The Midnight Society
@midnightpals.bsky.social
King, Lovecraft, Koontz, Poe, Barker & others telling stories round the campfire. Header by David Mumford. Three (3) x Hugo Nominee. Posts by Bitter Karella. www.midnightpals.com
It's now officially 2026, so in honor of the death of 2025 here's our annual list of some cool (new to me) horror (mostly) reading that we did this year. I'm always behind the curve, so most of these books didn't actually debut in 2025, but... well, you get the idea.
January 1, 2026 at 8:25 PM
It's now officially 2026, so in honor of the death of 2025 here's our annual list of some cool (new to me) horror (mostly) reading that we did this year. I'm always behind the curve, so most of these books didn't actually debut in 2025, but... well, you get the idea.
Reposted by The Midnight Society
Moonflow (2025) by Bitter Karella
![Fionna and Cake screenshot from episode The Bear and the Rose. Huntress Wizard and Witch Wizard are on a large branch in twisted forest, mushrooms growing around them. Witch Wizard is suspended in white vines.
Witch Wizard: [In sing song voice] You're trapped](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:v5q7qoomdtlfm6qhryhzsrjl/bafkreifpvdsjhsg5yoavpneo3qvooiut47ci5zf4malud5zyxuswyyz7aq@jpeg)
![Continuation of scene now close up on Witch Wizard looking deformed and crazed.
Witch Wizard: [in normal voice] We'll stay here and suckle on](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:v5q7qoomdtlfm6qhryhzsrjl/bafkreigsubvmj4f2la4gntscdr6usww3x4bivd7g535lsz47kn7zsv3db4@jpeg)
December 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Moonflow (2025) by Bitter Karella
Damon Knight: holy machine learning process! it seems that people don't AI slop being eligible for the nebula!
Knight: what to do?
Knight: i'll feed the question into the bat computer
Erin Underwood: never fear, erin underwood is here!
Knight: what to do?
Knight: i'll feed the question into the bat computer
Erin Underwood: never fear, erin underwood is here!
December 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Damon Knight: holy machine learning process! it seems that people don't AI slop being eligible for the nebula!
Knight: what to do?
Knight: i'll feed the question into the bat computer
Erin Underwood: never fear, erin underwood is here!
Knight: what to do?
Knight: i'll feed the question into the bat computer
Erin Underwood: never fear, erin underwood is here!
Reposted by The Midnight Society
Moonflow by @midnightpals.bsky.social
Weird in all the right ways. Queer, trippy splatterpunk. Unlike anything else I read this year.
Weird in all the right ways. Queer, trippy splatterpunk. Unlike anything else I read this year.
December 30, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Moonflow by @midnightpals.bsky.social
Weird in all the right ways. Queer, trippy splatterpunk. Unlike anything else I read this year.
Weird in all the right ways. Queer, trippy splatterpunk. Unlike anything else I read this year.
Damon Knight: hello citizens
Knight: it's me, damon knight
Knight: science fiction writer, SFWA founder, and vigilante crime fighter
Barker: yeah that scans
Poe: how do you figure that, clive?
Barker: i mean with a name like damon knight
Poe: oh yeah that makes sense
Knight: it's me, damon knight
Knight: science fiction writer, SFWA founder, and vigilante crime fighter
Barker: yeah that scans
Poe: how do you figure that, clive?
Barker: i mean with a name like damon knight
Poe: oh yeah that makes sense
December 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Damon Knight: hello citizens
Knight: it's me, damon knight
Knight: science fiction writer, SFWA founder, and vigilante crime fighter
Barker: yeah that scans
Poe: how do you figure that, clive?
Barker: i mean with a name like damon knight
Poe: oh yeah that makes sense
Knight: it's me, damon knight
Knight: science fiction writer, SFWA founder, and vigilante crime fighter
Barker: yeah that scans
Poe: how do you figure that, clive?
Barker: i mean with a name like damon knight
Poe: oh yeah that makes sense
Charles Dickens: turns out everyone really loved a Christmas carol
Dickens: this whole Christmas ghost story idea is a gold mine!
Dickens: i'm gonna write a new ghost story for EVERY Christmas!
Dickens: and each one is gonna be BIGGER than the last!
Dickens: don't believe me? just watch!
Dickens: this whole Christmas ghost story idea is a gold mine!
Dickens: i'm gonna write a new ghost story for EVERY Christmas!
Dickens: and each one is gonna be BIGGER than the last!
Dickens: don't believe me? just watch!
December 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Charles Dickens: turns out everyone really loved a Christmas carol
Dickens: this whole Christmas ghost story idea is a gold mine!
Dickens: i'm gonna write a new ghost story for EVERY Christmas!
Dickens: and each one is gonna be BIGGER than the last!
Dickens: don't believe me? just watch!
Dickens: this whole Christmas ghost story idea is a gold mine!
Dickens: i'm gonna write a new ghost story for EVERY Christmas!
Dickens: and each one is gonna be BIGGER than the last!
Dickens: don't believe me? just watch!
Charles Dickens: hey it's Christmas!
Dickens: you know what that means!
Clive Barker: Christmas was last week, man
Dickens: it means
Dickens: what?
Dickens: no no that can't be!
Dickens: you know what that means!
Clive Barker: Christmas was last week, man
Dickens: it means
Dickens: what?
Dickens: no no that can't be!
December 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Charles Dickens: hey it's Christmas!
Dickens: you know what that means!
Clive Barker: Christmas was last week, man
Dickens: it means
Dickens: what?
Dickens: no no that can't be!
Dickens: you know what that means!
Clive Barker: Christmas was last week, man
Dickens: it means
Dickens: what?
Dickens: no no that can't be!
In honor of the SFFWA stepping on a rake like a bunch of bozos who can't understand that writers might not want to embrace AI slop, enjoy this classic Midnight Pals podcast episode about how writing awards are all pretty stupid!
midnight-pals.simplecast.com/episodes/the...
midnight-pals.simplecast.com/episodes/the...
The Tale of Those Bullies at Clarion West | Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals
Those stuck-up snobs at the most privileged literary circle of all, Clarion West, have perpetrated a despicable prank on the Midnight Pals involving a paper bag full of dog poop, a match, and Steve's ...
midnight-pals.simplecast.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:33 PM
In honor of the SFFWA stepping on a rake like a bunch of bozos who can't understand that writers might not want to embrace AI slop, enjoy this classic Midnight Pals podcast episode about how writing awards are all pretty stupid!
midnight-pals.simplecast.com/episodes/the...
midnight-pals.simplecast.com/episodes/the...
[scottish castle]
JK Rowling: ugh! i'm tired of all thesssse people online making fun of my black mold!
Rowling: that'sss it!
Rowling: today isss the day that i do sssomething about it
JK Rowling: ugh! i'm tired of all thesssse people online making fun of my black mold!
Rowling: that'sss it!
Rowling: today isss the day that i do sssomething about it
December 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
[scottish castle]
JK Rowling: ugh! i'm tired of all thesssse people online making fun of my black mold!
Rowling: that'sss it!
Rowling: today isss the day that i do sssomething about it
JK Rowling: ugh! i'm tired of all thesssse people online making fun of my black mold!
Rowling: that'sss it!
Rowling: today isss the day that i do sssomething about it
The perfect holiday gift for the discerning pervert on your list. Pick up Moonflow for someone you love today!
My deranged splatterpunk horror book MOONFLOW about a trans shroom dealer getting lost in a haunted forest and running afoul of evil lesbian hippies and their bound fungus god is available for preorder!! Buy it today or look really uncool!
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bitte...
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bitte...
Moonflow
Annihilation meets Manhunt in three-time Hugo Award nominee Bitter Karella’s debut horror novel—a gloriously queer and irreverent psychedelic trip int...
www.hachettebookgroup.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The perfect holiday gift for the discerning pervert on your list. Pick up Moonflow for someone you love today!
King: you know we haven't seen JK Rowling in a while
King: is she still tweeting?
Barker: ha ha ha oh steve
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha ha
King: what's so funny?
Barker: ha ha ha!
King: c'mon i want to know the joke
King: is she still tweeting?
Barker: ha ha ha oh steve
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha ha
King: what's so funny?
Barker: ha ha ha!
King: c'mon i want to know the joke
December 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
King: you know we haven't seen JK Rowling in a while
King: is she still tweeting?
Barker: ha ha ha oh steve
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha ha
King: what's so funny?
Barker: ha ha ha!
King: c'mon i want to know the joke
King: is she still tweeting?
Barker: ha ha ha oh steve
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha
Barker: ha ha ha ha ha ha
King: what's so funny?
Barker: ha ha ha!
King: c'mon i want to know the joke
Graham Joyce: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of some kind of fairy tale
Joyce: it's about a girl who gets kidnapped by fairies
Joyce: and i know what you're thinking
Joyce: but my fairies are different
Joyce: it's about a girl who gets kidnapped by fairies
Joyce: and i know what you're thinking
Joyce: but my fairies are different
December 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Graham Joyce: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of some kind of fairy tale
Joyce: it's about a girl who gets kidnapped by fairies
Joyce: and i know what you're thinking
Joyce: but my fairies are different
Joyce: it's about a girl who gets kidnapped by fairies
Joyce: and i know what you're thinking
Joyce: but my fairies are different
Matt Maxwell: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of no tomorrows
Maxwell: it takes place back in the cool dank cyberpunk noir future of 1980s Los Angeles
Maxwell: where veteran punk rocker turned cool chick cait Macready is being cool
Maxwell: it takes place back in the cool dank cyberpunk noir future of 1980s Los Angeles
Maxwell: where veteran punk rocker turned cool chick cait Macready is being cool
December 8, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Matt Maxwell: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of no tomorrows
Maxwell: it takes place back in the cool dank cyberpunk noir future of 1980s Los Angeles
Maxwell: where veteran punk rocker turned cool chick cait Macready is being cool
Maxwell: it takes place back in the cool dank cyberpunk noir future of 1980s Los Angeles
Maxwell: where veteran punk rocker turned cool chick cait Macready is being cool
Our own Bitter Karella is part of this AMA! You should go and ask anything!
I'm participating in Orbit's New Voices AMA on reddit today, with a bunch of cool new authors! You should check it out and, as the kids say, ask us anything! www.reddit.com/user/orbitbo...
From orbitbooks's profile on Reddit: AMA: Orbit's 2025 New Voices!
Explore this post and more from orbitbooks's profile
www.reddit.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Our own Bitter Karella is part of this AMA! You should go and ask anything!
Reposted by The Midnight Society
Never believe the fuckers who say "why bother, they already won"
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Never believe the fuckers who say "why bother, they already won"
Colleen Hoover: anyway i have a fun, sassy little romance for you that i think you'll all love
Hoover: it's totally normal and NOT fucked up in any way
Poe: ok this is really not assuaging me
Barker: let it go, edgar, i'm excited for this fucked, not normal story
Barker: this is gonna be a doozy
Hoover: it's totally normal and NOT fucked up in any way
Poe: ok this is really not assuaging me
Barker: let it go, edgar, i'm excited for this fucked, not normal story
Barker: this is gonna be a doozy
December 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Colleen Hoover: anyway i have a fun, sassy little romance for you that i think you'll all love
Hoover: it's totally normal and NOT fucked up in any way
Poe: ok this is really not assuaging me
Barker: let it go, edgar, i'm excited for this fucked, not normal story
Barker: this is gonna be a doozy
Hoover: it's totally normal and NOT fucked up in any way
Poe: ok this is really not assuaging me
Barker: let it go, edgar, i'm excited for this fucked, not normal story
Barker: this is gonna be a doozy
these are some good essays 👇
Casual reminder that I tend to drop three to four essays a month over here on the patreon
www.patreon.com/posts/142280...
www.patreon.com/posts/142280...
My Beautiful Beast: Monsters, Frankenstein, and Gladys | Dorian Dawes
Get more from Dorian Dawes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:49 PM
these are some good essays 👇
Colleen Hoover: well golly
Hoover: i don't know why everyone's so scared of lil' ol' me
Hoover: i'm just a girl, after all
Hoover: just a harmless girl
Hoover: i don't know why everyone's so scared of lil' ol' me
Hoover: i'm just a girl, after all
Hoover: just a harmless girl
December 2, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Colleen Hoover: well golly
Hoover: i don't know why everyone's so scared of lil' ol' me
Hoover: i'm just a girl, after all
Hoover: just a harmless girl
Hoover: i don't know why everyone's so scared of lil' ol' me
Hoover: i'm just a girl, after all
Hoover: just a harmless girl
might be a good time to get yourself (or a loved one!) a copy of our debut horror novel MOONFLOW if you haven't yet! 🤔
Orbit’s New Voices End-of-Year sale is here!
From 12/1 to 12/15, all debut title ebooks are a mere $2.99! Get yourself a copy of Moonflow, why not, for all your holiday needs!
www.hachettebookgroup.com/orbit-books/...
From 12/1 to 12/15, all debut title ebooks are a mere $2.99! Get yourself a copy of Moonflow, why not, for all your holiday needs!
www.hachettebookgroup.com/orbit-books/...
December 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
might be a good time to get yourself (or a loved one!) a copy of our debut horror novel MOONFLOW if you haven't yet! 🤔
Nora Roberts: ah here we are
Poe: nora? aren't you usually at the romance campfire?
Roberts: yeah but i wanted to bring you a new member
Poe: a new member?
Roberts: yeah meet colleen hoover
Colleen Hoover:
Poe: oh, uh, hi
Roberts: yeah she just wasn't fitting in over there
Poe: nora? aren't you usually at the romance campfire?
Roberts: yeah but i wanted to bring you a new member
Poe: a new member?
Roberts: yeah meet colleen hoover
Colleen Hoover:
Poe: oh, uh, hi
Roberts: yeah she just wasn't fitting in over there
December 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Nora Roberts: ah here we are
Poe: nora? aren't you usually at the romance campfire?
Roberts: yeah but i wanted to bring you a new member
Poe: a new member?
Roberts: yeah meet colleen hoover
Colleen Hoover:
Poe: oh, uh, hi
Roberts: yeah she just wasn't fitting in over there
Poe: nora? aren't you usually at the romance campfire?
Roberts: yeah but i wanted to bring you a new member
Poe: a new member?
Roberts: yeah meet colleen hoover
Colleen Hoover:
Poe: oh, uh, hi
Roberts: yeah she just wasn't fitting in over there
[mysterious circle of robed figures]
JK Rowling: hello children
Rowling: i want you all to say hello to graham linehan
Rowling: he'ss jussst a normal man
Graham Linehan: [wearing tin foil hat] trans free masons run the country!
JK Rowling: hello children
Rowling: i want you all to say hello to graham linehan
Rowling: he'ss jussst a normal man
Graham Linehan: [wearing tin foil hat] trans free masons run the country!
November 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
[mysterious circle of robed figures]
JK Rowling: hello children
Rowling: i want you all to say hello to graham linehan
Rowling: he'ss jussst a normal man
Graham Linehan: [wearing tin foil hat] trans free masons run the country!
JK Rowling: hello children
Rowling: i want you all to say hello to graham linehan
Rowling: he'ss jussst a normal man
Graham Linehan: [wearing tin foil hat] trans free masons run the country!
Reposted by The Midnight Society
We’re joined by @videocrime.48minutesofdogsbarking.com of the @podcast.48minutesofdogsbarking.com and @midnightpals.bsky.social podcasts to discuss “the MAGA civil war,” MTG’s exit, goofy online reactions to Epstein, “the seditious six,” some awful news out of Texas, and Jacob’s college lore
November 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM
We’re joined by @videocrime.48minutesofdogsbarking.com of the @podcast.48minutesofdogsbarking.com and @midnightpals.bsky.social podcasts to discuss “the MAGA civil war,” MTG’s exit, goofy online reactions to Epstein, “the seditious six,” some awful news out of Texas, and Jacob’s college lore
Stephen King: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this
Elon Musk: [rising from bushes] eyyyy Stephano king
Musk: itsa me, you besta friend elon
Musk: elon musk!
Elon Musk: [rising from bushes] eyyyy Stephano king
Musk: itsa me, you besta friend elon
Musk: elon musk!
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Stephen King: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this
Elon Musk: [rising from bushes] eyyyy Stephano king
Musk: itsa me, you besta friend elon
Musk: elon musk!
Elon Musk: [rising from bushes] eyyyy Stephano king
Musk: itsa me, you besta friend elon
Musk: elon musk!
Beatrice Winifred Iker: Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, I call this the tale of the demon at the HBCU
Lovecraft: what's a HBCU
Iker: it's a historically bl
Poe: oh no don't say it in front of howard
Poe: the abbreviation will do just fine
Lovecraft: what's a HBCU
Iker: it's a historically bl
Poe: oh no don't say it in front of howard
Poe: the abbreviation will do just fine
November 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Beatrice Winifred Iker: Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, I call this the tale of the demon at the HBCU
Lovecraft: what's a HBCU
Iker: it's a historically bl
Poe: oh no don't say it in front of howard
Poe: the abbreviation will do just fine
Lovecraft: what's a HBCU
Iker: it's a historically bl
Poe: oh no don't say it in front of howard
Poe: the abbreviation will do just fine
Reposted by The Midnight Society
Today's 7 o'clock shill is our first anthology, THIS WORLD BELONGS TO US: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HORROR STORIES ABOUT BUGS. It has Cynthia Pelayo, Laurel Hightower, Kealan Patrick Burke, Paula D. Ashe, and more. Amazing cover and interior art by Jacob Blanchet.
frombeyondpress.com/books/this-w...
frombeyondpress.com/books/this-w...
November 24, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Today's 7 o'clock shill is our first anthology, THIS WORLD BELONGS TO US: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HORROR STORIES ABOUT BUGS. It has Cynthia Pelayo, Laurel Hightower, Kealan Patrick Burke, Paula D. Ashe, and more. Amazing cover and interior art by Jacob Blanchet.
frombeyondpress.com/books/this-w...
frombeyondpress.com/books/this-w...