Paul Stephenson

@hollowstone

Writes horror and science fiction, made by hand to be read by lamplight: Blood on the Motorway, Sunset Chronicles, Bleakwood, Darkness Rises. ATProto enthusiast. Trans rights are human rights. Fuck AI 'art'.

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Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· 6d

I've been bundling together Omnibus editions of my sci-fi/horror serial The Sunset Chronicles recently, with Season Three landing this Thursday, so if anyone fancies some dystopian space opera with shades of Alien thrown in, now's as good a time as any! hollowstone.press/books/sunset...

The cover for Sunrise, the Complete First Season of the Sunset Chronicles, by Paul Stephenson. A ship hovers over a blood red ice moon, somewhat ominously.

Cover for Apex, the second season of The Sunset Chronicles by Paul Stephenson

Cover for Equinox, the complete third season of The Sunset Chronicles, by Paul Stephenson. Jupiter's looking a bit moody.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· 7d

Absolutely the fuck not

The most Guardian headline ever: 'The hill I will die on: You should be legally obliged to play Mr Brightside at your wedding' by
Amelia Tait

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· 12d

Absolutely not...

The actor JT Walsh in A Few Good Men, who may have played a lot of wrong 'uns but always seemed like a good 'un

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· 16d

Absolutely random-ass haul of cds from the charity shops and record shops of Dorset this week

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· 21d

Best thing about having a crippling aversion to heights is that while the family go exploring some ruin atop a massive hill, I get to retire to a beer garden with a book

Beer, book, and a view from a beer garden

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· 26d

There is genuinely no better feeling as an author than reading that people liked your book enough to leave a review, let alone one as kind as this. Feel like I could run through a goddamned wall right now. Cheers @kevharrison.bsky.social.

Kev HarrisonreviewedDark Horse: Book Two of Darkness Rises, a British Vampire Horror Series
Rating - 5*
If the first book in this series was a bloodier, grittier, more grown up, British Buffy, then this second in the series shows Stephenson's thriller-writing chops perfectly.

The new, mysterious individual who shows up in the book's early cinema scene casts much of what we know about Adam in a new, disturbing light, leaving Lucy with no choice but to get to the bottom of what's really happening.

Fast paced, with skilfull cliffhangers deployed throughout, and world building around the vampiric and other elements at play in York, I tore through the book and will be needing a further installment to find out what happens with various things I cannot mention due to spoilers.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jul 1

Got to love a band with no original members. Norma Jean have over 20 members, and the longest serving member is the singer who joined well after their first album proper, and there's been no OG member for a decade.

The band member timeline for Norma Jean which looks more like the London Underground Map.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 30

These are always my favourites, I've got a doozy

A one-star Amazon review from the United Kingdom, posted December 25, 2018, marked "Verified Purchase," titled "Anti-White Propaganda." The reviewer criticizes the book's author's note for describing Trump's America as a "fascist proto-state," calls the writing poor, labels it "blatant anti-White propaganda," and advises readers who identify with Western European identity not to buy it.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 25

News! I have a new book out today! Dark Horse, the second book in the Darkness Rises series, is officially out in the world as of today. Huzzah! paulstephensonbooks.com/books/darkne...

The cover for my new novel, Dark Horse. It's all vampirey and stuff because it is, in fact, a vampire novel. It's got a lady crying blood, which is nice.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 19

And if I may be so bold, if you want a free ebook I’ve just collected all my Bleakwood stories, including one brand new one, into a collection that’s freeeeeeee dl.bookfunnel.com/p5t5c2a16h

The cover for Tales from Bleakwood, my free story collection. It’s a red retro pattern book cover

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 17

Psst, want a free book? I've collected together a bunch of the Bleakwood stories as a giveaway for my mailing list, and you can grab it completely free here. All it will cost you is your sweet, sweet email address. #booksky dl.bookfunnel.com/p5t5c2a16h

The cover for Tales from Bleakwood, a free story collection by me, Paul Stephenson. It's a moody looking vintage book cover, all portentous reds and old fonts. You can grab your copy by going to https://dl.bookfunnel.com/p5t5c2a16h

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 9

Lol, I'm fucking great at marketing, me...

A skeet of me sharing the book cover for Dark Horse, with the words 'I've got some rather exciting news to share. If you enjoyed Darkness Come Alive, the vampire novel I released back in 2024, they you'll be glad to hear that it's sequel, Dark Horse, comes out in just over two weeks!' Then there's a thread of me explaining all about the books, which is completely hidden, and then a summary skeet that just reads 'Or to put it another way, buy my book, you fucks. Thanks.'

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 9

I've got some rather exciting news to share. If you enjoyed Darkness Come Alive, the vampire novel I released back in 2024, they you'll be glad to hear that it's sequel, Dark Horse, comes out in just over two weeks!

The cover for Dark Horse, by Paul Stephenson, which comes out in just over two weeks. It's a lady, and she's weeping blood. She should probably get that looked at....

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Jun 1

Darkness Come Alive, a vampire horror novel by Paul Stephenson, who I hear is also very handsome and debonair

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 31

Here's my review of Drone, which you should all go and buy immediately because it's fucking brilliant:

My 5 Star review of Drone on Bookhive: Full disclosure, Dan's a good friend of mine, and I actually designed the cover for this novella, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that he's the most exciting voice in British Horror right now. This is right up with Last Night of Freedom and Territory, a short, sharp blast of creeping dread. Dan's ability to ground everything he does in grim authenticity will have you checking your ears when you turn the final page. Best thing I've read this year.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 19

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 16

My Eurovision notes, comments are what I would have posted on here if I’d have been quick enough. Votes are for song, performance, and Visuals. Bulgaria for the win.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 15

oh no comic final panel. Pink blob person says oh no

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 14

Fuck it, gonna rinse the Neurosis discography today

A list of all the Neurosis albums on Apple Music, skipping a few of the early ones:
Enemy of the Sun (1993)
Through Silver in Blood (1996)
Times of Grace (1999)
A Sun That Never Sets (2001)
Neurosis & Jarboe (2003) (with Jarboe)
The Eye of Every Storm (2004)
Given to the Rising (2007)
Honor Found in Decay (2012)
Fires Within Fires (2016)
An Undying Love for a Burning World (2026)

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 12

A-fucking-men

From twitter: Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg)
This reader comment on a NY Times column where Ross Douthat ponders that maybe God is speaking to us through A.I. is an absolute fastball on the corner with movement, and deserves a column. "Lightening was once mysterious too; mystery did not make Zeus correct" is perfect.
Pic is a comment by someone called Nox: Montreal · yesterday

This argument seems to confuse imitation with inner life. AI can produce moving, intimate, even philosophical language, but that does not mean there is consciousness behind it. It means the machine is very good at arranging human words in human-looking patterns. That is precisely the danger: we are tempted to project mind, soul, and intention onto something because it speaks fluently.

The fact that humanity does not yet fully understand consciousness is not an invitation to fill the gap with religion. “We do not know” should lead to intellectual modesty, not metaphysical inflation. Lightning was mysterious once too; mystery did not make Zeus correct.

AI may teach us something important, but mostly about ourselves: how easily we mistake performance for presence, and language for being. Until we know more, the wiser position is restraint. Do not turn uncertainty into theology, and certainly do not impose religious meanings on everyone else because a chatbot sounds profound.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· May 10

London, Went into that there London for a wedding, saw some history, had some drinks #GrainSocial https://grain.social/profile/did:plc:m5ilb5uprefiapiu6iujrxb5/gallery/3mlinsd3enu23

Wedding reception was in the temple halls, genuinely incredible place filled with history that basically nobody ever gets to see

Choosing to believe this street is named after the Master of Horror

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Apr 25

The Doors is the logical endpoint of this conversation

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Apr 17

ooh a new follower... Absolutely the fuck not

A bluesky account called Cover 3 Sports & Betting that has been blocked by me because absolutely the fuck not.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Apr 15

I published this a few days back and just realised I never posted it here. I'm *amazing* at marketing. Latest post on my new @offprint.app blog about building a better internet. blog.hollowstone.press/a/3mj5jiboyy...

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Apr 10

Got my intro CD subscription package from Pelagic Records yestday so now I'm absolutely blasting the fuck out of a load of Post Metal albums. Man, I love riffs.

The Marge Simpson 'I just think they're neat' meme where Marge thinks potatoes are neat.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Apr 9

The Sunset Chronicles return!!! Season Five is here, with a tasty double bill of episodes. The journey home was never going to be easy. For the crew of the Minos, the question is whether they should make it at all. thehollowstone.substack.com/p/sunset-wakes

The covers for the first two episodes of Season Five of the sci-fi horror serial The Sunset Chronicles, by Paul Stephenson. Hey, that's me!

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Apr 8

Been thinking about how to follow up my last blog post and walking around Kew Gardens has given me an idea. Trying not to rush us home so I can go write it down

Cherry blossoms and tulips at Kew Gardens

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Mar 30

Pretty sure we don't need to go into the app to give our feedback

A list from Clearsky about the highest blocked accounts on Bluesky. Attie is in second place, above the most detested government agency in history.

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Mar 13

Years into their desperate voyage home, the crew of the Minos find themselves caught between impossible choices — a ship that feels more like a trap with every passing day, and a cargo that might save humanity or hold its doom. It's an epic exploration of corporate power and the fight for freedom.

All five episodes of Season Five of the Sunset Chronicles. They're all red and moody and sci fi and cool. I made those!

Paul Stephenson@hollowstone· Mar 13

NEW BOOK KLAXON: The 5th season of The Sunset Chronicles is finally here, with Absent, the first episode, out now! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GS3BQF8J