Send us a text

Join Bob and Virgil for an in-depth conversation about Avram Davidson’s unique storytelling. They discuss “The Old Woman Who Lived with a Bear” (from The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy, 1975).

They explore: The strange blend of folklore, satire, and legal reasoning in the Triune Monarchy, Eszterhazy’s role as a rational observer in a world full of myth and superstition, The story’s humor, humanity, and mysterious ambiguity.

Perfect for readers who enjoy literary discussions, speculative fiction, and uncovering hidden gems in classic fantasy.

#avramdavidson #DoctorEszterhazy #weirdfiction #FantasyDiscussion #bookpodcast #literarypodcast

@sffaudio @SpecFicWriters

Send us a text

Step into the Triune Monarchy with Avram Davidson’s unforgettable story “The Old Woman Who Lived with a Bear” (from The Enquiries of Doctor Eszterhazy, 1975).

This professional narration brings to life the wit, mystery, and folkloric strangeness of Dr. Engelbert Eszterhazy’s world — where Gothic traditions, superstition, and rational inquiry intertwine.

Whether you’re a longtime Davidson devotee or new to his genius, this is a chance to immerse yourself in one of his finest Eszterhazy adventures.

👉 Stay tuned for our follow-up discussion episode where Bob and Virgil dive into the story’s themes, humor, and deeper meanings.

#avramdavidson #DoctorEszterhazy #weirdfiction #classicfantasy #audiobook #storytelling

@avramdavidson @sffaudio @speculativeFiction @torbooks @Fantasyfaction

Send us a text

Avram Davidson (himself) warms up for a lecture and pulls you aboard a lateen-rigged dhow to ask the irresistible question: where, exactly, did Sinbad sail—Borneo, Sumatra, Serendib, even Madagascar—or only through our imaginations?

Show notes:

• Paul Bunyan vs. Sinbad: why tall tales can still point to real shores

• Baghdad’s golden age, Harun al-Rashid, and merchants’ cargo lists like poetry

• Dhows, monsoons, “islands” that breathe (whale? turtle?), and apes near Sumatra

• The rukh/roc, Aepyornis eggs, and dagobas that look like giant eggs from afar

• Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and the joys of pure serendipity

Hashtags:

#AvramDavidson #AdventuresInUnhistory #sinbad #arabiannights #mythology #indianocean #baghdad #dhow #rock #borneo #sumatra #srilanka #madagascar #historynerd

@FolkloreThursday

@ARABliterature

@britishlibrary

@SmithsonianMagazine

@SFWA

@CaptainSinbad