Paul E Cooley’s “The Black”

Something old, something ancient, something alien has lived on our world for countless millennia. A life-form that defies biology, chemistry, and physics. A creature capable of changing shape at will and able to rapidly consume material.

Now it’s been unleashed on humanity.

“The Black” series chronicles the discovery of something that should not exist in our reality and its resulting rampage across the biomes.

And it all begins with a trench named “M2..”

The Black (2nd Edition)

Under 30,000 feet of water, the exploration rig Leaguer has discovered an oil field larger than Saudi Arabia, with oil so sweet and pure, nations would go to war for the rights to it. But as the team starts drilling exploration well after exploration well in their race to claim the sweet crude, a deep rumbling beneath the ocean floor shakes them all to their core. Something has been living in the oil and it’s about to give birth to the greatest threat humanity has ever seen.

eBook
Audiobook
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The Black: Arrival (2nd Edition) (4th q 2022)

Coming soon…

The Black: Outbreak (2nd Edition) (1st q 2023)

TBD

The Black: Evolution (2nd q 2023)

TBD

The Black: Oceania (3rd q 2023)

TBD

The Black: Extinction (1st q 2024)

TBD

57 thoughts on “Paul E Cooley’s “The Black””

  1. Thank you for uploading. You are an amazing artist I hope you never stop and sell enough and more than enough so you can write full time.

  2. Am really enjoying The Black, which I listen to while walking my husky through the hills of the Galilee where I live.
    Am amazed at the technical detail of how an exploratory deep water rig works, and the characterization of the types of people who work on them. Did you work on one – or is it the result of a lot of in-depth research? I assume that your descriptions are correct since I don’t see any criticism on this site!

    1. Thanks for the kind words and I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I’ve actually never been on an oil rig. However, living in Houston for most of my life, I know quite a few people who have. In addition, I’ve written software for a lot of oil companies during my career. In the process, you learn quite a few things. But most of the actual detail came from watching youtube videos of rig life, reading a ton of industry papers, and talking to my father (the chemical engineer).
      I had to fudge a few things here and there, but for the most part, no one has screamed bloody murder. 🙂

  3. PS Thanks a lot for your hard work and sharing you talents with us via this podcast! Glad to hear that I may not have long to wait after this one ends and the next starts.

      1. Am looking forward – actually “listening forward” 😉 – to the Q&A show.
        You asked for questions – I’d appreciate if you could elaborate on my above questions above by perhaps giving more factual technical detail about rigs that are applicable to the story. For example, the use of “Catfish’s” submersibles and how advanced they truly are nowadays; geological lab work done on core samples and returning mud; etc.
        THANKS!!

  4. Come & Listen to my story ’bout Robot #5,
    A poor AUV barely keeping itself alive,
    And then one day, it was shootin at the sea,
    When up from the ground popped up an anomoly.
    Oil it wasn’t. Not sure what it was. But it sure wasn’t oil.

  5. Oops Left my comment for the Black on the comments for the Graveyard. Here I go again. Great book, great plot, super narration. Your writing style is polished. Made donation through paypal, shows up as Anita Brown. As a whiskey drinker myself, I can think of no better use of the 20 bucks than being used to buy booze.

      1. My tastes are more plebeian (ie white trashy). I enjoy copious amounts of Southern Comfort along with Sody (ie carbonated beverage)

  6. Hey Paul
    I purchased your audiobook and dying to listen to it but it list it as sale pending. Who do I contact for help. Thanks

        1. Very welcome. Again, if you EVER have problems with my store, please let me know. In addition to patron services such as killing them off, we enjoy providing fiendishly prompt customer service. 🙂

  7. Paul Cooley
    You have officially made a lifetime fan. Bought both the Black and the Black Arrival and could not/would not put them down. The best deep sea/horror books I have read in a long time. I will continue to follow your work and I am hoping for even more. So glad I found your site so I could tell you personally how much of an awesome writer you are.
    Thanks
    Marcus

  8. Hi Paul,
    David of March 28 and May 3 comments above, calling once more.
    MAZAL TOV on getting the Parsec! You are in excellent company and deserve to be proud!
    You may have answered this question before, but I missed it – approximately how many episodes will there be of “Arrival” and will we have the thrill of hearing “Outbreak” start right after it ends, just like it started after the Black – that would be AWESOME.
    Again -really enjoying the book – a great break from the news analysis and other such stuff I normally listen too, and the in-depth historical analysis that is now making up my reading list. I so look forward to walking my husky Saturday morning when The Black drops (thanks to the time difference between Houston and the Holy Land).
    May you go from success to success!
    David

    1. Thanks for the congrats, mate. Appreciate it. Arrival should weigh in somewhere between 27-31 episodes. I’m having to adjust on the fly for episodes that end up being too long or too short. So things kind of move around a little bit.
      Not sure when Outbreak will hit the podcast. Due to life, the universe, and everything, I’m a bit behind on getting the book written. Something I’m attempting to rectify. My hope is that we’ll have Outbreak in the feed no later than February. Sooner if we can make that happen.
      Thanks again for the best wishes.

  9. I just discovered The Black and Black Arrival on podcast and I loved them! Your introductions to the episodes give a glimpse into your world. Hearing you talk about your writing made your work all the more enjoyable. Thank you for the great books. I look forward to checking out more of your writing and will definitely make some purchases in the near future.

  10. I just blitzed through the Black Trilogy, loved it. Just the kind of horror I dig, the more unknowable and unnameable the better.
    That being said, I cant wait to explore the monster’s origins in Evolution.
    Keep it up Mr. Cooley, I like where your head is at.

    1. Glad you enjoyed the first 3 The Black books. I will probably get back to work on the fourth installment, The Black: Evolution later this year. At present, I’m working on the second book in the Derelict saga. If you enjoyed The Black, you might like that too. Especially when the second volume comes out later this year.

  11. Thank you, I’m so sad to be finishing the Black series. I’m now definitely going to look ohinto other work you have done!

      1. This is great news….first time reader of your books and really enjoyed Black 1 & 2. Starting #3 today – happy to learn of more on the way. I will let my friends/family know there are more to come in the series.
        Thanks!
        Tom

  12. Just finished the three Black audiobooks in a week – so pleased that there is going to be another. Brilliant writing and great characters. You have a new fan in the far North East of Iceland. Thank you fir writing and sharing your wonderful talent.

  13. Hello,
    My friend Ruth introduced me to your work last year. I have read the Derelict Series and the Black series. I have enjoyed them immensely and recommended them to my daughter. i am very excited to read the next books in those series. I also met Scott Sigler last year, interestingly we ended up talking about you. You are an inspiration and should I ever have the opportunity or desire to write a story I hope it is as entertaining, attention grabbing, and exciting as what you do. Thank you very much for sharing your craft with the world.

  14. Hi Paul love your books. I purchased your audio book The Black: Evolution at shadowpublications.com, but it’s not showing up. I’m very excited to finish this series. If you could help me out, I would very much appreciate it. 😊

  15. mr cooley, just how truly kewl you are is beyond measure. i have enjoyed all of your series so far and look forward to more nightmares and strange dreams fueled by your genius. i will continue to support you as best i can on my income.
    may your income increase
    can’t wait for more Derelect & Black

  16. That was an amazing trilogy!
    I’ve always struggled on deciding what audio/ebooks to try, so glad I took the chance on this!
    Looking forward to getting to the 4th one now!

  17. So. I was just sitting here after the last month of finishing the first three installations of your imagination that’s birthed a mutant out of THEM! and The Matrix with a little sciency Stephen crackles a king Beetlachnid phobia for filler.

    And as it is now June something if this year, I went looking for the Evolution update in full because how many months really can you call a quarter?

    I’m drumming my fingers and have already driving to Houston once this month, so if you have a copy handy that was maybe an early revision for your Dad to approve I could pick it up posthaste.

    Needless to say, I need to know what happens next and why this creature could happen at all and which crew reigns supreme in survival over the others with all their similar disparities of character and purpose.

    Fingers busy, breath held, and my demise or deliveremce balanced and bated upon your ability to provide more story, sir…

    😉

    1. Howdy. Unfortunately, production snags coupled with real life have put the schedules into a dismal spin of dismay and delay. I’m hoping for a q4 release, but even that’s suspect at this point. However, thank you for checking in and glad you’re salivating for the next book in the series.
      Cheers.

  18. Hi Paul,

    I’m trying to figure out all the podcasts you’ve done and in which order. I’ve really enjoyed listening to what I’ve listened to so far but want more. So far I’ve listened to.

    Derelict – Marines
    Derelict – Tomb
    Derelict – Destruction
    Derelict – Trident
    Fathom

    Any help as to what other podcasts you’ve done and where I could listen to them would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Bill

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