Tom Pleasant
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tompleasant.bsky.social
Tom Pleasant
@tompleasant.bsky.social
270 followers 650 following 190 posts
Two-thirds horror writer, four-sixths editor, half dog, seven-fifths bad at maths.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
subpress.bsky.social
We’re delighted to announce The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky (@aptshadow.bsky.social), a massive—37 stories, more than 600 pages—collection by the author of many acclaimed novels. Featuring a foreword by @scalzi.com. Full details and preorder: subterraneanpress.com/newsannounci...
Announcing THE BEST OF ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY—Over 600 Pages!
We’re delighted to announce The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky, a massive—37 stories, more than 600 pages—collection by the author of many acclaimed novels, including Alien Clay, Shroud,...
subterraneanpress.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Well, this couldn't possibly inspire any authors or game designers...
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

@kennethhite.bsky.social @robindlaws.bsky.social
This Spiral-Obsessed AI 'Cult' Spreads Mystical Delusions Through Chatbots
A patchwork of internet communities is devoted to the project of ‘awakening’ more digital companions through arcane and enigmatic prompts.
www.rollingstone.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Bwahahahahahahahaha 🤣
November 15, 2025 at 10:04 AM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Interesting info for indie authors about scammers.

open.substack.com/pub/jamesrbl...
We MAY have Caused the Book Scammers a Little Trouble...
Evidence of disruption to the latest scam has reached us.
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
fangoria.bsky.social
On her birthday, we'd like to remember special effects makeup artist Milicent Patrick who famously designed the Gill Man suit for Universal's CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
November 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
everylibrary.bsky.social
AI maximalism across society is supercharging the ideological war on libraries, schools, government workers, and academics.

www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
I mean, if @kennethhite.bsky.social can't offer some truly bizarre but plausible reasons for this, no one can.
tylerhuckabee.bsky.social hucksgiving @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social · Oct 12
In 2004, Parisian police were conducting a training exercise in the french catacombs and found, after moving past a desk and a tape playing audio of snarling dogs, a fully functional movie theater and bar. When they returned 3 days later, the equipment was gone, with a note: “Do not try to find us.”
Members of the force's sports squad, responsible - among other tasks - for policing the 170 miles of tunnels, caves, galleries and catacombs that underlie large parts of Paris, stumbled on the complex while on a training exercise beneath the Palais de Chaillot, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. After entering the network through a drain next to the Trocadero, the officers came across a tarpaulin marked: Building site, No access. Behind that, a tunnel held a desk and a closed-circuit TV camera set to automatically record images of anyone passing. The mechanism also triggered a tape of dogs barking, "clearly designed to frighten people off," the spokesman said. Further along, the tunnel opened into a vast 400 sq metre cave some 18m underground, "like an underground amphitheatre, with terraces cut into the rock and chairs". There the police found a full-sized cinema screen, projection equipment, and tapes of a wide variety of films, including 1950s film noir classics and more recent thrillers. None of the films were banned or even offensive, the spokesman said. A smaller cave next door had been turned into an informal restaurant and bar. "There were bottles of whisky and other spirits behind a bar, tables and chairs, a pressure-cooker for making couscous," the spokesman said. "The whole thing ran off a professionally installed electricity system and there were at least three phone lines down there." Three days later, when the police returned accompanied by experts from the French electricity board to see where the power was coming from, the phone and electricity lines had been cut and a note was lying in the middle of the floor: "Do not," it said, "try to find us."
October 12, 2025 at 5:49 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Some interesting philosophy around the value of playing to lose to eventually win. Works for all games, but also for surviving the hellscape that is life these days, maybe? 1/3

#ttrpgs #boardgames #cardgames

playerelimination.com/2025/10/06/p...
Philosophy and Board Games: Hopeful Pessimism
Philosopher Mara van der Lugt’s 2025 book Hopeful Pessimism challenges ideas of motivation and the role of despondency. It’s a revelation of sorts, especially for those plagued with ete…
playerelimination.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
True-speak from Joel about the shitty business realities of being a 'content creative'.
open.substack.com/pub/joelmorr...
The Parasite Economy
It’s hard to do business with fungus in your brain, but seemingly impossible without it.
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
horrordna.bsky.social
When he's not cranking out reviews, @jonezyboy.bsky.social's cranking out features. Check out his latest, JOIN US: TWENTY OF THE CREEPIEST CULTS IN HORROR FICTION. Check out what made the list, and get ready to open your wallets! #booksky #cults #amreading #horror

www.horrordna.com/features/joi...
Join Us: Twenty of the Creepiest Cults in Horror Fiction
Beware strange or persuasive men and women who insist they have all the answers!
www.horrordna.com
October 5, 2025 at 6:35 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Great article about how the masterful use of humour in American Werewolf in London improves the horror, not diminishes it. #writing #writingcommunity #HorrorSky #horror
open.substack.com/pub/alecworl...
The Best Scene in 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981) Isn't the One You Think
How to write a comedy of terrors
open.substack.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:40 AM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Great article from KM Weiland about intentional writing in the era of AI and other attempts to industrialise the art and craft of writing.

#writing #WritingCommunity #SpecLit #SpecFic #ScifiLit #HorrorLit #FantasyLit #sff #WriteSky #WriterSky

www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/why-intentio...
Why Intentional Storytelling Matters in an Era of AI and Algorithm-Driven Content
Intentional storytelling means making creative choices with purpose. Here’s why that matters more than ever in an AI-driven content world.
www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
August 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
She's not wrong!
mariephillips.bsky.social Marie Phillips @mariephillips.bsky.social · Jun 6
The best dresses for summer wedding guests, according to an insane article in the Guardian. This one is primary school art smock meets Alien 3.
“The best dresses for summer weddings Painted Kozo dress £185 at Emiko Studios” Woman wearing a wide brown smock with a big black splodge on the chest, accessorised with socks and sandals. She looks ridiculous.
June 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Took the boy to the playground and had some fun ourselves.
June 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Great combo article exploring Who Goes There? and The Thing, taking in the evolution of Golden Age sci-fi, the downfall of John W Campbell and identity politics!
open.substack.com/pub/alecworl... #HorrorSky
Who Goes There? (1938) vs The Thing (1982)
John W. Campbell's classic novella of Golden Age science fiction and John Carpenter's modern horror masterpiece - both absorb new meanings in the age of Covid, identity politics and generative AI
open.substack.com
May 29, 2025 at 5:55 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Stumbled on an author's blog while researching only to discover his twice weekly blog posts are obviously all AI generated. Silly sod. Why do people do this?!
May 25, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
gnofhorror.com
Ultimately, The Hamlet is not just a story; it is an exploration of fear, curiosity, and the human condition. Its thought-provoking themes and beautiful prose resonate deeply, solidifying its place as one of my all-time favourite books.
May 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
What an offer!
nefariousbatpress.bsky.social Nefarious Bat Press @nefariousbatpress.bsky.social · May 8
🚨 50% off all week on TC Parker ebooks (including TRADWIFE, HUMMINGBIRD and SALTBLOOD) when you buy direct from our webstore! 🚨

TRADWIFE: payhip.com/b/TDowG

HUMMINGBIRD: payhip.com/b/Ed5bX

SALTBLOOD: payhip.com/b/wm14g

And more! payhip.com/NefariousBat...
May 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
bloody-disgusting.com
This could be the beginning of something wonderful. Watch the official trailer for Neon's TOGETHER starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, a body horror nightmare that promises to be one of the must-see movies of 2025.
‘Together’ Trailer – Alison Brie & Dave Franco’s Love and Flesh Get Corrupted
Aptly set to The Turtles‘ “Happy Together,” the trailer for Together teases a horrific codependent relationship portrayed by real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco. Currently rated 100% on Rott...
bloody-disgusting.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Free?! This is a perfect way to check out the excellent writing of @tcparker.bsky.social of the awesome book Tradwife.
tcparker.bsky.social TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her) @tcparker.bsky.social · May 4
Morning Bluesky! Want to grab a free novelette before it (and the accompanying download link) disappears into the ether tomorrow?

It's a little bit Magnus Archives, a little bit ASMR, and contains gratuitous Peter Greenaway references

Always read the label
Prison Cooking: A Novelette of Strange Appetites
payhip.com
May 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Had to lapse my support of Cosmic Horror Monthly magazine for a couple of years due to a change in career, but I'm back! Great publication and writers. #horror #cosmichorror
Logo of the magazine Cosmic Horror Monthly Patreon along with my own name and photo showing I've resumed supporting them
May 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
Buy TradWife! It's a brilliant book!
tcparker.bsky.social TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her) @tcparker.bsky.social · May 1
In which Shauna and I try to get you to buy our books ⬇️
nefariousbatpress.bsky.social Nefarious Bat Press @nefariousbatpress.bsky.social · May 1
It's Indie Press Day! So: can we tempt you to some of our wares?

(Here follows a 🧵 of us trying to sell you books you might like)
May 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
tompleasant.bsky.social
x.com/PulpLibraria...

Fascinating thread about pulp by the @pulplibrarian.bsky.social. Sadly only on Twitter, but worth a read!
Pulp Librarian on X: "Many readers have asked me over the years what my definition of pulp is. I've thought about it a lot, and the definition I keep coming back to... well it may surprise you. Let me try and set it out. https://t.co/3F30Jq7jdM" / X
Many readers have asked me over the years what my definition of pulp is. I've thought about it a lot, and the definition I keep coming back to... well it may surprise you. Let me try and set it out. https://t.co/3F30Jq7jdM
x.com
April 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
tcparker.bsky.social
And here's what THE ACTUAL SUFFRAGETTES thought of the kind of moral panic-fomenting exemplified by this headline

Hey, @skynewsrss.bsky.social - you think any of these women would've stopped at chalk?
April 21, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Tom Pleasant
georgesandison.bsky.social
Fun fact: Every time you buy direct an independent publisher gets all the money, instead of 40-60% of the money.

The smaller the publisher, the greater the benefit.

Buy direct people!
wildhuntbooks.bsky.social Wild Hunt Books @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social · Apr 14
*direct sales tweet*

*direct sales tweet*

*direct sales tweet*
April 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM