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Tribal Screams
Tribal Screams is a compelling collection of fantasy and horror stories by Owl Goingback, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Crota, Evil Whispers, Darker Than Night and numerous other novels and children's books. Gathered together for the very first time, these often hard to find tales include "Grass Dancer," a Nebula Award Nominee for best short story of the year.
250 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 2, 2021
Currently writing my review for SCREAM Magazine. There is a wide variety of stories drawing from several sub-genres. Native American folklore, classic ghost stories, historical fiction, creature-feature, and horrors of war.
November 8, 2018
A wonderful collection of stories by a great author. I can't wait till the next book is here.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
April 11, 2025
Most of these stories were middling, but that could be just due to the fact that I'm not a big short story fan.
The two that stand out were the second story and the teaser chapters for his book Coyote Rage.
The two that stand out were the second story and the teaser chapters for his book Coyote Rage.
December 31, 2019
Tribal Screams by Owl Goingback.
A collected edition of short stories by Owl Goingback. Each drawing on horror elements and many influenced by Owl's Native American heritage. Many of these stories are likely to bring a tear to the readers eye. I don't want to give any spoilers because I found them more moving when I first read them not knowing anything about them. I've read the book twice now and will be reading it again.
A collected edition of short stories by Owl Goingback. Each drawing on horror elements and many influenced by Owl's Native American heritage. Many of these stories are likely to bring a tear to the readers eye. I don't want to give any spoilers because I found them more moving when I first read them not knowing anything about them. I've read the book twice now and will be reading it again.
October 31, 2022
Great mix!
Short stories to suit everyone I think! Some are spooky, one made me snicker and the last one...I wasn't crying, I just got something in my eye!
Short stories to suit everyone I think! Some are spooky, one made me snicker and the last one...I wasn't crying, I just got something in my eye!
August 14, 2022
Una buona raccolta di racconti, con qualche sprizzo extra sopra (e sotto) la media. Spesso i temi sono molto classici e l'autore si rifà a certi cliché, ma usati con molta sapienza in modo da farceli godere fino in fondo. Lo stile semplice e rapido di Goingback e l'ambientazione che include spesso i nativi americani rendono interessante la lettura.
February 22, 2020
I’m glad Owl Goingback was recognized by the HWA for lifetime achievement, because I’m not sure I would have run across his work otherwise.
“Tacahale” is an excellent conte cruel about the search for the fountain of youth. “Animal Sounds” is a great modern version of what feels like a classic grim indigenous story. “Grass Dancer” is evocative and emotional. Some may criticize it for its reinforcement of traditions and other story elements, but the prose remains effective. This also includes an excerpt of Coyote Rage, which is now a Stoker nominated novel.
Probably my two favorites are the ones set in Georgia. “Last Man in Line” has a history lesson about Andersonville and Fort Sumter that manages to be free from didacticism and would have made Gernsback proud with its injection of knowledge wrapped within a story. I also love a story that presents Georgia in a fashion that feel honest and true. “Sealed with a Kiss” is another great story that evokes the desolation of rural Georgia, and was made for people who enjoy buckets of gore with dark humor at their bottom.
“Tacahale” is an excellent conte cruel about the search for the fountain of youth. “Animal Sounds” is a great modern version of what feels like a classic grim indigenous story. “Grass Dancer” is evocative and emotional. Some may criticize it for its reinforcement of traditions and other story elements, but the prose remains effective. This also includes an excerpt of Coyote Rage, which is now a Stoker nominated novel.
Probably my two favorites are the ones set in Georgia. “Last Man in Line” has a history lesson about Andersonville and Fort Sumter that manages to be free from didacticism and would have made Gernsback proud with its injection of knowledge wrapped within a story. I also love a story that presents Georgia in a fashion that feel honest and true. “Sealed with a Kiss” is another great story that evokes the desolation of rural Georgia, and was made for people who enjoy buckets of gore with dark humor at their bottom.
December 15, 2018
Review will be posted once it has been put up at HorrorAddicts.net. I will say now though that one story absolutely choked me up. Amazing writing.
August 5, 2024
3.5 Stars, largely predictable but still enjoyable. Sadly no screams from me, Sealed With a Kiss was the most (moderately) disturbing of the lot, and Grass Dancer (I think that’s what it was called, my kindle didn’t have a contents page!) packed an unexpected emotional punch.
July 3, 2025
Very fun to read. Some story are not scary and for me some are very scary that it makes me pause a little bit in reading this book so I can calm myself.
September 22, 2025
This was my first encounter with Owl Goingback. It will not be my last. While I didn't find any of the stories particularly screamworthy, I did thoroughly enjoy most of them. I do tend to like writing that explores folklore and legends. Some of these stories filled me with dread while others broke my heart. Great collection.
January 14, 2024
I recieved a complimentary copy of this collection in exchange for an honest review.
Owl Goingback delves into the world of Native American verbal history where tales are woven to explain the past and speculate on the future. His writing harkens effortlessly to something in all of us that speaks to the understanding that the deepest truths are often told in the strangest of tales.
Tecachale
Tecachale is a simple tale told with the assured steps of a fine writer. The story seems comfortably familiar from the outset, like a story you were told as a child but had since forgotten, and is only made better by an excellent performance from Cathi Colas. It is written more as a cautionary tale than a horror story, and it could almost be suitable for a younger audience.
Last Man In Line
Two young men, inspired by a documentary on the American Civil War decide to visit Anderson National Park, but being young men they decide to sneak in to perform an initiation. Last Man In Line doesn't present a tale you have not heard before, but it does provide a well-written story that still engages and entertains despite the well-trodden path it takes. Cathi Colas doesn't have the same range to play with as she did with Tecachale, but she does a good job with what she has, as well as navigating a couple of information-dump moments with ease and performing the chracters gusto!
Animal Sounds
Animal Sounds is the least interesting story - so far - in the collection. Like the previous tales, it treads well-used ground, but unlike them, the payoff isn't quite as satisfying. There is nothing bad about the story, though it does feel a little clichéd and inauthentic. Thankfully Cathi Colas does keep the listener interested with her delightful performance.
The Bride
A nice reading of a nice poem, though it seems misplaced in this collection. It feels a little like "filler".
Spoils of War
More a significant nod to George Romero - by way of Fulci - than to anything Native American. It's a good premise for a story marred by muddled execution, and a gradually more silly presentation of simplistic morality. This is also Cathi Colas' least effective performance, but she doesn't have a lot to work with.
Gaitor Bait
The best story of the collections so far. Gaitor Bait is about a person who falsely claims to be of Native American descent. It's a good story, but it cannot be read without the reader's mind wandering down paths the author probably didn't intend. If you do decide to research Owl Goingback, read this story first.
Ashes
An odd few hundred words of "filler" that didn't do anything for me.
Keeper of Souls
Another fine story about the invading Spanish and a Native American seer who is taken to aid the Spanish king. Besides the characters being little more than caricatures, the story is well-conceived and presented as a straightforward fantasy adventure tale with a rewarding finale.
Sealed With A Kiss
The most straightforward story of the collection. A man finds himself on a long road with a broken car, and while trying to get back home he encounters a woman while sheltering from a storm, but as the night wears on the storm becomes something far more sinister and the story transforms into a cautionary tale asking the reader to be careful what they wish for. There was nothing spectacular about Sealed With A Kiss, but it was well worth the time taken on it by this reader.
My Favourite Halloween Memory ( A True Story)
Another piece of "filler", I didn't see the point of this story. I think it's meant as a bit of a joke that I simply didn't get.
Grass Dancer (A Nebula Award Nominee for Best Short Story of the Year)
This is easily the best story of the collection, emotional and sure to sit with a reader long after they have finished reading. I did think that it overstayed its welcome a little, and it does underline its main message a little too enthusiastically, making me think that a little less might make for a stronger tale. Don't be discouraged though, this story is worth the price of the book on its own, and you are certain to like it even more than I did.
Coyote Rage
I didn't read this one. It's the first two chapters of a book, and I've never really understood the interest in reading a bit of a book (or why publishers often include them as they have here). I'd rather wait and read the complete work.
Owl Goingback delves into the world of Native American verbal history where tales are woven to explain the past and speculate on the future. His writing harkens effortlessly to something in all of us that speaks to the understanding that the deepest truths are often told in the strangest of tales.
Tecachale
Tecachale is a simple tale told with the assured steps of a fine writer. The story seems comfortably familiar from the outset, like a story you were told as a child but had since forgotten, and is only made better by an excellent performance from Cathi Colas. It is written more as a cautionary tale than a horror story, and it could almost be suitable for a younger audience.
Last Man In Line
Two young men, inspired by a documentary on the American Civil War decide to visit Anderson National Park, but being young men they decide to sneak in to perform an initiation. Last Man In Line doesn't present a tale you have not heard before, but it does provide a well-written story that still engages and entertains despite the well-trodden path it takes. Cathi Colas doesn't have the same range to play with as she did with Tecachale, but she does a good job with what she has, as well as navigating a couple of information-dump moments with ease and performing the chracters gusto!
Animal Sounds
Animal Sounds is the least interesting story - so far - in the collection. Like the previous tales, it treads well-used ground, but unlike them, the payoff isn't quite as satisfying. There is nothing bad about the story, though it does feel a little clichéd and inauthentic. Thankfully Cathi Colas does keep the listener interested with her delightful performance.
The Bride
A nice reading of a nice poem, though it seems misplaced in this collection. It feels a little like "filler".
Spoils of War
More a significant nod to George Romero - by way of Fulci - than to anything Native American. It's a good premise for a story marred by muddled execution, and a gradually more silly presentation of simplistic morality. This is also Cathi Colas' least effective performance, but she doesn't have a lot to work with.
Gaitor Bait
The best story of the collections so far. Gaitor Bait is about a person who falsely claims to be of Native American descent. It's a good story, but it cannot be read without the reader's mind wandering down paths the author probably didn't intend. If you do decide to research Owl Goingback, read this story first.
Ashes
An odd few hundred words of "filler" that didn't do anything for me.
Keeper of Souls
Another fine story about the invading Spanish and a Native American seer who is taken to aid the Spanish king. Besides the characters being little more than caricatures, the story is well-conceived and presented as a straightforward fantasy adventure tale with a rewarding finale.
Sealed With A Kiss
The most straightforward story of the collection. A man finds himself on a long road with a broken car, and while trying to get back home he encounters a woman while sheltering from a storm, but as the night wears on the storm becomes something far more sinister and the story transforms into a cautionary tale asking the reader to be careful what they wish for. There was nothing spectacular about Sealed With A Kiss, but it was well worth the time taken on it by this reader.
My Favourite Halloween Memory ( A True Story)
Another piece of "filler", I didn't see the point of this story. I think it's meant as a bit of a joke that I simply didn't get.
Grass Dancer (A Nebula Award Nominee for Best Short Story of the Year)
This is easily the best story of the collection, emotional and sure to sit with a reader long after they have finished reading. I did think that it overstayed its welcome a little, and it does underline its main message a little too enthusiastically, making me think that a little less might make for a stronger tale. Don't be discouraged though, this story is worth the price of the book on its own, and you are certain to like it even more than I did.
Coyote Rage
I didn't read this one. It's the first two chapters of a book, and I've never really understood the interest in reading a bit of a book (or why publishers often include them as they have here). I'd rather wait and read the complete work.
March 26, 2020
There are a number of short stories gathered in this horror collection, and they cover a wide range of subject matter. Like the best horror stories, they offer a mix of catalysts, problems and outcomes, and they are all distinct and captivating. Whether you’re reading about a young man who is doing something foolish in his attempts to join a fraternity or a medicine man desperate to help his people, you’ll see how the deck is stacked against even the most favorable protagonists, leading to outcomes that are at times unexpected and at other times unfavorable. That’s part of the beauty of reading books in a collection; you can never get too comfortable, because nobody is safe, and the reader soon knows it. It also gives you a chance to appreciate one story referencing events in another story that appeared earlier in the collection. The threads that tie these tales together are at times obvious and at other times subtle.
If I were to sum this collection up with a theme, it would be about belonging. Matt is desperate to join that fraternity. Desperate enough to agree to spend the night alone in one of the most haunted places he’s ever been to. Others, like the medicine man in ‘Animal Sounds’, do belong, and their commitment to their people prompts them to risk their life to save everyone else. Then there is the pretendian in ‘Gator Bait’, who is scamming audiences night after night with his claim that he is Indigenous and that he is a great alligator wrestler. And much as Ferdnando lays claim to the land and all that is in it, can ever truly belong the way that Indigenous woman Tacachale does? ‘The Bride’ also touches on belonging; our desire to belong to another, and what someone—or something—might do if another person comes between us and the one we desire.
Tribal Screams also exemplifies some of the best reasons to read authors from different cultures than your own. As referenced already, there are stories with pretendians who try to claim Indigenous ancestry they do not possess, and are taught a lesson for their disrespect. Tribal Screams offers stories of European settlers and the destruction they brought with them to Turtle Island, and how their own greed sometimes led to their downfall. There are stories of Indigenous people captured and enslaved, who try to find a way to escape.
In a collection with so many great stories, there were a couple that personally stood out to me. One was ‘Ashes’. A person who is down on their luck, who has lost their way and who does something horrific in their desperation. And no matter how bad you think the consequences for their actions might be, they are infinitely worse. There are fates worse than death, as Richard discovered.
The other stand out is Nebula Award-nominated short story ‘Grass Dancer’. The story is about a young man drafted to fight in Vietnam and the disabled brother he leaves behind. It is that perfect mix of tragedy and miracle, of hope and despair, and it brought tears to my eyes.
Tribal Screams also includes the first four chapters of Coyote Rage, the first in a new series of books by Owl Goingback, guaranteed to send you back to the bookstore to buy a copy as soon as you can.
If I were to sum this collection up with a theme, it would be about belonging. Matt is desperate to join that fraternity. Desperate enough to agree to spend the night alone in one of the most haunted places he’s ever been to. Others, like the medicine man in ‘Animal Sounds’, do belong, and their commitment to their people prompts them to risk their life to save everyone else. Then there is the pretendian in ‘Gator Bait’, who is scamming audiences night after night with his claim that he is Indigenous and that he is a great alligator wrestler. And much as Ferdnando lays claim to the land and all that is in it, can ever truly belong the way that Indigenous woman Tacachale does? ‘The Bride’ also touches on belonging; our desire to belong to another, and what someone—or something—might do if another person comes between us and the one we desire.
Tribal Screams also exemplifies some of the best reasons to read authors from different cultures than your own. As referenced already, there are stories with pretendians who try to claim Indigenous ancestry they do not possess, and are taught a lesson for their disrespect. Tribal Screams offers stories of European settlers and the destruction they brought with them to Turtle Island, and how their own greed sometimes led to their downfall. There are stories of Indigenous people captured and enslaved, who try to find a way to escape.
In a collection with so many great stories, there were a couple that personally stood out to me. One was ‘Ashes’. A person who is down on their luck, who has lost their way and who does something horrific in their desperation. And no matter how bad you think the consequences for their actions might be, they are infinitely worse. There are fates worse than death, as Richard discovered.
The other stand out is Nebula Award-nominated short story ‘Grass Dancer’. The story is about a young man drafted to fight in Vietnam and the disabled brother he leaves behind. It is that perfect mix of tragedy and miracle, of hope and despair, and it brought tears to my eyes.
Tribal Screams also includes the first four chapters of Coyote Rage, the first in a new series of books by Owl Goingback, guaranteed to send you back to the bookstore to buy a copy as soon as you can.
August 20, 2023
A raucously entertaining collection of 10 fantasy and horror stories (and one poem), most from the 90s, including Goingback's first published story, "Spoils of War," and his story "Grass Dancer," which was nominated for a Nebula Award. All of the stories draw upon the customs and folklore of Native Americans. Although I'd heard of Goingback, I wasn't prepared for just how good a writer he is. He’s outstanding! These stories display a mastery of character, setting, conflict, plot, and theme. I've since learned that Goingback has won three Stoker Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement award in 2020). I'll definitely seek out his other books, including Coyote Rage, which is excerpted in this book.
June 10, 2021
Tribal Screams by Owl Goingback: A collection of eleven stories, and a bonus preview to his novel, Coyote Rage.
The gathered stories are years of work by one of the most highly respected writers in horror. And it’s proven over and over with each of these stories.
Goingback’s skill with the written word is as sharp as a scalpel and may very well cut just as precise.
Whether the theme is horror, fantasy, dreams, nightmares, or connecting with your own spirit — there’s a story for everyone among the pages.
Goingback’s Native American heritage flows throughout this collection like the very blood through his veins.
Highly recommend this work of art in story form.
The gathered stories are years of work by one of the most highly respected writers in horror. And it’s proven over and over with each of these stories.
Goingback’s skill with the written word is as sharp as a scalpel and may very well cut just as precise.
Whether the theme is horror, fantasy, dreams, nightmares, or connecting with your own spirit — there’s a story for everyone among the pages.
Goingback’s Native American heritage flows throughout this collection like the very blood through his veins.
Highly recommend this work of art in story form.
December 17, 2023
This was my first go around listening to a book by Owl Goingback and I’m so glad I finally have. This guy is the real deal. I enjoyed every story in this collection. Of course there are always some standouts in any collection. I really liked “Animal Sounds”, “Gator Bait”, “Grass Dancer” and “Coyote Rage” a little better than the rest. Particularly “Coyote Rage” which appears to be a longish excerpt from the novel of the same name which I can’t wait to read. I recommend this collection to any fans of horror or fantasy, really hard to go wrong. I would also like to acknowledge the narrator who gave a terrific performance.
August 26, 2022
This is a strong collection of stories centered around folklore-themed horror, mostly Native American but, in some cases, Haitian and Catholic. The selection varies...including creepy, old fashioned ghost stories, shapeshifters and creatures found in Indian myths, and more dramatic, literary pieces. Goingback's prose is precise and many of the stories read as if he's reciting them to you and a group of others as you sit around a fire. It is a perfect blend of the historical and fantastical and might be just what some people are looking to read when October reaches us.
July 16, 2024
Wow, I am nigh on speechless, for I am still riding that five-star read high. This is the first time I have read any of Owl Goingback's work and I fell in love with it from the first page until the last. He is such an amazing writer and these short stories are gripping, diverse, imaginative, descriptive, and meaningful.
My favourite stories were about the Spanish colonists; there were three of those but each was so unique. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but boy oh boy, if you like horror, short stories, or just amazing writing, then this is sure to be the book for you!
My favourite stories were about the Spanish colonists; there were three of those but each was so unique. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but boy oh boy, if you like horror, short stories, or just amazing writing, then this is sure to be the book for you!
February 27, 2021
Short story collections are difficult to review, but in general these stories made me think of the tales of Ambrose Bierce. These are really well-written creepy tales that I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes ghost stories and horror. I’m going to read Crota soon.
January 23, 2023
What a pleasure. This collection has everything, goes everywhere, and takes us along for the ride. In just a short time, the stories blended so many shades of the human condition--from greed and violence to personal integrity and collective justice. It is at once simple and profound, fable and truth. For "Grass Dancer," my eyes were burning by the time we heard "God's heartbeat" and by the whirling, greening finish, I knew I was in the path of beauty. I was reminded of Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" and N. Scott Momaday's "The Way to Rainy Mountain" but Owl has a powerful voice and vision all his own.
January 30, 2024
Owl Goingback has a unique and powerful voice, which is showcased perfectly in this collection. These stories present an interesting insight into indigenous culture. I particularly enjoyed the fact that some characters and settings reappear, giving the collection a nice "roundness."
November 25, 2023
4.75/5
January 10, 2024
Couple good stories in here.
September 23, 2024
Standouts for me were: "Spoils of War" "Grass Dancer" "Animal Sounds" and "Gator Bait."
May 7, 2025
Most of the short stories were good.
August 21, 2025
I really enjoyed the writing style for these stories.
September 5, 2020
Love this book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews