Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

by Shane Hawk (Editor), Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (Editor)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Packed with many authors you already love and many more you’ll be excited to meet, this anthology of dark, fantastical fiction celebrates Indigenous voices and the magnitude of their rich cultural significance.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEE FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANTHOLOGY

A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: “Are you ready to be un-settled?”

“Never failed to surprise, delight, and shock.” —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop and Little Heaven

Featuring stories by:

Norris Black • Amber Blaeser-Wardzala • Phoenix Boudreau • Cherie Dimaline • Carson Faust • Kelli Jo Ford • Kate Hart • Shane Hawk • Brandon Hobson • Darcie Little Badger • Conley Lyons • Nick Medina • Tiffany Morris • Tommy Orange • Mona Susan Power • Marcie R. Rendon • Waubgeshig Rice • Rebecca Roanhorse • Andrea L. Rogers • Morgan Talty • D.H. Trujillo • Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • Richard Van Camp • David Heska Wanbli Weiden • Royce K. Young Wolf • Mathilda Zeller

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home.

These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593468463
Publisher:	Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/19/2023
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	4,576
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

SHANE HAWK (enrolled Cheyenne-Arapaho, Hidatsa and Potawatomi descent) is a history teacher by day and a horror writer by night. He entered the horror scene with his first publication, Anoka: A Collection of Indigenous Horror, in October 2020. He lives in San Diego with his beautiful wife, Tori. Learn more by visiting shanehawk.com.

THEODORE C. VAN ALST, JR. (enrolled member, Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians) is the author of the novel Sacred Smokes, winner of the Tillie Olsen Award for Creative Writing, and Sacred City, winner of the Electa Quinney Award for Published Stories. His Pushcart-nominated fiction has been published in Southwest Review, Unnerving Magazine, Red Earth Review, The Journal of Working-Class Studies, Massachusetts Review, The Raven Chronicles, and Yellow Medicine Review, among others. He is a professor and chair of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University.

Editorial Reviews

07/31/2023

Hawk (Anoka) and Van Alst (Sacred City) present a heavy-hitting arrangement of 26 twisted tales from established and emerging Indigenous North American authors. The collection mixes hauntings (as in Mona Susan Power’s “Dead Owls”) and monsters (in Mathilda Zeller’s “Kushtuka”) from Native tradition, with the more mundane horrors of privileged white racism taken to extremes (in Amber Blaeser-Wardzala’s “Collections”), the devastating effects of abuse (in Kelli Jo Ford’s “Heart-Shaped Clock”), and a touch of satisfyingly violent revenge against mistreatment, both supernatural (in D.H. Trujillo’s “Snakes Are Born in the Dark”) and mundane (in David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s “Sundays”). Hawk’s own contribution, “Behind Colin’s Eyes,” evokes a visceral feeling of being trapped. Family stories and intergenerational relationships form a running theme, taking center stage in Morgan Talty’s “The Prepper,” while the dangerous power of storytelling itself comes to the fore in Richard Van Camp’s gripping “Scariest. Story. Ever.” Lifting up an exciting array of authors, this anthology will be a treat for horror fans. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

A revelation.”
—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“[The editors’] taste is extraordinary, and they’ve put together a wonderful book. . . . Get this book because it showcases some truly exceptional writing. If you love short fiction, you really shouldn’t miss it.”
—Arley Sorg, Lightspeed Magazine

“It’s legit. . . . You don’t want to miss this dark exploration of Indigenous traditions, themes, and characters.”
—Matthew Jackson, Paste, “25 Horror Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Fall”

“A book of tantalizing tales that stretch from the eerie to the delightfully absurd. Some sound like they were plucked from David Lynch’s own brain and others are so steeped in reality that one feels like evil doesn’t have to follow one home because it is already there. . . . An unequivocal essential for any reader who isn’t afraid of the dark.”
—Mallory Smart, Maudlin House

“Mining rich strata of poisoned history and blood-soaked land, the writers summon an exhaustive array of ghosts, wolves, Wendigo spirits, human eaters, conjure women, and petroglyphs willing to exact revenge if you scratch them with your car keys. Throughout the 26 stories, contemporary American life is a threadbare bandage soaked through with the gore of the wound it never truly covers or heals.”
—Alan Scherstuhl, Scientific American

“Editors Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. prove themselves masters of flow throughout Never Whistle at Night. . . . A first-rate anthology. . . . This is truly a special book.”
—Christopher Shultz, Lit Reactor

“Scary and unsettling and sometimes outright horrifying. . . . These stories are wildly imaginative, frightening, and fun.”
—Liberty Hardy, Book Riot

“[These stories] demonstrate the impressive breadth and depth of Indigenous horror. . . . An excellent collection of varied tales that run the gamut from vengeful to wistful to hopeful.”
—The Gothic Library

“This collection gathers together a spine-chilling range of stories from many of the most exciting Indigenous literary voices, celebrating the power of Native imagination.”
—Eliza Browning, Electric Literature

“Never Whistle at Night should not be missed by anyone who considers themselves a horror fan. . . . A dark and personal look into what fears and otherworldly powers still hold sway over the landscape.”
—Ray Palen, Bookreporter

“A satisfying mix of unsettling horror stories written by an array of notable Native authors. . . . This volume is a must . . . and will be devoured by speculative fiction fans who enjoy a sprinkle of social commentary within their scary books.”
—Verónica N. Rodríguez, Booklist (starred review)

“A heavy-hitting arrangement of 26 twisted tales from established and emerging Indigenous North American authors. . . . Lifting up an exciting array of authors, this anthology will be a treat for horror fans.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Spine-tingling and suggestive storytelling. . . . Entertaining and thought-provoking, especially in its highlighting of the lurking terrors—from intergenerational trauma to environmental destruction to toxic allyship—confronting Indigenous peoples today.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Quietly disturbing. . . . Shocking. . . . Sublime. . . . Capture readers’ imaginations through inventive storytelling and raw emotion. . . . This anthology is perfect for those who’ve enjoyed Indigenous horror authors like Stephen Graham Jones.”
—James Gardner, Library Journal

“The stories in Never Whistle at Night go for broke and then keep on going. If it’s over the top horror you want, you’ll find it. If subtle and restrained scares are more to your taste, you find them, too. No matter the story, though, you’re in for fierce, fine writing that leaves its mark deep in the folds of your brain. Shane Hawk and Theodore Van Alst have put together a powerhouse of a book; I’m privileged to have read it.”
—John Langan, author of Corpsemouth and Other Autobiographies

“We recommend double-checking the locks before curling up with this book.”
—Jordan Snowden, Table Magazine

“Monsters wear many faces in these tales, and violence is both a cruelty and catharsis depending on who’s wielding it, the balance of power shifting according to who’s enforcing old patterns or carving new ones.”
—Natalie Zutter, Literary Hub

“Story to story, Never Whistle at Night never failed to surprise, delight, and shock me. I’m a big fan of stories that make you feel like you’re standing at the edge of a cliff with a stranger’s fingers on the tip of your spine—and this anthology has that ungoverned, go-for-broke aesthetic that I love.”
—Nick Cutter, author of Little Heaven

“Never Whistle at Night is all I’ve ever wanted in an Indigenous horror anthology. From doubles, to Empty People, to story theft, to zombies, this anthology explores the horror that lives in colonial violence, generational love and trauma, and our everyday lives. It’s a joy to see such a diverse representation of experience, background, and style in this carefully-curated and terrifying collection.”
—Jessica Johns, author of Bad Cree

“This groundbreaking anthology showcases to the world that Indigenous horror has many faces, and these powerful stories are a horror lover’s dream: each one singular and heartfelt, carving new storytelling pathways that feel both unique and universal, haunting and healing. It’s impossible to guess what’s coming next, and that unpredictability is so central to why horror is such a powerful genre as we all confront life’s terrors.”
—Tananarive Due, author of The Reformatory

“I’ve increasingly come to suspect that the best work in contemporary Horror is being written by Indigenous writers, and Never Whistle at Night makes me certain of this. Consisting of more than two dozen stories by turns fierce and strange—sometimes about storytelling, sometimes political, sometimes just very, very unsettling—this is a deeply satisfying anthology.”
—Brian Evenson, author of The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell

“The combination of folklore and the travails of contemporary life is potent. Hard-edged and dread-inducing, Never Whistle at Night showcases major horror talent.”
—Laird Barron, author of The Wind Began to Howl

“An extensive collection of Indigenous stories ranging from the humorous to the terrifying, this anthology is a must-read for everyone. Your new favorite author is absolutely in this book.”
—Amina Akhtar, author of Kismet

“Melodious, haunting, and visceral, Never Whistle at Night enchants from the very start with fiery confidence and merciless ghosts. These are stories that dig their fingers inside you and carve something truly special. An absolute must-read.”
—Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth

"Can you draw power from the spirit of a story? If the twenty-six tales in the essential Never Whistle at Night anthology are any indication, the answer is an emphatic yes. The title itself provides its own warning, but I'll go one step further: Never read this collection of spine-chilling stories alone at night. You just might not make it to morning."
—Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters

From the Publisher

08/04/2023

Editors Hawk and Van Alst Jr., both of whom are Indigenous, have compiled an anthology featuring some of the more prominent Indigenous voices in speculative fiction, including Rebecca Roanhorse, Tommy Orange, and Nick Medina. Each of the 27 stories in this collection features various speculative elements (whether horror, fantasy, science fiction, or crime fiction) that are shown through the lens of life as an Indigenous person. The quality of the stories might vary greatly, but like any good anthology, it offers something for everyone. Some of the stories are quietly disturbing, like Mona Susan Power's "Dead Owls," and others are full of shocking, supernatural moments, like D.H. Trujillo's "Snakes Are Born in the Dark." There are even more sublime tales, like the stories from Rebecca Roanhorse and Kelli Jo Ford, that don't evoke supernatural elements but still have the power to capture readers' imaginations through inventive storytelling and raw emotion. What all these stories ultimately have in common is discussing aspects of Indigenous life, like the violence that still endures long after their land was colonized and the struggle to uphold traditions and history. VERDICT This anthology is perfect for those who've enjoyed Indigenous horror authors like Stephen Graham Jones, who provided the book's introduction, and want to discover more.—James Gardner

Library Journal

Fearsome creatures, dangerous spirits, and horrifying humans abound in this riveting collection of stories written by 26 Indigenous authors and performed by 9 Indigenous narrators. Sheldon Elter's matter-of-fact portrayal of a frustrated son transforms into very believable terror in Cherie Dimaline's "Tick Talk." Tara Sky's youthful voice enlivens two disturbingly realistic stories of white people manipulating Indigenous girls and women with unsettling sincerity. Shane Ghostkeeper narrates in a steady, gravelly voice, giving a mesmerizing performance of Shane Hawk's tale of possession, "Behind Colin's Eyes." Fear is audible in Erin Tripp's rendition of D.H. Trujillo's surreal "Snakes Are Born In The Dark." Listeners will find stories full of horror and fear--yet community, humor, and joy abound. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2023 - AudioFile

2023-07-13
Indigenous authors explore the meaning of haunted spaces.

In his foreword to this anthology of “dark fiction,” Stephen Graham Jones notes the value of examining the blurry regions between reality and unreality, and in locating the indeterminacies of identity that linger there. The great potential of narratives which engage such topics, he says, is that they can offer redemptive alternatives to the stricter conceptual boundaries often found in non-Indigenous traditions. As Jones puts it, “Telling ourselves stories about the world being bigger than we thought, big enough for bigfoot and little people, that’s really kind of saying to the so-called settlers that, hey, yeah, so you took all that land you could see. But what about all this other territory you don’t even know about, man?” The best of the stories here deliver on this promise of imaginative discovery and liberation. In their explorations of obscure but decisive truths and murky crossings between the human and more-than-human, they provide some often spine-tingling and suggestive storytelling. Among the most memorable are Nick Medina’s “Quantum,” Kelli Jo Ford’s “Heart-Shaped Clock,” and Kate Hart’s “Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning,” each of which chillingly implies the vulnerability of contemporary Native America to unburied history and undead antagonists. The most gripping and poignant of the stories is, perhaps, Mathilda Zeller’s “Kushtuka,” which cannily explores the tormented in-between spaces of a selfhood afflicted from within and without: “There was something outside the house that was clearly murderous and looked just like me. There was something inside me that was clearly murderous and felt nothing like me.” Though the rest of the stories are somewhat uneven in quality, this collection is entertaining and thought-provoking, especially in its highlighting of the lurking terrors—from intergenerational trauma to environmental destruction to toxic allyship—confronting Indigenous peoples today.

Unsettling tales from the otherworldly shadows.

Kirkus Reviews