"The Knacker Man" by Scott Dalrymple + "Sarah's Laugh" by Melissa A Watkins

This episode of the Lightspeed Magazine Story Podcast features two powerful science fiction and fantasy short stories: 'The Knacker Man' by Scott Dalrymple and 'Sarah's Laugh' by Melissa A. Watkins. The first story follows Moyer, a weary soldier in a trench during a war, who is haunted by memories of a mysterious knacker man from his childhood—a figure who embodied quiet, unsettling wisdom. As the war drags on, Moyer is drawn to a dark, unnatural wood where he encounters the knacker man once more, leading to a surreal revelation about perception, existence, and the limits of human understanding. The second story, narrated by host Janina Edwards, is a haunting post-apocalyptic tale of resistance and transformation. It centers on Sarah Prosser, a quiet, sensitive child whose laugh has the power to destroy corporate-controlled walls that have replaced cities. Her ability becomes a symbol of hope and rebellion, but also a burden, as she struggles with sensory overload and isolation. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of Zipporah Douglas, once a powerful evangelical preacher who helped legitimize the oppressive Evans Treaty through propaganda, now living in exile and seeking redemption as Sarah's caretaker. The story critiques systemic oppression, the weaponization of religion, and the fragility of truth in a world where power is disguised as progress. Both stories explore themes of memory, identity, and the quiet power of resistance.