Author(s)
Magdalena Szukalska
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
Journal: Polish Journal of English Studies
Issue: 12.1 (2026)
Date: 15/06/2026
Page: 36
Quote As: Magdalena Szukalska, Audio Monsters: Cosmic Horror and Inhuman Beings in The Magnus Archives, Polish Journal of English Studies 12.1 (2026): 39-51
DOI: doi.org/10.64867/pjes.25435981.26.121.1003
Abstract
The following analysis aims to showcase the ways in which the podcast The Magnus Archives (2016–2021) incorporates various elements of cosmic horror storytelling and the tradition of horror radio drama to portray the subject of monstrosity and becoming inhuman. The article presents the origins of audio drama that influenced the creation of modern-day podcast fiction and its role in constructing a recognisable image of a monster further developed in the realm of podcasting. Through combining the modern technical possibilities of aural production with a cosmic horror narrative, The Magnus Archives offers a contemporary approach to inhumanity. The podcast follows the Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute and his team who uncover the hidden truths about the dangers of the world they live in while becoming intertwined with the evil forces they seek to defeat. Throughout the story, the characters face various interpersonal conflicts that show the physical and psychological changes resulting from their experience with supernatural entities. These discoveries lead the Archival team to the forces of power beyond their comprehension that challenge the notion of what makes one human, ultimately leading them to confront their morality. By constructing a narrative that places the characters in situations characterised by extreme conditions, the podcast encourages the listeners to challenge their own beliefs and uncertainties. Due to its modern approach to the technical possibilities of audio drama, The Magnus Archives provides a story that offers an interaction between the tradition of horror storytelling and the modern existential view of monstrousness which explores the subject of survival and choice.
Keywords: horror podcast, cosmic horror, audio drama, monsters, existentialism
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Received: 2025-10-14; Reviewed 2026-03-31; Accepted 2026-05-25