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The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle
In these pages, you will find eighteen tales of sanity-shredding horror. Join a cast of uncanny offspring, randy butlers, disturbed poets, and other colourful characters as they face off against eldritch abominations and the insidious machinations of the Great Old Ones. You will face parasitic computer code, murderous toads, trees that are malevolent gods, and many more despicable creations.
Told with the trademark playfulness Tim Mendees has become known for, these monstrous stories are all at once terrifying, disturbing, clever, and often irreverent.
"The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle" by Tim Mendees is a cosmic horror short story collection published by Mannison Press, LLC.
CONTENT The stories in this collection contain cosmic horror-style violence, gore, murder, strong language, sexual situations, and implied sexual assault. Discretion is advised.
Told with the trademark playfulness Tim Mendees has become known for, these monstrous stories are all at once terrifying, disturbing, clever, and often irreverent.
"The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle" by Tim Mendees is a cosmic horror short story collection published by Mannison Press, LLC.
CONTENT The stories in this collection contain cosmic horror-style violence, gore, murder, strong language, sexual situations, and implied sexual assault. Discretion is advised.
310 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2021
5 people want to read
About the author
Tim Mendees
83 books45 followersTim Mendees is a horror writer from Macclesfield in the North-West of England that specialises in cosmic horror and weird fiction. A lifelong fan of classic weird tales, Tim set out to bring the pulp horror of yesteryear into the 21st Century and give it a distinctly British flavour. His work has been described as the love-child of H.P. Lovecraft and P.G. Wodehouse and is often peppered with a wry sense of humour that acts as a counterpoint to the unnerving, and often disturbing, narratives.
Tim has had over eighty published short stories and novelettes in anthologies and magazines with publishers all over the world. He also has five novellas and a short story collection on sale with more coming soon.
When he is not arguing with the spellchecker, Tim is a goth DJ, crustacean and cephalopod enthusiast, and the presenter of a popular web series of live video readings of his material and interviews with fellow authors. Tim is also a co-host of the Innsmouth Book Club podcast. He currently lives in Brighton & Hove with his pet crab, Gerald, and an army of stuffed octopods.
https://timmendeeswriter.wordpress.com/
https://tinyurl.com/timmendeesyoutube
Tim has had over eighty published short stories and novelettes in anthologies and magazines with publishers all over the world. He also has five novellas and a short story collection on sale with more coming soon.
When he is not arguing with the spellchecker, Tim is a goth DJ, crustacean and cephalopod enthusiast, and the presenter of a popular web series of live video readings of his material and interviews with fellow authors. Tim is also a co-host of the Innsmouth Book Club podcast. He currently lives in Brighton & Hove with his pet crab, Gerald, and an army of stuffed octopods.
https://timmendeeswriter.wordpress.com/
https://tinyurl.com/timmendeesyoutube
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 7, 2021
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
An undesirable pregnancy leads to an unnatural birth of unsettling proportions. An individual’s responsibility to nourish ancient trees and dense foliage quickly becomes an inordinate method to satisfy a peculiarly organic hunger. A discovered scrawled message warns of a disturbing existence lurking within a tenant’s cellar. One’s phobia of creepy-crawlies develops into a sadistic lifestyle, now these insectoid species embark on a malevolent revenge.
Author Tim Mendees composes eighteen cosmic horror tales of the weird and the unusual in his short story collection titled The Pseudopod That Rocks The Cradle. From imprisoned evil gods yearning to be freed to rumors of Bog monsters dwelling within sacred grounds, these Lovecraftian laced gems are worthy enough to make Cthulhu and The Elders proud. Mendees uses fear-induced scenarios as a platform for cosmic horror often resulting in the old adage “you reap what you sow.”
Capitalizing on that near and dear quote of “fear of the unknown,” this fictional voyage of chilling metamorphosis and unearthly demonic possession shimmers like a newly discovered protoplasm. Mendees cradles the reader into a false sense of security all the while revealing a true Escher type of fictional impossibility constructed around a surreal environment. Shadowy forms, whispered lullabies and supernatural creatures lurk within the undergrowth of these ravenous imaginative pages.
I strongly recommend this diverse Brothers Grimm style of morbid fiction. Each and every story possess its own terrifying tendril appendage from this talented intellect. Not for the squeamish however for the voyeurism of the very strange. If there’s one thing the reader will take away from this book it’s…”DoNT LeT ThEM In!! DoNt OpEn tHe DoOr!!”
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
An undesirable pregnancy leads to an unnatural birth of unsettling proportions. An individual’s responsibility to nourish ancient trees and dense foliage quickly becomes an inordinate method to satisfy a peculiarly organic hunger. A discovered scrawled message warns of a disturbing existence lurking within a tenant’s cellar. One’s phobia of creepy-crawlies develops into a sadistic lifestyle, now these insectoid species embark on a malevolent revenge.
Author Tim Mendees composes eighteen cosmic horror tales of the weird and the unusual in his short story collection titled The Pseudopod That Rocks The Cradle. From imprisoned evil gods yearning to be freed to rumors of Bog monsters dwelling within sacred grounds, these Lovecraftian laced gems are worthy enough to make Cthulhu and The Elders proud. Mendees uses fear-induced scenarios as a platform for cosmic horror often resulting in the old adage “you reap what you sow.”
Capitalizing on that near and dear quote of “fear of the unknown,” this fictional voyage of chilling metamorphosis and unearthly demonic possession shimmers like a newly discovered protoplasm. Mendees cradles the reader into a false sense of security all the while revealing a true Escher type of fictional impossibility constructed around a surreal environment. Shadowy forms, whispered lullabies and supernatural creatures lurk within the undergrowth of these ravenous imaginative pages.
I strongly recommend this diverse Brothers Grimm style of morbid fiction. Each and every story possess its own terrifying tendril appendage from this talented intellect. Not for the squeamish however for the voyeurism of the very strange. If there’s one thing the reader will take away from this book it’s…”DoNT LeT ThEM In!! DoNt OpEn tHe DoOr!!”
September 28, 2021
THE PSEUDOPOD THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE Review by Nat Whiston
By: Tim Mendees
Publisher: Mannison Press
Pages: 103
Cover Art: Deidre J Owen
Prepare yourself to enter the twisted mind of Tim Mendees.
In these pages, you will find eighteen tales of sanity-shredding horror. Join a cast of uncanny offspring, randy butlers, disturbed poets, and other colourful characters as they face off against eldritch abominations and the insidious machinations of the Great Old Ones. You will face parasitic computer code, murderous toads, trees that are malevolent gods, and many more despicable creations.
Told with the trademark playfulness, Tim Mendees has become known for; these monstrous stories are all at once terrifying, disturbing, clever, and often irreverent.
"The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle" by Tim Mendees is a cosmic horror short story collection published by Mannison Press, LLC.
CONTENT WARNING: The stories in this collection contain cosmic horror-style violence, gore, murder, strong language, sexual situations, and implied sexual assault. Discretion is advised.
I loved this collection; I've read previous work by Tim and was ecstatic to get a look at this cosmic collection. I loved the forward by David Green cose; who doesn't love David? Really set me in the mood for a great selection of stories, and then I got to learn a bit more about Tim himself as a person. It was so cool to learn about his background as a chef, his writing inspiration and the creepy tree that gave him nightmares. My partner Daryl feels your pain, my friend he got his dad to chop down the tree by his window after watching Poltergeist. Honestly, though, my heart breaks for Tim; he shared a personal part of himself in the preface with the readers. But I also applaud the fact he brings awareness to transverse myelitis; it's a condition that I think should be discussed more. Even I took the time to research this condition and how it affects the spinal cord. And yet Tim is this incredible and resilient person with a fantastic talent for writing cosmic horror.
The first story is one of my favourites from the Eerie River collection, so I was over the moon to see Rouse Them Not make it in here. After all, the preface does discuss creepy trees and elder gods. Why not combine the two and double it up in the form of twins. Oh, the fun didn't stop there, my friends; we had a variety of new material that kept me hooked on the train ride to London. From revenge of a drunk Blacksmith with no morals, who picks on the wrong magpie to a sweet little old lady that resembles something more like a creature from the film In the Mouth of Madness. There is something in here for everyone, and the title story is equally as fascinating. The cover art perfectly represents Trudy’s story; I mean, imagine having an ideal life. A Victorian gentleman on your arm who dots on your every need, then you find out you're carrying his child? Pure bliss, right? Unfortunately, Tanya learns the hard way that pregnancy is different for everyone. I really wasn't happy that Tim ruined the seaside for me, though, and forests, camping in the moors. Bloody hell Tim nowhere was safe in your book! But what a hell of a ride. I totally recommend you pre-order this book, even if Lovecraft isn't something you usually go for. There is certainly a story in here for every taste. Just be sure not to be eaten by it.
By: Tim Mendees
Publisher: Mannison Press
Pages: 103
Cover Art: Deidre J Owen
Prepare yourself to enter the twisted mind of Tim Mendees.
In these pages, you will find eighteen tales of sanity-shredding horror. Join a cast of uncanny offspring, randy butlers, disturbed poets, and other colourful characters as they face off against eldritch abominations and the insidious machinations of the Great Old Ones. You will face parasitic computer code, murderous toads, trees that are malevolent gods, and many more despicable creations.
Told with the trademark playfulness, Tim Mendees has become known for; these monstrous stories are all at once terrifying, disturbing, clever, and often irreverent.
"The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle" by Tim Mendees is a cosmic horror short story collection published by Mannison Press, LLC.
CONTENT WARNING: The stories in this collection contain cosmic horror-style violence, gore, murder, strong language, sexual situations, and implied sexual assault. Discretion is advised.
I loved this collection; I've read previous work by Tim and was ecstatic to get a look at this cosmic collection. I loved the forward by David Green cose; who doesn't love David? Really set me in the mood for a great selection of stories, and then I got to learn a bit more about Tim himself as a person. It was so cool to learn about his background as a chef, his writing inspiration and the creepy tree that gave him nightmares. My partner Daryl feels your pain, my friend he got his dad to chop down the tree by his window after watching Poltergeist. Honestly, though, my heart breaks for Tim; he shared a personal part of himself in the preface with the readers. But I also applaud the fact he brings awareness to transverse myelitis; it's a condition that I think should be discussed more. Even I took the time to research this condition and how it affects the spinal cord. And yet Tim is this incredible and resilient person with a fantastic talent for writing cosmic horror.
The first story is one of my favourites from the Eerie River collection, so I was over the moon to see Rouse Them Not make it in here. After all, the preface does discuss creepy trees and elder gods. Why not combine the two and double it up in the form of twins. Oh, the fun didn't stop there, my friends; we had a variety of new material that kept me hooked on the train ride to London. From revenge of a drunk Blacksmith with no morals, who picks on the wrong magpie to a sweet little old lady that resembles something more like a creature from the film In the Mouth of Madness. There is something in here for everyone, and the title story is equally as fascinating. The cover art perfectly represents Trudy’s story; I mean, imagine having an ideal life. A Victorian gentleman on your arm who dots on your every need, then you find out you're carrying his child? Pure bliss, right? Unfortunately, Tanya learns the hard way that pregnancy is different for everyone. I really wasn't happy that Tim ruined the seaside for me, though, and forests, camping in the moors. Bloody hell Tim nowhere was safe in your book! But what a hell of a ride. I totally recommend you pre-order this book, even if Lovecraft isn't something you usually go for. There is certainly a story in here for every taste. Just be sure not to be eaten by it.
September 28, 2021
I've been familiar with Tim Mendees's stories for quite a while now and he always manages to amaze me with his fascinating writing style and unique humor.
Tim was awesome enough to send me a copy of his latest anthology of weird tales, 'The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle', for review.
Ooooh, in this one, he is relentless. Everything is turned up to eleven. Well.. Up to eighteen, as that's the magic number of short stories full of cosmic horror goodness packed in this lovely creepshow and sealed with an outstanding and out of this world cover.
Hauntingly good and very well written cosmic horror, laced with enough gore, strong language and scenes that will burn into your subconscious.
In these stories you will find a wonderful bouquet of the most colorful and questionable characters, all masterfully penned and serving the plot for your reading pleasure.
Are you ready to meet uncanny offspring, parasitic computer code, randy butlers, murderous toads, disturbed poets, eldritch horrors, malevolent tree gods, and become a pawn in the dark game of the Great Old Ones?
"The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle" by Tim Mendees is dark, humorous, twisted and enjoyable with every story causing an increasing hunger for more excellent horror.
This book is the equivalent of the heart-stopping sound you hear in the middle of the night. It's the creak of the floorboards outside your bedroom. It's the tentacle that tickled your toes from underneath the bed while you were asleep ..
A fantastic horror offering in every possible way and perfect for your Halloween fix.
Unleashed to change the world as we know it on October the 5th. Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Tim was awesome enough to send me a copy of his latest anthology of weird tales, 'The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle', for review.
Ooooh, in this one, he is relentless. Everything is turned up to eleven. Well.. Up to eighteen, as that's the magic number of short stories full of cosmic horror goodness packed in this lovely creepshow and sealed with an outstanding and out of this world cover.
Hauntingly good and very well written cosmic horror, laced with enough gore, strong language and scenes that will burn into your subconscious.
In these stories you will find a wonderful bouquet of the most colorful and questionable characters, all masterfully penned and serving the plot for your reading pleasure.
Are you ready to meet uncanny offspring, parasitic computer code, randy butlers, murderous toads, disturbed poets, eldritch horrors, malevolent tree gods, and become a pawn in the dark game of the Great Old Ones?
"The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle" by Tim Mendees is dark, humorous, twisted and enjoyable with every story causing an increasing hunger for more excellent horror.
This book is the equivalent of the heart-stopping sound you hear in the middle of the night. It's the creak of the floorboards outside your bedroom. It's the tentacle that tickled your toes from underneath the bed while you were asleep ..
A fantastic horror offering in every possible way and perfect for your Halloween fix.
Unleashed to change the world as we know it on October the 5th. Available for pre-order on Amazon.
October 5, 2021
I was really excited when I saw Tim Mendees was coming out with a short story collection, and this book did not disappoint. If anything, it exceeded my already very high expectations. There are eighteen short cosmic horror stories in this collection, and they are all atmospheric and imaginative, with strong character voices and beings you definitely don't want to run into any time soon.
Favourites are always going to be subjective, but if I had to pick a few from my first read, I'd give shouts-outs to: The Pseudopod that Rocks the Cradle, Pickles, The Hollow Hills, A Mother's Love, and The Toad and the Princess. Full disclaimer though, these might change on subsequent reads!
I enjoyed this collection so much, and highly recommend it for horror fans, especially those who are interested in cosmic horror.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favourites are always going to be subjective, but if I had to pick a few from my first read, I'd give shouts-outs to: The Pseudopod that Rocks the Cradle, Pickles, The Hollow Hills, A Mother's Love, and The Toad and the Princess. Full disclaimer though, these might change on subsequent reads!
I enjoyed this collection so much, and highly recommend it for horror fans, especially those who are interested in cosmic horror.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2021
This short story collection from Tim Mendees is twisted and titilating, terrifying and tentacle filled, so naturally I loved it, and highly recommend it.
There was something disturbing to take away from each story but my stand out favourites were definitely:
Afterimage - feel the burn - such an intense story and idea. Blinked many times after finishing it.
Mr mannequin - anyone for a tattoo - the creepy crime that made me shiver.
The Face in the Fabric - looking at clothes never seemed so terrifying.
So if you like twisted gritty stories about disturbed minds (or insanely normal minds twisted to insanity) and worshippers of the old gods this is the collection for you.
There was something disturbing to take away from each story but my stand out favourites were definitely:
Afterimage - feel the burn - such an intense story and idea. Blinked many times after finishing it.
Mr mannequin - anyone for a tattoo - the creepy crime that made me shiver.
The Face in the Fabric - looking at clothes never seemed so terrifying.
So if you like twisted gritty stories about disturbed minds (or insanely normal minds twisted to insanity) and worshippers of the old gods this is the collection for you.
October 11, 2021
Mendees does it again! With a mix of horror and clever wit, these cosmic tales will entertain and delight lovers of the strange and macabre. Well worth the read.
October 29, 2021
The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle by Time Mendees
This cover, first of all, grabbed my attention long before I was offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The nursery setting, the title, and the tentacles fit together perfectly. I cant wait to get into it.
Thank you Tim for the book.
A few of my favorites include the following:
What The Butler Saw—We meet Jenkins, the butler, and discover how he likes to sneak a peek every now and then.
A Matter of Recycling—Stuart, a character who, in my opinion, receives his just desserts. This story was easy to read and enjoyable to follow. I love when there is a nice twist included.
The Hollow Hills—Characters moved the story along at a nice even pace. John, Nelly, and Adam spend a lot of time together amongst the other characters.
Afterimage, The Parasite Code, The Pseudopod that Rocks the Cradle and many more fill this cosmic horror anthology. Tim’s short stories are always a great source to give you a fright or two.
⅘ stars
This cover, first of all, grabbed my attention long before I was offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The nursery setting, the title, and the tentacles fit together perfectly. I cant wait to get into it.
Thank you Tim for the book.
A few of my favorites include the following:
What The Butler Saw—We meet Jenkins, the butler, and discover how he likes to sneak a peek every now and then.
A Matter of Recycling—Stuart, a character who, in my opinion, receives his just desserts. This story was easy to read and enjoyable to follow. I love when there is a nice twist included.
The Hollow Hills—Characters moved the story along at a nice even pace. John, Nelly, and Adam spend a lot of time together amongst the other characters.
Afterimage, The Parasite Code, The Pseudopod that Rocks the Cradle and many more fill this cosmic horror anthology. Tim’s short stories are always a great source to give you a fright or two.
⅘ stars
November 5, 2021
This book is tentacular!
Tim Mendees writes cosmic horror with a joy and glee that makes his work so much fun. When I heard he had an anthology of 18 stories coming out I knew I had to own it. What I got was sinister apple trees, terrors from the deep and exiled gods. There were grating squeals and rumbling gurgles, abominations aplenty and a little something special in your drink. There is a wonderful gothic sensibility mixed with lush descriptions that take you into the stories. There is humour and dark justice. There are also tentacles, so many tentacles, that will submerge you into the pages of this book. Beyond atmosphere and shivers there is also Tim's ability to strike a chord within our own psyches, our fears and insecurities and our ability to feel alien in our own neighbourhoods. Tim just knows how to tell an excellent story. This gets five stars.
Tim Mendees writes cosmic horror with a joy and glee that makes his work so much fun. When I heard he had an anthology of 18 stories coming out I knew I had to own it. What I got was sinister apple trees, terrors from the deep and exiled gods. There were grating squeals and rumbling gurgles, abominations aplenty and a little something special in your drink. There is a wonderful gothic sensibility mixed with lush descriptions that take you into the stories. There is humour and dark justice. There are also tentacles, so many tentacles, that will submerge you into the pages of this book. Beyond atmosphere and shivers there is also Tim's ability to strike a chord within our own psyches, our fears and insecurities and our ability to feel alien in our own neighbourhoods. Tim just knows how to tell an excellent story. This gets five stars.
September 9, 2024
Great varied collection of horror stories. I particularly enjoyed the story from the point of view of the frog who has a unwelcome princess visit.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews