Issue XLVIII

Concerning wax statues, erased things, & 144,000 sealed...

William Pauley III

Mar 09, 2024

∙ Paid

From the Desk of William Pauley III

My life is an unstable design,
built for looks
not for time.

Even in the best of times
I still feel out of my mind.

My face does not reflect me
represent me
in any way.
And my body
is only a house
shelter
and nothing more.

My soul breathes beneath this flesh
huddled inside its cage of bones.
My soul,
it is bound to this skin.

I often wonder what I’ll lose
in death

at the very end

if anything
at all.

144,000 sealed.
© William Pauley III, 2007

IGGY & SPIKE’S REVOLUTIONARY RAP
— a deleted scene from Super Mario Bros. (1993) —

Last Week / This Week

My new story “Prelude to a Dream” drops on 3.14.24 for paid subscribers only!

Last week, on Storytime!, we read a truly bizarre murder mystery, concerning an amnesiac who wakes up next to a melted body... and a disembodied voice who claims to know exactly who did it. What? Haven’t had a chance to listen to “HOLUS BOLUS” yet? No worries! Check it out here.

On this week’s episode, we’ll explore what the earth was like moments before evil was birthed from its soil. Be sure to check out “Spring” when it drops on Monday! Be sure you’re subscribed so you’re notified the moment it goes live:
Earlier this week, I deconstructed a very old (& mostly terrible) story of mine, sorted the good from the bad, and am now attempting to re-write that story. VIP subscribers can follow my progress on that project here.
Check out this excellent review of The Doom Magnetic Trilogy! Thanks, Trina! Pick up a signed copy here.

You know, I’ve been doing this gig for about 20 years now and I’m only just realizing it might be possible to make a living off of these weird little stories. If you enjoy these posts every week, *please* consider a monthly subscription. It’s only $5 and it gives you instant access to the Doom Fiction library. Tons of audiobooks, short stories, exclusive articles, art projects, you name it. All for the price of a cup of coffee! Once I have enough subscribers, I’ll have all the time in the world to create even more weirdness for you. So, save the weird! Become a paid subscriber today!

For an extensive list of exclusive perks for paid subscribers, click the following links:
Monthly Paid Subscriber Portal
VIP Paid Subscriber Portal

Oddities Theater