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The Nga'phandileh Whisperer
Longlisted for the BSFA Award
When a precocious Guardian in Sector Z in New Inku'lulu-an elite space outpost-misuses her sound magic, the Guardians punish her by stripping away her magical ability.
Chant'L is exiled to Savage Mound, a sound island on planet Wiimb-ó. She discovers that magic is inborn, never truly lost or taken, and summons the Nga'phandileh, creatures of unreality. But her magic is more than she bargained for.
Now the Guardians in Sector Z find themselves with a massive catastrophe they must not only keep secret, but resolve.
A science fiction horror from an award-winning queen of Afro-Irreal genre bending.
A glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric and authorly-crafted words complements this genre-bending, cross-cultural novella. Something beautiful, something dark in lyrical language packed with affection, dread, anguish and hope.
When a precocious Guardian in Sector Z in New Inku'lulu-an elite space outpost-misuses her sound magic, the Guardians punish her by stripping away her magical ability.
Chant'L is exiled to Savage Mound, a sound island on planet Wiimb-ó. She discovers that magic is inborn, never truly lost or taken, and summons the Nga'phandileh, creatures of unreality. But her magic is more than she bargained for.
Now the Guardians in Sector Z find themselves with a massive catastrophe they must not only keep secret, but resolve.
A science fiction horror from an award-winning queen of Afro-Irreal genre bending.
A glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric and authorly-crafted words complements this genre-bending, cross-cultural novella. Something beautiful, something dark in lyrical language packed with affection, dread, anguish and hope.
When a precocious Guardian in Sector Z in New Inku'lulu-an elite space outpost-misuses her sound magic, the Guardians punish her by stripping away her magical ability.
Chant'L is exiled to Savage Mound, a sound island on planet Wiimb-ó. She discovers that magic is inborn, never truly lost or taken, and summons the Nga'phandileh, creatures of unreality. But her magic is more than she bargained for.
Now the Guardians in Sector Z find themselves with a massive catastrophe they must not only keep secret, but resolve.
A science fiction horror from an award-winning queen of Afro-Irreal genre bending.
A glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric and authorly-crafted words complements this genre-bending, cross-cultural novella. Something beautiful, something dark in lyrical language packed with affection, dread, anguish and hope.
When a precocious Guardian in Sector Z in New Inku'lulu-an elite space outpost-misuses her sound magic, the Guardians punish her by stripping away her magical ability.
Chant'L is exiled to Savage Mound, a sound island on planet Wiimb-ó. She discovers that magic is inborn, never truly lost or taken, and summons the Nga'phandileh, creatures of unreality. But her magic is more than she bargained for.
Now the Guardians in Sector Z find themselves with a massive catastrophe they must not only keep secret, but resolve.
A science fiction horror from an award-winning queen of Afro-Irreal genre bending.
A glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric and authorly-crafted words complements this genre-bending, cross-cultural novella. Something beautiful, something dark in lyrical language packed with affection, dread, anguish and hope.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 9, 2025
Throughout the past few years I’ve really been pushing myself to expand my boundaries. As a white dude who lives in the Midwest of the United States it’s easy to keep reading the same ol’, same ol’. I could easily read John Grisham, Dan Brown, James Patterson, Lee Child and a few others on repeat, but I found I was bored with reading the same stuff all the time (although sometimes you just gotta read one of those, too).
Earlier this year I read Combat Monsters, a World War II Monster anthology and discovered some new writers, including Eugen Bacon. I loved her take on the material and really enjoyed the perspective on the war from a different continent than Europe. So when I saw a new novella from Bacon, I figured maybe I should take a longer look at her writing.
The Nga’phandeileh Whisperer is a bold and fascinating sci-fi cosmic horror tale that opens up a larger world that Bacon just touches on in this novella. This work is billed as a “Sauútiverse Novella,” which led me down a larger rabbit-hole to the Sauúti Collective. Bacon is one of 10 African writers who have joined together to write fiction in their own shared sci-fi universe. There are a small handful of stories out already in the Sauútiverse. According to their website (www.sauuti.com):
Sauúti is taken from the word “Sauti” which means “voice” in Swahili. This world is a five-planet system orbiting a binary star. This world is rooted deeply in a variety of African mythology, language, and culture. Sauúti weaves in an intricate magic system based on sound, oral traditions and music. It includes science-fiction elements of artificial intelligence and space flight, including both humanoid and non-humanoid creatures. Sauúti is filled with wonder, mystery and magic.
And that description fits Bacon’s The Nga’phandeileh Whisperer well. It is very much a sci-fi story set on an alien world, but the spiritual aspect takes on a magical fantasy side to the story from the perspective of African storytelling and folklore.
Now…this novella could be a tough read for some people -- it’s written in second-person. Eugen Bacon forces the reader to literally become part of the story, feeling the chaos of Chant’l’s life and the desperation she feels. It starts with a fairly steady foundation, but the second-person storytelling makes it feel off and it experiments and plays a lot on the way to the final act of the book. By the time we have about twenty percent left, the second-person perspective feels more comfortable and Chant’l has figured out her life and purpose better so heading into the climax and finale the reader is on firm ground.
What is really rewarding about this book is the prose. Eugen Bacon writes some beautiful passages throughout this novella, littered with evocative and descriptive words that bring you right into the tale. While I read an ebook of The Nga’phandeileh Whisperer, I can’t help but feel that with the right narrator, parts of this book would feel magical. I’m glad I took a chance on Eugen Bacon’s Sauútiverse novella and I imagine I’ll probably try to find some other works set in the same universe in the future.
Earlier this year I read Combat Monsters, a World War II Monster anthology and discovered some new writers, including Eugen Bacon. I loved her take on the material and really enjoyed the perspective on the war from a different continent than Europe. So when I saw a new novella from Bacon, I figured maybe I should take a longer look at her writing.
The Nga’phandeileh Whisperer is a bold and fascinating sci-fi cosmic horror tale that opens up a larger world that Bacon just touches on in this novella. This work is billed as a “Sauútiverse Novella,” which led me down a larger rabbit-hole to the Sauúti Collective. Bacon is one of 10 African writers who have joined together to write fiction in their own shared sci-fi universe. There are a small handful of stories out already in the Sauútiverse. According to their website (www.sauuti.com):
Sauúti is taken from the word “Sauti” which means “voice” in Swahili. This world is a five-planet system orbiting a binary star. This world is rooted deeply in a variety of African mythology, language, and culture. Sauúti weaves in an intricate magic system based on sound, oral traditions and music. It includes science-fiction elements of artificial intelligence and space flight, including both humanoid and non-humanoid creatures. Sauúti is filled with wonder, mystery and magic.
And that description fits Bacon’s The Nga’phandeileh Whisperer well. It is very much a sci-fi story set on an alien world, but the spiritual aspect takes on a magical fantasy side to the story from the perspective of African storytelling and folklore.
Now…this novella could be a tough read for some people -- it’s written in second-person. Eugen Bacon forces the reader to literally become part of the story, feeling the chaos of Chant’l’s life and the desperation she feels. It starts with a fairly steady foundation, but the second-person storytelling makes it feel off and it experiments and plays a lot on the way to the final act of the book. By the time we have about twenty percent left, the second-person perspective feels more comfortable and Chant’l has figured out her life and purpose better so heading into the climax and finale the reader is on firm ground.
What is really rewarding about this book is the prose. Eugen Bacon writes some beautiful passages throughout this novella, littered with evocative and descriptive words that bring you right into the tale. While I read an ebook of The Nga’phandeileh Whisperer, I can’t help but feel that with the right narrator, parts of this book would feel magical. I’m glad I took a chance on Eugen Bacon’s Sauútiverse novella and I imagine I’ll probably try to find some other works set in the same universe in the future.
September 15, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Nga'phandileh Whisperer is a science fantasy horror novella, written by Eugen Bacon and published by Stars & Sabers. A proposal set in the Sauútiverse (a planetary system shared across the works of multiple authors, blending together African culture and sci-fi), in which Bacon takes the opportunity to experiment with a unique form of storytelling, introducing some elements that takes this story to be the analogue to a folktale of this universe.
A story told in second person, describing the story of Chant'L and how she became a Guardian, meant to protect humanity from the Nga'phandileh; a story that is also divided in two timelines, as we get to know her relationship with her parents, and her bursts of uncontrolled power, and a second her challenging experience among the Guardians and how she's exiled to Savage Mound, a destiny that will put her in a different path than the one intended for her.
Bacon's writing style is certainly challenging for the reader: the own use of the second person is rather unusual, the words are ordered to create a certain rhythm in a novella which puts the sound in a central spot and the dual timeline is not simple; however, it also shows a rich setting and culture that is introduced to us in a really authentic way, offering a rather fascinating perspective to the reader. I can say that is worth the reading effort, as the author gifts us with a marvellous novella.
The Nga'phandileh Whisperer is certainly a quite unique work, a mix between cosmic horror and science fantasy that uses such an ignored tradition as the African one as the base for its worldbuilding, blending together tradition and innovation to deliver an excellent reading experience.
The Nga'phandileh Whisperer is a science fantasy horror novella, written by Eugen Bacon and published by Stars & Sabers. A proposal set in the Sauútiverse (a planetary system shared across the works of multiple authors, blending together African culture and sci-fi), in which Bacon takes the opportunity to experiment with a unique form of storytelling, introducing some elements that takes this story to be the analogue to a folktale of this universe.
A story told in second person, describing the story of Chant'L and how she became a Guardian, meant to protect humanity from the Nga'phandileh; a story that is also divided in two timelines, as we get to know her relationship with her parents, and her bursts of uncontrolled power, and a second her challenging experience among the Guardians and how she's exiled to Savage Mound, a destiny that will put her in a different path than the one intended for her.
Bacon's writing style is certainly challenging for the reader: the own use of the second person is rather unusual, the words are ordered to create a certain rhythm in a novella which puts the sound in a central spot and the dual timeline is not simple; however, it also shows a rich setting and culture that is introduced to us in a really authentic way, offering a rather fascinating perspective to the reader. I can say that is worth the reading effort, as the author gifts us with a marvellous novella.
The Nga'phandileh Whisperer is certainly a quite unique work, a mix between cosmic horror and science fantasy that uses such an ignored tradition as the African one as the base for its worldbuilding, blending together tradition and innovation to deliver an excellent reading experience.
November 26, 2025
My thanks to Stars and Saber and NetGalley for a free DRC of "The Nga’phandileh Whisperer" by Eugen Bacon, a SF Cosmic Horror Novella that feels almost like a folktale. It contains both technological elements, but also traditions and rituals. As a new subgenre, Afro-Irrealism it was fascinating to experience.
It did took me a while to get used to the author's style of writing and the unique narrative of this story, but once I was in, I was in awe with the musicality and rhythm that were offered like a blessing.
Trough the use of the second person we witness the story of Chant'L becoming a Guardian that is meant to help protect the humanity and the different planets from the beast known as Nga’phandileh. The glimpses in her past, her glorious relationship with her parents and her bursts of magic power helped with the reader getting to know the heroine in more depth. While the premise mentions abuse of power, to me it read more like Chant'L having a mental health issue that she was fighting, but not able to control in a few instances.
Overall I loved to be challenged by this reading experience, to get out of my comfort zone. I am aware that this might be even more challenging for people speaking and thinking just in the English language, but I would still highly recommend it to readers that are not afraid to explore new styles of storytelling. At the end there is a useful Glossary and for the worldbuilding terms. I also hope this Novella will be graced with an audiobook, I think its musicality will sound amazing in the hands of a good narrator.
It did took me a while to get used to the author's style of writing and the unique narrative of this story, but once I was in, I was in awe with the musicality and rhythm that were offered like a blessing.
Trough the use of the second person we witness the story of Chant'L becoming a Guardian that is meant to help protect the humanity and the different planets from the beast known as Nga’phandileh. The glimpses in her past, her glorious relationship with her parents and her bursts of magic power helped with the reader getting to know the heroine in more depth. While the premise mentions abuse of power, to me it read more like Chant'L having a mental health issue that she was fighting, but not able to control in a few instances.
Overall I loved to be challenged by this reading experience, to get out of my comfort zone. I am aware that this might be even more challenging for people speaking and thinking just in the English language, but I would still highly recommend it to readers that are not afraid to explore new styles of storytelling. At the end there is a useful Glossary and for the worldbuilding terms. I also hope this Novella will be graced with an audiobook, I think its musicality will sound amazing in the hands of a good narrator.
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May 13, 2025A big thank you to the publisher for an eARC of the book for a blurb!
The Nga'phandileh Whisperer is mythic and ancient, feverish and insistent, lyrical and atmospheric, eerie yet enchanting—an enticingly strange exploration of the power of sound by a poetic storyteller.
The Nga'phandileh Whisperer is mythic and ancient, feverish and insistent, lyrical and atmospheric, eerie yet enchanting—an enticingly strange exploration of the power of sound by a poetic storyteller.
October 5, 2025
The Nga’phandileh Whisperer follows Chant’L, a young person who becomes a Guardian – one of a small group responsible for keeping her society safe from the Nga’phandileh, creatures of unreality – only to be stripped of her status when her magic causes a tragedy.
Second person is not my favourite POV to read, but here it works wonderfully well. Central to the story is the idea of ‘sound magic’ and Bacon has made incredible use of the sound of words on the page here – poetic onomatopoeia brings the idea of sound magic into the reading experience so effectively.
This novella is rooted in the world of the Sauútiverse [if you’re unfamiliar look it up – it’s a fantastic project]. You do not need to have read anything else from the Sauútiverse to follow the story, but some familarity will enrich a reader’s experience of the world-building. I’d recommend checking out the anthology.
Having read a few of Eugen Bacon’s works, I must say this is my favourite thusfar. I’m solidly a fan & look forward to reading more from her in future.
Content warnings: death, murder, confinement, grief, animal death, mention of homophobia
Thank you Stars & Saber, NetGalley, & Eugen Bacon for providing me with an ARC to review.
Second person is not my favourite POV to read, but here it works wonderfully well. Central to the story is the idea of ‘sound magic’ and Bacon has made incredible use of the sound of words on the page here – poetic onomatopoeia brings the idea of sound magic into the reading experience so effectively.
This novella is rooted in the world of the Sauútiverse [if you’re unfamiliar look it up – it’s a fantastic project]. You do not need to have read anything else from the Sauútiverse to follow the story, but some familarity will enrich a reader’s experience of the world-building. I’d recommend checking out the anthology.
Having read a few of Eugen Bacon’s works, I must say this is my favourite thusfar. I’m solidly a fan & look forward to reading more from her in future.
Content warnings: death, murder, confinement, grief, animal death, mention of homophobia
Thank you Stars & Saber, NetGalley, & Eugen Bacon for providing me with an ARC to review.
September 10, 2025
This novella, set in the Sauútiverse, introduces us to Chant’L (from “chant”) who has sound magic that’s not entirely under her control. From childhood Chant’L’s been haunted by the sounds in her head, and it takes her misusing her magic and being exiled by the Guardians to work out what the sounds are, and how her power works.
It’s a coming-of-age story, a weighty read with significant emotional heft. Chant’L carries a great deal of resentment (mostly against her mother) and has suffered loss in her short life—convincing bases for her drive and her character’s arc. If her world is mysterious, the backstory is the Sauútiverse itself; you need some understanding of its mythology to connect more fully with this story. And as with other books set in the Sauútiverse, this is deliciously and unapologetically Afrocentric in its outlook—one example being the treatment of the Nga’phandileh (the entities that are the reason for the existence of the Guardians), of whom it’s never clarified in this novella whether they are good or bad.
Pensive, brooding, dark. Recommended, and a great addition to the Sauútiverse.
Thanks to Stars and Sabers and NetGalley for early DRC access.
It’s a coming-of-age story, a weighty read with significant emotional heft. Chant’L carries a great deal of resentment (mostly against her mother) and has suffered loss in her short life—convincing bases for her drive and her character’s arc. If her world is mysterious, the backstory is the Sauútiverse itself; you need some understanding of its mythology to connect more fully with this story. And as with other books set in the Sauútiverse, this is deliciously and unapologetically Afrocentric in its outlook—one example being the treatment of the Nga’phandileh (the entities that are the reason for the existence of the Guardians), of whom it’s never clarified in this novella whether they are good or bad.
Pensive, brooding, dark. Recommended, and a great addition to the Sauútiverse.
Thanks to Stars and Sabers and NetGalley for early DRC access.
September 28, 2025
If you’ve followed me for a while then you probably know I like unique stories that enchant, mesmerise, and often even confuse me ( in a good way), stories that are emotional, beautifully written, and this story is no exception. It is at the same time different to anything else I’ve read before, imaginative, and reminded me of a folk tale.
The whole idea of beings of unreality captivated me and I also liked the concept of sound magic.
Now I need to look into the Sauútiverse a bit more, because I found this world to be very fascinating.✨🐝🍃🐍
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy, all opinions are my own.
The whole idea of beings of unreality captivated me and I also liked the concept of sound magic.
Now I need to look into the Sauútiverse a bit more, because I found this world to be very fascinating.✨🐝🍃🐍
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy, all opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
I was confused throughout the book even after I found footing on what is actually happening to the main character.
It was an okay book. I did a lot of stop and start to finally follow what was going on.
I like the idea that it's a world in outer space.
It was an okay book. I did a lot of stop and start to finally follow what was going on.
I like the idea that it's a world in outer space.
October 18, 2025
Second person perspective is tough, and whilst the author did a good job, it was a bit hard to follow and connect with the character. There is story and plot, but a lot of the book is setting up atmosphere and vibes, and trying to create an immersive environment. Mixed results.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews