October is rapidly approaching…if you are looking for scares of the cosmic horror variety that come in easily digestible bite sized packages sure to induce those hits of existential dread you crave, then look no further. I’ve got 4 such stories out with more on the way. Check them out here: https://www.colintbates.com/books-1 Huge shout out to the amazing Steph Grossman for her wonderful edits and Michael Thompson Brown for his stellar audio performance which is coming very soon. I’ve attached a little taste to this post EXCLUSIVELY for this group and nowhere else. Have a great weekend, and never stop traversing the limits of reality and braving the unknown-able horrors that lurk beyond the veil. -CTB PS: giving away some Audio codes for my other stories to sweeten the pot. Message if you are ready to experience the madness for yourself.

Long ago, in the unfathomable benthic abyss of the early ocean floor, a fissure erupted forth that would change everything. Hot chemicals mixed with the cold seawater, forming black smokers —chimneys that spewed iron sulfide-rich concoctions continuously under extreme pressure. This near-limitless supply of chemical energy, upwelling from the fiery rage contained beneath Earth's crust, combined with various naturally produced mineral catalysts, mixed with the dichotomy of the cold marine environment. Thus was this caldron left to its own devices, allowed to bubble and mix for millions of years. At first, there was no goal, no reason, only a swirling of heat and compounds in a saline solution. Yet, from this geological anomaly came the most miraculous thing. At some point, chemistry began to extend and change. Bit by bit, piece by piece, chemical bonds chained more and more molecules together in increasingly elaborate ways. Then, it happened. Without warning, the first molecule arrived that could do what none could achieve before. It could catalyze its own formation, and thus the RNA world was born. These molecules would then begin to fold and store the information needed to change themselves; a helix of unparalleled complexity. Proto life continued to progress. Eventually, phospholipids enclosed these strange self-replicating micro machines and stabilized the environment in which they found themselves. A chemical shell had developed, one that provided enhanced protection against the elements. Thus, deep under the crashing primordial sea, the first cell came into being. Life was born, which would change the future forever. Yet a question remained. What was the goal of this so-called life? That would come later. When the spiral achieved its perfect form. An unstoppable pattern that would crawl and skitter in the darkest depths. One molded under pressure and brine; again and again, as if its wickedness was inevitable and inescapable. A haze of murk was settling on the horizon. A storm was brewing. Douglas pulled the lever on the wench, and the line whirred as it coiled tightly. He unhooked the bright orange buoy, then looked down and waited patiently for the yellow cage to emerge as it was being dredged up from below the dark waves. Noah leaned over next to the old fisherman, ready to help bring the fresh crab pot onboard.

"As I write this, I feel as if I am on the verge of total and utter annihilation. I have discovered a disturbing truth concealed within one of the most fundamental and essential principles governing science. A cornerstone of cosmology, the Copernican Principle, outlines that humanity is not "special" in its place of observation; that of our lonely little mudball of a planet. We assume we are not privileged observers, that our position in the universe represents a relative average. Yet, if we apply this principle to the order in which we are born, something troubling emerges. Why do we exist now? The thought has troubled me profoundly. If we assume there is a future, in which humanity travels and colonizes the stars, a time when there might be hundreds of billions or trillions of humans spread across the stars, why are we alive now? If our position is not a place of privilege, why have we not been born during the time of significant human expansion across the galaxy? When the average number of humans would be mindboggling in size. My mind can only go to one outcome that answers this question. This may be the time of maximum human population. And there lies a deeper, more terrifying line of thought. We have always looked up at the heavens and wondered if anyone is out there. Physicist Enrico Fermi famously asked the question, "Where are they?" which has led to a modern paradox. That being that the universe is ancient, and yet we have no conclusive proof of extraterrestrial beings. One solution is that of a great filter. That on countless worlds, other civilizations have reached the same point. Yet, they have all snuffed out the brilliant light of their own intelligence through some disaster, war, AI takeover, or encounter with great and powerful old ones. These entities can create and destroy reality at their whim, and they seek to eliminate new civilizations that may someday pose a threat to their own dominant cosmological seat of power. Something is coming. I know not what. Yet, the principle remains. In the meantime, I shall keep a vigilant eye out for anything anomalous at the edge of our solar system. Although it may already be too late."

Hello friends, hopefully you are all doing well today! I wanted to include this new discussion format for us and see if you liked it. The goal here is just to have some fun thinking about real things that have happened or are happening and what the causes could have been. Think old legends and lore, mysteries of the universe etc. I’ve thought about this dancing plague more than a few times over the years. I wonder if it’s more legend than fact, but certainly seems very cosmic horror like as a group of people driven to madness. Have you heard of it? What do you think caused it? Share your knowledge!

He is from the time before. When language and reason were but whispers in the wind, he was the one true lord of blood and violence. He still is. Bow before the Conquering of the Sun, the primeval God of Anger and War.” As October approaches, it’s never too early to start enjoying some spooky horror short stories! Check out The Trophy at https://www.colintbates.com/books-1 Or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2JLVCKB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3K41J7K9VKH4U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9-e3DA-YlHyW2nfiIC6wgg.BQxlILSntxplxNcN-CE4dHRbDYddqckvK82Z8t6w4uM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+trophy+colin+t+bates&qid=1743026640&sprefix=the+trophy+colin+t+bates%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1 Available in Paperback, Audio, and Kindle versions. Help support art and written works created by humans and not large language models or ai generated content. Your support means the world to me and allows me to keep creating content. Madison Niederhauser captures an unforgettable performance in the Audio version. I’ll be giving away some codes for the audio version of the story so comment or message to get yours before they are gone! Huge shout out to Phitoe Art on Fiverr for creating this amazing concept art from the short story (first image). Go check out more of their incredible works! Last images an art project bringing Urochok and his wicked teocalli to life with a model. Thanks for reading! I hope the existential dread hits just right! Sincerely, -CB