Absolutely love this podcast. Brandon and Glenn do an amazing job discussing different books and short stories, their themes are so fun to listen through, and they’ve greatly expanded my own exposure to authors I’ve never read but have come to love. Keep up the great work guys!

It’s very enjoyable—and it can even be relaxing—to listen to these two calm, erudite hosts discuss examples of “weird fiction” in all its different forms.

Thoughtful, careful analysis make for very interesting conversations between the host about the titles they read. An excellent podcast!

The hosts discuss various Weird Fiction stories, novellas, etc. with lens of serious literary critique, but they bring such affability and humor that you don’t need a masters degree to enjoy it.

Excellent podcast! The hosts provide in depth recaps and thematic analysis without completely spoiling the stories. They’ve helped me find many new (often to me!) weird fiction authors to love.

Erudite and entertaining

It’s a great podcast, spooky but entertaining

Best analysis out there, regardless of genre. Get exposed to so many authors/stories that I otherwise never would be aware of.

The best literary criticism out there. The hosts are mature, respect the audiences intelligence, value their time, and bring a great perspective and academic insight into each work they review.

This is one of the shows I listen to as soon as it drops, sometimes even in the middle of other podcasts, it’s that good. Thoughtful, interesting and entertaining discussion of weird and fantastic fiction. Keep up the great work guys! It’s very much appreciated!

This show has become my TBR. The hosts’ thoughtful discussions of each story add to my enjoyment immeasurably. They aren’t just reviewing or summarizing, they are providing college level dialogues on each text, all while remaining personable. I’ve backed them on Patreon, and it is well worth the contribution.

One thing that sets this podcast apart from other similar ones is the variety of authors that get covered. I’ve added several authors that I found on this podcast to my Goodreads and Libby lists. That the hosts are working writers and trained academics adds a lot and I especially appreciate how deep they go in their discussion episodes.

wonderful weirdness and all around great selection though king doesn’t merit being in this company as everyone else here is so much better imaginatively as well as writerly (the shining being the sole outlier)… if king’s the best on offer in the field of weird/horror fiction these days the apocalypse must truly be creeping towards the finish line. in closing, i recommend that jean ray (mainz psalter) gets an invite to the wake. ;)

I found Elder Sign through Clay Temple Media’s Gene Wolfe podcast. Elder Sign is a great mix of current and classic weird fiction. This is not a genre that I had read much, but this podcast has introduced me to works that I have thoroughly enjoyed and would not have read otherwise. Glenn and Brandon do an admirable job balancing a critical approach while communicating the obvious pleasure they share in reading this genre. You will not regret giving this podcast a try.

Glen and Brandon cover Weird Fiction with insightful and fair reviews (and overviews) that are a joy to listen too. I first became aware of Clay Temple Media from their Gene Wolfe Literary podcast (which is also a must listen to for any Gene Wolfe fan) and I’m so happy that I did. Keep up the great work!

One of my favorite podcasts, exploring weird fiction past and present in a thoughtful manner that’s both scholarly and fun.

Glen and Brandon have created something special with this podcast. Their discussions are college-level, but they interact and present themselves in a way that makes a listener feel like they’re hanging out with two good friends, dishing about the stories they love. Kudos, gentlemen.

If you like scholarly discussions of weird fiction stories, then this is the podcast for you!

Perfect podcast if you like weird and speculative fiction, and you’re amenable to higher order intellectual dissections of such fiction. Smart, college level analysis without being pretentious or off the wall.

One of the best weird fiction podcasts out there.❤️👍🏻

Easily one of the deepest and well-produced podcasts about literary horror and the supernatural. A delight to hear and full of wonderful background and insights.

Obviously one of the best podcasts covering HP Lovecraft and weird fiction. Very literary and knowledgeable guys, but it’s a fun & entertaining show. I love when they make suggestions about how some old master of weird fiction could have improved the story, or highlight jumping-off points where other writers might extend the narrative.

This is a favorite podcast. I highly endorse it, and check out the Gene Wolfe literary podcast as well. Top notch analysis and I have discovered authors from this show.

I look forward to each episode of this show! Not only insightful commentary on some of my favorite stories, but I’m also introduced to new authors. Highly recommend for lovers of the macabre!

I think this is the best podcast out there to hear high-quality discussion of weird and horror fiction — and not just Lovecraft! Through this podcast, I’ve learned about a whole bunch of other authors whose work I’ve now had a chance to read and enjoy. The hosts, Glenn and Brandon, have the academic chops to bring some really insightful discussion to each episode, but are the exactly the kind of nerds-grown-up that fill the void of the kind of late-night literary conversations I miss having with my friends back home. They have a whole podcast network (Claytemple Media), with podcasts dedicated to Gene Wolfe, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, Star Trek, and even Medieval history, all of which are excellent.

...foaming with the unnameable, you must subscribe!

This is a absolute joy to listen to. The host have a love for reading weird tales. Their analysis is easy and fun to listen too. It’s great escapism for a hour or so, and I can join the conversation and add my own analysis in my head(lol) I recommend highly.

I’m not allowed to listen to this show on payday anymore. Glenn and Brandon have made me track down more obscure volumes than anyone else. From Zelazny to Quinn, Nesbit to Hodgson, to all my favorites whose copies are well worn on my shelf, Elder Sign gives erudite commentary with a fair dose of humor in their complete discussions. One of my favorite podcasts!

Hats off for Glen and Brandon. Absolutely love the podcast, so few podcasts dedicate themselves to Weird Fiction (that mingle between horror, sci-fi and fantasy) and I haven’t found a podcast that does such a deep read and discussion of the story from a craft perspective. I cannot recommend them more if you want to learn about Weird Fiction or writing as a trade. Kudos.

As a Gene Wolfe fan, I first discovered Glenn and Brandon’s work on the GW literary podcast. That led me to their other creative projects, including Elder Sign. These fellows always have insightful discussions and have led me to discover a great deal of amazing stories and writers.

Great books that are rarely discussed in podcasts! These guys have real analytic powers but still keep the approach inviting. I’ve re-listened to some episodes because the discussion is as revelatory as the works they discuss. Thank you!

Leaving a review because all facets of this show surpass in quality those of nearly all book podcasts I’ve listened to, let alone my favorite genre (weird fiction). Such great understanding of the genre and how each author and story fit into weird fiction - I feel like I missed so much context on some excellent stories and listening to this remedies that. Couldn’t love it more!

These are the types of discussions I envision a really great book club having about a lot of these classic stories. Love the format of review and then discussion, with lots of depth and humor.

LIstening to our hosts is enlightening but also entertaining. I've only been listening for a few months but they already feel like old friends. Erudite and fun old friends. They cover a bit broader definition of weird fiction that some podcasts, with the result you will also hear about some stories that might not get covered on another podcast. Even if you have heard the story discussed before, Glenn and Brandon will give you a refreshing discussion that is well worth listening to.

I cannot express how much I love this podcast, and the great discussions between the hosts. They not only break down some of the best elements of the story, they also do a fantastic job providing the context in which the stories were written, but also discussing the author and how their life (and even political beliefs) influence the story. I have enjoyed this show so much, that I have been reading the stories before listening just so I can get a little bit more out of the analysis.

Exposed me to a lot of great stuff and always enjoy their in-depth analysis. I listen to it while drawing and find it conducive to getting me to think creatively.

Elder Sign is great because the hosts are genre fiction fanboys who are also aspiring writers. It is refreshing to hear their ideas about writing craft in response to the stories they cover. They provide harsh criticism as often as praise. The podcast structure and presentation really benefits from the hosts’ background as college-level educators who understand pedagogy have experience teaching creative writing.

I really enjoy the back and forth between the hosts. You can tell that they are smart and are long time friends. Just discovered this podcast last week and am almost caught up

One of the best weird fiction and horror podcasts around. The hosts definitely know their stuff and have a clear love for the genre. Worth your time!

Listening to this podcast is like sitting down on a rainy night with a glass of whiskey and a pair of friendly scholars. They cover weird fiction old and new from the perspective of 1) a deep love for the genre 2) literary and historical perspectives and 3) philosophy and religion. Simply delightful!

I found this podcast because I was already a fan of their Gene Wolfe podcast, and this is just as entertaining. I’m not that well-versed in weird lit beyond Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith, so most of this stuff is new to me. It did inspire me to check out Arthur Machen, so I read The Great God Pan and really enjoyed it (they haven’t made an episode on that story yet, but I’m sure they will). So yeah, if you like weird lit and talking about it at a college level, this is for you.

This podcast leans toward a more academic discussion of weird fiction than some others, and I can totally identify with having to slip in some reading in between grading papers. I don’t always agree with their interpretations, but they never fail to offer food for thought.

This podcast is great way to expand your reading list into fascinating stories both new and old. The hosts guide us through with intelligence and humor. They sometimes ask for the listeners to write their own versions of the story being discussed. It makes me wish I could write fiction.

Great show.

I really enjoy listening to Glenn and Brandon discussing weird fiction. I am a big fan of weird fiction, and the discussion of same. I have read stories and authors I never otherwise would have, and have revisited others with new eyes thanks to the in depth discussions on Elder Sign. According to Glenn, they are confident that their podcast is at least the tenth best show about Lovecraftian and weird fiction. I’m here to tell you that they rank significantly higher than that. I appreciate all the work and preparation that must go into putting together a show this thoughtful and interesting. Elder Sign was my introduction to Clay Temple Media, and I have subsequently started on a few of their other offerings, which are also quite enjoyable.

This is a podcast about two insane people that live in their mother's basement. All they talk about is how they believe in ghosts and they want to murder people. Every episode they laugh about people dying and being dead. I would recommend this to anyone that hates being alive. Actually this is a podcast about owning and trading dogs. Long ago in far away lands there was a race of demons that wanted nothing more than to teach the children about old horror literature or talk about who HP Lovecraft was married to or how to start fires with the left over fat of their enemies bodies and when it was best to plant corn in the skulls of mice or how young men should become men or when the tide rips over the side of a boat when you're hunting the white whale. They would sit about in their parlors and speak of hatred and which of their patrons nominated a particular short story they wanted to know what strangers thought of. And low their anger spread across the land, like a pox on the wind, infecting villages full of the damned, those waiting for the next Clark Ashton Smith story. The old blind men in their hovels, starving for what little scrapes their cursed daughters might bring them, and waiting for death they would fret over which of Gene Wofle's stories could be thought of as weird. And one would say "Forlesen" and the other would say "Redbeard" and yet another would say "The Tree Is My Hat" who's speaker would be thrown onto the ground and the contents of the pot be poured onto them, boiling grease flavored with turnips. And how the child and their dogs would laugh. Great show, very informative and funny.

I really enjoy speculative fiction and this is a great podcast about it. Glenn and Brandon (from Claytemple Media) bring old and new weird fiction to us with wit and insight.

Fun, informative, thoughtful, and grounded in historical and literary context, Elder Sign’s hosts do a great job of summarizing and analyzing short stories from notable authors of weird fiction from the last 150 years while staying upbeat and clearly showing through the process how much they love the genre. They even manage to draw interesting things from stories which I viewed as trite, and gave me other perspectives to consider. Production value and audio quality are also good.

This podcast is one of the best thing for my commute. Wish there was more, still waiting.

I love this podcast! The hosts are very knowledgeable, and their passion for the subject really comes through. I'm a huge M.R. James fan, but even for the stories by other authors that I haven't read, I can still easily follow along and really get a lot out of their discussion.