Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST EDITED ANTHOLOGY • BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEE FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANTHOLOGY • LOCUS AWARD FINALISTA 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 HeavenFeaturing 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.

Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“A revelation.”

Arley Sorg, Lightspeed Magazine

“[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.”

Matthew Jackson, Paste,

“It’s legit. . . . You don’t want to miss this dark exploration of Indigenous traditions, themes, and characters.”

Mallory Smart, Maudlin House

“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.”

Alan Scherstuhl, Scientific American

“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.”

Christopher Shultz, Lit Reactor

“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.”

Liberty Hardy, Book Riot

“Scary and unsettling and sometimes outright horrifying. . . . These stories are wildly imaginative, frightening, and fun.”

The Gothic Library

“[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.”

Eliza Browning, Electric Literature

“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.”

Ray Palen, Bookreporter

“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.”

Verónica N. Rodríguez, Booklist (starred review)

“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.”

Publishers Weekly

“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.”

from intergenerational trauma to environmental destruction to toxic allyship

“Spine-tingling and suggestive storytelling. . . . Entertaining and thought-provoking, especially in its highlighting of the lurking terrors

James Gardner, Library Journal

“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.”

John Langan, author of Corpsemouth and Other Autobiographies

“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.”

Jordan Snowden, Table Magazine

“We recommend double-checking the locks before curling up with this book.”

Natalie Zutter, Literary Hub

“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.”

and this anthology has that ungoverned, go-for-broke aesthetic that I love.”

“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

Jessica Johns, author of Bad Cree

“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.”

Tananarive Due, author of The Reformatory

“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.”

sometimes about storytelling, sometimes political, sometimes just very, very unsettling

“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

Laird Barron, author of The Wind Began to Howl

“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.”

Amina Akhtar, author of Kismet

“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.”

Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth

“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.”

Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters

"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."

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.

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