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Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories
Transitions occur in a liminal space. The familiar is gone. The unknown lies ahead and with it, terrible possibilities. Award-winning author Deborah Sheldon explores liminal spaces in this collection of dark, unsettling fiction. Her characters teeter on frightening thresholds with no way back. Liminal Spaces includes Sheldon's award-nominated tales "For Weirdless Days and Weary Nights," "All the Stars in Her Eyes," and "Barralang, Pop. 63," plus original and unpublished fiction.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
254 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Sheldon
79 books278 followersI'm a multi-award-winning author and anthology editor from Melbourne, Australia. I write poems, short stories, novelettes, novellas and novels across the darker spectrum of horror, crime and noir. My latest titles are the novel Nightmare Reef and the poetry collection The Broonie and Other Dark Poems.
My award-winning titles include the novella Redhead Town and the collection Perfect Little Stitches and Other Stories. My award-nominated titles include the novels Bodily Harm, Cretaceous Canyon, Body Farm Z, Contrition and Devil Dragon; the novella Thylacines; and the collections Figments and Fragments: Dark Stories and Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories.
My short fiction has appeared in many well-respected magazines, been shortlisted for numerous awards, translated, and included in various 'best of' anthologies such as Year's Best Hardcore Horror.
I've won the Australian Shadows 'Best Edited Work' Award three times: for Midnight Echo 14, and for the anthologies I conceived and edited, Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies, and Killer Creatures Down Under: Horror Stories with Bite.
Other credits include TV scripts such as NEIGHBOURS, feature articles, non-fiction books published by Reed Books and Random House, stage plays, award-nominated poetry, and award-winning medical writing including Better Health Channel.
My award-winning titles include the novella Redhead Town and the collection Perfect Little Stitches and Other Stories. My award-nominated titles include the novels Bodily Harm, Cretaceous Canyon, Body Farm Z, Contrition and Devil Dragon; the novella Thylacines; and the collections Figments and Fragments: Dark Stories and Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories.
My short fiction has appeared in many well-respected magazines, been shortlisted for numerous awards, translated, and included in various 'best of' anthologies such as Year's Best Hardcore Horror.
I've won the Australian Shadows 'Best Edited Work' Award three times: for Midnight Echo 14, and for the anthologies I conceived and edited, Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies, and Killer Creatures Down Under: Horror Stories with Bite.
Other credits include TV scripts such as NEIGHBOURS, feature articles, non-fiction books published by Reed Books and Random House, stage plays, award-nominated poetry, and award-winning medical writing including Better Health Channel.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 25, 2022
If you have read any of Deborah Sheldon’s previous award-winning short horror fiction, you’ll love this collection. If you haven’t, Liminal Spaces is an excellent place to start. Readers will find a mix of new and previously published uncollected dark and uncanny stories that will draw you in like the proverbial moth to a flame.
The characters bring these stories to life, and the futuristic, contemporary and historical settings ground you before twisting that same ground from beneath your feet. Expect the unexpected. Occasionally there is humour, but it is black, very black. Other times you’ll be unsettled, intrigued or shocked. Whichever, you won’t be disappointed.
My favourite stories are the ironic SF horror ‘Carbon Copy Consumables’, ‘The Littlest Avian’, ‘Entombed’, the suspenseful, intriguing and horrifying ‘All the Stars in Her Eyes’, the unsettling and bone chilling ‘A Small Village in Crete’, the quietly disturbing ‘The House Across the Road’, and the bleak ‘Angel Wings’. But even as I mention these particular stories, other memorable tales like ‘Hand to Mouth’, the brutal ‘The Tea and Sugar Train’, and ‘The Coach from Castlemaine’ jump to mind.
Oftentimes, the characters (and the reader) are on the threshold of reality, trying to work out what’s real and what’s not. Sometimes neither we nor the protagonist know, and other times we all know with horrifying results. If you’re not sure about buying this book, check out the amazing cover by Luke Spooner. They say ‘never judge a book by its cover’, but I would have bought it based on the cover alone. Buy it, borrow it, steal it and read it. If you love short dark, weird, shocking tales you won’t be disappointed.
The characters bring these stories to life, and the futuristic, contemporary and historical settings ground you before twisting that same ground from beneath your feet. Expect the unexpected. Occasionally there is humour, but it is black, very black. Other times you’ll be unsettled, intrigued or shocked. Whichever, you won’t be disappointed.
My favourite stories are the ironic SF horror ‘Carbon Copy Consumables’, ‘The Littlest Avian’, ‘Entombed’, the suspenseful, intriguing and horrifying ‘All the Stars in Her Eyes’, the unsettling and bone chilling ‘A Small Village in Crete’, the quietly disturbing ‘The House Across the Road’, and the bleak ‘Angel Wings’. But even as I mention these particular stories, other memorable tales like ‘Hand to Mouth’, the brutal ‘The Tea and Sugar Train’, and ‘The Coach from Castlemaine’ jump to mind.
Oftentimes, the characters (and the reader) are on the threshold of reality, trying to work out what’s real and what’s not. Sometimes neither we nor the protagonist know, and other times we all know with horrifying results. If you’re not sure about buying this book, check out the amazing cover by Luke Spooner. They say ‘never judge a book by its cover’, but I would have bought it based on the cover alone. Buy it, borrow it, steal it and read it. If you love short dark, weird, shocking tales you won’t be disappointed.
March 3, 2022
Deborah Sheldon has done it again! Liminal Spaces is her latest collection of horror tales, several of which also fall under the umbrella of sci-fi, historical, or mythological. We have a variety of settings and characters here, from scientists in the Antarctic to backpackers in Greece and an astronaut lost in space. But Deborah's uncanny ability to put us into a character's head really shines through in her stories set in suburban and rural Australia where the familiarity of the lifestyle and turns of phrase belie the weirdness held in store. There are tales of haunted campsites, psychological disorders, suburban cults, astrological cataclysms, and you won't fail to notice the presence of terrifying animals in a number of the stories. What makes Deborah's fiction so eerie is the way we often don't know quite what happened even at the end of a story or even whether it was real or mere hallucination. She doesn't always wrap everything up with a nice little bow, instead opting for loose ends that leave the reader to fill in the blanks. Two of my favourites are the two I probably understood the least; "Molly, Dearest Molly" and "All the Stars in her Eyes". Others that stood out were the spooky "For Weirdless Days and Weary Nights", the by turns disturbing and comical "Carbon Copy Consumables", and the frightful inevitability in "The Littlest Avian". Highly recommended for fans of weird horror and a great place to start if you haven't yet read Deborah's fiction.
February 28, 2022
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed every story in this book. Of course, some resonated with me more than others, but I can say that as I looked at my notes for each story I had nothing but excited comments and positive exclamations for every piece. I appreciated the range of sizes of the stories, as well. Prior to reading this, I had read a short story and a novella by Sheldon. I am so pleased to have been able to experience this book and get a real taste of her writing style. Sheldon has a way of slipping the reader into the minds of her characters, and it's a disturbing and exciting ride. Below is a link to my spoiler free full review of this awesome short horror collection.
https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
I thoroughly enjoyed every story in this book. Of course, some resonated with me more than others, but I can say that as I looked at my notes for each story I had nothing but excited comments and positive exclamations for every piece. I appreciated the range of sizes of the stories, as well. Prior to reading this, I had read a short story and a novella by Sheldon. I am so pleased to have been able to experience this book and get a real taste of her writing style. Sheldon has a way of slipping the reader into the minds of her characters, and it's a disturbing and exciting ride. Below is a link to my spoiler free full review of this awesome short horror collection.
https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
April 5, 2022
‘Liminal Spaces’ is a wonderfully crafted collection of short prose by award winning writer Deborah Sheldon. ‘Liminal Spaces’ is filled with delicious morsels of nastiness – all richly satisfying in many perverse ways.
To be in a liminal space means to be on the precipice of something new but not quite there yet. You can be in a liminal space physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. Deborah Sheldon latest collection delivers this in spades.
The genres in the collection are diverse; inclusive of science fiction – ‘All the Stars in Her Eyes’, horror – ‘Barralang, Pop. 63’ and the deeply menacing, ‘A Small Village in Crete’.
The stories are very well researched, many based in scientific fact which I really liked.
Metaphors used are alive with imagery and the writing is very evocative. Imagery that stayed with me included the experimental astronaut floating around in his own increasing detritus, ‘Shedding’ and what would happen to the mother in ‘The Tea and Sugar Train’.
‘Liminal Spaces’ is the perfect book to have on hand to read when you are on the go and is thoroughly recommended.
To be in a liminal space means to be on the precipice of something new but not quite there yet. You can be in a liminal space physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. Deborah Sheldon latest collection delivers this in spades.
The genres in the collection are diverse; inclusive of science fiction – ‘All the Stars in Her Eyes’, horror – ‘Barralang, Pop. 63’ and the deeply menacing, ‘A Small Village in Crete’.
The stories are very well researched, many based in scientific fact which I really liked.
Metaphors used are alive with imagery and the writing is very evocative. Imagery that stayed with me included the experimental astronaut floating around in his own increasing detritus, ‘Shedding’ and what would happen to the mother in ‘The Tea and Sugar Train’.
‘Liminal Spaces’ is the perfect book to have on hand to read when you are on the go and is thoroughly recommended.
February 21, 2023
You know what the most terrifying thing about the stories in Liminal Spaces is? You think you are maybe reading slice of life stories, you get settled in and relate to the characters. You enjoy a day at the beach. You may need to relocate to a different house if things don't turn out as you planned. Maybe you are giving your child a bath and notice something you didn't notice before. These stories start off relatable and even sort of cozy. Then sh*t goes sideways. And quickly. And you are left feeling like you don't actually know what is real and what is a nightmare. These stories feel like constantly gaslighting yourself. Often ambiguous, because that is what liminal spaces are, these stories will make you uneasy, and will probably make you doubt your senses and yourself.
May 1, 2022
The stories were all very different and exciting in their own way. "The Sea Will Have" and "The Tea and Sugar Train" were a couple of my favourites, however i found all of the stories very enjoyable. The way the stories are written makes it very easy to imagine the action.
August 4, 2023
original review: https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book...
Deborah Sheldon’s Liminal Spaces offers a variety of horrors. The stories within range from flash fiction to near novella, while the tone ranges from quiet unease to ultra-gory monster violence—all wonderful stuff. When done right, I love both ends of this particular horror spectrum. And Sheldon delivers. There’s a bit of something for every horror-monger in this collection.
I’d read her previous book (Man Beast) a while back and was happy to dive into more of her work. I had a blast further exploring the horror landscape of Australia (and the Greek islands) as presented by Sheldon.
My favorites of the bunch are ‘Barralang, Pop.63’, ‘The Tea and Sugar Train’, ‘A Multitude of One’, and ‘Hand to Mouth’. These covered everything from supernatural happenings in a remote village and the reporter trapped within, to monstrous parasitic outbreaks reminiscent of The Thing, to horrifically malfunctioning prosthetic limbs. Sheldon takes these ideas and runs with them in wild directions, exploring new horrifying possibilities.
A handful of the stories didn’t quite hook me. I was able to guess where things were headed, but stayed along for the ride. A few other stories just seemed to end with no real resolution. Fine with me, but I wanted to know more. I needed just a touch more exploration of ideas. These were all still well written.
Overall, this collection is a treat, and it goes by fast, so be sure to savor each tale. I look forward to future works by Deborah Sheldon.
Deborah Sheldon’s Liminal Spaces offers a variety of horrors. The stories within range from flash fiction to near novella, while the tone ranges from quiet unease to ultra-gory monster violence—all wonderful stuff. When done right, I love both ends of this particular horror spectrum. And Sheldon delivers. There’s a bit of something for every horror-monger in this collection.
I’d read her previous book (Man Beast) a while back and was happy to dive into more of her work. I had a blast further exploring the horror landscape of Australia (and the Greek islands) as presented by Sheldon.
My favorites of the bunch are ‘Barralang, Pop.63’, ‘The Tea and Sugar Train’, ‘A Multitude of One’, and ‘Hand to Mouth’. These covered everything from supernatural happenings in a remote village and the reporter trapped within, to monstrous parasitic outbreaks reminiscent of The Thing, to horrifically malfunctioning prosthetic limbs. Sheldon takes these ideas and runs with them in wild directions, exploring new horrifying possibilities.
A handful of the stories didn’t quite hook me. I was able to guess where things were headed, but stayed along for the ride. A few other stories just seemed to end with no real resolution. Fine with me, but I wanted to know more. I needed just a touch more exploration of ideas. These were all still well written.
Overall, this collection is a treat, and it goes by fast, so be sure to savor each tale. I look forward to future works by Deborah Sheldon.
September 6, 2023
Sheldon’s stories are diverse, covering the full range of horror from the repulsive and shocking to the wildly fantastical, eliciting a sense of fear and dread in the reader. A wonderful variety of characters and settings draw in the reader, creating the prefect opportunity to be immersed in another time and place. For a variety of reasons, I was drawn into each one of these tales, but there is only one reason why I find the collection transcendental. Sheldon effortlessly articulates the human condition. Somewhere in each of these stories is the characterisation of all the essentials of human existence: life and death; bravery and fear; hope and despair; the normal and the extraordinary; strength and fragility; as well as illustrating our need to be heard, and desire to rise above the circumstances that fetter us.
As usual, Sheldon’s stories are all remarkable but, in "Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories", my particular favourites are “Barralang: pop 63” and “Carbon Copy Consumables”.
As usual, Sheldon’s stories are all remarkable but, in "Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories", my particular favourites are “Barralang: pop 63” and “Carbon Copy Consumables”.
October 26, 2025
Liminal Spaces is a collection offering a wide variety of stories, from supernatural to psychological horrors. The unifying concept, that of liminal spaces, is common to most of horror fiction in one way or another, but this particular volume contains a number of very memorable pieces. Some of my favorites include Entombed, Cast Down, Hand to Mouth, A Multitude of One, Shedding, The Tea and Sugar Train, and Hair and Teeth. Generally, I found the longer stories to be more effective than the short-shorts, but a couple of these standouts were on the shorter end. More importantly, these featured some very monstrous premises.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews