Sanctum Secorum #64 - The Heads of Cerberus

What this episode covers

Tonight… we explore a pre-Appendix N piece, “The Heads of Cerberus,” by the creator of dark fantasy, Getrude Barrows Bennett. When four people in Philadelphia inhale dust developed by an occult scientist who has discovered parallel universes, they are transported into an interdimensional no-man’s land that is populated by supernatural beings. From there, they go on to an alternate-future version of Philadelphia—a frightening dystopian nation-state in which citizens are numbered, not named. How will they escape? In The Heads of Cerberus, you will find this world-bending story written by Francis Stevens, the pseudonym of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, a pioneering science fiction and fantasy adventure writer from Minneapolis who made her literary debut at the precocious age of 17. Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Rt0dQqJHkpyUThKe15EWo?si=298bc7bafad04b02 Marc's Word(s) of the Day Comether - A seductive spell or charm. Only in to put the comether on someone and variants: to exercise a powerful influence over someone; to persuade, fascinate, or seduce someone, esp. of the opposite sex. (FB 1) Curveting - Of a horse: to execute a curvet, leap in a curvet; (in later use also more generally) to caper, prance, leap. Said also of the person riding the horse. (FB 3) Highbinders - A violent criminal; a gangster. Also in weakened sense: an unruly or disreputable person; a rowdy, a rogue. (FB 3) Leal - Loyal, faithful, honest, true. (FB 3) Plethoric - Suffering from or affected by plethora; of the nature of or characterized by plethora; having a ruddy complexion and a full, fleshy body; excessively full of blood, congested. (FB 3) Puerility - An instance, embodiment, or display of childishness, immaturity, or triviality; (in later use also spec. in plural) juvenilia. (FB 3) Quondam - At one time, formerly. (FB 4) Retrogression - Movement in a reverse direction; movement backwards. (FB 4) Serge - A woolen fabric. The name now denotes a very durable twilled cloth of worsted, or with the warp of worsted and the woof of wool, extensively used for clothing and for other purposes. (FB 4)

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