Never Whistle at Night cover art

Never Whistle at Night

An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

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Never Whistle at Night

Written by: Shane Hawk - editor, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. - editor
Narrated by: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Erin Tripp, Joelle Peters, Kaniehtiio Horn, Maika Harper, Shane Ghostkeeper, Sheldon Elter, Tara Sky, Lisa Cromarty
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About this listen

2023 Bram Stoker Awards, Short-listed
2023 Shirley Jackson Award, Short-listed

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

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

©2023 Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. (P)2023 Random House Canada
Anthologies & Short Stories United States World Literature Scary Fiction Haunted Short Story
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What the critics say

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“All combined, these powerful pages use fantastical elements to create very human characters who suffer very real horrors, like oppression, poverty, abuse, mental illness and the erasure of long-existing cultures and traditions. This volume is a must for any library collection and will be devoured by speculative fiction fans who enjoy a sprinkle of social commentary within their scary books.” —Booklist

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

“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

What listeners say about Never Whistle at Night

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Inconsistent Story Quality

had high hopes for "Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology," anticipating a deep dive into Indigenous culture and gripping stories. While the book certainly offered insights into Indigenous traditions and perspectives, it fell short in terms of engagement. Only about one in every three stories truly captured my interest, although those that did were quite compelling.

As with any anthology, I expected to encounter a mix of stories, some more appealing than others. However, I often found myself struggling to push forward each time I picked up the book. If it hadn't been a Book Club selection, I might not have finished it.

Four stories stood out to me: "The Longest Street in the World" by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., "Snakes Are Born in the Dark" by D.H. Trujillo, "The Prepper" by Morgan Talty and “Sundays" by David Heska Wanbli Weiden. These tales were the highlights and exemplified the potential of the anthology.

Overall, while the book provides valuable cultural insights, the uneven quality of the stories made it a challenging read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great

Wonderful work by every author. Each story a work of art . This reader thanks you

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

First anthology i’ve consumed in 15 years

So many excellent stories. Almost every one had my full attention. “Kushtaka” and “Scariest. Story. Ever.” were my favorites. Each story has fantastic narrators as well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible

A fantastic compilation of Indigenous stories told by Indigenous people. There is a harrowing sense of realism in each of the stories within this anthology, proof that culturally significant narratives are best told through the eyes and mouths of loved it. Definitely a top read for 2024

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Typical anthology

Like most anthologies this had great stories and not so great stories. The ones that hit really hit, so they were definitely worth reading the ones that weren't as enjoyable.

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Brilliant and unsettling

Incredible stories performed brilliantly. I'll listen to this over and over again. So many great authors that are new to me, I can't wait to read more of their work.

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Great anthology!

Loved it! I highly recommend for anyone who liked short stories. Unique voices. Left me wanting more!

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Listen with the lights on.

The number of stories in this collection is a treat. I was expecting maybe 10, but you get way more. The authors are excellent and each have their way of reeling you in. The narrators both male and female voices kept the story real and believable. I will definitely think twice before whistling at night, or any other time of day for that matter.

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Chilling and Fascinating

I thoroughly enjoyed Never Whistle at Night. An excellent compilation. The story tellers and narrators made the characters and environment incredibly vivid and engaging.
I loved hearing about the authors after the stories and look forward to exploring more of their work.

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I want more like this!

I loved every story, and I loved all of the performers and how they told the stories as well. The stories were creepy and beautiful, and all told from an Indigenous lens that I crave and don’t find in books nearly enough. Highly recommend, I’m definitely going to listen to these stories again and again.

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