The Family of the Vourdalak, part 2, by Alexei Tolstoy

·30 min·2 clips

Dorta demands his father Gorsha say grace, then rushes to find a wooden stake to kill him.

The episode is a reading of the second part of Alexei Tolstoy's classic weird fiction story 'The Family of the Vourdalak.' Tycho Alhambra narrates the tale in a solo performance format. The story follows a French narrator who is a guest of the Serbian family led by Dorta. After a child's funeral, strange occurrences suggest old Gorsha, the grandfather, may be involved. The narrator becomes romantically involved with Dorta's sister Sedenka, sneaking into her room one night. During their encounter, they see Gorsha watching them from outside, and Dorta abruptly intervenes. Tensions escalate as Dorta confronts Gorsha at dinner, demanding he say grace and threatening him with a wooden stake. Gorsha flees, and Dorta chases him, returning later to send the narrator away. The narrator departs but returns six months later. He learns from a hermit that vampirism has spread through the village, killing Dorta's entire family and driving Sedenka mad. The narrator decides to spend the night in Dorta's abandoned house. Sedenka appears to him, now a vampire, and they rekindle their romance. The narrator notices disturbing changes in her, such as her aversion to a cross and missing religious icons. He realizes the truth when a cross pierces his chest, revealing Sedenka's corpse-like features. He sees Gorsha and Dorta watching from outside and pretends to continue the encounter while planning escape. He flees on horseback, but Sedenka and her vampire family pursue him in a chaotic chase. The narrator ultimately survives, with his horse dying, and reflects on the experience. The episode ends with host Tycho Alhambra promoting his books and thanking patrons.

As heard by us

A child's funeral, a clouded moon, and a hermit's warning keep the dread steady.

The Weird Tales Podcast stays in the shadow of a child's funeral, where footsteps around the house and a voice at the window turn grief into something colder.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A child's funeral, a figure at the window, and a hermit who has bad news about the village.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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