Halloween is the perfect time of year to dive into The Magnus Archives, the beloved horror anthology podcast. With nearly 180 episodes over five seasons, there's tons of spooky stories to satisfy even the most discerning horror tastes. Each episode is less than half an hour, so it's perfect for podcast lovers and new listeners alike.

The Magnus Archives tells stories collected by the Magnus Institute, a group devoted to studying the supernatural. Jonathan Sims, the newly appointed head archivist at the Magnus Institute, is going through old statements of paranormal encounters and recording them to audio, which is the basis for the weekly podcast. Each episode features him reading through a transcript, but also responding to the events in the account to situate the story within the Magnus Institute.

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The Magnus Archives old cover

Each individual episode is a compact bite of spooky storytelling. Some of the tales tread familiar ground -- gambling with death or unfamiliar noises in the night -- but The Magnus Archives does a great job of scripting each episode to present them in novel, compelling ways. The first-person narration and the crackle of the cassette-quality audio also set the spooky vibe, working together to make some truly horrific stories.

During Sims' response after each episode, listeners also get a peek into the inner workings of the Magnus Institute. He talks about additional research associates diving into the details of the statement he's just narrated. Often this provides additional moments to introduce spooky content, sometimes including audio evidence or story verification. These end bits offer, if not a twist to the tale, then at least some good final creepy moments. If the stories weren't scary enough on their own, having the narrator provide additional audio evidence can add one final shiver.

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What makes The Magnus Archives more compelling, however, is that while each episode can stand alone, there is an overarching narrative linking them all together. Some of the stories reference the same dangerous book collection or mass of silvery worms, using repeated topics and themes to help tell a larger story about Sims and the Magnus Institute itself. This brilliantly gives established listeners a reason to return and see the mysteries of the institute finally solved, but still allows new listeners to get something out of each episode.

In addition to lead archivist Sims, the podcast is regularly joined by a cast of other employees of the Magnus Institute. Interspersing these other narrators gives the series some sound diversity, breaking up the routine with some fresh voices and introducing some of the key characters for the overarching plot. Many of these characters are also queer, incorporating asexual, gay, bi and lesbian additions to the institute's team and making The Magnus Archives great for representation.

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Rusty Quill logo

The Magnus Archives has heavy sound editing, which makes the episodes feel as if they've been recorded to old cassette tapes, including some grain to bring the soundscape to life. This fits the atmosphere well, though can sometimes make the podcast a little too quiet. It also incorporates a great horror soundtrack, building the creepy music at just the right moments to underscore key points in the story.

While most of each episode can stand alone, the overarching story develops chronologically, so it's best to listen from the beginning. The episodes fall into five seasons, all based around Sims' explorations of the supernatural as he slowly learns more about the Institute and the nature of the world.

Brought to life by the Rusty Quill production company and director Alexander J. Newall, The Magnus Archives has earned a devoted following. Fans have produced extensive fan fiction and art for the podcast, and are rumored to have been so excited for the recent release of Season 5 that they crashed Patreon. The podcast has also been nominated for and received numerous awards for writing and performance.

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