Death By Tickling
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Jason Murphy is a novelist, screenwriter, and content creator. He wants you to know that many Bothans died to bring you this newsletter.
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The Tsar Bomb
In the annals of human history, few events have showcased the potential for destruction as profoundly as the detonation of the Tsar Bomba. (I love that it has the “a” at the end. It makes it sound so festive. Bomba!!) Formally known as RDS-220, the Tsar Bomb was conceived as part of the Soviet Union's ambitious nuclear weapons program during the early 1960s. It was a product of the Cold War arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, where both superpowers sought to outdo each other in military might. Soviet scientists and engineers, led by renowned physicist Andrei Sakharov, were tasked with creating a weapon that would surpass any other nuclear device in terms of sheer destructive power.
The Tsar Bomba was a hydrogen bomb, specifically a three-stage thermonuclear device. Its design incorporated a fusion reaction, where the nuclei of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) would combine, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. The bomb's unprecedented yield was achieved through the fusion of isotopes, as well as a strategic placement of a fission trigger to initiate the fusion process.
The bomb's dimensions were staggering; it was over 26 feet long and had a diameter of about 7 feet. Its weight exceeded 27 metric tons. The Tsar Bomba was so enormous that it could not be delivered by a conventional bomber. A specially modified Soviet Tu-95 Bear bomber was used to transport and drop the bomb.
On October 30, 1961, the Tsar Bomba was detonated in a remote region of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Sea. The bomb's yield was estimated at an astonishing 50 megatons of TNT equivalent, making it the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. The explosion generated a fireball that reached an estimated height of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and a mushroom cloud that rose to nearly 70 kilometers (43 miles).
The blast wave circled the Earth three times, and the thermal radiation was so intense that it could have caused third-degree burns up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from ground zero. Fortunately, due to the remote location of the detonation, the immediate human casualties were minimized. “Minimized”. Not eliminated. Just “minimized.”
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tsar-Bomba
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/tsar-bomba-largest-atomic-test-world-history
I haven’t seen Oppenheimer, but the story of someone with the knowledge and drive to build something that could wipe out humanity is automatically a compelling one. It puts one person in the driver’s seat to global annihilation. As a writer, that’s a recipe for some fascinating character work. Sure, his drive and his intellect are interesting, but how do you keep going, how do you continue to pursue your passion, knowing that it will definitely be used to kill a lot of people?
Imagine the mindset of the Soviets at this time. Their greatest existential threat - the United States - had revealed that they have the power to obliterate literally everyone on earth. That’s the kind of cultural shock that can redefine how a people view themselves, their country, and their place in the world. Suddenly, the enemy has godlike powers? I’d love to see an exploration about the decision to build the Tsar. Was it fear that fueled that project? Imperial pride?
On the other hand, maybe it was just a really, really reckless version of Jackass: Soviet Russia Edition.
“Привет. Я Джонни Ноксвилл, а это Царь-бомба!!”
Harris’ List
In the vibrant and bustling streets of 18th century London, a curious publication emerged that would both titillate and scandalize the city's inhabitants. This magazine, known as Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies, was a controversial guide that provided detailed descriptions of prostitutes and their services. It offered a glimpse into the hidden world of London's sex trade while also igniting debates about morality and propriety.
Harris's List, named after its publisher, John Harris, made its first appearance in the 1750s. The annual publication, resembling a modern-day directory, featured an assortment of explicit and often humorous descriptions of courtesans and sex workers operating in the Covent Garden area. The descriptions, written in a witty and risqué style, highlighted physical attributes, sexual talents, and personal anecdotes of these women, creating a catalog that combined fact, fiction, and vivid imagination.
The publication's appeal rested on its unique blend of sensuality, voyeurism, and social commentary. In an era when discussions of sexuality were largely confined to the private sphere, Harris's List boldly brought these topics to the forefront of public discourse. The descriptions ranged from whimsical to explicit, and they often poked fun at societal norms and the hypocrisy of the upper classes. This mixture of candid revelations and satirical commentary ignited public interest and, inevitably, public outcry. Was there a time when Westerners weren’t weird about sex?
As Harris's List gained popularity, it faced opposition from moralists, religious figures, and those concerned about the moral fabric of society. Critics argued that the publication encouraged immorality and promiscuity, while supporters defended it as a harmless and entertaining literary form. The controversy surrounding Harris's List prompted discussions about the role of literature, free expression, and the representation of taboo subjects in society.
https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/harris-list-of-covent-garden-ladies/
A guide of sex workers is heavy with narrative possibilities for writers. Harris's List is a reflection of the social and cultural climate of the time. The debates and controversy around such a thing helps create a backdrop of historical context. A character’s interactions with the list could illustrate aspects of their personality, desires, and social standing. It could also provide a lens through which characters wrestle with broader societal issues. The introduction of a book like that could serve as something of a ‘plot bomb’ as predilections usually kept secret spill out into the public. It touches gender roles, class distinctions, and the morality of the era. This is the kind of ‘flavor’ I want to utilize to bring the worlds in my fiction to life.
The Shurhale
In Turkic folklore, there’s this weirdo, the Shurale. He’s like a unicorn bear, I guess, with thick curly fur and a horn growing from his forehead. It’s his slender fingers that you have to watch out for. He’s a tickler. That’s right. He tickles travelers to death. This creep is so famous that there is a well-known poem about him, written by Ghabdulla Tuqay, and was the basis one of the most famous Turkic ballets. He’s usually just an annoying little bastard, leading people off of the path to get them lost in the woods or making them sick. I don’t know what that sickness entails. Is it diarrhea? Asthma? Testicular cancer?
Once again, parents have crafted a bogeyman to keep their children in line. “Behave, or this hairy jerk will come tickle you to death.”
I have to say, if my mom threatened me with that, I’d straighten right up. It just sounds unsavory.
If you’re ever about to get tickled or en-sickened by this guy, just put your shoes on the wrong feet and turn your clothes inside out. That confuses him and he’ll leave you alone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9E%C3%BCr%C3%A4le
I’ve always been fascinated with the bogeyman. There are dozens of versions of him, all across the world. We still use them, of course, but they’re not usually hairy tickle monsters anymore. Those are increasingly relegated to the dusty pages of antiquity. How many monsters have we forgotten? Many of them were only talked about around campfires or whispered to children before they slept. I’m sure there are uncounted creatures that are lost forever, their myths never committed to paper. What happened to them? What happens to the beasts we create within our subcultures?
Sonar Kills
Sonar, short for "sound navigation and ranging," employs sound waves to navigate, communicate, and detect objects underwater. Active sonar systems emit powerful sound pulses into the water, which then bounce off objects and return as echoes. By analyzing these echoes, operators can determine the distance, direction, and characteristics of underwater objects.
High-volume sonar emits sound waves at intensities that far exceed the natural background noise of the ocean. This increase in noise pollution can have far-reaching consequences for marine life. The intensity can cause physical harm to marine organisms. The pressure waves generated by powerful sonar systems can damage the delicate tissues of marine creatures, leading to internal injuries, bleeding, and even death.
The natural ambient noise of the ocean ranges from around 60 to 100 dB, primarily generated by waves, wind, and marine life. The intrusion of high-volume sonar emitting sounds at intensities exceeding 200 dB can disrupt this delicate equilibrium.
Prolonged exposure to high decibel levels can cause permanent damage to human hearing. Naval personnel who work closely with sonar systems are at risk of developing hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and other auditory disorders. But that’s not the worst of it. At 200 Db, the vibrations can rupture your lungs, and above 210 Db, the sound is loud enough to cause cerebral hemorrhaging.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-military-sonar-kill/
https://www.slashgear.com/1337068/terrifying-effect-submarine-radar-humans/
Fringe applications of soundwaves have always interested me. Of course, there’s the mysterious horrors of Havana Syndrome, but when you’re talking about science fiction, sound based weapons seem almost quaint. Pedestrian. Think bigger. Think string theory. They say that our universe is really just built on vibrations. Vibrations are sound. Vibrations are music. That’s the stuff of big, cosmic ideas in stories.
The Strangerous Channel Updates
It’s non-stop work here at Strangerous studios. As I write this, we’re filming more long form content. I know I know. I’ve been promising that for a while now. But it’s coming!
We’re also recording some podcasts this week to go along with those aforementioned videos. Any requests for guests?
There are some other, smaller things that might interest you - a comedy/horror podcast and even some meditations. Narrated by me. Now I know I’m probably not the first person you think of when you consider relaxing, but I promise these meditations won’t include historical horrors, monsters from beyond space and time, or any perverse applications of technology. It will be fun. I promise!
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Even More Strange and Dangerous!
Thanks for reading our online newsletter! Here’s just a bit of our favorite things we’ve found lately.
Members of the Strangerous community suggesting monsters to discuss is one of my favorite things. I could spend the rest of my days making videos about all of the obscure creatures in the world and never get to them all. The karakoncolos sounds particularly wicked and I’ll definitely be making a short about him soon.
A devilish and fascinating Turkish myth is the Karakoncolos. This hairy, malevolent goblin appears at the coldest time of year.
They stand on murky corners, and set riddles or ask random questions of passers-by. These people have to answer any question using the Turkish word for ‘black’, otherwise they are struck dead. No doubt there was some reasoning behind this once, but that’s lost now.
The Karakoncolos would also imitate the voices of loved ones, luring people out into the cold and snow.
I’d love to write more and produce more content, but … it’s got its hooks in me, friends.
Some of you may know that I’m a professional dungeon master. Yeah. I’m that kind of nerd. I haven’t yet started advertising for it yet, but if you’re interested in me running a game for you, please hit me up at jason@jasonsmurphy.com. We can talk rates and what you’re looking for in a game. I am also available for children’s birthdays. I’m only kind of joking.
Can’t wait for all the podcasts, and if you ever need a pitch hitter for an episode… I’m just sayin’ :)