Taaqtumi
CBC Books | | Posted: October 30, 2019 8:46 PM | Last Updated: June 14, 2022
Edited by Neil Christpher
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. These chilling tales from award-winning authors Richard Van Camp, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Aviaq Johnston, and others will thrill and entertain even the most seasoned horror fan. (From Inhabit Media)
Neil Christopher is one of the managing partners of independent publisher Inhabit Media, which is based in Nunavut.
From the book
The wind blows without mercy against the building, making the students chatter with excitement. We ignore the teacher and run to the big, turquoise-trimmed windows. Looking outside, we see the telltale signs of a blizzard: the growing snowdrifts, the snow blowing across the ground, people struggling to walk against the wind. We also see — well, don't see is more accurate — other signs of the blizzard. Buildings and landmarks missing on the horizon as the approaching storm obscures them in its white and violent embrace.
There is a high-pitched beep, then the PA system crackles as the voice of the school secretary comes out alternating languages from Inuktitut to English. "Due to the sudden change in weather, school is cancelled until further notice. For students with older siblings at the high school, you must wait to be picked up before leaving. Please notify a parent or guardian once you arrive safely at home!"
From Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtiq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston in Taaqtumi edited by Neil Christopher. Published by Inhabit Media.