I don’t know if this counts as cosmic horror but it sure feels like cosmic horror. Maybe, it was cause I listened to the audio, which is absolutely fantastic, and that crackly quality of it took me back to playing Bioshock. The same feeling I got walking through Rapture thinking ‘this is cool but also really creeping me out’ is what I felt with this story.
Holy shit this reminded me of the twilight zone episode where that kid is all powerful so everyone bends to his will. I’ve felt something was missing in that episode and I feel this fixes that in its storytelling and entire vibe here. Like Jared says, cosmic but also super freaky. Charming and all consuming that Benny. KILLER
At the beginning, I was hearing Oingo Boingo's song "Only a Lad", but the story morphed into a fairy tale of greed and dissolution that could be our own corrupt and consumer driven society.
You get MASSIVE bonus points for the Oingo Boingo comparison. 👏 One of my favorite bands. I totally see the connection to "Only a Lad." It may have subconsciously worked its was in. "Hey there, Johnny boy... I hope you fry!"
You're incapable of writing bad fiction, WP. It's so funny the BB crowd kept it so short and... "sweet", but it's a sign of the skill you guys possess, no question. Creep in spades, a trademark WP grotesque, and flawless narration. Not to mention those last lines will be haunting me for a good while yet.
It went insane so fast it took my breath away. It's like French writer Calaferte, known for his wild depiction of working class people, had met the cosmic horror of William H. Hogson. Fascinating.
Benny! A cautionary tale, told with a casual lightheartedness that makes the damage seem even more inevitable somehow. I can't get the picture of the Blob King's body consuming the upper stories of the tower out of my head!
Good lord, will. I was so sucked into that story I had to listen to it twice, because I wanted to make sure I heard every detail. Freaking captivating. How people fall for the cult of the blob king, it felt so real to life. "Oh, that blob king," they say as the air runs out. Jesus, I'm going to be thinking of this story all day.
The cult metality sets in fast, doesn't it? One minute, they're just mild entertainment, the next they're tearing countries apart limb by limb. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one! 🫠
Thank you so much for picking up a copy of Crunk! Very cool of you. That reminds me, I need to fill my shelves with more books by Substack authors. BRB.
Oh, I definitely don't feel obligated! Sometimes I get caught up reading all these amazing Substack stories that I forget real books exist. I just picked up books by you, J Curtis, Keith Long, & Liz Zimmers. 🔥
I don’t know if this counts as cosmic horror but it sure feels like cosmic horror. Maybe, it was cause I listened to the audio, which is absolutely fantastic, and that crackly quality of it took me back to playing Bioshock. The same feeling I got walking through Rapture thinking ‘this is cool but also really creeping me out’ is what I felt with this story.
Love it! Bioshock was a great game. Glad it had you in a similiar mindset. Thanks so much for reading!
Holy shit this reminded me of the twilight zone episode where that kid is all powerful so everyone bends to his will. I’ve felt something was missing in that episode and I feel this fixes that in its storytelling and entire vibe here. Like Jared says, cosmic but also super freaky. Charming and all consuming that Benny. KILLER
Oh, nice! I love that it put you in mind of The Twilight Zone. Thank you for reading, Edward! 🍻
This guy in my apartment building keeps asking me to donate stuff for a "project". I think I know what he's up to now.
Ha! Beware! BEWARE THE BLOB KING! 😅
At the beginning, I was hearing Oingo Boingo's song "Only a Lad", but the story morphed into a fairy tale of greed and dissolution that could be our own corrupt and consumer driven society.
You get MASSIVE bonus points for the Oingo Boingo comparison. 👏 One of my favorite bands. I totally see the connection to "Only a Lad." It may have subconsciously worked its was in. "Hey there, Johnny boy... I hope you fry!"
Boingo is my favorite band of all time, and I'm so glad you've heard of them. 🤘🏼
They've been a huge influence on me! I'm a huge fan of Danny Elfman in general. Forbidden Zone sent me down a wild path creatively. 🤘
i need to understand oingo boingo...
It helps if you're totally insane.
You're incapable of writing bad fiction, WP. It's so funny the BB crowd kept it so short and... "sweet", but it's a sign of the skill you guys possess, no question. Creep in spades, a trademark WP grotesque, and flawless narration. Not to mention those last lines will be haunting me for a good while yet.
Kind of you to say, Ken! Happy you enjoyed this one. You are a fantastic writer yourself and I'm very much looking forward to reading your story. 🍻
It went insane so fast it took my breath away. It's like French writer Calaferte, known for his wild depiction of working class people, had met the cosmic horror of William H. Hogson. Fascinating.
That's a fun flavor combo! Hope you're breathing again. Thank you for reading! 🫠
Trippy
😵💫
I also liked the he was the color of Neptune line. Good punchy writing.
Thanks! I've always felt a strong connection to Neptune.
what colour ia Neptune? blue?
It's THE MOST AMAZING blue!
I always appreciate the way you use the conversational tone to lull us into a false sense of security…
You know my secret! 😆 Thanks, Tom! NO ONE IS SAFE!
Benny! A cautionary tale, told with a casual lightheartedness that makes the damage seem even more inevitable somehow. I can't get the picture of the Blob King's body consuming the upper stories of the tower out of my head!
Yes, Benny the Blob King. It happens so fast when we all allow it. 😔
I wonder who the blob king could be?
He does seem familiar, doesn't he? 😉
Just a bit!
😆
This is the kind of story I read and wish I had written. Power is often a social construct.
So kind of you to say, Hayley! This made my day. Thank you!
Good lord, will. I was so sucked into that story I had to listen to it twice, because I wanted to make sure I heard every detail. Freaking captivating. How people fall for the cult of the blob king, it felt so real to life. "Oh, that blob king," they say as the air runs out. Jesus, I'm going to be thinking of this story all day.
The cult metality sets in fast, doesn't it? One minute, they're just mild entertainment, the next they're tearing countries apart limb by limb. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one! 🫠
They'll cheer as their food, their riches, their livelihoods get stripped from them.
😭
Psychedelic, cool, surreal, and totally mad. Loved it.
Thank you so much, Evelyn! 🍻
Narrator only being born part way through is super effective. This reminds me of Meat Canyon in the best way
Ha! I wasn't familiar with Meat Canyon until now, but I'm about to go down this rabbit hole. Looks like it's my kind of weird. Thanks for reading!
'Flaccid embrace' 🤢 😭
I'm quite proud of that combo. 🤣
Skin-crawling stuff. Thank you for helping me wake up this morning. BTW, I have the brothers crunk. I am prepared! I have been primed here! 🤣
Thank you so much for picking up a copy of Crunk! Very cool of you. That reminds me, I need to fill my shelves with more books by Substack authors. BRB.
Hey, you’re under no obligation from me. I like getting the books when I can. 😊
Oh, I definitely don't feel obligated! Sometimes I get caught up reading all these amazing Substack stories that I forget real books exist. I just picked up books by you, J Curtis, Keith Long, & Liz Zimmers. 🔥
Friends don’t let friends do tower neon.
The more you know. 💫