Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales
New episodes stream every Friday from 8pm to 8:30pm
Photo by Dominique Nabokov
Joan Juliet Buck’s serial stories create a vital new genre: Apocalypse Comedy with tips for survival as facts melt away.
She does eerie and comic like no one else.
‘The Ghost of The Rue Jacob’ is a perennial hit on The Moth radio . The fuller, darker version can be found in her memoir, ‘The Price of Illusion’.
These spoken serials began in September 2021 on Radio Free Rhinecliff with ‘The Companion Fog’ , an 8-chapter novella about a cloud you have custom-made to protect you from bad news.
The 29-part ‘Serial Tales’ are set in Littleburg, the Hudson Valley hamlet that time forgot, until time remembered it.
In Littleburg, the veil is so thin that the other world is in your face, and half the population are shamans. The psychic old guard must incorporate the post-Covid newbies , which leads to some powerful collective hallucinations, including, perhaps, the Second Coming. As a result , local hotel owner Vince and millionaire pop star renter Cobbler Martin think they have been given the mission to fight the darkness with light. Magical realism full of twists, laughs, and gut-punches told with a velvet voice, these stories owe a debt to Philip Pullman, MR James, Saki, John Wyndham, and ‘Lady Asquith’s Third Ghost Book’
Laurie Anderson’s disquieting theme music sets the tone.
Graphic design by Betsy Sarles.
Produced by Matty Rosenberg & Joan Juliet Buck @ radiofreerhinecliff.org
©2022, 2023 Joan Juliet Buck
She does eerie and comic like no one else.
‘The Ghost of The Rue Jacob’ is a perennial hit on The Moth radio . The fuller, darker version can be found in her memoir, ‘The Price of Illusion’.
These spoken serials began in September 2021 on Radio Free Rhinecliff with ‘The Companion Fog’ , an 8-chapter novella about a cloud you have custom-made to protect you from bad news.
The 29-part ‘Serial Tales’ are set in Littleburg, the Hudson Valley hamlet that time forgot, until time remembered it.
In Littleburg, the veil is so thin that the other world is in your face, and half the population are shamans. The psychic old guard must incorporate the post-Covid newbies , which leads to some powerful collective hallucinations, including, perhaps, the Second Coming. As a result , local hotel owner Vince and millionaire pop star renter Cobbler Martin think they have been given the mission to fight the darkness with light. Magical realism full of twists, laughs, and gut-punches told with a velvet voice, these stories owe a debt to Philip Pullman, MR James, Saki, John Wyndham, and ‘Lady Asquith’s Third Ghost Book’
Laurie Anderson’s disquieting theme music sets the tone.
Graphic design by Betsy Sarles.
Produced by Matty Rosenberg & Joan Juliet Buck @ radiofreerhinecliff.org
©2022, 2023 Joan Juliet Buck
Latest episode:
Season 2 & 3 (Also available on all major podcast platforms):
Season 1:
Serial Tales - The Littleburg Tales - Episode 29 - In the finale of the first season of Littleburg Tales, Cobbler Martin at last sings for the elusive oligarch, and light confronts darkness with shattering consequences.
Serial Tales - The Littleburg Tales - Episode 28 - Far from Littleburg, Cobbler Martin notices strange alterations in the fabric of reality. And finds out who perfected lighting itself.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 27 - Three Visits to the Witch - At a time of universal panic, the seer Celeste can no longer cope with the volume of demands coming at her. Her friend Vince suggests she get help, Kenella becomes her number two, and a new client is the newly divorced wife of the worst person ever.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 26 - Liminal Legacy - Vince, the owner of the Hotel Liminal, contemplates the historic charm of paneling and floorboards until he has to confront the reality of his family’s past.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 25 - Cobbler Martin, the reclusive 28 year old singer, is in London to give a private and very well paid concert for someone whose name she never quite gets. She’s in for a shock.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 24 - Urgent Matters
While the young singer Cobbler Martin is in London at the invitation of a mysterious billionaire patron, Vince the hotel owner grapples with encroaching brain fog. Celeste Granting, our friendly local witch, produces a gimmick that is said to work —around the world— as a prophylactic/ remedy for loss of focus , and dispersal of the will.
While the young singer Cobbler Martin is in London at the invitation of a mysterious billionaire patron, Vince the hotel owner grapples with encroaching brain fog. Celeste Granting, our friendly local witch, produces a gimmick that is said to work —around the world— as a prophylactic/ remedy for loss of focus , and dispersal of the will.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 23
Minnie the realtor tames Tyger the recluse; Kenella gets into the Hag role; Vince and Harriet get an offer; Cobbler gets a gig in London; Albert Gas is still sick.
Minnie the realtor tames Tyger the recluse; Kenella gets into the Hag role; Vince and Harriet get an offer; Cobbler gets a gig in London; Albert Gas is still sick.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 22
Minnie the intrepid realtor confronts the feral senior in the burnt out house.
Minnie the intrepid realtor confronts the feral senior in the burnt out house.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 21 "Food"
Fearless realtor Minnie Gonzales tracks down the stranger who was slugged at the vigil , and finds out the one thing he wants . The vigil reconvenes at the bar of the hotel, where shortages are beginning to be felt. (Theme by Laurie Anderson)
Fearless realtor Minnie Gonzales tracks down the stranger who was slugged at the vigil , and finds out the one thing he wants . The vigil reconvenes at the bar of the hotel, where shortages are beginning to be felt. (Theme by Laurie Anderson)
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 20
Kenella, the retired author of 23 young adult novels, takes center stage to explain to the group holding candles in a vigil around the monument what the superpower of age is , and how it can help the world.
Kenella, the retired author of 23 young adult novels, takes center stage to explain to the group holding candles in a vigil around the monument what the superpower of age is , and how it can help the world.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 19 ‘It is what it is’
(Episode 18 was revised and it's recommended you listen to the new episode 18 before this episode)
How Celeste the seer is called back to reality, Cobbler the pop star’s scheme to fight darkness with floodlights, and Vince’s decision to be in the here and now.
(Episode 18 was revised and it's recommended you listen to the new episode 18 before this episode)
How Celeste the seer is called back to reality, Cobbler the pop star’s scheme to fight darkness with floodlights, and Vince’s decision to be in the here and now.
Serial Tales of Littleburg: Episode 18 - 'Let's Save the World' *REVISED
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 17 of The Littleburg tales - 'True Bad'
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 16 of The Littleburg tales - How do you fight on the side of the angels?
Vince, the owner of the haunted Hotel Liminal, and Cobbler Martin , the famous young singer, have been told by the angel that their mission is to fight the darkness. Each has a different reaction. How will these unlikely heroes team up?
Vince, the owner of the haunted Hotel Liminal, and Cobbler Martin , the famous young singer, have been told by the angel that their mission is to fight the darkness. Each has a different reaction. How will these unlikely heroes team up?
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 15 of The Littleburg tales - Tthe hamlet that time forgot, until time remembered it.
'Real Estate of The damned' - The question is: what happens to a place where something strange occurred ? The house where the newcomer couple disappeared two years ago has burned, revealing fine brick, and Minnie the realtor ignores the warning signs, because she wants to list it.
Meanwhile , the mysterious family that might have given birth to the savior has vanished, leaving the hamlet divided as to what happened, and whether anything happened . The brand analyst , however, is thrilled: holy sells.
'Real Estate of The damned' - The question is: what happens to a place where something strange occurred ? The house where the newcomer couple disappeared two years ago has burned, revealing fine brick, and Minnie the realtor ignores the warning signs, because she wants to list it.
Meanwhile , the mysterious family that might have given birth to the savior has vanished, leaving the hamlet divided as to what happened, and whether anything happened . The brand analyst , however, is thrilled: holy sells.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 14 of The Littleburg tales - The hamlet that time forgot, until time remembered it.
You will find out what happened up at the barn, how Vince got his time in the light, and why the Littleburg spirits have been so agitated of late.
You will find out what happened up at the barn, how Vince got his time in the light, and why the Littleburg spirits have been so agitated of late.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 13 of The Littleburg tales - 'The Fire of Rage'
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 12 of The Littleburg tales - 'A Picture of the Spiritual Organism’
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 11 of The Littleburg tales - NOW WE FIND OUT, puts our local witch in peril while almost everyone else worships at the manger.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 10 of The Littleburg tales - At a time of universal perplexity , when opinions weigh more than facts, the arrival of three wise men in the hamlet of Littleburg only makes things worse.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 9 of The Littleburg tales - The Christmas Eve Show: the greatest event in the history of the world is about to travel west. Follow Joseph, Mary, and the donkey to --- the Hudson Valley. (2 of 2)
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 8 of The Littleburg tales - The Christmas Eve Show: the greatest event in the history of the world is about to travel west. Follow Joseph, Mary, and the donkey to --- the Hudson Valley. (1 of 2)
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 7 of The Littleburg tales. The Power of Then.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 6 of The Littleburg tales. The Man With The Luck Problem.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 5 of The Littleburg tales. Dutch Thanksgiving.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 4 of The Littleburg tales. The haunted hotel.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 3 of The Littleburg tales. The Infestiture. Set in the Hudson Valley hamlet of Littleburg.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 2 of The Littleburg tales. How to be you. Set in the Hudson Valley hamlet of Littleburg.
Joan Juliet Buck’s Serial Tales-Episode 1 of The Littleburg tales. Halloween Special about a haunted house in the Hudson Valley hamlet of Littleburg.
The Companion Fog, chapter 8. This is the final episode of the companion fog.
The Companion Fog, chapter 7. A consideration of the global effects of being able to block the news you don’t want to know. We return to the Pacific Northwest to watch Elijah and Eliza deal with what they have wrought.
The Companion Fog, chapter 6.
The Companion Fog, chapter 5. Miles is hospitable to the ghost in the red tweed suit, Sue Miles learns the perils of shopping.
The Companion Fog, chapter 4. How self-pity breaks the contract, and who’s that lady at the church of Heavenly Remission Soup Kitchen?
The Companion Fog, chapter 3. What happens when a woman meets a man but they live in different perceptual realities.
The Companion Fog, chapter 2. Our heroine tries out her Companion Fog, and discovers the crucial safeguard she forgot to install.
The Companion Fog, chapter 1. A remedy against bad news is marketed to millions. Sue Miles , 40, beautiful, disappointed, joins the trend as the pandemic drags on.