Between Light And Shadow

by Sarah Jane Huntington

“ Clever, thought provoking, scary at times, but above all, fun. ”--Anthony Steven, author of Catechism

There’s a hidden place at the center of all things, a realm of wonder and horror. It exists outside the boundaries of imagination. You’ll need an open mind to reach the place Between Light and Shadow …

A woman dreams the future. Strange disappearances spanning decades. Curious invasions and creatures beneath the surface. A man trapped in an unknown dimension. A tourist visiting Earth and someone seeking just a little peace and quiet.

Travel to a new dimension in these tales inspired by The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits .

“ Sarah Jane Huntington is one of the more remarkable new voices in the genre… ”--James Reyome, author of Feed

“ Perfect tribute collection to The Twilight Zone! ”--Damien Casey, author of Pup

“ Thoroughly recommended. ”—David Court, author of Scenes of Mild Peril

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2021

Reviews

[James Reyome · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most glorious accidents I've had recently was when I bumped into Sarah Jane Huntington on social media. She is, I think, a lot like me: an author with a voice that is crying out to be heard. Well, I am nothing if not obliging when it comes to READING, so I obtained copies of a couple of her books, and I can tell you that she is remarkable. Her short story collections "Paint It Black" and "Iron Maidens" are terrific, and her YA novel "The Pawnbroker and the Boy" is a wonderfully fun tale in the Neil Gaiman style.

Now to "Between Light and Shadow", and from the title you might guess that this is something of a Twilight Zone pastiche. Well, it is, sort of, but to assume this is a Rod Serling knock-off would be a grave (errrr, yeah) error. Never forget that quite apart from Mr. Serling, the original episodes were written by the likes of Richard Matheson, Earl Hamner, Ray Bradbury, George Clayton Johnson ("Kick the Can"!) and my personal fave, Charles Beaumont. This is truckloads of talent we're talking about here, so if THESE are your influences...well, let's just say you've got a lot going for you.

The stories...I will only note a few here, I can go on all day with this sort of thing and you'd be bored. But DEJA-VU...this one has a bit of Donald Westlake to it, I'd swear, though as far as I know he never wrote for TZ. Great stuff though! Then we've got a feller who gets caught in a time loop in which he doesn't belong. An interesting concept, this, and handled very well. THE TOURIST GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is pretty much exactly as it's titled, but nothing Douglas Adams-y goes on here. Laklor ends up in Vegas and is shuttled about by a fella named Jim (not me, I love the desert!) and discovers all sorts of interesting and disturbing things about the planet and its denizens. Next is WRITTEN ON A SUBWAY WALL...this is a real prize, I think, with an ending that again doesn't put me in mind of TZ at all; rather, the classic X-Files episode "Soft Light". What an denouement! Sarah Jane handles this very, very well, and drew some tears from me, I freely admit.

Now, I could dig deep into this collection because there are so many gems, but I will stop with KEEPER OF THE LAKE and SUCH A PERFECT DAY, two stories that prove that Sarah Jane has become a real maestro at plucking the heartstrings. Both of these tales are lovely and perhaps a little heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful. We've all been there; some of us stay there. Read and absorb.

Anyway. Nothing in this book changes my previous assessment: Sarah Jane Huntington is one of the more remarkable new voices in the genre, and I suspect that should she want to step outside of that realm, she'd do awfully well there too. But you follow your muse, SJH. You're doing some mighty fine work, and that counts for quite a lot...in this dimension or any other. There's a signpost ahead...

[Chrisanne Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transport yourself to a new dimension!!

Once again Sarah has shared her remarkable talent in capturing the pure essence of light and dark. I grew up in the Twilight Zone and Outer Limit era and was obsessed with what lies outside of our conceived or learned perceptions. This book is masterful, moving and a surprise ending each time. I can't recommend this book enough. If you just want to escape into a realm of true imagination give this book a try. You won't be disappointed.

[Anthony Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful homage to a classic Sci-fi series

I loved this collection of Twilight Zone inspired stories. Clever, thought provoking, scary at times, but above all, fun. I could absolutely see them as part of a TV series as they perfectly fitted the genre and range of the TZ. Sarah Huntington shows here that she is a skilful exponent of mystery and science fiction. 5 stars was an easy pick.

[Lydia Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure in fairness. The author is one of my long term friends, I promised I would read her books, and this enables my honestly.
I didn't like the first story, it was OK but I felt it was slow and predictable. The rest? I couldn't read them fast enough. What strange and delightful tales they were. I was hooked. Mirror Darkly was my favourite, a lesson for us all and each story is new in concept. A marvellous book full of thought provoking stories that have a real impact on the reader.

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect tribute collection to The Twilight Zone!

[Catherine McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First a confession: I don't read sci-fi, or at least I didn't think I did until I read and enjoyed what Sarah Huntingdon has produced here. And that's because hidden among the sci-fi elements were moral messages and thought-provoking moments that demanded more than a quick read.
The introduction, complete with subheading titled: "Feel Free to Skip" made me smile and is so typical of Sarah. I had no intention of skipping either the introduction or the End Notes which state: "I like who I am, I like how I write and I like that I do not fear being me anymore." Heart-warming!
Now on to the stories...
Delivered with a Twilight Zone vibe, each story carries its own weight, and yet throughout the collection the author's voice is strong. Her style is quirky, and I like it. The more I read of her work, the more I feel I know her as a person.
Favorite stories for me were:
Deja-Vu (a 5 star read for me)
In A Tourst's Guide to the Galaxy I enjoyed reading the story from the POV of the alien.
Mirror Darkly - loved the imagery and ideas behind this one.
Holes - loved the OCD references.
The ultimate stand-out of the collection for me was Such a Perfect Day. All the stars! This one resonated on a different level, a personal level, and it certainly brought a lump to my throat. So touching! Just beautiful, and the last line had me breathing a huge sigh of emotion.

My overall rating is 4.5. Some stories were 5 star for me, but me and my dislike of sci-fi goes back a long way and it will take a lot to persuade me otherwise. That's my fault, though, not the author's.

[David Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Ray Bradbury fan (and a sucker for the Twilight Zone, especially the Rod Serling penned tales) this collection of short Twilight Zone inspired short stories is right up my street. Sarah has, in "Between Light and Shadow" conjured up a series of eclectic tales varying in theme and length, evoking that theme of unease and other worldliness from the series - with one other common theme being the sheer strength of the writing. Both "Mirror Darkly" and "Holes" are as good a work of fiction as I've read in a long time, and there's not a weak story here.

This book lingered too long on my to be read pile, but I'll ensure that nothing else from Sarah suffers the same fate. Thoroughly recommended.

[Annabelle Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is a real whackadoodle. I actually mean that as a compliment. I loved this because it was so different and it was free. I don't get the twilight zone reference, I've never seen it. One story made me double take, I had to go back and start again I was so surprised by the twist. Trapped was my favorite or Subway walls. Perfect day made me cry heaps. More than a few have dark endings and I think that's a thing she does. Kinda lures you in and punches you in words.

[Ruskoley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a chance on this book. I am having a year of reading small press, self-published, independent published things. I am glad to say, most of it has been very successful. This is a collection of thirteen stories - all somewhat of an homage to and inspired by the old Twilight Zone episodes. The formatting/editing is a tiny bit rough, but nothing that left me aghast.

The main thing that had me get this book was the very strong feeling of honesty that I got from the author when I read the intro. I like supporting authors (et al.) who are genuine and authentic and honest. I love the Twilight Zone, too... so I can appreciate anyone who wants to work in that pastiche sort of way.

Of the 13 stories, two stories really did not work for me. I disliked "Such a Perfect Day" and I think "Tourists Guide to the Galaxy" probably maybe shouldn't have been included, I guess. This latter was so very heavy-handed and negative and abrupt and I feel its been overdone by so many. It just is the thud of the book, I think.

However, all of the other stories contain the wonder, twists, entertainment, and escapism that I like to have when reading fiction. Short stories that are easily digestible, engaging, and all over the spectrum of "speculative fiction." In particular, "Written On a Subway Wall" and "Trapped" were really good. If a reader is into horror, the gruesome and twisted "Mirror Darkly" works well. And I enjoyed "Exploration for Humanity - even though it felt a wee bit too obvious.

This is a fun collection and I am glad that the author shared them with us. She was not aiming for "Greatest Stories Ever Written" - and she's honest about that. Instead, she aimed for "strong effort, fun genre, and comfortable writing." Huntington nailed it! And I am encouraged to try more of her writing.

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid there was a channel(I don’t believe it was Syfy, I didn’t have it.) that played shows like The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and Tales from the Darkside in basically a marathon style during the winter. I have always loved these shows, ESPECIALLY The Twilight Zone. The stories in Sarah Jane Huntington’s newest release “Between Light and Shadow” took me back to that time. I could feel the cold Ohio air creeping into my small bedroom while I made a fort in my closet and pulled a tv in to watch endless amounts of the show in a warm, enclosed, and small environment. I don’t know why I slept in the closet so much, no deep answer to it, insert Aubrey Plaza saying “because I like it” gif here. The stories have an opening paragraph written in the same style of voice as Rod Serling, done so well I can see his mannerisms and hear him speaking. The stories are often of a more modern scenario and have some really spectacular commentaries of our modern society. Much like The Twilight Zone these are stories about people, the things they do, the things they’ve done, and their mindsets throughout. Some are filled with a bleak commentary of our species, and others offering hope for our future. Content ranges from time travel, outer space, and some fun little creature encounters. Some of the stories feel very much like Richard Matheson, which is perfect considering his involvement in the writing of the show. If you love The Twilight Zone, if you love anthologies of weird science fiction and horror, I have to recommend what may be my new favorite collection of short stories: “Between Light and Shadow” by Sarah Jane Huntington. K thx.

[Simon Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this collection in three sittings. It was only my early starts in the morning that stopped me from devouring the whole thing in a single night.
I’m happy to report that this collection has no fillers, each of the thirteen tales on offer are wonderful reads. I love sci-fi and horror equally, so Between Light And Shadow ticks the boxes for me.

Written on a Subway Wall is just brilliant. This clever story shows us that knowing the future is nothing but a curse. This was easily one of my favourites of the book.

Now, let’s go to Mirror Darkly.
Blimey.
No spoilers from me, but let me just say this tale is body horror at its very best. Get ready to cringe.

Holes is definitely the collection's best story, in my opinion. Excellent writing and some very creepy imagery indeed. Read this and then cancel your plans for going hiking and camping.

Such a Perfect Day must get a mention for bringing a tear to my eye, twice. You’ll know what I mean once you’ve had a read.

So, on closing, I think it’s fare to say that Sarah Jane Huntington is now one of my favourite writers. Each book I’ve read of hers has impressed me, and Between Light And Shadow takes its place in my top five collections of 2021.
If you like sci-fi and horror, or are a fan of TV shows like The Twilight Zone, then you really should go grab a copy of this book.
Treat yourself and do it now!

[Sammydavids · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want too shout about this book but I don't know who too shout too. I slipped a disc in my back at work and while I was in hospital they found a tumour in my stomach. Its hard not to think about dying all the time and I've got a wife and daughter to think of. For the time I was reading this book I didn't think about being sick once because I became so involved in the book. I'm old enough to remember the twilight zone and this book is like the old episodes and not the disapointing remake they did. I could practically hear the hosts commentary at the beginning and the end. I thought the stories was remarkable and that alien coming to earth story was my favourite. Some are a bit controversial and I expected there to be hundreds of rates here and there aren't which is sad. I'm new to social media and it looks to me like independent writers all need big egos to compete with each other and that's whats missing from this lady. someone needs to pick her out from a massive crowd of wannabe writers and give her a chance because anyone who can make a man forget he's dying is the writer everyone should be reading. 5 stars because this book doesn't have swear words and if it does I didn't notice

[fred jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. A series of twilight Zone type tales using the original format with an introduction and an ending. All the stories are strange and different, with some being more to my taste than others. I loved Such a Perfect day, delightfully poignant, A Tourists guide to the Galaxy and A most curious collection both with strong messages and The Keeper of the Lake, Mirror Darkly has a dark storyline with a really graphic scene which is a bit at odds with everything else in the book. All the stories are well written and keep the theme that nothing is quite what it seems or ever simple. Benjamin Koenig does an excellent job with the narration, sometimes just a little over the top but otherwise a fine performance. I received a complimentary copy from the narrator and am leaving a honest voluntary review.

[Mark Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is the middle ground between light and shadow…”

Sarah’s homage to the Twilight Zone contains 13 tales which take the reader on a journey to that fifth dimension. Right from the get go, that familiarity from the series is captured with expertly written intros that I heard in Rod Serling’s own voice.

In her own introduction to the collection, she said that social commentary wasn’t her thing but I disagree; each story in here has something to say, which only the best horror/SF does.

It was hard to pick a favourite but I’d opt for Mirror Darkly, Such a Perfect Day (which made me cry) and Will the Real Alexander Please Stand Up.

After this intro to the author, I’m reading her entire back catalogue!

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Jane Huntington is one of my favorite horror authors and is a pro at blending horror and sci-fi. This collection is perfect for anyone who enjoyed The Twilight Zone, and each story starts with a vignette that harkens back to the show.
The Fae, Aliens, the unknown abound here. Huntington actually recommended I read a book called "Visionary" by Graham Hancock regarding the origins of human consciousness and having read this, then reading her collection, the influences are undeniable.
Read this now!

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were interesting some not so much. I always loved "The Twilight Zone" and this is reminent of them. Narrator voice has a slur to it making it difficult to understand what is being said at some parts in this book.

[Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it!

I read the introduction where they said they liked watching the twilight zone, well a couple of stories in This book would be good Twilight zone shows! There are some really good stories in this book.I enjoyed it!

[khristi campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked these stories

The stories were good and I like the twilight zone style. It was fun to read them and hear the introduction in my head in Rod Serlings voice like when I was a kid.