Episode 145 -- "The Mark of the Beast" by Rudyard Kipling

[Genus Unknown]

I had no idea Rudyard Kipling wrote weird fiction!

The werewolf stuff in this story is kind of lame, in that it's all the silly parts of a modern werewolf movie (the dog-like smell, the craving of rare meat, and all that) without any of the werewolf action. But the stuff with the Silver Man is creepy as a bastard.

[Matinee Idyll (129)]

I said this on the facebook page, but I'll repost here!

I love this story. The tone is difficult to grasp, existing as it does somewhere between a jaunty, fireside/cigar/brandy yarn and unknowable, creeping cosmic terror. Great analysis Chris and Chad, more Kipling please!

[dr.marsden@gmail.com]

This is a fascinating story for lots of reasons.  It seems as scathing a critique of the effects of empire on the consciences of those doing the dirty work of the empire that I've seen.  It's an exploration of what's really unspeakable behavior and what kinds of home-bred and chauvanistic idiocy drives it.

[mcmanlypants]

IIRC, the craving of raw meat is referenced (or, if one prefers, stolen) by the film An American Werewolf in Paris, an inferior sequel to the magnificent An American Werewolf in London. I recall one of the better scenes being when he's in a restaurant shortly after having been infected and demanding that they bring him more steaks and that they be more rare. I liked that part a lot even if the rest of the film lacks a lot of the pathos of AWIL.

I loved this story, I have to say. The mewing - yikes! When Chad played the YouTube audio of mewing otters it was supremely creepy.