A WORD (from my forthcoming B-sides compilation Dead Air.)
The
stories in this book were written between 2004 and 2009, approximately. Some of
the poems were written as early as 1990, slightly modified in 2016. I started writing the stories on my Livejournal page in 2004. Some of them have since been
modified or blown apart, and have appeared in similar or very different
contexts in my books Gateways to Abomination and Creeping Waves.
My vision for what Leeds is has changed since these early years, so some of
what you see here is not really part of the whole Leeds/WXXT mythos (if you
will), not anymore. I include it for the interest of those who might want to
know how I fumbled around the ideas and concepts when I began. I hope you find
it to be of some value. Thank you for reading. There is a lot more for me to
tell. I hope you’ll stick with me on this bloody and disquieting journey.
There
are many more broadcasts to come.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
“BLACK MAGIC,”
HE TOLD ME: 13 WAYS TO BEGIN AN ESSAY ABOUT WXXT, THE LAST STATION ON EARTH
THE LAST
OUTPOST
STEPHEN AND
MARY PART 1
I WAS
ACQUITTED OF KILLING MY FIRST WIFE IN 1936
MY MOTHER,
LUCILLE AXTON
MORE ABOUT
WXXT
I WAS A
SCRAPPER
KNIVES
THE MANY
STUDIOS, PART 6
(PHOTOGRAPH
MISSING)
THE
BROADCASTS. TRASMISSION 99.
INTOLERANCE,
OR FCC COMMISSIONERS I HAVE KNOWN
EVIL IS
UNSPECTACULAR AND ALWAYS HUMAN AND SHARES OUR BED AND EATS AT OUR TABLE
IN OUR EFFORT
TO BECAOME A VIABLE PRESENCE IN THE PIONEER VALLEY
EVERYBODY
KNOWS THAT HE WAS GOOD AT THE BEGINNING BUT HE JUST WENT TOO FAR
THE GAPS
BETWEEN THE BARS ARE THE SUTURES OF ONE’S OWN SKULL
WXXT’S
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM
WHAT TOM
BROUGHT TO SHOW AND TELL
INTERSTATES
AS TIME IS
ENDLESSLY SHOVELED ON MY GRAVE FROM SOMEWHERE MILES ABOVE ME
WE DEARLY
NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
MY BROTHER
EARL
APPLE PIE,
PART 1
OUR NEW HOME
FCC CHAIRMAN
MANGROVE O’HARE GOT OFF EASY
UNCLE
ROTTFIELD’S BLACK GLOVES
something
large and grey
SUCCUBUS, BY
JAMES PEMHIGUS MORPHEW
THE BALLAD OF
DONALD BELSON SKRATTE
THE
DISQUIETING LEGEND OF JOHNNYPANTS WOLFGANG GORSTED
SOME NIGHTS
IT’S BLOODLUST
please stand
by
THESE ARE THE
PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THE MIGHTY
WALK ON FIELDS STAINED WITH DASHED BRAINS
SITHYL
UNCLE DIGGLE
READS TO-DAY’S NEWS
DEAREST
MICHELLE
ON A CRISP
OCTOBER DAY
DEAD MAN IN
MY BED: STEPHEN AND MARY PART 2
MY HALLOWEEN
IN 2005
WXXT GOSSIP
SOUP IN
WINTER
TUGGING ON
YOUR SEAWEED SLEEVES
WXXT ARE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
GOODNIGHT, NURSE
POSTSCRIPT
A WORD
