hall of mirrors

The Pod Complex

Submitted by mike on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 11:16

 My print debut (excluding the original edition of One Among the Sleepless back in 2002) is set for next month in the Dragon Moon Press "Podthology" (that's "anthology" with a podcast twist) The Pod Complex .

podthology

 

The book features stories by: Scott Sigler, Tee Morris, Mike Bennett, Phil Rossi, Emerian Rich, E.A. Zefram, J.D. Williams, Justin Macumber, Marie Bilodeau, Jennifer Rahn, J. Daniel Sawyer, Jack Mangan, Jared Axelrod & Alex T. Crisp.

 

So you'll certainly be getting a lot for your money - should be inclined to buy it, which of course, I hope you do :-)

 

The exact publication date hasn't been set yet, but when it is, I'll let you know here.

 

Oh, and my story inclusion for the book? Why, it's this ...

salv

 

This is just one of a number of images of Clive currently being worked on by Jon Cape. He's putting together a YouTube video for Hall of Mirrors, and old Sticky Fingers here is one of the stars. Smokin'

Night Crossing in Charcoal

Submitted by mike on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:17

MBP.com member, The Glove, has submitted a great charcoal drawing of the opening scene from Hall of Mirrors: Night Crossing, the story - and scene - that introduces Underwood and Flinch. I love the cat ;-)

nc

Oh, why not?

Submitted by mike on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 18:12

Just because I didn't shoot this yesterday, doesn't mean it isn't worth bumping to the front page again :-)

Hall of Mirrors 1 (Trolls): Happy Ending Version (2008)

Hall of Mirrors new

Tales of Horror and the Grotesque



Written and Performed by Mike Bennett

A second helping of podcast fiction from ‘One Among the Sleepless’ author, Mike Bennett. ‘Hall of Mirrors’ is a short story collection featuring tales of horror, the grotesque and people in... ‘unusual’ circumstances'.

Delivered in a style that pays homage to Night Gallery, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and the old British horror anthology movies of the 1960s, this is a collection of modern gothic tales with a nail of dark humour hammered through its heart. So roll up, ladies and gentlemen, and enter the Hall of Mirrors – if you dare.

“... the image begins to move and stir, like slow mercury; our reflections swirl in the sinuous liquid of the glass until it starts to still. And slowly, as it settles, we see not ourselves, but... an English garden: nothing grand, nothing stately, just the private suburban garden of a private suburban home. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and from somewhere out of sight the sound of children’s laughter carries through the shimmering surface of the glass.

Shall we pass through, you and I, into this world, or would you prefer to turn away? All we need do is step forward through the frame and into this summer's day. Here, reach through... Can you feel the sun’s heat on the skin of your hand?

How can you resist?”

Hall of Mirrors - Volume 1
Trolls Trolls

Edith, elderly and alone in a dark and brooding inner city tower block, finds herself at the mercy of a gang of local children. And they are children, despite their horrible actions... aren’t they?

Listen to Episode 1 - Trolls Part 1

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Listen to Episode 2 - Trolls Part 2

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The Grave The Grave

Jack and Dave are digging a grave, but the kind of assistance Jack wants isn’t the kind that Dave is willing to give.

Listen to Episode 3 - The Grave Part 1

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Listen to Episode 4 - The Grave Part 2

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Haslet Technique The Haslet technique

Lottery winner, Jim Haslet and his wife have been kidnapped. Unfortunately the kidnappers aren’t interested in ransom.

Listen to Episode 5 The Haslet Technique


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Hair and Skin Hair and Skin

For millionaire, Charles Mason, when every known, legal hair transplantation method has failed, it's time to embark on a journey into the unknown, the illegal... and the horrific.

Listen to Episode 6 - Hair and Skin Part 1

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Listen to Episode 7 - Hair and Skin Part 2

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Listen to Episode 8 - Hair and Skin Part 3

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Listen to Episode 9 - Hair and Skin Part 4

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A Lovely Pair of Browns A Lovely Pair of Browns

Lottery winner, Jim Haslet and his wife have been kidnapped. Unfortunately the kidnappers aren’t interested in ransom.

Listen to Episode 10 - A Lovely Pair of Browns


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Poachers Cottage Poacher's Cottage

Ken Chase is an estate agent who won’t let anything come between him and the maximum possible profit on a house sale - not even ghosts.

Listen to Episode 11 - Poacher's Cottage Part 1

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Listen to Episode 12 - Poacher's Cottage Part 2

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Hall of Mirrors - Volume 2
Salvation Salvation

Geoffrey Leech has died and gone to hell. Will his torment last for eternity? Or is there a chance of some kind of Salvation?

Listen to Episode 13 - Salvation Part 1

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Listen to Episode 14 - Salvation Part 2

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Listen to Episode 15 - Salvation Part 3

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Listen to Episode 16 - Salvation Part 4

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Give Me a Hundred Give Me a Hundred

Benny is late for a hold-up: it's a hot day, he's stressed-out and the large replica handgun in his waistband keeps jabbing at his genitals. And unfortunately for him, the discomfort is only just beginning...

Listen to Episode 17 - Give Me a Hundred


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The Art Gallery is Open

Submitted by mike on Sun, 07/27/2008 - 08:17
Do you have an artistic bent? Do you paint, draw, take photographs and / or produce groovy works of art for the eyeballs to slaver over? Listener, Paul Warren does, and he's kindly turned to the Hall of Mirrors stories for inspiration. Paul has posted some of his pictures in our new 'User Art' gallery. You can check them out by clicking the 'Galleries' link in the left hand column. Here's Paul's picture inspired by Hair and Skin:

If you would like to join Paul in the gallery, please feel free to post your Hall of Mirrors or One Among the Sleepless - related pictures there too.

Hall of Mirrors: Give Me a Hundred

Submitted by mike on Tue, 06/24/2008 - 16:44
Hall of Mirrors 17: Give Me a Hundred is now live. This is the first short story I ever wrote. I've re-edited it a bit for podcast but it's almost exactly the same as it was when I first penned it ten years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Click on play to listen

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Features Full Version of, In the Hands version of Chopin's Nocturne in F Minor Opp. 55.1

Hall of Mirrors: Video 1

Submitted by mike on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 02:35
Here's that video. This is version 1. A slightly different version will go up next week.

Wallpaper



To download Hall of Mirrors wallpaper click on the link below to open the full image, then right click on the image and save to your computer.

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To download One Among the Sleepless wallpaper click on the link below to open the full image, then right click on the image and save to your computer.

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1024x768

1280x960

'Salvation' Concludes

Submitted by mike on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 06:13
Hall of Mirrors 16 is the conclusion to Geoffrey Leech's hell and damnation dilemma, 'Salvation'. Find out Geoffrey's fate by clicking on the Podcast Player at the top of the column on the right. Or follow this link: Salvation Part 4

Hall of Mirrors

Tales of Horror and the Grotesque



Written and Performed by Mike Bennett

‘Hall of Mirrors’ is a short story collection featuring tales of horror, the grotesque and people in... ‘unusual’ circumstances'.

Delivered in a style that pays homage to Night Gallery, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and the old British horror anthology movies of the 1960s, this is a collection of modern gothic tales with a nail of dark humour hammered through its heart. So roll up, ladies and gentlemen, and enter the Hall of Mirrors – if you dare.

“... the image begins to move and stir, like slow mercury; our reflections swirl in the sinuous liquid of the glass until it starts to still. And slowly, as it settles, we see not ourselves, but... an English garden: nothing grand, nothing stately, just the private suburban garden of a private suburban home. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and from somewhere out of sight the sound of children’s laughter carries through the shimmering surface of the glass.

Shall we pass through, you and I, into this world, or would you prefer to turn away? All we need do is step forward through the frame and into this summer's day. Here, reach through... Can you feel the sun’s heat on the skin of your hand?

How can you resist?”

Hall of Mirrors - Volume 1 
Trolls
Trolls

Edith, elderly and alone in a dark and brooding inner city tower block, finds herself at the mercy of a gang of local children. And they are children, despite their horrible actions... aren’t they?

Listen to Episode 1 - Trolls Part 1

Download

Listen to Episode 2 - Trolls Part 2

Download

The Grave
The Grave

Jack and Dave are digging a grave, but the kind of assistance Jack wants isn’t the kind that Dave is willing to give.

Listen to Episode 3 - The Grave Part 1

Download

Listen to Episode 4 - The Grave Part 2

Download

The Haslet technique
The Haslet technique

Lottery winner, Jim Haslet and his wife have been kidnapped. Unfortunately the kidnappers aren’t interested in ransom.

Listen to Episode 5 - The Haslet Technique

Download

Hair and Skin
Hair and Skin

For millionaire, Charles Mason, when every known, legal hair transplantation method has failed, it's time to embark on a journey into the unknown, the illegal... and the horrific.

Listen to Episode 6 - Hair and Skin Part 1

Download

Listen to Episode 7 - Hair and Skin Part 2

Download

Listen to Episode 8 - Hair and Skin Part 3

Download

Listen to Episode 9 - Hair and Skin Part 4

Download

A Lovely Pair of Browns
A Lovely Pair of Browns

Vernon 'Badger' Brock goes on a pigeon hunt armed with a rubber torch, a cat basket and a loaf of white bread. But who should be the more fearful, the pigeons... or Badger?

Listen to Episode 10 - A Lovely Pair of Browns

Download

Poacher's Cottage
Poacher's Cottage

Ken Chase is an estate agent who won’t let anything come between him and the maximum possible profit on a house sale - not even ghosts.

Listen to Episode 11 - Poacher's Cottage Part 1

Download

Listen to Episode 12 - Poacher's Cottage Part 2

Download

Hall of Mirrors - Volume 2 
Salvation
Salvation

Geoffrey Leech has died and gone to hell. Will his torment last for eternity? Or is there a chance of some kind of Salvation?

Listen to Episode 13 - Salvation Part 1

Download

Listen to Episode 14 - Salvation Part 2

Download

Listen to Episode 15 - Salvation Part 3

Download

Listen to Episode 16 - Salvation Part 4

Download

Give Me a Hundred
Give Me a Hundred

Benny is late for a hold-up: it's a hot day, he's stressed-out and the large replica handgun in his waistband keeps jabbing at his genitals. And unfortunately for him, the discomfort is only just beginning...

Listen to Episode 17 - Give Me a Hundred

Download

The Green Man
The Green Man

The Green Man: pagan fertility symbol? Guardian spirit of the woods? Or perhaps something more sinister?

Listen to Episode 18 - The Green Man


Download

Dessert
Dessert

A grotesque comedy featuring two men and a dog.

Listen to Episode 19 - Dessert

Download

Dessert
The Exterminators

Henry and Maureen find an unusual cockroach in their apartment, could this be a new species? If it is, it could be the route to fame and fortune… or something far more unpleasant.

Listen to Episode 20 - The Exterminators

Download

Night Crossing
Night Crossing

Meet Underwood and Flinch as they cross the Mediterranean on a foggy night. Are they being followed? And if so, by whom? And who should be more worried, the hunter or the hunted?

Listen to Episode 21 - Night Crossing

Download

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