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Liminal Spaces: Ten Strange Tales
Liminal spaces - the places where the boundaries between worlds are thin, and anything can happen.
Ranging from horror to science-fiction and fantasy, this book of strange and supernatural tales will take you down maze-like forest trails and into malevolent haunted houses, to virtual cities and the castles of unearthly kings.
In "October Houses," four friends find their lives imperiled and their relationships tested when they venture into a haunted attraction that proves far more real than anticipated. In "Lost and Found," a man's search for his missing sister leads him to confront both past traumas and a sinister inhuman force lurking in the woods. And in "Legacy Contact," a grieving college student finds that their deceased boyfriend lives on in the digital footprint he left behind - and he's trying to communicate. In these stories and more, readers of all stripes will find worlds and tales to thrill and entertain them as they take a guided tour of the strangest and most powerful liminal space of all - the imagination. Stories Plus a bonus excerpt from the upcoming vampire novel Brand New Night. Cover illustration by Jackie Reynolds (jackiereynolds.ca).
Ranging from horror to science-fiction and fantasy, this book of strange and supernatural tales will take you down maze-like forest trails and into malevolent haunted houses, to virtual cities and the castles of unearthly kings.
In "October Houses," four friends find their lives imperiled and their relationships tested when they venture into a haunted attraction that proves far more real than anticipated. In "Lost and Found," a man's search for his missing sister leads him to confront both past traumas and a sinister inhuman force lurking in the woods. And in "Legacy Contact," a grieving college student finds that their deceased boyfriend lives on in the digital footprint he left behind - and he's trying to communicate. In these stories and more, readers of all stripes will find worlds and tales to thrill and entertain them as they take a guided tour of the strangest and most powerful liminal space of all - the imagination. Stories Plus a bonus excerpt from the upcoming vampire novel Brand New Night. Cover illustration by Jackie Reynolds (jackiereynolds.ca).
- GenresFiction
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2018
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2018
Impressed with Liminal Spaces: Ten Strange Tales, Nathan Spain’s new collection of short stories. Spain is a fine storyteller, and each tale is unique. Well Wishes, the lead story, is a classic tale of horror in the wilderness. Spain shows his feel for the deep forests and wild spaces of his native Pacific Northwest.
October House was one of my favorites. Starts as a classic haunted house story, and
takes us into the dark spaces that reside within us. Spain has a background in film-making, and we see his cinematic influences here. But he breaks the bounds of the usual horror/slasher genre to delve deeper into his characters – with chilling results.
Spain takes us on through science fiction, in Infinite Frontier; a not-so-classic ghost story, in Vacant Property; fantasy, in Daughter of Crows; magical realism, in The Fate Maker; horror, in The Music on the Phone; and surrealism, in Weirdtail. In other words, there’s a little something for everyone.
Throughout, Spain gleefully steals from movies, pop culture, and classic horror. Look for Spain’s take on the Blair Witch mysterious-video-found-in-the-woods theme, in Lost and Found; and his laughing-out-loud homage to the Night Vale pod-cast series in Weirdtail – you’ll never look at Walmart quite the same way! Spain gives us his own insights at the beginning and end of each stories. Lighthearted for the most part, they also reveal his insights into the human character, and give the stories a personal feel. I almost want to sub-title the series Nathan Spain’s Night Gallery.
Spain can also get real. The last tale, Legacy Contact, should better be sub-titled Love in the Age of Facebook. It breaks the bounds of the traditional ghost tale; and shows us a story of love and loss in the modern age that is truly touching.
I want to be upfront though, about the book’s flaws. Spain can sometimes fall into the classic trap of the inexperienced writer, telling us instead of showing us, explaining instead of letting us figure things out for ourselves. For example, in Infinite Frontier, the writer gives away the secret too soon, marring an otherwise fine SF yarn. It’s a bit like seeing a nervous sales clerk trying too hard to make a sale. But the point is – Spain’s work speaks for itself. His prose is clean and straightforward, his plotting and pacing are good, and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Now he needs to trust his own ability to set the scene, weave the spell, and (at times) scare the crap out of us. Recommended.
October House was one of my favorites. Starts as a classic haunted house story, and
takes us into the dark spaces that reside within us. Spain has a background in film-making, and we see his cinematic influences here. But he breaks the bounds of the usual horror/slasher genre to delve deeper into his characters – with chilling results.
Spain takes us on through science fiction, in Infinite Frontier; a not-so-classic ghost story, in Vacant Property; fantasy, in Daughter of Crows; magical realism, in The Fate Maker; horror, in The Music on the Phone; and surrealism, in Weirdtail. In other words, there’s a little something for everyone.
Throughout, Spain gleefully steals from movies, pop culture, and classic horror. Look for Spain’s take on the Blair Witch mysterious-video-found-in-the-woods theme, in Lost and Found; and his laughing-out-loud homage to the Night Vale pod-cast series in Weirdtail – you’ll never look at Walmart quite the same way! Spain gives us his own insights at the beginning and end of each stories. Lighthearted for the most part, they also reveal his insights into the human character, and give the stories a personal feel. I almost want to sub-title the series Nathan Spain’s Night Gallery.
Spain can also get real. The last tale, Legacy Contact, should better be sub-titled Love in the Age of Facebook. It breaks the bounds of the traditional ghost tale; and shows us a story of love and loss in the modern age that is truly touching.
I want to be upfront though, about the book’s flaws. Spain can sometimes fall into the classic trap of the inexperienced writer, telling us instead of showing us, explaining instead of letting us figure things out for ourselves. For example, in Infinite Frontier, the writer gives away the secret too soon, marring an otherwise fine SF yarn. It’s a bit like seeing a nervous sales clerk trying too hard to make a sale. But the point is – Spain’s work speaks for itself. His prose is clean and straightforward, his plotting and pacing are good, and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Now he needs to trust his own ability to set the scene, weave the spell, and (at times) scare the crap out of us. Recommended.
November 1, 2018
Nathan is a friend of a friend and I'm really relieved to say that he's a great writer. Folks who have been in the industry (not to mention the horror movie business) could learn a thing or two from him. I know I'll be taking inspiration from this collection myself.
These stories are full of familar terrors and tropes, but in a fresh way - it doesn't feel like rehashing the same thing over and over again, but rather a sense of deja-vu, in a very good way. Nathan really did catch the sensation of a liminal space here; it feels true to life and not, expected and unexpected.
The only downside so far is a few editing mistakes that were left in the print edition - some name inconsistencies in character names and some typos. Super minor since it doesn't drag you out of the story too badly.
If you like horror, give this a read!
These stories are full of familar terrors and tropes, but in a fresh way - it doesn't feel like rehashing the same thing over and over again, but rather a sense of deja-vu, in a very good way. Nathan really did catch the sensation of a liminal space here; it feels true to life and not, expected and unexpected.
The only downside so far is a few editing mistakes that were left in the print edition - some name inconsistencies in character names and some typos. Super minor since it doesn't drag you out of the story too badly.
If you like horror, give this a read!
February 19, 2018
Wonderful first work
I have been looking forward to Nathan's first work and it was all I'd hoped for and more. Great character development, fun and compelling stories, and nightmare inducing imagination. Be warned, some of these should not be read before going to sleep!
I have been looking forward to Nathan's first work and it was all I'd hoped for and more. Great character development, fun and compelling stories, and nightmare inducing imagination. Be warned, some of these should not be read before going to sleep!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews