Why a fireworks display in Nashville, TN on a Tuesday night? For a moment I thought the hotel was collapsing when I was jolted out of sleep.
Robert Helfst is doing the best he can
@roberthelfst.bsky.social
Cosmic & literary horror enthusiast | Fraidy Cat Press editor | Absolutely no AI | Words in Chthonic Matter Quarterly, Saros SF, X-Ray Lit & more. https://linktr.ee/roberthelfst
I saw someone call Ai a Thneed and I can't stop thinking about it. It's a PERFECT analogy. The Thneed was an all-purpose tool that didn't do anything really useful. It was a fad that did major damage to the environment to make the Onceler a billionare. It left no real lasting impact, only damage.
Boomer grandparents have failed their grandkids so hard there’s an actual phenomenon happening called absent grandparents about how boomers don’t want to spend time with their grandkids
🖤☠️MEET @corriehaldane.bsky.social, BRAVE NEW WEIRD AWARD WINNER🖤☠️ In "Hivemind", a grieving father is encouraged to share the news of his young son's death with his bees, an old tradition that initially provides comfort. But the bond he forms with his hive has unexpected consequences. ⬇️
"I asked ChatGPt-" "Oh yeah? Well I went into the woods and screamed at squirrels for similar results, shut the fuck up."
instead of watching the new harry potter trailer, why not pick up some horror books by trans and nb writers for the trans rights readathon?? there are so many good options. For example, check out some of these writers:
Beyond proud to have a story out in Saros SF Issue Five today! Very excited for my weird story about blue jays, pocket realities, and facing death to have found such a wonderful home. Snag your copy today! sarossf.com/issue-5/
Issue #5 - Saros Speculative Fiction
Edited by Ariel Marken Jack “Land of Lasts” by Theodore Hill: endlings / what are your three things? / the story is us “On the Matter of Homo sapiens” by Kel Coleman: orienteering / they made us / we ...
sarossf.com
Fusion Fragment@fusionfragment.bsky.social · 5mo agoSaros #5, ed. by @arielmarkenjack.bsky.social, has work by @probablyharmless.bsky.social @kcolemanwrites.bsky.social @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social @roberthelfst.bsky.social @spencerwriting.bsky.social @kaunvijaya.bsky.social @awritingwren.bsky.social and @improbablerex.bsky.social! sarossf.com/issue-5/
![Saros SF Issue 5 Table of Contents
Edited by Ariel Marken Jack
“Land of Lasts” by Theodore Hill
endlings / what are your three things? / the story is us
“On the Matter of Homo sapiens” by Kel Coleman
orienteering / they made us / we remake them
“Root Words” by Yasmeen Fahmy
metamorphosis / linguistic detectives / mercy, mercy, mercy
“Solitary, Not Alone” by Robert Helfst
blue jays (?) / deep breaths / follow the psychopomp
“[Redacted]” by Spencer Nitkey
erosion / you can’t tell anyone / the thing is me
“Gardenias Under a Temporal Window” by Vijayalaxmi Samal
the past is present / she can fix it / but I’m right here
“Walk With the Angels” by Wren Douglas
homecoming / the blood is the life / song and sacrifice
“This Was the Planet of Sound” by Rex Burrows
singing seas / searching shrieks / expectant hush](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rduhwyoszcdowok5bxdbh6vp/bafkreib2sh4pwztnlm6y4ajfqabzxqv5htaopmoalezmuadyypmdqpwy7u)
No exceptions. If you use Gen A I in any capacity whatsoever, you suck. Yes, the way you're using it too. You're not special. "She probably doesn't mean me" I do.
sephirAmy@sephiramy.bsky.social · last yr.I've seen some vocally anti-AI people recently make an anti-AI post and be surprised there are still pro-AI people following them, and I can explain this; most pro-AI people think they are somehow the exception. the way THEY are using it, SURELY you would take no issue! well, we do. so fuck off.
Still mad at myself for selling my ds lite and soul silver years ago. Fool decision.
Very excited and proud for my weird little blue jay story to have found such an awesome home! And beyond stoked to be TOC buds with @probablyharmless.bsky.social (finally)! March 23rd is gonna be a great day for weird #horror fiction!
Fusion Fragment@fusionfragment.bsky.social · 5mo agoWhat's better than new mag day? A dual mag day! That's right, Saros SF #5, edited by @arielmarkenjack.bsky.social, will be releasing on March 23rd alongside FF#27 and you'll be able to get both magazines in one handy download package!
![Saros SF Issue 5 Table of Contents
Edited by Ariel Marken Jack
“Land of Lasts” by Theodore Hill
endlings / what are your three things? / the story is us
“On the Matter of Homo sapiens” by Kel Coleman
orienteering / they made us / we remake them
“Root Words” by Yasmeen Fahmy
metamorphosis / linguistic detectives / mercy, mercy, mercy
“Solitary, Not Alone” by Robert Helfst
blue jays (?) / deep breaths / follow the psychopomp
“[Redacted]” by Spencer Nitkey
erosion / you can’t tell anyone / the thing is me
“Gardenias Under a Temporal Window” by Vijayalaxmi Samal
the past is present / she can fix it / but I’m right here
“Walk With the Angels” by Wren Douglas
homecoming / the blood is the life / song and sacrifice
“This Was the Planet of Sound” by Rex Burrows
singing seas / searching shrieks / expectant hush](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rduhwyoszcdowok5bxdbh6vp/bafkreiewglw2dbsufhe4yn7qi5dxesadrpx6cezbhdnv5pwjcjgbrbywau)
"The problem is not the dream. The problem is waking up." - @brianevenson.bsky.social, "Disquaire" in SALT LAKE CITY
His Dark Materials AKA "Lyra Belacqua and all her much more qualified and helpful surrogate parents."
Shout out: publisher edition! Matt Rogerson - @1428publishing.bsky.social Whisper House - @whisperhousepress.bsky.social Fraidy Cat - @fraidycatpress.bsky.social Brown Hound - @brownhoundpress.bsky.social Darkenryde - @darkenryde.bsky.social Nefarious Bat - @nefariousbatpress.bsky.social
a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it
ALT: a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it
media.tenor.com
Great reading awaits you in Fraidy Cat Quarterly!
Fraidy Cat Press@fraidycatpress.bsky.social · 5mo agoFCQ ebooks are $1 for the month of March! Get yours here: fraidy-cat-press.myshopify.com #horror #ebooks #sale #cosmichorror #horrorlit #indie #smallpress #discount #stuffyourkindle #fyp #fcq #fraidycat
Is there a technology the left is excited about?" It's called the clamshell e-reader from It Follows, and I've been waiting for it since 2014
From now through March 1st you can save 14% on all Fraidy Cat Quarterly single volumes and ebooks when you buy direct! fraidy-cat-press.myshopify.com And we have some awesome new handmade bookmark designs too! #horrorlit #sale #amreading #horror #ebook #2026readingchallenge #indie #cosmichorror
It seems like editors missed the memo yesterday, but I was looking forward to 1+ acceptances for my birthday. Luckily for y’all, belated wishes and gifts are always appreciated too! #author #wishfulthinking #birthdaywish #horrorlit #shortstory #horror
This, and I'm not sorry about it. Not only is all this true, using them indicates to me that you are also a lazy, uncreative human being who can't be bothered with/won't admit these truths enough to stop, so you're also a cheating, selfish little turd
Brandy Schillace@bschillace.brandyschillace.com · 6mo agoIf you use generative AI, we simply cannot be friends. I’m sorry, but it is a horrid, thieving thing that floods the channels and pushes real effort to sideline, steals from artists and authors to make crap, and eats through resources at the same time: burning a rainforest to make a cheap match.
Send me your creepy and unsettling stories and art!
Fraidy Cat Press@fraidycatpress.bsky.social · 6mo agoPssst: we’re open to submissions of horror fiction, interior art, and full color cover art AND WE’RE PAYING MORE NOW. Guidelines here: fraidycatpress.com/submission-g... #horrorlit #cosmic #horror #indie #shortstory #novelette #magazine #art #illustration
I'm hardly the first person to note this, but it's enormously instructive that our President and his followers saw the message "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE" and understood it, correctly, as an attack on them
Miller@milleryoho.bsky.social · 6mo agoWhat a moment.
amber glenn even putting her skates on the ice when people from her own country hate her and wish death and harm on her is strength most of us could never dream of. respect her or shut the entire fuck up. #MilanoCortina2026
Recent Jeopardy contestant shared that she sings “Defying Gravity” and other show tunes while riding roller coasters to overcome her fear, thereby ensuring that NOBODY has a good time on the roller coaster. Supervillain behavior.
bugs bunny from looney tunes is making a funny face with his mouth open .
ALT: bugs bunny from looney tunes is making a funny face with his mouth open .
media.tenor.com
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 6mo agoDr Oz: "If we could get the average American to start working a year earlier, right out of high school, or a year later -- not retire -- or work better during their lifetime because they're healthy, it would generate about $3 trillion to the US economy. That would more than remove the debt."
Nothing like a thank-you-for-your-kind-messages post from a disgraced piece of shit with the comments turned off to make you say OH YEAH BABY COMEBACK TOUR IS GOING GREAT
Marty Cahill@mcflycahill90.bsky.social · 6mo agoICYMI, Gai*man is slinking out of the shadows and posting again, trying to scuttle his way back into the public's good graces. Please take care of yourselves, believe women, believe survivors, and fuck that guy.
Neil Gaiman's writing meant a lot to me as a young man. His stories helped me through very rough times. I tossed out every book of his I owned when the news broke. Without hesitation. Don't allow this self-rehabilitation tour to take. Block him. Make him one of the most-blocked accounts here.
ICYMI, Gai*man is slinking out of the shadows and posting again, trying to scuttle his way back into the public's good graces. Please take care of yourselves, believe women, believe survivors, and fuck that guy.
Really looking forward to reading great words and admiring great artwork when we open!
Fraidy Cat Press@fraidycatpress.bsky.social · 6mo agoBig news: we're reopening to submissions on 2/16 on a rolling basis! Highlights: increased pay per word! Longer word count limits! Higher pay for interior art! New cover art submissions! Full details: fraidycatpress.com/submission-g... #callforsubmissions #horrorlit #fiction #art #shortstory