Bone and Sickle

BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from histo

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Recent Episodes

The Frankenstein Method

Posted August 19, 2020 • 00:48:59

The method Frankenstein employed to create life is left mostly a mystery in Mary Shelley’s 1818 book. How then did the notion of stolen body parts...

Bottled Spirits: Imps, Devils, Ghosts

Posted July 31, 2020 • 00:45:24

Western tales of bottled spirits, imps, devils, and even ghosts are largely borrowed from the Islamic and Jewish

The Jinn

Posted July 20, 2020 • 00:48:06

They Arabic mythology of the jinn is, not surprisingly, quite different than what you might glean from Western pop culture. Films such as 1940’s...

Toad Magic

Posted June 21, 2020 • 00:52:32

Toads have long been associated with magic, as witches’ familiars and as a source both of poison as folk healing.

We begin with a poison allegedly...

Slavic Mermaids: Water Ghosts and Goblins

Posted May 29, 2020 • 00:46:08

Quite distinct from their Western equivalent, Slavic mermaids might better be described as water ghosts, as they are almost always the spirits of departed...