Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories

Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories is a collection of literary works by Indigenous authors who relay the lore and realities of living in the far North. Taaqtumi translates to "in the dark'' from Inuktitut, an apt title for a book that describes an area of the world that lives in perpetual darkness for half of the year. Each story in the anthology is precisely horrifying, capturing the unique landscape as a character of its own.

As a traveler, I have visited Svalbard, the northernmost landmass on the Earth. For those who haven’t been there, I can say with utmost certainty that these chilling tales are as accurate as they are scary. The light and dark seasons that trick your eyes (or perhaps show you the truth), fog thick enough to bind like rope, sounds from miles away that feel close enough to touch—these are some of the themes that poke through Taaqtumi and map a perfect horror story setting.

The anthology opens with “Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard” by Aviaq Johnston. A fitting introduction to wintry arctic horror, this piece chills to the bone with writing that leaves just enough said, and much more for readers  to turn to the frightening corners of their own imaginations. 

Then, there are two pieces that weave together gruesome depictions of zombie-like, wendigo-like, possession-like creatures each with their own sophisticated writing style. “The Door” by Ann R. Loverock is a tale so frightening and relatable that readers can easily insert themselves into the story. It feels as though it’s something we’ve all heard before around a campfire, and yet it is a refreshing take on something akin to a psychological thriller. “Wheetago War II: Summoners” by Richard Van Camp perfects the traditional campfire story feel by dropping the reader straight into the story with a conversational narrator. “Wheetago” makes wonderful use of the oral tradition of story-telling with dynamic dialogue and a narrow point of view.

However, Taaqtumi isn’t all folklore from the old world. “Lounge” written by Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley is an intense science-fiction horror story that is both disgusting and captivating. Their writing is delicate. It assumes the reader will accept the characters, invented technology, and setting point-blank, which is a brilliant method for capturing several unreliable narrators. Confusion, fear, ulterior motives, and hidden desires are at the heart of “Lounge.”

My personal favorite piece in Taaqtumi is “Utiqtuq'' by Gayle Kabloona. Set in a post-apocalyptic era, the story follows a young girl Aliisa in a short and devastating coming-of-age tale. Aliisa and her companions (an old man and young child) fight for the safety they have built for each other in a place that once belonged to them but is now ravaged. Acutely cold and laced with Inuktitut language this story beautifully and heart-wrenchingly describes some aspects of the colonization of Indigenous peoples through magical yet realistic horror.

There is something for everyone in Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories. Other tales like “Sila” by K.C. Carthew and “Revenge” by Thomas Antguti Johnston are survival stories that punch through the gut. “The Wildest Game” by Jay Bulckaert is a unique body horror story that will make you sick. And “Strays” by Repo Kempt teaches readers that even in a landscape at the end of the Earth, oneself is the scariest antagonist.

If by the end of the anthology you are too scared to venture north, rest assured that you’ve experienced quite a bit of it just by reading Taaqtumi. As is the case with all scary stories, these pieces have truths embedded in them that teach, protect, warn, and entertain. All seem to be asking, are you wise enough to be afraid of the Earth?

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Article written by theresa b

Theresa writes about the intersection of art & anthropology, and gendered horror. She loves demonic possession, satan, and can be found on Letterboxd.