Reviews and Press
The Magnus Archives Reviews
Horror anthology podcast with a classical sense of tone, the cadence
of the narration weighs heavily upon the mood that is delivered–there
is something soothing, but utterly petrifying. Something that we find
wonderful about the Magnus Archives is the nature in which it tackles
each of the episodes–the eerie ability to pull you into a story.
- Digital Trends
“I could hardly recommend a podcast any higher than this one. It’s
among the cream of the crop. It’s not only horror podcasting at its
finest. It’s contemporary horror writing at it’s finest.”
- Eric Mertz
- EricMertzAuthor.com
podcasts with enormous and entertaining back catalogs #1
The Magnus Archives is a horror fiction podcast with a whopping 167
episodes as of writing. In The Magnus Archives, a man’s new job requires
him to record himself reading the text archives of strange stories. The
stories don’t seem intertwined, until suddenly, they do. The narrator
becomes a full-fledged protagonist, and his co-workers become
fascinating characters.
- Polygon
33 Podcasts For Horror Lovers
Collectively Rusty Quill took TEN AWARDS at the Audio Verse Awards in 2019 – FIVE of these awards were for The Magnus Archives.
The Magnus Archives took an award for Best Audioplay. The amazing Jonathan Sims took awards for Best Writing and Best Leading Role for his Titular role as Jonathan Sims.
The Infallible Alexander J Newall brought numerous awards home to Rusty Towers of which Best Vocal Direction and Best Supporting Actor rewarded his work on The Magnus Archives.
- Audio Verse Awards 2019
“The Institute has been active for centuries and as Sims, whose
charmingly grumpy mic presence is a highlight, digs deeper he finds out
they’ve stumbled on something awful.”
- Alasdair Stuart
- Gamesradar
“On the brilliant British horror podcast “The Magnus Archives,”
one of the 15 godlike entities that terrorize humanity is known as “the
Lonely.” There is no corresponding terrifying embodiment of “the Crowd.” [Essay]
- New York Times
Top 10 Terrifying Horror Podcast to Binge #1 The Magnus Archives
“I would like to give The Magnus Archive a special
recommendation. Its a top notch effort from a fairly new production
company and its worth listening to on quality of the stories alone, and
the possibility of the framing device developing its own sub-plots is
the icing on the cake. Thoroughly recommended for any fan of that sort
of horror, its a delightfully spine tingling experience.”
- Megan Talbot
- Aber Student Media
“The Institute’s many collected statements from those who’ve
experienced unexplained esoteric events, and the sound editing makes it
feel as if you’ve stumbled upon a secret treasure trove of recordings.”
- The Oprah Magazine
“One of the best horror podcasts out there right now and one breaking new narrative ground.”
- Alasdair Stuart
- Ghostwoods Books
“You need to listen to this podcast. If you are any fan of horror or
suspense, you must listen. Each unique tale will bring you to the edge
of both your seat and your sanity.”
- The Daftest Punk You Know
10 horror podcasts that will keep you up all night
“The Magnus Archives is a perfect blend of stand-alone horror as each episode highlights an original story (featuring new and/or recurring characters) that, over time, are revealed to be bound to the overarching storyline as each new statement is often a small glimpse of things far greater and sinister that they are connected to. Besides a very clever creative team in front of and behind the scenes — who are as passionate about storytelling and horror as they are to bringing these characters and world to life, which is greatly appreciated — the podcast hits every note, from its talented performers, its truly scary/creepy tone driven by smart storytelling, and most importantly, the brilliant characterizations of all the key characters that allow the audience to go on many complex and worthwhile journeys with the individuals involved, especially the terrifying experiences they go through along the way, alone or together.
Without ever missing a beat, the podcast also features one of the most unexpectedly subtle slow-burn relationships that quietly and naturally develops throughout each season and comes together in such a satisfying way it left my little queer heart absolutely delighted — even as the characters struggle to navigate a world full of nightmares.”
- Kylie Hemmert - ComingSoon.net
“And even when other voices become more common, Johnathan Sims is
still the glue that holds them all together. So the show is either going
to sink or swim on that voice. And Sims is delightful.”
- Lane Robbins
- Speculative Chic
“It’s got ambiance, it’s got the spooks, it’s got great
representation, and it’s got a lot of material directly out of your
childhood nightmares. Get out your sticky notes and yarn — you’ll need
it.”
- DailyUW
Spooky Podcasts to Get You in The Halloween Spirit
Listening to the show is fun enough on its own, but tracing the
connecting threads between statements and guessing that their
implications is equally engaging, and keeps online communities thriving.
- Adam Townsell
- Resonate Recordings
“…had me listening to every available episode – of which there are over a hundred – in seven days.”
- Confessions of a Book Worm
The Magnus Archives: A Beginner’s Guide to the Popular Horror Podcast
11 Fiction Podcasts From 2020 That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
Extremely Relatable Horrifying Content
This podcast deserves thousands upon thousands of words discussing
its themes, which I plan on delivering as soon as it’s finished.
- Sarah Kravitz
- Medium
#1 Best Fiction Podcasts
Top 20 Horror Fiction Podcasts
“The Magnus Archives is the total package – great writing with
interesting stories and characters (and some beautiful wordcraft at
times), quality production and performances, and an eerie atmosphere
that inspires its own sort of wonder.”
- Rowan Rook
- Beware The Rook
50 Best Horror Podcasts of 2018
“Damn do they do weird horror well.”
- Alex Hensley
- AudioDramaRama
“Individually, they are unsettling. Together they begin to form a
picture that is truly horrifying because as he looks into the depths of
the archives, something starts to look back…”
- The Night Blogger
10 scary podcasts to listen to in the dark
“Sim’s crisp voice, and the largely minimalist production, lend the
stories an eerie, creeping dread that speaks to just how powerful a
well-acted tale can truly be.”
- Bryan Bishop and Andrew Liptak
- The Verge
The entertainment that got us through 2020
“The Magnus Archives, produced by Rusty Quill, is
chock-full of terrible things: flesh-eating worms, doors leading to
endless twisting hallways, and the fear that wherever you hide, someone
is watching… [but] Right now, listening to The Magnus Archives feels
good. And by good, I mean it feels bad in a simultaneously abstract and
relatable way, which apparently is just what I need.”
- Kait Sanchez
- The Verge
Top 30 Audio Dramas of 2019
“The amount of effort and build up that has gone into The Magnus
Archives is absolutely incredible. There were reveals this season [4]
that had been built up since episode one. Not one word is wasted.”
- The Podcast Dragon
On Season Finales- The Magnus Archives Episode 160 – The Eye Opens
Now this… this is how you build up to a finale. [Possible Spoilers]
- The Podcast Dragon
5 offerings (that aren’t horror films) to get you in the October Spirit
With its vast catalog of horrors and excellent production values, The Magnus Archives has something for everyone.”
- Caitlin PenzeyMoog, Clayton Purdom, Baraka Kaseko, and Emily L. Stephens
- AV CLUB
From its first episode… the podcast has deftly juggled the monster
of the week and overarching mythology elements of the horror anthology
more satisfyingly than The X-Files ever managed.
- Dennis Perkins
- AV CLUB
The premiere of the fifth and final season of this superlative
horror fiction series comes with an unexpected content warning. Not
because of the horrors that Jonathan Sims and his team at Rusty Quill
have conjured—eldritch, unspeakable, and reliably skin-crawling—but
because the entire episode takes place huddled inside a single location
while unseen doom looms outside the door.
- Dennis Perkins
- AV CLUB
“10/10 would recommend to creepypasta lovers and fans of well-acted audio dramas.”
- Calaticia
“If your podcast tastes lean more horror, then enjoy getting lost
in the Magnus Institute’s collection of eerie statements concerning
potential paranormal happenings. Each week, newly-appointed Head
Archivist Jonathan Sims sorts through the disorganized backlog to
investigate stories with names like “Arachnophobia,” “The Boneturner’s
Tale,” “Killing Floor,” and only getting more ominous as time goes on.
Four seasons in and still going strong, the story expands beyond the
scope of just the Institute and may provide a welcome distraction from
other present terrors.”
- Tor.com
“This parade of unsettling events appears, at first, to be a collection of unrelated phenomena, rather like creepypasta-meets-M.R. James in the form of an episodic audio drama. The head archivist is quick to state—in scathingly dismissive terms—that the vast majority of so-called supernatural phenomena are absolutely nonsense, most likely the product of unwell or intoxicated minds, or overactive imaginations, or too much credulity from people who really ought to know better. One might be forgiven for thinking, during the early episodes, that this is the full breadth of the story: skeptical academics, unfortunate eyewitnesses, and disparate horrors that can never be explained.
But appearances, like everything else, can be very deceiving.
The unveiling of the central story in The Magnus Archives is gradual, but it doesn’t take all that many episodes for it to become obvious that everything is connected in some awful, hidden way. And, to be absolutely clear, by “everything is connected,” I don’t mean “mostly monster-of-the-week with occasional arc episodes.” I mean everything.”
- Kali Wallace - Tor.com“In summary, there exists every reason that you should listen to The Magnus Archives. It’s a fantastic show both to listen and re-listen to—and yeah, I’ll attest—re-listen to again. I hope you find the same enjoyment in the show as I did, and I’m confident you will. And gosh, I’ve always wanted to say this:
Statement ends. ”
- Andrew King - Tor/Forge Blog
“For those uninitiated with this amazing horror serial, the premise
is this: A research institute investigates statements and artifacts of
the supernatural… There are so many things to love about Magnus, from
the delightfully gruesome stories themselves, to the diverse
representation and canonized queerness, to the amazing fanart, but what
I’m here to talk about is how the horror of the show changes over time.
To this end I’ve divided The Magnus Archives into three stages that
document how the show continually reinvents itself while staying true to
the good stuff at its core that resonates with so many.”
- Andrew King
- Tor.com
Top 50 Bingeworthy Podcasts
“You’ll go into an episode about a scary doll, for instance,
thinking, “Oh, this is silly”–but by the time the episode’s ended,
you’ll be avoiding the toy aisle next time you hit up Target.”
- Wil Williams
- Discover Pods
“The Magnus Archives is simply an excellent series with solid
writing, great world building, and compelling characters, not limited to
a brilliant take on the narrator, but to leave it at that would be
doing its impact a disservice.”
- Podcake
- Discover Pods
The 17 Best Horror Podcasts of 2020
“The timely use of sound effects heightens the dread, as does the slick production and professional voice acting.”
- Brian Hall
- LifeWire
“The first episode, “Angler Fish,” was exactly what I hoped and
expected from that title, and all I knew going in was that this was
horror audio fiction. (And, no, that episode does not take place in the
water.) As much as I try to avoid even the appearance of using puns,
there’s no better way to say it than I was well and truly hooked.”
- Jeff Stehman
- Black Gate
“How to spend your Pandemic Summer” [Roughly Translated from German]
“The Magnus Archives reached a total of 160 episodes with its fourth
season finale, and is starting its fifth and final season soon… Don’t
let the worryingly high number of installments put you off — each
episode is only about 20 minutes long, perfect for early morning jogs or
listening three-at-a-time on commutes. And by the time you’ve caught
up, there’ll (hopefully) be more.”
- Wei Ai Ng
- The Oxford Student
The Magnus Archives comes in at number 28 as one of our Best Fiction Podcasts.
Top 30 Horror Audio Podcasts & Radio You Must Subscribe and Listen to in 2019
Best Podcasts for Horror Movie Fanatics
The 10 Best (& Most Terrifying) Horror Podcasts Of All Time
“It’s hard not to love The Magnus Archives.”
- Kirstie Landry
- Screen Rant
Ranked Number 1 Best Horror Podcast on the list of top 10 Horror Podcasts
“…you only need to listen to one episode to become hooked, waiting
every week for a new episode to draw you further in to the depths of the
archive.”
- Catriona Harvey-Jenner
- Cosmopolitan
“Have you talked to me in person recently? No, you haven’t, because
we’re all in quarantine. However, my roommates know I will not shut up
about this show. The Magnus Archives starts as a horror anthology, with
each episode a spooky one-off told through the lens of an archivist
recording witnesses’ statements. As the seasons progress, the episodes
are slowly woven together into an overarching narrative that absolutely
blows every B-tier horror movie out of the water.”
- Sophie Concannon
- Portland State Vanguard
“Implicit in its form, this podcast, the substance of which brings to
mind the best episodes of The Fourth Dimension, is curiously effective,
in particular thanks to the audio format which highlights the muffled
atmospheres and the “confident” tone.” [Roughly Translated from French]
- Le Monde [French]
#1 of the TOP 5 ways to spend Quarantine
“One of the most famous horror fiction podcasts with millions of
listeners worldwide… If you want to know what’s behind the huge success,
you can also lose yourself in the previous 160 episodes that have
appeared since 2016.”[Roughly Translated from German]
- Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Best Horror Podcasts For Halloween
“Since the Magnus Institute is the kind of place it is, you get case
after case of unsettling Europeans creepiness, the most effective kind
of creepiness.”
- Dillon McLaughlin
- Cool Material
Top 10 Best Fiction Podcasts
“I have never once found something I’ve enjoyed within the horror
genre. But I quite like The Magnus Archives… The Magnus Archives is a
podcast that I highly recommend… this is definitely one to give a listen
to.”
- Ria Boldt
- Her Campus
10 Best Paranormal Podcasts to Listen to Today
“This anthology out of the UK has a classic sensibility to it while delivering a wide range of shiver-inducing stories.”
- Scott Beggs
- Thrillist
“Excellent British horror stories.”
- Bryan Alexander
THIS IS DOPE: THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES HAS 160 EPISODES OF BONE-CHILLING HORROR FOR YOU
I have joined the cult following of the British horror fiction podcast The Magnus Archives”
- Tres Dean
- Syfywire
BITE-SIZED BITS OF BABBLE: THE PODCAST AS A MODERN STORYTELLING DEVICE
I’m breaking my rules, because this is a podcast. But anyone who
wishes that spooky radio plays would make a comeback needs to listen to
this superlative UK horror series about an organization that collects
supernatural witnessings… it is also a reflection on recording
technology and the power of voice.
- Seven Days VST
Episode 1 and Episode 2 of this exciting new podcast about podcasts covers The Magnus Archives
Episode 1 – The Meta: A Podcast About Podcasts
Episode 2 – The Meta: A Podcast About Podcasts
- The Meta: A Podcast About Podcasts
“The Magnus Archives is a clear standout in terms of plot and
production…The podcast, though not gory or explicit, can be quite spooky
and is definitely not recommended for the very young or the
faint-hearted.”
- Amrita V Nair
- thehindubusinessline
I’ve been listening to alot of a horror podcast… The Magnus
Archives…I’ve had people recommending this to me for YEARS and i’m
getting why people are REALLY in to it
- Podquisition
I equally stress on self-care. I enjoy working out with some good
music and also set aside time to cook fresh meals in my little studio,
often with a podcast for company. The Magnus Archives by Rusty Quill is
the podcast that’s currently on my queue.
- Priya Bala
- The New Indian Express
I can’t recommend ‘The Magnus Archives’ highly enough. If you like
horror, or even if you just want to get into the Halloween spirit [with a
good Halloween podcast], do yourself a favor and tune in.
- Centuari Anthropology
“If you’re looking for this specific brand of horror [cosmic/ urban
horror] I recommend the fiction podcast The Magnus Archives because it
does a really good job integrating these really really creepy cosmic
horror elements into very very realistic grounded lives”
- Overly Sarcastic Productions
“This podcast has been around since 2016, so there’s plenty of [great] material to keep you going”
- Jenny McGrath
- Digital Trends
9 Creepy podcasts that seem real
“If you’re into the SCP Foundation, you’ll probably dig The Magnus Archives.”
- Lucia Peters
- Bustle
13 Scary Podcasts For Horror Readers Because You Can Never Have Too Many Ghost Stories
The Magnus Archives is a horror-fiction podcast that follows
Jonathan Sims, an archivist for the Magnus Institute, an organization
that investigates the “strange.” Each episode is thrilling on its own,
but as the whole story starts to unfold, you realize that these strange
occurrences aren’t necessarily disconnected…
- Caroline Donovan
- The Vanderbilt Hustler
21 Podcasts that come highly recommended
Staff Picks to get you through Coronavirus Quarantine
10 Scary Podcasts To Keep You Up At Night
The Magnus Archives: Live Review
“A precise, measured and relentless inventive first step onto the
live stage for one of the best podcasts in the field. Keep an eye out
for future shows”
- Alasdair Stuart
- Scifi Bulletin
“As Sims attempts to organize the archives, new mysteries turn up for our listening pleasure”
- Jessica Arnold
- She Knows
The Creepy, Weird and Unexplainable: My Favourite Podcasts
Caroles Pick Of The Week – Smashing Security Episode 184
Season 1 Statement
Would you recommend? Hell yes!
- Briony Rose Smith
Season 2 Statement
Nearly every statement has some kind of piece of the puzzle that
gives both more of a story but mostly more questions. It’s just been so
fun to listen to. You feel like a detective trying to piece together a
mystery.
- Briony Rose Smith
Season 3 Statement
Bharg! That season guys. This season! …The Magnus archives is a
horror podcast where Johnathan Sims, head archivist of the Magnus
Archives, London, attempts to catalogue statements taken from people
about weird paranormal happenings. Or can he this season? He’s wanted
for murder and on the run and has an apocalypse to stop!
What are the episodes like? There much more variety in the episodes this
time around. For the most part, it managed to keep it’s overall
structure of start, statement, end but invents different reasons and
ways these statements come out to fit with the crazy that’s happening in
the background.
- Briony Rose Smith
Season 4 Statement
Ahh. The metaplot of Magnus just keeps getting better. John is
struggling with the idea that he is turning into/is a spooky-thing
himself now. We see other spooky things in so much horrible detail and
then that finale!
- Briony Rose Smith
5 spooky and brilliant podcasts to listen to this Halloween
“Words fail me. This is one of the best podcasts I’ve ever heard.”
- Gabriel Blanchard
A round-up of horror podcasts
Opinion: For unique stories, listen to podcasts
“For all those new to podcasts, current horror fanatics who are
looking for more quality content or those who want to give the horror
genre a shot, the Magnus Institute has its doors open for you. Who
knows? Perhaps you will find yourself seeking more of the mysteries that
lurk in the shadows.”
- Sammi Looi
- Study Break
“The horrors [in the Magnus Archives], while they are ineffable,
while they are cosmic nightmares, they all touch upon fears that we
feel, like the fear of a spider or the fear of being watched or the fear
of a dark alley or the fear of being alone. All of those things are
just touched upon and expanded upon uniquely within this show… That’s
why I think the Magnus Archives is the best version of Eldritch Horror I
have ever ever seen in my entire life.”
- Jessie Gender
Rusty Quill Gaming Reviews
“One of the biggest appeals of this show is the world Newell has
built. It’s a spin on Victorian-ish Earth, with magitek and all you
might expect, but a lot of thought has been put into the background
political and historical elements that have lead to the campaign that
the players have to navigate.”
- The Cambridge Geek
Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast was shortlisted at BBC Audio Drama Awards for Best Podcast or Online Audio Drama
News: BBC Audio Drama Awards Shortlist Announced
Top 60 Role Playing Games (RPG) Podcasts You Must Follow in 2020
The 10 Best Table Top Gaming Podcasts
A triple winner at the Audio Verse Awards 2019! RQG won for Improvised Production, Player Direction of a Production for Alexander J Newall’s work and Lydia Nicholas brought home the gold for Player in an Improvised Production as Sasha Racket.
- Audio Verse Awards
Discussing Audio Verse Awards
Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast has fantasy, fun for all
Stellar Firma Reviews
Stellar Firma performed well at the 2019 Audio Verse Awards taking
home an award for New Improvised Production and Ben Meredith impressed
with his Role of David 7 winning for Player In A New Improvised
Production. Take that Trexel!
- Audio Verse Awards
“Stellar Firma from Rusty Quill never ceases to delight or amaze
me. A truly wonderful dystopian comedy from some truly talented
improvisers.”
- Discoverpods
“Today’s journey lead me in the direction of Rusty Quil’s,
Stellar Firma, a science fiction comedy about planetary designer Trextel
Greistman and clone assistant David 7 as they take up requests from
clients, i.e. listeners, for a number of unique and ridiculous planet
designs… Stellar Firma’s core premise of creating new planets with the
kind of discussions that make more sense over blueprints of a house has
this wonderfully surreal vibe to it.”
- Discoverpods
An improvised weekly science fiction podcast from brothers Tim
and Ben Meredith features a new planet suggestion from their listeners
every week. Trexel and David squabble as they fully flesh out the idea
in hilarious ways. Previous planet designs have included death rays,
dangerous lava playgrounds, and an eternal night club.
- Park Rapids Enterprise
“Stellar Firma is the flagship for Rusty Quill’s expansion
plans and they could not have asked for a better show. Which is ironic
as everyone who asks for a better planet, by and large, doesn’t get
one.”
- Alasdair Stuart
Top 30 Audio Dramas of 2019
“Stellar Firma THE SECOND BEST AUDIO DRAMA OF 2019 – I can
think of absolutely nothing that I would change about it. The acting is
perfect, the soundscapes are incredible, the improv is hilarious, I love
it all.”
- The Podcast Dragon
Episode 4 of The Meta celebratea Stellar Firma
- The Meta: A Podcasts About Podcast
Duluth Media Group staffers share their podcast picks, and bonus: some worthy audiobooks.
“hooked me on their first episodes and have kept me on the line”
- Jeff Stehman
- Black Gate
Four Stars
Outliers Reviews
How do you make British palaces — and their bygone occupants —
come alive without a trip to the U.K.? You listen to “Outliers — Stories
From the Edge of History.”
- Phoebe Lett
- New York Times
Our Favourite Fiction Podcasts
An absorbing series of dramatic monologues from characters on the fringes of history. Sarah Hemming and Fiona Sturges –
- Financial Times
A collaboration between Historic Royal Palaces and producers
Rusty Quill, Outliers is a charming historical fiction podcast. Each
short story weaves a beguiling narrative around a real person, place or
event, focussing on little-heard tales from Britain’s ancient buildings.
- Eleanor Bley Griffiths
- Radio Times
TOP 50 London Podcasts
Best Fiction Podcasts
Rusty Quill’s (Magnus
Archives) series of monologues from characters just outside the
spotlight of history immerses us in intimate moments. Historic locations
aren’t cold dusty rooms, they’re environments where secrets are shared,
mischief is wrought and excitement is incited.
- Lindsay Harris Friel
- The Podcast Host
Heritage from Home – October 2020
Enjoy this historical fiction podcast from Historic Royal Palaces, which examines
significant events through the eyes of characters who have traditionally
been confined to the shadows.
- Current Archaeology
Rusty Quill in The News
The Magnus Archives News
Trope Talk: Greatest Fears – video sponsorship
Fandom Spotlight
The Magnus Archives nominated for This is Horror Award
Finding Comfort in Horror
Tumblr Loves Animal Crossing, But It Especially Loves Raymond
Ear Candy ABC of Audiobooks and Podcast of The Month: The Magnus Archives
Rusty Quill sponsor YouTube video on Generator Rex
Video interview with Alexander J.Newall by Haggis and Dragons at PodCon UK 2020
Jonny Sims on The Magnus Archives Final Season
The Magnus Archives Debuts New Logo and Video Trailer for Fifth and Final Season
Award Winning Horror Fiction Podcast Teases Final Chilling Season
The Magnus Archives debuts new logo, preps for its final season
Trending: The Magnus Archives Season 5 Trailer
Interview on Riverside Radio Arts Watch with Lydia Nicholas
The Magnus Archives Debuts New Logo and Trailer for Fifth and Final Season
Podcasts: The Rising Media Form
Virtual HorrorCon Annouce Schedule
Podcast Radio Hour: Audio Fiction
Rusty Quill Ltd. News
The One Shot Podcast
Press Release – “Rusty Quill Signs with WME”
“Podcast Network Rusty Quill signs with WME”
Press Release – “Rusty Quill Signs With WME in Trailblazing Move”
Press Release – “Rusty Quill signs with WME in Trailblazing Move”
Gehenna Gaming Announces Virtual Horror Convention