In this macabre and darkly comedic episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw serves up a deliciously disturbing glimpse into a world where cannibalism isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated as a cherished tradition.
“Eating” introduces us to an unnamed narrator who casually reflects on the culinary merits of recently deceased family members while preparing their own grandmother’s remains. With matter-of-fact delivery and chilling nonchalance, they muse on family recipes, funeral etiquette, and the proper distribution of human remains in a society where consuming the dead has become normalised.
Themes & Topics
• The malleability of social taboos
• Family traditions and rituals around death
• The commodification of human remains
• Class divisions in funerary practices
• The search for meaning and connection in death
• The thin veneer between civilization and barbarism
Listener Discretion
This episode contains explicit descriptions of cannibalism presented in a casual, normalised manner that some listeners may find disturbing.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that challenges social norms and examines how easily the unthinkable could become mundane under the right circumstances. His flash fiction often delivers maximum impact through deceptively simple premises taken to their logical—and frequently horrifying—conclusions.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
In this darkly comedic episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw delivers a biting satire of influencer culture and the often stark contrast between online personas and private realities.
“The Mediocre Maverick” follows Millie, a social media personality who has built her brand and fortune on promoting the joys of mediocrity and unremarkable living. Her “Mediocrity Maverick” persona preaches the gospel of beige walls, predictable routines, and embracing life’s most mundane moments.
But behind the carefully curated facade of ordinariness lurks a woman who secretly craves the extraordinary. When her thrilling skydiving hobby is accidentally exposed during a livestream, we witness the desperate lengths she’ll go to protect her empire of averageness—and the shocking turn events take when her carefully constructed world begins to unravel.
Themes & Topics
• The performance of authenticity in social media
• The commodification of lifestyle philosophies
• The disconnect between public personas and private lives
• The extreme pressure of maintaining a personal brand
• How quickly violence can erupt when livelihoods are threatened
• The dark humor in turning even tragedy into content
Listener Discretion
This episode contains sudden violence and a death that some listeners may find disturbing.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that examines our relationship with technology and social media. His stories often feature characters caught between their authentic selves and the versions they present to the world, revealing the psychological toll of living a double life in the digital age.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
Free Story Collection
Download Jon’s free short story collection “Optimised” featuring ten thought-provoking tales exploring technology, society, and human nature. Visit joncronshaw.com/optimised to sign up for his newsletter and download your copy today.
Ever wondered what would happen if we could outsource our family guilt to AI?
I did, and the result is my new short story, “The Perfect Daughter” – available now to read for free on Patreon.
Meet Ellie, a management consultant who’s mastered the art of minimising her mother’s calls during client meetings.
When she discovers an AI service that promises to handle her family obligations, it seems like the perfect solution.
VoiceEase will maintain her relationship with her mother while she focuses on selling certainty to people who can afford to buy it.
This story emerged from watching all of us become increasingly skilled at maintaining the appearance of connection while drifting further apart.
It’s about the small compromises we make in the name of efficiency, the ways we try to optimise relationships that were never meant to be optimised, and the messy reality of mother-daughter dynamics in an age where everything can be automated—except the feelings we’re trying to avoid.
“The Perfect Daughter” explores what happens when we apply startup solutions to human problems.
It’s about artificial intelligence and authentic avoidance, about the ghosts in our machines and the ones in our family trees. You can read it right now on my Patreon—no subscription required.
What happens when a neural interface update goes wrong? Tech Bros Versus Zombies explores a satirical world where tech ambition meets zombie chaos, as a developer battles against his company’s untested software and the zombie apocalypse it unleashes.
Have you ever wondered what might happen if Silicon Valley accidentally triggered a zombie apocalypse?
Not the shambling, brain-eating kind – but the perfectly synchronised, engagement-metrics-obsessed, neural-interface-gone-wrong sort.
Well, wonder no more.
I’m excited to introduce my latest story, Tech Bros Versus Zombies, now available for free on my Patreon (patreon.com/joncronshawauthor).
What’s It About?
Meet Evan, a developer just trying to do his job properly at a tech startup, where “proper testing” is practically a swear word, and “disrupting neural paradigms” is the flavour of the week.
When Evan’s warnings about untested neural interface code are ignored (because who has time for safety when you’re revolutionising consciousness?), he finds himself in a race against time to prevent his company’s “revolutionary” product from turning users into perfectly synchronised corporate zombies.
Discover how “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” offers unexpected fantasy writing lessons, exploring character flaws, plot twists, and satire. A guide for fantasy authors seeking to enrich their narratives with darkly comedic elements.
In the labyrinthine world of fantasy writing, inspiration can bubble up from the most unexpected fountains.
Yet, beneath its chaotic surface, this series offers a trove of insights for the fantasy writer willing to look beyond the conventional.
Let’s delve into the grimy taverns and shadowy alleys of Philadelphia, drawing parallels to the murky depths of the fantasy realm.
Embracing Flawed Characters
At the heart of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is a quintet of characters who are as flawed as they come—selfish, cunning, and delightfully unheroic.
Fantasy writers can glean much from this portrayal, crafting protagonists who are not just the valiant heroes typical of the genre but are complex, fallible beings whose questionable morals drive the narrative.
This complexity adds layers to the story, making characters resonate with realism and unpredictability.
Rich, Layered Conflict
Conflict in “It’s Always Sunny” often arises from the characters’ own decisions, spiralling into situations as absurd as they are enlightening.
Fantasy writers can adopt this dynamic, letting their characters’ choices and flaws be the genesis of conflict.
This internal source of strife, rather than external forces like marauding dragons or evil sorcerers, can yield a plot that is intensely personal and compelling.
Unpredictable Plot Twists
The unpredictable nature of the plot in “It’s Always Sunny” keeps viewers on their toes.
Fantasy authors can take a leaf from this book, weaving narratives that take unexpected turns, thwarting the reader’s expectations and keeping the pages turning.
Whether it’s a sudden betrayal or an unlikely alliance, the element of surprise is a potent tool in the writer’s arsenal.
Subverting Genre Conventions
“It’s Always Sunny” thrives on subversion, turning typical sitcom scenarios on their head.
Similarly, fantasy authors can challenge and subvert genre conventions.
By twisting traditional tropes—perhaps a knight in shining armour is the villain or the damsel in distress saves herself—writers can offer fresh perspectives and keep the genre evolving.
Satire and Social Commentary
While not overtly political, “It’s Always Sunny” masterfully satirises societal norms and behaviours.
Fantasy realms, too, can be grounds for satire, reflecting our world through the distorted mirror of the fantastical.
By embedding social commentary in their tales, authors can make their fantasy worlds not just escapes, but reflections that prompt readers to think critically about the real world.
Maintaining a Cohesive Group Dynamic
The chemistry among the main characters in “It’s Always Sunny” is undeniable, driving much of the show’s appeal.
In fantasy writing, maintaining a cohesive group dynamic, even among characters with clashing personalities, can add depth to the interactions and drive the narrative forward.
This dynamic can become the core around which the plot and the character development revolve.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” with its darkly comedic lens and its penchant for the absurd, offers unexpected lessons for the fantasy writer.
By adopting its approach to character flaws, conflict, and plot dynamics, writers can craft stories that are not only enthralling and entertaining but also resonate with a truth that is often stranger than fiction.
So, fantasy writers, why not venture into the dimly lit corners of your imagination, guided by the gleeful anarchy of “It’s Always Sunny”?
Who knows what twisted tales await in the shadows?
Let’s raise a glass to the chaos and see where the wild stories lead.
