This new collection of horror short fiction weaves together contemporary Arctic settings with ancient monsters and mysterious beings that have been said to stalk the tundra for centuries. Featuring authors from across the Canadian Arctic, this new volume of Taaqtumi—an Inuktitut word that means “In the Dark”—reveals just how horrifying the dark can be.

Featuring new fiction from award-winning authors Aviaq Johnston, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and Jamesie Fournier, as well as new voices in the genre, this collection is perfect for any horror lover.

“Taaqtumi” is an Inuktitut word that means “in the dark”—and these spine-tingling horror stories by Northern writers show just how dangerous darkness can be. A family clinging to survival out on the tundra after a vicious zombie virus. A door that beckons, waiting to unleash the terror behind it. A post-apocalyptic community in the far North where things aren’t quite what they seem. With chilling tales from award-winning authors Richard Van Camp, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Aviaq Johnston, and others, this collection will thrill and entertain even the most seasoned horror fan.

In They Come Off the Ice, debut Inuit author Andrea Andersen introduces young readers to a unique celebration that takes place in Inuit communities across Labrador: Nalujuit night!

Each January 6th, also known as Old Christmas night, something comes lurking off the ice and into town. With their faces hidden, long sticks in their hands, and carrying bags full of . . . candy? The beings approach in the snowy darkness. What do they want?

Knock, Knock, Knock

Open the door if you dare!

Just like his favourite veggie-eating dino, the stegosaurus, Sim can’t get enough of delicious greens—but his absolute favourite treat is freshly picked strawberries. 

When Sim and his family head out of the city to pick some delicious strawberries, he gets to hear how his mom picked berries where she grew up, in the Arctic! With Sim’s prehistoric imagination to help him, he and his sister quickly learn that while they may pick berries differently than their mom’s family did, there is much that stays the same. 

Whether picked from the tundra or from a farmer’s field, whether blueberries, crowberries, or strawberries, and whether served with a side of bannock or a side of ice cream, berry picking gets families out on the land together gathering the delicious fruits of the season. 

And there is nothing more delicious than that!

An Inuit retelling of an Aesop’s fable. 

A boy and his grandfather decide to gift a sled dog to the boy’s aunt. During their short journey they are met with comments by others in their camp. The dog isn’t strong enough; the boy isn’t gracious to his grandfather; the dog has too much work to do. What will the aunt say when they finally reach their destination?

A morality tale for young readers through the lens of the North. 

This Inuit legend, shared by Sanikiluaq Elder Lisi Kavik-Mickiyuk as a bi-lingual story, explains the origins of a unique location outside of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. 

On a hill outside the community, it is said that ghostly dog growls can be heard. The Inuktitut name for the hill, Qalinguluk, means “a place where you can sometimes hear dogs growling.” In this book, readers will learn about the origin of these mysterious dogs and how they came to be associated with this hill.

Watercolour illustrations by long-time Sanikiluaq resident Margaret Lawrence give the book an authentic feeling of this distinctive place.