I love the dedication. HorrorBabble makes my name sound spooky! What a treat! Also that witch was NOT COOL, someone needs to teach her about consent among other things
You are absolutely right of course Veronica! Although I suppose toads masquerading as witches may not be subject to the same rules and regs as we mere mortals. Ian
"Mother of Toads" is a short story by Clark Ashton Smith, originally featured in the July 1938 edition of Weird Tales Magazine. The story tells of a young apothecary's assistant and his encounters with an unusual witch in the deep forest. Chapters: 00:15 - Opening Credits 00:52 - Mother of Toads 19:30 - Closing Credits Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/mother-of-toads Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Music and production by Ian Gordon Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com www.patreon.com/horrorbabble HorrorBabble MERCH: teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on: AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY Home: www.horrorbabble.com Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com Social Media: facebook.com/HorrorBabble instagram.com/horrorbabble twitter.com/HorrorBabble
Awesome story and narration! C.A.S. wrote amazing stories! I read him a little in my younger year, but have grown to truly appreciate his work though this channel. I am at the point now I gravitate to his stories when I see them. I really like this one!
Thank you for the dedication. Your readings and channel I am happy to support Ian and Jen. HorrorBabble has been a fantastic daily haven and a source of great enjoyment for me. Thank you both!
I was so pleased to hear the dedication, T.Y. both. I appreciate it. That was very sweet. I'm proud to be a supporter of your great channel. I enjoy so very much. 👻💀🎃❤😼
Totally Yuck!!! not you, you did a great job, as usual - it's just the story :P added ending to the story: he struggled manfully in the slimy muck reaching, reaching for the large, horrid toad. the toad had a second's thought that he was reaching to hold her. in that split second he grabbed at her throat with both hands. he was a strong lad. he squeezed and squeezed with all his spirit and strength. she tried to grab his arms away with her toad limbs as she had been taken by such surprise that she had no chance to work her magics. Still he squeezed the wretched toad, but his hands were weakening. "No!" he cried, and his body reacted with more strength than he thought he could possibly have. the slime and greasy mud swarmed around him now in his eyes and nose. the toads seemed to be screaming and jumping in the water around him as if in agony. he felt the bones in her neck begin to crack, her eyes bulged, the batrachian tongue shot out and then hung from her mouth. he couldn't see, but he felt the strength bleed from the huge, disgusting thing he was struggling with. the toads were hardly moving. he was exhausted. then the neck cracked and the head went limp in his grip. he shook it back and forth, back and forth desperately hoping it was truly and utterly and purely in its death. he let go. the body fell heavily into the muck. he wiped his eyes and looked. it was hideously limp and lifeless, and he was totally elated. the dead toads floated around him. he moved against the thick slimy mud and slowly gained his footing. he grabbed the tree branch which seemed itself trying to reach out to him and gained the ground. he felt the solid earth. He took a very deep breath and without looking back or wiping off the the sticky slime, he ran. he ran and ran and ran. he could see clearly now and the path seemed to shine as he followed it. Then a horrid smell assailed his nostrils and he dared to look back. there in the distance he saw a huge black-grey cloud rise up into muddy brown clouds - lightening flashed slashing the sky. then - as he watched, all the blackness, brown, and greyness dissipated. the vast sky above became blue and the clouds white with sunshine. the dry slime fell from his clothes and disappeared into the ground. The young man turned and walked wearily home - a slight smile on his lips. . .
@@HorrorBabble This is not the original story though as Smith wrote it though, he had to censor it for Weird Tales. Later publications have it uncensored. It's nothing too explicit, just a little too much by 1930s standards. You could read both versions, I'm sure a "Mother of Toads (uncensored version)" link would get you a lot of clicks just due to the title. It's also far more horrifying to boot, as you can imagine.
Ah, I see! I might just take a look at it out of curiosity. I have to be careful with sources though as certain prints aren’t in the public domain. Weird Tales texts are good sources for the channel.
When a witch asks if you had a lovely evening with her, you say YES!!!!!
Always glad to see Clark Ashton Smith stories! Great work Ian, as always.
Thanks OoE! We need more CAS on the channel. Ian
I love these CAS stories. By far an author that never fails to enchant
Went to bed at 2 with a 10 and woke up at 10 with.a 2. That's what drinking will do. 😂
More like a -2. 😂
Hell hath no fury like a scorned ....toad? Hahaha! Great job, especially with the witch’s voice.
Thanks again Lori - I love this story! Ian
poor boy. however, mating might have been slightly less horrible than implied due to toads having external fertilization
Baby, it's cold outside.
I love the dedication. HorrorBabble makes my name sound spooky! What a treat! Also that witch was NOT COOL, someone needs to teach her about consent among other things
You are absolutely right of course Veronica! Although I suppose toads masquerading as witches may not be subject to the same rules and regs as we mere mortals. Ian
I don't know why but this feels like Grimm's fairytale.
"Mother of Toads" is a short story by Clark Ashton Smith, originally featured in the July 1938 edition of Weird Tales Magazine. The story tells of a young apothecary's assistant and his encounters with an unusual witch in the deep forest.
Chapters:
00:15 - Opening Credits
00:52 - Mother of Toads
19:30 - Closing Credits
Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/mother-of-toads
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian Gordon
Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon:
horrorbabble.bandcamp.com
www.patreon.com/horrorbabble
HorrorBabble MERCH:
teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch
Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on:
AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY
Home: www.horrorbabble.com
Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com
Social Media:
facebook.com/HorrorBabble
instagram.com/horrorbabble
twitter.com/HorrorBabble
Was so surprised to hear my name! Thank you!
So well read! I would love to be able to read as beautifully and smoothly as you both!
You're welcome - and thanks Adriana! :)
Awesome story and narration! C.A.S. wrote amazing stories! I read him a little in my younger year, but have grown to truly appreciate his work though this channel. I am at the point now I gravitate to his stories when I see them.
I really like this one!
Thank you for the dedication. Your readings and channel I am happy to support Ian and Jen. HorrorBabble has been a fantastic daily haven and a source of great enjoyment for me. Thank you both!
You're welcome Patrick! Ian & Jen
If i had a nickel for every time this happened to me in college....
I was so pleased to hear the dedication, T.Y. both. I appreciate it. That was very sweet. I'm proud to be a supporter of your great channel. I enjoy so very much. 👻💀🎃❤😼
And we appreciate the support KB. It's always great to hear from you. :) Ian
HorrorBabble thank you, Ian...
Brilliant, thank you so much!
My guy got roofied by a giant toad.
This could be any night out when you are in your teens or early 20's :)
So, the witch slipped him a Mickey that gave him the worst beer goggles ever.
Another great one. Thanks!
Thanks again Morgan! Ian
Great reading! Thank you for that.
Awesome!
So a guy has some wine and wakes up with a gross woman? Horrific maybe but happens every day.
Your voice for the witch sounds a lot like John Cleese.
The Bufomaia Ashtonsmithii.
"The Seed from the Sepulcher" by C. A. Smith is one of his best IMO. Suggest a reading.
Thanks Peter - feel free to send any suggestions via the website: www.horrorbabble.com/contact
Thank you, will do.
I've been there bud...time heals
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. That's why you don't lead them on. Great reading as always Ian, and I can't wait to see what you do next.
Thanks as always Normasch! Ian
Heaven hath no rage like love to hatred turn'd
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorn'd.
Remember.
RIBBIT!
Seems to me that every married man has gone through this!
Nice one
Totally Yuck!!! not you, you did a great job, as usual - it's just the story :P
added ending to the story: he struggled manfully in the slimy muck reaching, reaching for the large, horrid toad. the toad had a second's thought that he was reaching to hold her. in that split second he grabbed at her throat with both hands. he was a strong lad. he squeezed and squeezed with all his spirit and strength. she tried to grab his arms away with her toad limbs as she had been taken by such surprise that she had no chance to work her magics. Still he squeezed the wretched toad, but his hands were weakening. "No!" he cried, and his body reacted with more strength than he thought he could possibly have. the slime and greasy mud swarmed around him now in his eyes and nose. the toads seemed to be screaming and jumping in the water around him as if in agony. he felt the bones in her neck begin to crack, her eyes bulged, the batrachian tongue shot out and then hung from her mouth. he couldn't see, but he felt the strength bleed from the huge, disgusting thing he was struggling with. the toads were hardly moving. he was exhausted. then the neck cracked and the head went limp in his grip. he shook it back and forth, back and forth desperately hoping it was truly and utterly and purely in its death. he let go. the body fell heavily into the muck. he wiped his eyes and looked. it was hideously limp and lifeless, and he was totally elated. the dead toads floated around him. he moved against the thick slimy mud and slowly gained his footing. he grabbed the tree branch which seemed itself trying to reach out to him and gained the ground. he felt the solid earth. He took a very deep breath and without looking back or wiping off the the sticky slime, he ran. he ran and ran and ran. he could see clearly now and the path seemed to shine as he followed it. Then a horrid smell assailed his nostrils and he dared to look back. there in the distance he saw a huge black-grey cloud rise up into muddy brown clouds - lightening flashed slashing the sky. then - as he watched, all the blackness, brown, and greyness dissipated. the vast sky above became blue and the clouds white with sunshine. the dry slime fell from his clothes and disappeared into the ground. The young man turned and walked wearily home - a slight smile on his lips. . .
What a rude man! At least he should say something nice because she served him the vine.
Yup, we’ve all been there. Beer goggles can be a bitch!
I heard my name and was like omg xD
AMPLEXUS
#notallwitches
Bloody hell, what an evil protagonist! I wouldn't have called her Mother of Toads, more like Mother of Turds! 😉😆
You can't fix stupid.
I'm surprised you went with the censored version.
Hi Jeanette - this is the original Weird Tales text. I always try to find the earliest publication.
@@HorrorBabble This is not the original story though as Smith wrote it though, he had to censor it for Weird Tales. Later publications have it uncensored. It's nothing too explicit, just a little too much by 1930s standards. You could read both versions, I'm sure a "Mother of Toads (uncensored version)" link would get you a lot of clicks just due to the title. It's also far more horrifying to boot, as you can imagine.
Ah, I see! I might just take a look at it out of curiosity. I have to be careful with sources though as certain prints aren’t in the public domain. Weird Tales texts are good sources for the channel.
What a perfectly repulsive antagonist. I cringed through a good portion of this. Nice work again, Ian.
A friend of mine has a particularly intense fear of toads... I don't think he'd enjoy this one. Ian
The description of her body was almost too much! I could visualize her all too well. Ugh.
What???! I thought she sounded hot?
You left out the... parts... why :((
There are no unattractive women......only a lack of alcohol
A man's boosim?
In 1938 it's a horror story
In 2020 it's "yeah that's what happens if you drink too much, no big deal though"
Horrible, but a little funny is an awful way!