The Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of the Innocently Damned, Undead and Supernatural

Welcome to the world of FETIDUS! Today, October 31, 2008, marks the launch of FETIDUS: The Damned Heir with the release of Episode 1! Come inside, stay for a while, venture in its dark corridors, and meet Art Blanchard, of the DC office of The Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of the Innocently Damned, Undead and Supernatural. This is the beginning of his new twisted case — a mystery that takes him deep into the science-fiction, post-apocalyptic, politically-charged and grim world of Washington, DC, circa 2034, filled with noir-humor, suspense and horror. And did I mention zombies, vampires, and other shadowy undead?

I hope you enjoy the journey in the months to come, and tremble with anticipation with the release of each episode. It has been a thrilling experience to create FETIDUS, and I get the bone-chilling sense that it will be even more thrilling to share it. Please subscribe to the site, visit frequently (if you dare!) to get new episodes, and feel free to share FETIDUS far and wide if you enjoy it! After all, FETIDUS is about making the world a better place, isn’t it? Well, you’ll see.

Episode 1 (Prologue + Chapters 1-3):

00:00 - Intro music and credits

This episode is read by the author and features the following voice talent: Prebble Q Ramswell, Jose de la Mar, Patrick Nugent and Valerie Durham. See CAST page for more details.

02:05 - Welcome message and thanks from the author

03:33 - Prologue

“At dusk, I hunted…”
Meet Art Blanchard as he hunts the malevolent street thug Jack Wylde.

25:05 - A word from our sponsor, ReaniLife, Inc.

26:00 - Chapter 1

“A new day, a new client…”
Meet the mysterious and sultry Leigh Donner.

34:20 - Chapter 2

“I didn’t have more than a second or two before…”
Meet Milla, Art Blanchard’s zealously annoying assistant.

37:15 - Chapter 3

“Night and filth darkened the city…”
A handful of assumptions and a pocketful of ruminations.

43:14 - Outro

Thanks for listening! If you enjoy this episode, please share it!

Click below to listen to FETIDUS: The Damned Heir - Episode 1:

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Download audio file: “FETIDUS: The Damned Heir - Episode 1” (51.7 MB)

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We’re getting sooooo close to the launch! Three more days, and Episode 1 will go live! The dark streets of Washington, DC of 2034 await your visit on October 31st.

In the meantime, I want to welcome new website visitors! Take a look around and listen to some of the teasers I’ve posted, and if any of that strikes your fancy, you can subscribe for free — either by email or by RSS feed. Or you can just come back to the site to check for new episodes and listen right here by clicking the little play buttons embedded in the posts throughout this site. Did I mention it’s all free? Yes, all this mystery-loving, zombie-appreciating, politically-thrilling, post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, film-noir-esque goodness is free for your entertainment, pleasure and escapism needs.

And for those of you who ask, what the %&#@ is an RSS feed or podcast? Well, for the technically-minded, Wikipedia has nice articles on RSS feeds and podcasts. Basically, if you have an iPod or a computer or anything remotely similar, chances are all you need is a program called a feed reader, aggregator or “podcatcher” and you’re in good shape. You might already have one. iTunes is a popular podcatcher, for example. Some other options are listed on this page. Even Google, Yahoo!, and your web browser can track feeds too.

Or, just subscribe via email and visit the site often if all that RSS stuff annoys you. Technology can be more irritating than a happy non-corporeal sometimes, at least that’s what Art Blanchard says…

So check in again on Halloween and dive in for a while with Art Blanchard as he takes on a new case in the mysterious and stygian world of FETIDUS.

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Thought I’d post a big THANK YOU to Corey of the Midnight Podcast for being the first podcaster to play one of my teasers today — in Episode 107! Thanks also for the positive plug and support! I guess that now makes the FETIDUS website “official” in a way. You were the first to officially mention my site in your podcast, and I really appreciate it!

[ For those that don't know, Corey is the host and head guru of all-things-zombie over at midnightpodcast.com -- a serious force in the zombie scene, and a podcast you have to check out if you love zombies. ]

I’ve been brewing up a dark, post-apocalyptic world with the care and tender surgical consideration of Dr. Frankenstein, and I can’t wait to share it exactly one week from today — October 31, 2008! I hope you and your listeners will enjoy FETIDUS as much as I have writing it.

Take care, and thanks again,
James Durham

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The clock is ticking and that means FETIDUS is now only TWO WEEKS away from launch! The fateful day is almost upon us, but that doesn’t mean I can’t share a little more of the world of FETIDUS with you right here, right now.

You see, there’s a voice in Art Blanchard’s head that keeps coming back to haunt him. It’s a voice that calls out to him, a voice that will never let him rest… and I’m sure Art wouldn’t mind if he could find some way to end the nightmare… and the memories. Perhaps if I share it with you, it might take some of the burden off of his own, charred soul. Help Art Blanchard… listen to the clip below.

Click below to listen to an excerpt from FETIDUS: The Damned Heir:

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Download audio file: “FETIDUS - The Voice in Art Blanchard’s Head”

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We now have an official launch date of October 31, 2008! What better day to introduce the first episode of FETIDUS: The Damned Heir to the world than on All Hallows’ Eve? We’re working night in and night out to bring this story to life, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Not only that, it’s even more strangely appropriate considering the intense political season! I can’t think of a more perfect time to share a post-apocalyptic, science fiction world, filled with such creatures as zombies, vampires and who knows what else… all interwoven within a twisted mystery set in the charged political atmosphere of Washington, DC, circa 2034.

And you’ll be able to download this story, one episode per week, starting October 31st, for FREE. Sick, isn’t it? What insanity brought about the creation of this work? Poke around the website and find out. And check back frequently for updates! While you’re at it, make sure to subscribe to the feed and/or subscribe via email and feel free to spread the word among your friends and undead kindred. I hope that this will be one gripping mystery that will keep you guessing until the final episodes.

Sincerely,
James Durham

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After a grueling casting process that involved scouring the world from the Mammoth Caves of Kentucky to the Aravalli Mountain Range of India, and from the Great Victoria Desert of Australia to the ice roads of Tuktoyaktuk, Canada, I am thrilled to announce that casting for FETIDUS is now complete!

I’m honored to work with such a great group of talented individuals! Please check out the CAST page for more information.

FETIDUS is still on track for a launch some time in October. More information to follow soon!

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Click below to listen to an excerpt from FETIDUS: The Damned Heir:

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Download audio file: “FETIDUS - And Now a Word From Our Sponsor, ReaniLife, Inc.”

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The world of Art Blanchard, Esq. isn’t exactly pretty, but it is what it is. Washington, D.C. has surely seen better days, and FETIDUS is there to help make things just a little bit better. One zombie at a time. Here is an excerpt from FETIDUS: The Damned Heir:

“The night was unusually dark and oppressively humid, even for DC, which was locked in a nasty heatwave. DC in late July was not exactly the most pleasant place to be when the sticky humidity was in full force, even in the evening. It could be as bad as New Orlando in the summer, or worse yet, even Panama City. Still, the night was better than the hellish mid-day. Probably one of the many reasons why I preferred to work late at night.

The stench of old DC was particularly intense this time of year, which was not necessarily a bad thing, depending on how you looked at it. More than a decade of cleaning and rebuilding couldn’t purge this town of the thick odor that still clung to every surface. Even the new town seemed infused with it. It was an odor that reminded me of an unkempt morgue. I liked it….”

Click below to listen to an excerpt from FETIDUS: The Damned Heir:

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Download audio file: “FETIDUS - Welcome to Washington DC 2034″

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I just got off the phone with one Matthew Wayne Selznick, master podcaster, author and DIY-advocate extraordinaire, and I had to post a big THANK YOU to him for spending the time to share some of his podcasting wisdom with me.

For those of you who don’t know, Matthew is a pioneer in the podcasting world, and author of Brave Men Run, an awesome coming-of-age alternate history novel set in his Sovereign Era universe, where the characters from X-Men and The Breakfast Club would feel right at home. He was the first author to simultaneously release his novel in serialized podcast/audiobook, e-book and print formats, and knows a thing or two about this exciting new media. Make that a whole lot of things or twos…

He was very generous to take the time to help me navigate some of the pitfalls and obstacles of podcasting my first audiobook, and honestly, it’s to people like him that all podcasters owe a debt of gratitude. Not only is he an extremely knowledgeable, generous guy, but he’s a great author too, so make sure to check out his website and novel at www.mattselznick.com and www.bravemenrun.com!

Thanks again, Matthew! May the Sovereign Era flourish!

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