Written by: Lincoln Reed
Narrated by: Magnus Carlssen
Wardrobe Advisor, Luke Howard Fitzhugh
Travel Coordinator, Althea Around
Staff Psychologist, Les Moody
When a freak accident sends the navigator to the med bay, an unwitting Archivist is forced to take over...or risk never making it out of the debris field alive.
Written by: Jameson C. Smith
Narrated by: Magnus Carlssen
Retro-thrusters Mechanic: Schlomo Quigley
Squadron Staff Accountant: Candace B. Rittenoff
Complaints Specialist: Xavier Breath
Crumbling under the weight of his own life story, Redge Galloway finds himself unwillingly dragged to the limits of his endurance on a fateful, dark, and stormy night on the Northernmost Cliffs.
Written by: Rachel Kimberly Hastings
Narrated by: Magnus Carlssen
Time Travel Advisor: Justin Thyme
Pirate Historian: Arthur Goldteeth
Weather Forecaster: Ty Phoon
What if some typos are actually hidden messages? What if those messages were cries for help? Finding the authors of these typos is the mission of The Typo Alliance.
Written by: Victoria Roberts
Narrated by: Jane Maree
Medical Advisor: Dr. Jessica-Gessica Webemdee
Acting Shenanigator: Jane Maree
Public Relations: Helendian Thrompestuous Kinti-Condigo
The music brings back memories, some perhaps best left forgotten. A young man offers to accompany her song - but can she overcome the fear?
Written by: Hailey Huntington
Narrated by: Jane Maree
Set Design: Sarah Penelope Compte-Kumtiquot
Resident Spreadsheet Nerd: Magnus Carlssen
Costume Artist: Mrs. Tee Shirtanpaentz
A psychologist encounters a slightly unusual case - a lover's quarrel that seems to have resulted in an incidental mushroomification.
Written by Rachel Dib
Narrated by Hugh Janssen
Team Therapist Consultant: Nouta Phase
Onsite Amphibious: Robert Robbit
Mushroom Taste Tester: Spots Toadstool (deceased)
Trish desperately wants to live up to her Gran's baking legacy by earning the Socarian Confectioner's Academy scholarship, but can she overcome her lack of magic ability?
Written by: Katie S. Williams
Narrated by: Jane Maree
Dance Cho: Christy Misty Woo
Emotional Support: Annie Constan-Tintin-Talloway
Cookie Tasting: Dante Wishitwasya
Onda feels that her songs are less useful than her sister sirens. When she learns the secret to taking the power of The Eternal - the guardian of the ocean - she learns the truth of the old saying, "with great power comes great responsibility."
Written by: Bonnie Maisen
Narrated by: Magnus Carlssen
Audio Engineer: Talka Wefastah
RSS Feed Manager: Presta DeButon
Script Supervisor: Sayed Aganneman
A simple word of advice: if you must travel through time, do try not to set off a temporal earthquake that will destroy life as we know it, please?
Written by: Katie Hanna
Narrated by: Jane Maree
Standby Secret Service Agent: Benjamin Kitt
Aircraft Engineer: David Flyboy
Technical Advisor: Mrs Georgia Georgenstein
A desperate craving for freshly-made waffles leads to a cleverly-planned heist. Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans can go awry...
Written by: Hailey Huntington
Narrated by: Hugh Hugh
Copyright Attorney, Pat Pending
Liason to the British Isles, Isaiah Oldchap
Official Waffle Taster, Nora Morse
www.gohavok.com
A mysterious affliction has been wreaking havok upon the Wildekind. Jane and Sal investigate...in between snacks.
Written by: Nathan Veyon
Narrated by: Jane Maree
Hairstylist: Birdie McComb
Sound Design: Lon Mower
Team Geologicologist: Dr. Tillitally Tipto.
www.gohavok.com
When eight-year-old Haddie sees Pongo the giant panda at the Kingsland Zoo, she's utterly disappointed to find out that he is, in fact, not literally giant. That shouldn't be a problem for a very advanced magic wielder like Haddie, right? Nothing could possibly go wrong! Right?
A terrible, haunting creature called the Soul Stealer roams these woods, claiming the souls of humans it captures. When her mother was taken, she swore to save her - by killing the creature, if necessary. Using herself as bait, she soon comes face-to-face with the Soul Stealer - and lives.
On the most special nights, the legendary Starbird flies across the night sky, chasing the constellations. Tonight Estelle hopes for her chance to see - and perhaps even catch - this glorious creature. With a star-dust lasso, and her sister Elena, she watches and waits for the opportunity that may change her life forever.
"La Loba" - The Wolf. A legend of the southwestern desert. Anyone who can catch it by the tail may demand a wish - so that is exactly what Carmela is going to attempt to do, in order to save the life of her little sister Flor. What she finds, however, is something no-one could have prepared her for.
It's not easy being Certified Ghost Banishers, but with Oscar by her side, Hazel is ready for anything...until Oscar sniffs out a ghost in the spookiest, most foreboding house in town! Knocking on the door will take all the courage she can muster - but what will they find on the other side?
22 worlds down, an entire universe to go. Cass' and Jim's search to find a new home planet has led to one disappointment after another. But what if the home they are looking for doesn't need an Earth?
Aurora the star takes pity upon the helpless humans of earth, who are being hunted by the cruel and wicked Caligo - a shape-shifting jaguar. Blessed by her mother Moon with an earthly form, she joins with young Jensen and Lilia to fight Caligo and drive back the shadows.
The western frontier is a dangerous place. A lonely prospector seeks his fortune in the mountain streams after the dead of his trail partner. A grizzly encounter leaves him rattled and spooked - but shows him that sometimes fortune comes from the unlikeliest of places.
Ever since their world was plunged into darkness by the destruction mages, Diana has been trying to invent a device to help her see clearly at night. She thought it was going well...until she discovered what the darkness was hiding.
Adon's choice to leave Earth was his own, but he didn't expect the tremendous emptiness he would feel as he watched his home planet become just a faint dot in the windowport. His new friend Eclipse shows him a change of perspective - literally and figuratively - and Adon realizes that there is yet so much to find ahead of him.
A young boy lives with a terrible ability, which makes him an unwilling danger to any living creature - or person. How far will his mother go to protect him from those who would destroy him? The answer is - as far as it takes.
A court convenes to pronounce judgement on a scientist gone rogue. As the last-ditch effort, the defense is allowed to speak. It's a strange testimony, laced with surprises, secrets, and sarcasm. And who's to say what's right or wrong? After all...it's just science!
Cody believes he has found the perfect way to cripple the Takton infrastructure and prevent them from taking more human prisoners as slaves. When a mysterious man named Benson appears and demonstrates a powerful super-ability, Cody realizes that he is just a small piece of something far, far bigger than he knew...
The bridge is cold and frosty this morning. In the fog, a girl appears. There's no reason for her to be here this early. What is she planning? Can she be stopped before it's too late?
Prince Hildebrand is sent on a quest to rid the kingdom of a dangerous dragon. When he finds it, however, he discovers that there is far more to the story than he knew...and that sometimes, the most unlikely allies are the most important.
Young Pevka and his Aunt work as stokers on a space-train, keeping the engines fed and the train on time. But he wonders...is there more out there for him? Then he learns a startling revelation...that changes everything.
Desperate to tell his family something he should have said long ago, George will do nearly anything to see his family again. In a landscape ravaged and burned by the Great War, he makes a last-ditch effort to cross time and space, to make peace with the people he holds close.
A legendary toymaker invents a time-travel device, wreaking havok on society. A secretive company of Watchers is formed to unmake his invention...until they discover Case 43b.
When a young man stumbles into his wand-shop one afternoon, Exeter believes him to be yet another clueless student. It only takes a few moments to realize that not only is the young man not a student, he's something else entirely...
Jessmina meets new faces every day, and has the unenviable task of cheering up even the most downbeat of weary souls. On one fateful winter night, four people enter the tavern, and one of them looks familiar. She doesn't know it yet, but this night will change her life forever.
The most special Winter Special! Based on the original flash fiction by Beka Gremikova. Adapted for audio and produced by Magnus Carlssen. Sound design by Kathryn Stanley. Music by Alexander Nakarada. Starring these legends (in order of appearance): David Izquierdo -- Aud Andrews -- Ginger Sue -- Maximilian Conteras -- Magnus Carlssen -- Dallis MacKenzie -- and Shogo Miyakita.
Best with headphones!
Kevin inherits a strange crystal bauble from his Gran, and finds that it connects him to her in ways that he never expected. Fortunately, he also inherited her heart and courage, and soon finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime.
Mad scientist - er, wannabe supervillain - Dr. Detestable's favorite night of the week has arrived: New Invention Night. With the help of his loyal pet Scrofa, and earnestly incompetent assistant Korgo, he's about to unleash a nightmare upon the mildly amused citizens of Doomsylvania!
After three years of planning and saving, Markus finally gets his chance to visit the Cursed Gardens. Once inside, he finds that the legendary statues there are more real than he could have ever imagined...and might just give him his own shot at becoming a legend himself.
A grim, vengeance-sworn pirate captain prepares to strike a mortal blow to his enemy's civilization. Gently, the ship's cook tries to reason with him for the sake of the innocent lives to be lost. Will he be able to sway the captain's blood-lust and prevent a terrible tragedy?
Sound design by Kathryn Stanley.
When Kasper Kade makes the trip up to his Grandpa's home in northern Vermont, he notices a few things out of place. Nothing really strange, of course, just mostly...stains. Odd spots on the floor he doesn't remember. Stains the color of...Zythian blood?
An ancient Djinn offers three wishes, an informational brochure, and a complimentary pen. "Genie in a bottle" sure isn't what it used to be.
A nighttime police call to the old amusement park. Officer Jackson suspects that something might be hiding out there. Turns out to be a puppy, stuck in some old rusty metal...or is that just the bait?
When saboteurs try to prevent the Treskipian Ambassador from attending crucial peace talks, it's up to Eddie Caplan and his Recepticore handler, Dr. Jaunica Brightmayne, to stop them before it's too late.
Raven's restaurant is about to be reviewed by a fearsome food critic. Seeking advice, she turns to her Granny - because Grannies always know what to do, right? Of course - as long as you don't ask for a recipe!
The off-world blues music scene was never the same after CHAR15Le3 showed up. Now Unit 12 is searching for her...and that only means bad news. Fortunate for her, Maisy and Samantha know her truth, and are watching her back.
After a tragic accident, a man is haunted by the ghost of his wife. Despite the fears of the housekeepers, she just wants to help him move on with his life. How can he ever understand her true intentions?
Just when Dr Martin and Capt Quinn are about to secure an elusive dream orb, they are attacked by the pirate ship "Cerberus' Nightmare." They must use every scrap of their wits and bravery to escape with their lives - and finish the mission!
Detective LaFaye thinks the world of Mama Louise's special gumbo - but when a gang of gun-toting minotaurs threatens to destroy her shop, gumbo isn't the only surprise Mama Louise has up her sleeve!
Young Cha-Mi tries to help prepare the daily food offering to their house-spirit Gojijia...with disastrous results! Will the infamously grumpy Gojijia curse their family, or worse yet, punish Cha-Mi the way he punished old su-Seok years ago?
Tessa, the waitress at the Full Moon Diner, has seen plenty of strange folks come and go over the years. On this particular early morning, even she doesn't see the dark and dangerous thread that links them all...
"...The legends warned never to wound a dragon, for this would invoke The Dragon’s Spite..." But what if, as I now faced, this wound was not only necessary, but for the beast's own good?
Charles never suspected that the reason that he'd never seen a fairy is because they didn't want to be seen - until he nearly tripped over Thistle, a fairy who opened his eyes to a world he'd never imagined existed. Or was it those new meds from his therapist?
Colton's childhood has been...unusual, to say the least. He is gifted, certainly - but only when he meets the wise and mysterious Mr. Bennett can he begin to understand his true potential.
Halpin's lonely trip to the nearest neutron star is a survival mission - not just for him, but the entirety of humanity on Earth. Leaving his wife and child behind, he hopes to bring back just an iota of the dying star's energy...if he can survive.
Shebalik loves the beautiful Merula, a talented perfumer - but she has cursed him to only smell one scent forever. A desperate search to find a cure leads him to rediscover love, right under his nose...
Evelyn arrives home after a long workday to find her empty apartment...unusually aromatic...but in a pleasant way! As she notices more and more things out of the ordinary, she begins to wonder...is she actually alone?
Sandra knows that leaving her home planet means giving up everything she's ever known - but staying will kill the man she loves.
Jacob has operated the Anthophilia Inc. recycling machine for many years. Is there a sinister hidden agenda behind the company's operation, or are there side effects from the Recycling Room that Jacob doesn't know about?
A turn-of-the-century murder mystery, set in a cozy solarium. Mr. Jerome Arkwright finds evidence of foul play - but intended for whom?
A determined, plucky young girl sees the world from a perspective all her own, much to the chagrin - and misunderstanding - of her mother!
The Knights of the Sun pursue an Encantado – a “haunted”, a shapeshifter – into the heart of the Netherground, a fae market bursting with every kind of creature you can imagine.
A classic detective caper, full of wit, banter, and keen observation. Don't be misled by red herrings and diversions – all is certainly not as it appears!
An android with a gambling addiction, an unlucky captain, and a rattletrap spaceship with a maintenance problem. Just another day for the Mud Runner.
A human soldier and his blood-bonded demon confront their archenemy, the evil Anra Mainu. It's entirely possible that none of them will survive.
In a city where superpowers are normal, it's easy to get complacent. Fortunately the guys at Corporate looking out for the little guys...right?
A child and her beloved dog go on adventures in a magical misty forest – and bring back treasures to prove it!
When aliens invade a pub in Northern England, they find that they've met their match in the good-natured company of Corporal Thaddeus P. Birtwhistle, Retired.
A night-time adventure to a secret fishing hole. Closely guarded family secrets. A blossoming romance. It's a perfect combination for something magical to happen!
Starring Madison Brown, Anita Lauren, and Justice Hart.
Special thanks to: Brian Joseph Davis, Doctor Turtle, Jason Shaw, John Bartman, MitchellSounds, and Kai Engel. Check out their exceptional music and SFX at freesound.org and freemusicarchive.org.
This episode is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivatives license, which can be found at creativecommons.org.
Come with us as we pass through Troll Town on our way to the palace, and find out why trolls always have such thick skin...and perhaps toughen up a little ourselves!
It's a tale of travel through time – backwards and forwards, to be exact – with murder, political intrigue, and good old-fashioned detective work thrown in!
An old-time western featuring a grizzled cowboy with a shooting problem, a sweet barkeeper with an outlaw problem, and one chance for frontier justice.
Aliens invade...and unexpected heroes save the day! It's “Guardians of the Galaxy” meets “Ender's Game” in this rollicking adventure!
Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers...unless that flower is the portent of impending planetary doom. In that case, why not a bouquet?
This sultry, suave escapade leaves everything to your imagination...but will you see the twist coming before it's too late?
The analogies run deep in this atmospheric coming-of-age tale! Sometimes it's good to "get away from it all" for a little while, to do the things and go to the places that truly make your soul happy. It's good to not take life too seriously. After all, that's why we love flash fiction, right?
Remember when 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia'? Well, the good folks in Georgia apparently sent him looking for less competitive residencies. So he moved on...to other planets. Bet you never heard 'Dueling Fintlers' in space before!
It's a tough world out there in vegetable showbiz. Even the famous tubers will do anything to get an edge. When a famous singer's hat gets stolen right before his evening performance, it's up to his best friend to track down the thief - and get a little mashed potato justice.
It's 2120, and mineral mining on the Moon has been handed over to automated, semi-sentient robots. All is going well, until the AI develops a taste for rock music and moustaches. Next thing you know, it's a one-way trip to the stars. Good thing there's a fail-safe built in.
...or is there?
Skip to 1:30 to get straight to the story!
In this Lovecraftian-inspired adventure, a first-time raver attends an exclusive event in an epic new oceanside location, and experiences things he never thought possible. Or did he? Sometimes it's hard to tell...
Skip to 1:28 to get straight to the story!
A modern twist on a classic fairytale! Cinderella has a lot more on her mind these days, with her college degree to finish and small business to start. Even Prince Charming needs a little help in the etiquette department. Don't worry - the fairies have gone high-tech, but there's nothing a little good old-fashioned magic can't fix...
Skip ahead to 1:34 to get right to the story!
It's not easy to be the King...of the Underworld! It's especially infuriating when your three-headed dog, Cerberus, runs away - again - and wanders into the Land of the Living. Specifically, New York. At Christmas time. It's every devil's worst nightmare.
Story starts at 1:28!
"Old Fashioned" isn't a bad thing, right? That's what Otto tries to convince his would-be girlfriend, Jenna. Unfortunately for Otto, it's not that simple...
Skip to the head of the line at 1:30 to get right to the story!
Meet the host, learn about flash fiction, and find out what the Havok Story Podcast is all about. Plus, spoilers!