Birkett’s Twelfth Corpse by August Derleth Episode #82
| July 13, 2023-
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Birkett’s Twelfth Corpse by August Derleth Episode #82
BIRKETT’S TWELFTH CORPSE
Episode #82 · Written by August Derleth · Narrated by Scott Miller
For decades, Fred Birkett and Hank Room have worked the same stretch of the Wisconsin River, dragging for the drowned and keeping a grim tally of their finds. What began as rough rivalry has hardened into something personal, and when another young life slips beneath the current, both men see more than tragedy in the dark water.
Birkett carries his strange knack for finding bodies with a grin. Room carries the same history like a weight. On a humid July night, under lantern light and rising moon, the race downstream feels familiar. But in the still water near Hiney’s Slough, a moment of triumph turns violent, and the river becomes witness to something far worse than accident.
The tension in this story does not come from hidden clues or elaborate puzzles. It builds from wounded pride and a decision made in anger. When frantic cries echo from the shadows and then cut off without warning, the searchers row toward a silence that feels heavy. What waits in that black water will close the rivalry for good, though not in the way anyone expected.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
August Derleth was born in 1909 in Sauk City, Wisconsin, and spent much of his life drawing fiction from the landscapes of his home state. He co-founded Arkham House in 1939 with Donald Wandrei to preserve and publish the work of H. P. Lovecraft, and he later expanded the press into a cornerstone of American weird fiction. Beyond his role as a publisher, Derleth wrote hundreds of stories and more than 150 books, including the Solar Pons detective series, regional Sac Prairie chronicles, and numerous supernatural tales influenced by Lovecraft’s mythos.
“Birkett’s Twelfth Corpse” shows Derleth working without cosmic trappings, relying instead on human rivalry and the unforgiving presence of the Wisconsin River. His familiarity with Midwestern settings lends the story its authenticity, while his instinct for sharp, decisive endings delivers a conclusion that lingers long after the final line.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to Birkett’s Twelfth Corpse by August Derleth — a chilling tale of rivalry and revenge in classic science fiction set along the Wisconsin River.
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AUGUST DERLETH SHORT STORIES
August Derleth was one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century speculative fiction. Best known as the co-founder of Arkham House, he helped preserve the work of H. P. Lovecraft while building a substantial body of fiction of his own.
Derleth wrote science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and horror, often combining ordinary settings with an undercurrent of unease. His stories range from psychological science fiction to strange mysteries and supernatural tales.
These stories showcase his versatility as a storyteller, from eerie time-travel adventures to unsettling encounters that blur the line between man and machine.
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The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked the #1 Science Fiction Podcast in 42 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 4.2 million listens.
Each episode features carefully selected stories from the Golden Age of science fiction, professionally narrated. Timeless storytelling the way it was meant to be heard.What listeners are saying:
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