"The Scarlet Plague" by Jack London / A HorrorBabble Production

A complete recording of Jack London’s 1912 post-apocalyptic classic, THE SCARLET PLAGUE.
Chapters:
0:00:00 - Titles
0:00:09 - Chapter 1
0:25:11 - Chapter 2
0:44:13 - Chapter 3
1:05:53 - Chapter 4
1:28:21 - Chapter 5
1:50:09 - Chapter 6
Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/alb...
Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Production by Jennifer Gill
Music "Britannia" by Ian Gordon:
iangordon.bandcamp.com
Become a HorrorBabbler here on KZbin:
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Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon:
horrorbabble.bandcamp.com
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teespring.com/stores/horrorba...
Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on:
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Social Media:
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This is an ORIGINAL HorrorBabble Production.

[@HorrorBabble]

A complete recording of Jack London’s 1912 post-apocalyptic classic, THE SCARLET PLAGUE. Chapters: 0:00:09 - Chapter 1 0:25:11 - Chapter 2 0:44:13 - Chapter 3 1:05:53 - Chapter 4 1:28:21 - Chapter 5 1:50:09 - Chapter 6 Bandcamp link: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com/album/the-scarlet-plague Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble Music and production by Ian Gordon & Jennifer Gill Become a HorrorBabbler here on KZbin: kzbin.infojoin Support us on Bandcamp or Patreon: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com www.patreon.com/horrorbabble HorrorBabble MERCH: teespring.com/stores/horrorbabble-merch Search HORRORBABBLE to find us on: AUDIBLE / ITUNES / SPOTIFY Home: www.horrorbabble.com Rue Morgue: www.rue-morgue.com Social Media: facebook.com/HorrorBabble instagram.com/horrorbabble twitter.com/HorrorBabble

[@brucealexy]

Jj*j*j*j*jjiiii>ii>

[@dondawson2174]

An author can write an amazing piece of work but when it's read by such an awesome narrator as Ian it truly comes to life. Thank you for your devotion to your craft.

[@aaronswanson6227]

I'm blown away by his timing predictions, 8 billion people in 2010, a plague in 2013 (Spanish flu had yet to even occur). Beautiful reading, thank you Ian

[@Mygg_Jeager]

The one thing he got wrong was in thinking that a billion dollars would make you the richest man on earth. XD

[@MaraW1832]

@@Mygg_Jeager To be fair, that was true until fairly recently. Reagan-era economics is what destroyed that paradigm

[@Mygg_Jeager]

@@MaraW1832 Solid point. :)

[@GhostBusters-wb4un]

And Thank God there wasn’t an apocalypse at least

[@aaronswanson6227]

@@GhostBusters-wb4un yet...

[@parapoliticos52]

Jack London is so much more comprehensible than his contemporaries. Both his style, his vocabulary and plot development allows listeners follow the plot of his stories novels effortlessly.

[@Snugglez187]

Simplistic. The brain candy of its time. It's definitely enjoyable, but also definitely not better, or even as good as some other work from that era.

[@anthonykarnes6804]

​@@Snugglez187shaddap

[@arenrutter6786]

Thank you immensely for producing some of the best audio horror content I’ve ever heard.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you very much!

[@hana_maru22]

Stumbling across this story during the pandemic has made it so intense! Awesome job Ian, I am completely unnerved 👍👏♥️

[@greensky5328]

113 likes to 0 dislikes, that's the positivity you deserve for doing all this for free and for doing such a divine job.

[@Insane3OB]

0? hehehehe!

[@ixisnyx6860]

How can you tell?

[@shamrowicz]

Sir I’ve watched this video and many of your videos and they are highly underrated and I try and listen to at least one of your podcasts a day. Thank you so much for your amazing work

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks for the kind words and support!

[@clintonstahlman4618]

Some of the themes are similar to those in The Lord of The Flies. Beware the dark side of human nature and never forget that the veneer of civilization over mans savagery is very thin!

[@VivaCubaRoja]

HorrorBabbel is a fantastic channel. Great stories, without constant advertisements to loudly and abruptly startle you awake. Well narrated with a nice selection of stories. Thanks for making this. It is much appreciated.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks, Matt. We do try to keep the ads to a minimum. And you can always listen entirely ad-free via our Bandcamp shop: horrorbabble.bandcamp.com

[@teddydog6229]

Unbelievably to me I’ve never heard or heard of this Jack London story. I think I’m in for an excellent afternoon indeed !

[@owensthilaire8189]

Jack London was very obviously a well experienced sort of fellow. Liked anything of his that I've read...and now heard.

[@robinglen2777]

Thanks for posting in whole 😊

[@Morboeatspeople]

I had NO idea Jack London wrote stories like this! Sooooo good! Thank you very much for sharing and expanding my world :)

[@JudyFayLondon]

I didn't know either.

[@TheArtofTheBrave]

The concept of a new dark age, of a simpler, albeit potentially more dangerous existence, but one perforce attuned more closely to nature and to the earth and the wilds seems, when compared to the myriad looming global problems of 2021, not in the least bit unappealing. Jack was a wonderful storyteller possessed of a rich and prescient imagination, and the skill to render it into vivid life. I'd not encountered this tale before, thanks Ian. Great reading as usual!

[@andrewkoastephens210]

I am presently listening to this story in Berkeley. I will be calling my school “the stone buildings” from now on. Ha! Somehow this story of a pandemic is even more eerie by being born and raised in the places mentioned.

[@clevelandplonsey7480]

Hope you’re doing great. Best from El Cerrito. Give my regards to Kroeber and Campbell halls 🦑

[@myheadhurts1927]

A brilliant tale by a man known for his love of dogs. I think this is his only foray into horror. It is written with great care to maintain a sense of heart and humanity. Thanks HB. We owe you a debt for this one.

[@AnastasiaPersika]

He dabbled in the genre and produced a few horror related stories, of which I would recommend reading. If you enjoyed this work, I suggest reading London’s “A Thousand Deaths”. It is a very short story but contains similar themes of human depravity and medical-based horror.

[@isorokudono]

So, Ian;you made a machinist cry in the shop today. This isn't just a story. I was born in Contra Costa county...my great grandparents owned a three story banquet hall in Berkeley before the Great Depression. My great great grandfather's made all the buildings at UC Berkeley, and carved the names of the departments into the facade of each one. They made Sather Gate...which still stands. I grew up in Hayward, a ghetto, though it used to be all farms. Cherryland they called it. To Niles Canyon, the original Hollywood, where Charley Chaplin made all his movies. Caught huge bass and catfish there in college. And San Leandro....where like Hayward, you can see the Oakland Bay Bridge the San Mateo Bridge and so many lights. Or The Cliff House; which hadn't fallen I to the ocean when Jack was alive..where I ate so many meals in the new incarnation. Seems Jack London is two dozen crab shells a better writer than Stephen King.....

[@clevelandplonsey7480]

Sending nostalgia from El Cerrito

[@dcrog69]

Well this one hits a little to close to home.

[@BertramShord]

Fate is working on a firering-solution....

[@BertramShord]

@@isorokudono O.... k. Props on that. I most certainly couldnt care less.

[@brianmcg.8260]

This Narrator is The Best ! He sounds so much like Vincent Price. (Mr. Price was an excellent actor who starred in many Movies, which a great many were Horror Films, Price took center stage in most of; "The Classics." I believe he starred in all of Edgar Allen Poe's adaptations to Film. Price's popularity soared through-out the '70s and '80s. He looked like a dark character, tall & slim with eyes that could be cold & piercing to rangey & absolutely mad. He was one of the True Greats.

[@Aiko2-26-9]

The story is well written and well read. Although a bit spooky in 2021. Thanks for a delightful two hours.

[@ROMANABSOLUT]

I was like 14-15 years old when this book got into may hands. I couldn't let it go untill the last page. I just loved it. Until this very day. I was wishing all this time to see a movie made after this book, but.... The story was first published in 1912. The action takes place in 2073, 60 years after the 2013 plague. The author Jack London didn't imagine in 1912 that the horses will be history in 2012. He often mentions them as used by the fleeing people from the cities. He didn't imagine that the automobile would reign the world in 2012. The rumors say that after COVID-19 will come a plague before 2024, also a man-made criminal act.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

What an awesome story! Fantastic writing and narration. The wisdom of the old professor is amazing. I listened to the six chapter individually, and am glad you added the compilation to your library! Good ole' Jack hit the nail on the head for various things that ended up happening in the future. He always interests me and had quite an interesting life. Thanks!

[@izzylewis3998]

What a wonderful story and narrated in such a fantastic way. They don’t write like them like any more. Absolutely wonderful.

[@dalemoss4684]

This is a brilliant story.

[@ralf7568]

Thank you so much Ian. Unbelievable that this classic may even hold true today

[@RydarkVoyager]

A remarkable book by Jack London. I've been a sci-fi/horror fan since I was a kid, but somehow this work escaped me. Thank you for your reading. Wonderful as always.

[@lordzaboem]

I listened in Bandcamp. I'll definitely recommend this series the next time a discussion of post-apocolyptic literature pops up anywhere.

[@fredtorres399]

Thank you for the superb reads!

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Thanks for the seamless compilation! Cheers mate!

[@db5823]

Wonderful story! And well read.

[@taylormademyself89]

Been waiting for this I always wait till stories are complete 😎🤘🙏

[@dcrog69]

Same here.

[@implodingsoftly]

My sweetheart wanted me to have another listen of this one. Looking forward to giving more attention to it.

[@nar76109]

Fantastic story telling and voice acting.

[@karenmcdonald7801]

That Professor guy is blind to the irony of his situation innitt?

[@JohnDoe-sl6di]

This story was ahead of its time

[@drudown76]

Jack London is underrated

[@daviddrift7663]

2012 on the Silver dollar. One of the first dystopian novels? Great job.

[@liquidskin5359]

Thank you for doing this. Iv'e heard it done before but your version really encapsulated the feel of the story. Cheers.

[@darrenanthonyshortt9157]

Horror babble.u guys got me out of a 3 time lockdown in Ireland and I pick u up were o left off....could we end up like this over n3xt 50yrs..how knows..but hope u guys are still have records put off for the next gen...stay safe and keep safe....

[@stephensinclair3771]

Finally listening to this. The great grandfather of "the earth abides" and "Lord of the flies".

[@janbreeden3275]

Wonderful stories im thankful these are made available with wonderful narration

[@Montross4440]

The way Jack London reads is so nice. Thank you.

[@left4twenty]

Gotta love the 19th century sensibility of "Horses are always going to exist in cities, no matter how many of these *automobiles* there are" But seriously, its eerie how well you can impose our 21st century civilization onto this story (aside from the airships, seriously, how did every writer predict airplanes becoming huge, but only as balloons, but couldn't foresee automobiles overtaking horses*!)

[@mwilson7842]

Yet there are still police on horseback and poor horses clopping tourists around in the insufferable heat, dropping to the asphalt in our biggest cities.

[@followme8238]

A very good story, expertly narrated

[@azazelsiad3601]

“Crushed by this metaphysical defeat he remained silent.” You know you’re a simpleton when your simpleton brother crushes you in a game of wits lol.

[@grannykiminalaska]

Excellent story telling. The story really is a product of it time will all the classism references. Times have really changed in some ways

[@KensN2History]

This channel is great I listen to it almost every night should have many more views

[@thehillz726]

2013 was a hell of a year

[@A_real_Ha_So]

I'm sorry but HooHoo has to be one of the greatest names in literature 😂

[@baruchben-david4196]

Thank you. Nicely done.

[@modernantiques9348]

great job guys

[@DarthHastur]

You never disappoint Ian. Hope to have it done before 9PM.

[@DarthHastur]

Articulately done with impeccable finesse and panache.

[@feralbluee]

how people could regress this much in 60 years is not logical. people quarantined in 1918! there were books, even if no electricity, learning would not die out. even in medieval times, there was learning. also, people wouldn’t forget how to grow plants and which ones could be dried! these guys are very regressed. thank goodness for his one grandson. no girls, btw? weirdness. but i’ve listened cause it’s a pretty good story and Ian is reading it :) 🌷

[@xcskiingftw]

Terrifying and beautiful.

[@canman5060]

Pandemic treat !

[@mike76239]

Ian Gordon has one of the greatest voices for book narration I've ever heard. He sounds a lot like Richard Burton. Does anyone know if HorrorBabble has anymore post-apocalyptic stories on their channel? If not, I would like to suggest they do a short story called Small World, by William F. Nolan. The story is on Librivox, so I would assume it's in the public domain.

[@Brice23]

Top notch. Have you considered reading The People of the Abyss? It is nonfiction of course but I believe that with your talent it would become an even more impactful story.

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks! Always worth considering for future reference.

[@Sad.vocate]

@@HorrorBabbleand publication.💓🙏

[@jamesshore3191]

Beautifully written.

[@johnpauljones6229]

Yeeeesssssss!!!!!!!

[@gothicdragonwarriorqueen5819]

Scary-as-shit cool!!!🙂🖤💀☠👻🧛‍♂️🧛‍♀️🦇⚰🕷🕸

[@reptile797]

God what a coward Grandsir was. Woman he loves begs him to kill the evil man who abuses her and he does nothing? He deserves all the disrespect the savage kids were giving him.

[@kylebayliff1712]

You think he loved her? He desired her, sure. She represented an ideal for him, and you can tell by the way he talked about the fact that she was an aristocrat, never did real work in her life, and never would have looked at him twice until her only other alternative was the chauffeur. He certainly didn't know her. He was only there for three weeks! He may not have beat her, but if Vesta had gone with him, do you think he would have been happy to support her when she could not contribute to their survival? No, I don't think he really loved her for her own sake. I imagine his exalted image of her would not have lasted very long.

[@j74s98]

What happened to his guns?

[@rynnziolkowski4642]

This story is more terrifying because it's perfectly explaining what's happening today in the US

[@zama422]

Yeah...a disease with a 100% mortality rate that kills in under a week and causes the body to decompose near instantly...totally the same thing.

[@GoatOfTheWoods]

what are you talking about?

[@j74s98]

If the disease was instead a hysteria, then it would be spot on.

[@jamesnurgle6368]

most of these really don't catch people, I think a lot of it is inspired by or similar to Lovecraft, who for all his talents really couldn't understand people (which probably lead to his talents but still) this feels like a conversation and I'm glad to see the narrator has equal talent for it.

[@jgr7487]

this isn't horrific, this is just sad.

[@hyperelliptik]

The real horror in this one, to me, is the inherent and deep-rooted selfishness and cruelty of a lot of people that still plagues humankind.

[@j74s98]

Is Jack London trolling us?

[@TheJasonx7]

This is definitely written way before tvs,if london knew all the stuff we had and about this corona virus i think wouldve been spot on a little.

[@pocadon]

A guy goes through absolute hell and survives when billions die, and now he's the biggest coward on earth. Walking away from that severely abused woman is like walking by a woman being raped in an alley, who sees you, and screams for help and you walk away.

[@ogoppogomanitobo]

Just like 2020 was.

[@TheMrCougarful]

2022: Yeah pretty much. Except Cliff House already burned.

[@envysart797]

Too soon

[@blixten2928]

Jack London is such an interesting writer - observent, interested, analytical, yet caught up in social-darwinist and hyper-masculine nature fantasies... Really a strange writer.

[@Tatorhead1234]

Can someone please add more chapters

[@HorrorBabble]

Hello! This is the complete story.

[@Tatorhead1234]

@@HorrorBabble no, I mean can someone extend this story for us?! I was left wanting more!

[@michaelmccarty7027]

Is there anymore John Silence on the way? Lol

[@HorrorBabble]

Working on it, Michael! It's a long one, so we're taking our time with it.

[@michaelmccarty7027]

@@HorrorBabble can't wait for it! 👍

[@hkhjg1734]

the grandkids not knowing anything gets old fast. Also it’s only been two generations since society collapsed. The grandkids behavior wouldn’t be that different then their parents and grandparents. excellent reading tho

[@malsiddas9960]

I disagree. Granddad was only just a boy when the plague started and most died right along with technology. No teachers, no schools and living wild. Seems about right

[@Djfragas]

@@malsiddas9960 wasnt a boy, he was a 27yo man.

[@clevelandplonsey7480]

70 years is 3 generations. Also mass reduction of population causes annihilation of knowledge base

[@Mr71paul71]

1:06:16

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Off by eight years it seems.

[@Ella7194]

This could be now: WA CA OR fires, covid-19, right wing mobs ... Thank you for this excellent reading and post.

[@paulharland7280]

We have yet to see a right wing mob but it could happen.

[@clevelandplonsey7480]

@@paulharland7280 left wing mobs ftw

[@paulsmart4672]

dat classism tho

[@queen.of.entropy]

(눈‸눈)

[@noahhecker6672]

Such a good bit of societal commentary in this one. To think, all it takes is one good plague or natural disaster and the whole of the civilized world goes back to the dark ages. Men and women of renown and stature scraping away in the dirt, made slaves to the very people they once considered less than dogs. Though the protagonist would likely disagree, I for one would call that justice.

[@howardhavardramberg7160]

First!

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

So society was just as bad if not worse before the plague hit. The protagonist is well educated but blinded by nostalgia to his lost privilegied position, unable to see that he is but one of the many villains.

[@j74s98]

I hope you're joking.

[@evelanpatton]

How was he a villain?

[@paulsmart4672]

@@evelanpatton He was a supporter of neo-feudal slavery. He literally refers to their economic system as slavery and the poor as slaves.

[@RabenmundK]

@@paulsmart4672 He was a supporter of capitalism. If you take a honest look at our modern society, the biggest differences are that we use nicer words to describe our "lower classes" aka low income job workers, done by poor people who mostly stay poor out of systemic injustice. At least the Professor was honest that they where treated little better than slaves.

[@thumperpaul155]

Come on Gramps "conflagration" You are talking to cave boys, I think Fire would have worked. =]

[@sb-px4yf]

Who are these savages setting fires. Such depressing people. Future looks bleak.

[@feralbluee]

Jack has no strong women. there are and were tribes of polyandry cause there are more men than women. how reading can fall by the wayside is beyond me. all doctors may die out, but there are millions more nurses who would survive. so that idea in the story wouldn’t happened. other parts, too, wouldn’t happen. but the stronger surviving and the bestial, unfortunately, would, too - and there would be women like that, too. i like Ursula K. LeGuin’s ideas better, although London is the better author in this case. thanks for the great read, Ian :) 🌷🐕🐈🕊🦅

[@catherinefee6154]

It's a great story, but I couldn't get over the snobbery

[@trillcosby4399]

CHRIST 46 seconds is a little long before the narration starts

[@russhurst6730]

Really? That's all you've to offer after over 2 hours of excellent narration? Really?

[@GenerallyNotGood]

The grandfather's idea of a "cultured" person, a person better-- or of superior quality--- bothers me greatly. These people of a better breed/stock know nothing and add nothing. Barring the beatings, which of course is NEVER okay or deserved, she was living how she deserved to be living. Again, beating someone is never okay--