Aeryn’s Archives: Night Games

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Aeryn Rudel

Hey, here’s another installment of Aeryn’s Archives, my series of shameless self-promotional posts about works I’ve published over the fifteen years or so I’ve been writing and editing professionally. The story I want to talk about today is called “Night Games” and it’s easily one my favorite pieces I’ve written. I will also go so far as to say it’s one of the best things I’ve written. You can draw your own conclusions when you read/listen to it, but it’s one of the few stories I’m confident enough to share without (much) fear people will hate it. 🙂 “Night Games” was most recently published by the good folks at Pseudopod, and their audio rendition of the story is just awesome. So before I bore you with the whys and whatfors of the story, head on out and listen to it right here or click the photo below.

So why do I love “Night Games” so much? Pretty simple. It combines two of my favorite things: vampires and baseball. I think it’s quite evident when an author really loves what they’re writing about. That passion and zeal comes through the prose in a way that can be immediately felt by the reader. Now, of course, I shoot for that in every story I write, but with “Night Games” I think I was more successful than I usually am (with one or two exceptions).

Where the idea came from for this short story is actually pretty interesting. I mean, usually where ideas come from isn’t. They just kind of pop into your brain from god knows where, but this time I have a clear memory of how the idea formed because it’s based on a real event. Here’s what happened. Back in 2010 the Chicago Cubs had a player named Tyler Colvin. He could play a number of positions and swing the bat with some pop, and was what some folks might call a super-utility guy. Well, one fateful day in September of 2010, Colvin was in a game against the Florida Marlins and standing on third base. His teammate, Wellington Castillo, was at the plate, so Colvin gets his lead, and Castillo smacks a double. Unfortunately, the incredibly dense maple bat Castillo was using shattered, and as Colvin was coming home from third base, a splinter of that bat impaled his chest, missing his heart by inches. Colvin was hospitalized, but made a full recovery, and played another four seasons in the big leagues.

Now, what does all that have to do with the story I wrote. Well, as soon as I heard and read about Tyler Colvin’s injury, my horror-writer mind went into overdrive. I had this crystal clear image of a vampire staked with a baseball bat. That concept rattled around in my brain for a couple of years until I finally came up with a story idea to build around it in 2013. I wrote the story, polished it up, and sent it out. It was first published in 2014 by an online zine called Devilfish Review, which, sadly, now appears to be defunct. Then I got brave and sent it in as a reprint to Pseudopod, and in a shocking turn of events, they liked it and accepted it. Pseudopod published an audio version of the story in 2016, and in 2018 “Night Games” was voted as one of the recommended storie for new listeners. That was quite the honor.

Anyway, that the story of “Night Games.” So do me a favor, head on out to Pseudopod when you have a minute, and listen to the story. You can even tell me what you think in the comments.

If you’d like to check out the past installments of Aeryn’s Archives, covering some of my publications in gaming and fiction, look here:

Category: Aeryn's Archives, My WorkTags: Aeryn Rudel, baseball, Horror, Rejection Letters, Rejectomancy, Submissions, writing tips

9 Comments on “Aeryn’s Archives: Night Games”

Christina Dalcher
March 12, 2020

Easily my favorite piece of yours!

Reply
- Aeryn Rudel
  March 12, 2020
  
  Thanks, Christina. Jesus, what if I peaked with “Night Games”? lol
  
  Reply
  - Graham Robert Scott
    March 12, 2020
    
    It’s my favorite story by you, Aeryn. I won’t lie. It’s one of my favorite horror stories ever, in fact.
    
    But no: I don’t think your peak is behind you.
  - Aeryn Rudel
    March 12, 2020
    
    Oh, I kid about the peak (mostly), and I think I have a few good ones left in me. 🙂
Barbara Carlson
March 12, 2020

That was probably the best baseball game I’ve heard (I, of course, ignored the red part in the alley). I’m sure it reads as well as the podcast sounds. Well done, sir! Now, off to read a comedy so I can sleeeeeeep….

Reply
Jason E. Maddux
March 15, 2020

This post was excellent timing to help fill the void left by the current baseball season’s hiatus. But does the inspiration for this story mean you’re a Cubs fan, or do you cheer for the Mariners?

Reply
- Aeryn Rudel
  March 15, 2020
  
  Tell me about it. No baseball is tough.
  
  I’m actually an Atlanta fan, which is silly because I grew up in California. What can I say? TBS had a strong influence on my young mind. 🙂
  
  Reply
  - Jason E. Maddux
    March 15, 2020
    
    I was a long time Braves fan because of TBS and also a certain pitcher with my last name. Then the Rays came to Tampa Bay in ‘98, and I’ve been smitten ever since.
  - Aeryn Rudel
    March 15, 2020
    
    Yeah, that Maddux guy was pretty good at baseball. 😉