Under the Shelf

"Under the Shelf" is a short story by the late American author Michael Shea.
==Synopsis==
Two sisters on an expedition to explore the waters beneath an Antarctic glacier discover a hidden valley inhabited by a deadly arthropod-like creature. Although they are nearly killed by the beast, the intervention of an ancient entity which has slept beneath the waves allows them to escape.
==Characters==
*Belinda, an adventurous young woman with a desire to push the boundaries of contemporary knowledge.
*Melody, Belinda's younger sister and fellow explorer.
*Earl, the captain of the sisters transport vessel.
==Publication History==
"Under the Shelf" was first published in the Titan Books anthology The Madness of Cthulhu: Volume 1 in October 2014. It also appeared in the collection of Shea's own works, Demiurge: The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Tales of Michael Shea in December 2017.
==Trivia==
*Despite containing no direct references to either Lovecraft's works or the greater Cthulhu Mythos, Lovecraft scholar S. T. Joshi's inclusion of the work in Demiurge indicates his belief that it should be considered a part of the Mythos. Also, the concept of an ancient, unfathomable being which sleeps beneath the waves and is capable of peering into the depths of a human soul would seem to be Lovecraftian in nature.
Category:Michael Shea works
Category:Mythos-Inspired Works