Returning to his favourite setting of Fort Simmer, Northwest Territories, Richard Van Camp brings his exuberant style to a captivating teen novel that blends the supernatural with 1980s-era nostalgia to reflect on friendship, tradition and forgiveness.

For as long as Lawson can remember, his life in a small Northwest Territories town has revolved around “the Treaty” between the Dogrib and the Chipewyan, set down centuries ago to prevent the return of bloody warfare between the two peoples.

On the Dogrib side, Lawson and his family have done their best to keep the pact alive with the neighbouring Cranes, a family with ancestral ties to a revered Chipewyan war chief. But even as Lawson and his father dutifully tidy the Cranes’ property as an act of respect, their counterparts offer little more than scowls and derision in return, despite the fact that both families are responsible for protecting the treaty.

Worse still, it seems that one of the Cranes’ boys is doing all he can to revive the old conflict: Silver, fresh out of jail, has placed himself in the service of a cruel, ghoulish spirit bent on destroying the peace. Now it's up to Isaiah Valentine, a Cree Grass Dancer, Shari Burns, a Metis psychic, and Lawson Sauron, a Dogrib Yabati—or protector—to face what Silver Cranes has called back.

This latest feat of storytelling magic by celebrated author Richard Van Camp blends sharply observed realism and hair-raising horror as it plays out against a 1980s-era backdrop replete with Platinum Blonde songs and episodes of Degrassi Junior High. Unfolding in the fictional town of Fort Simmer—the setting of previous Van Camp stories—Beast delivers a gripping, spirited tale that pits the powers of tradition against the pull of a vengeful past.

Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT.He is a graduate of the En'owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria's Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master's Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. He is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author. His novel, The Lesser Blessed, is now a movie with First Generation Films and premiered in September of 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival. He is the author of four collections of short stories, Angel Wing Splash Pattern, The Moon of Letting Go, Godless but Loyal to Heaven and Night Moves, as well as two children's books with Cree artist, George Littlechild: A Man Called Raven and What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?His first baby book, Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, was the official selection of the Books for BC Babies program and was given to every newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008. Richard followed this up with another board book: Nighty-Night: A Bedtime Song for Babies. His third book for babies, Little You, is now out with Orca Book Publishers. The amazing Julie Flett is the artist. Little You is published in Bush Cree, Dene and South Slavey, courtesy of the South Slave Divisional Board of Education. His new book for babies with Julie Flett is called "We Sang You Home" and it is gorgeous!All of Richard Van Camp's children's books are available in Braille for free, anywhere in the world, courtesy of the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) and Accessible Resource Centre-British Columbia (ARC-BC)Richard has six graphic novels and comic books out: his first comic book on deterring youth away from gangs, Path of the Warrior, is published with Cree artist, Steve Sanderson, through the Healthy Aboriginal Network. His second comic book on sexual health is Kiss Me Deadly, with Haida artist Chris Auchter. His four graphic novels are Three Feathers (published in Bush Cree, Dene, South Slavey and English, illustrated by Krystal Mateus, on restorative justice; The Eisner Award Nominated A Blanket of Butterflies, on the theme of peace making, illustrated by Scott Henderson, The Blue Raven, illustrated by Steve Sanderson on mental health, and Spirit, a suicide prevention comic book illustrated by Emily Brown (which is also published in Bush Cree, Dene, and South Slavey and English).

Richard Van Camp's profile page

“Beast by Richard Van Camp is an enthralling blend of horror and heritage, set against the evocative backdrop of the Northwest Territories. This young adult novel follows Lawson, a Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) warrior, as he faces a malevolent spirit threatening his community. Infused with ’80s nostalgia, Van Camp’s chilling and lyrical prose creates a dark tapestry where youthful innocence clashes with primordial evils. Beast is a spellbinding journey that will worm its way into the darkest corners of your mind, lingering long after the last page is turned.”

Shane Hawk, editor of <i>Never Whistle at Night</i>

“Reading Richard Van Camp is like coming home. It’s like pushing your chair back from the family dinner table with a full belly, sore face from laughing and eager ears still hungry for more stories. No one does horror, and no one does a funny, awkward, gangly teen hero, like Richard Van Camp. Is Beast like the Indigenous Stranger Things?! Kind of, but also with Ceremony, community, and even more metal! This book is as cool as an Iron Maiden album cover. It’s the literary equivalent of Corey Hart and Sebastian Bach having a baby. This book is like a mixed tape with lots of AC/DC. I love this book!”

katherena vermette, author of <i>A Girl Called Echo</i>

“With so many well-known and well-loved stories, Van Camp’s reputation precedes him in a way that seems difficult to continue living up to. Yet, with each new offering, Van Camp reminds us of his remarkable gift for storytelling. Beast is no exception … Set in the 1980s, with each chapter titled after an iconic ’80s song, Beast immediately comes alive with a classic, coming-of-age narrative that has a bittersweet sense of nostalgia, while also appealing to fans of the more recent period pieces, such as Stranger Things. Following the energetic pace of vintage synth pop, Beast hits the ground running, and Van Camp wastes no time getting into the action … Like most of Van Camp’s novels, the setting swiftly becomes the star of the show … His rich cultural and geographical knowledge lends the story an immense level of detail that helps those—me, for one—who have never visited the Northwest Territories feel at home … The novel is written with a character voice that is warm, welcoming, and impossible to put down. Not only does Van Camp’s writing bring forward the conversational tone of oral storytelling, but he balances this with the awkward, uncomfortable thoughts and feelings of a teenage boy. The result is a protagonist who is brave, charming, foolish, and dorky, like many teenage boys … the most stunning thing about Beast is how full of heart the story manages to be ... a story that is equal parts painful and profound.
The experience of reading Beast reminded me of catching up with loved ones, heading home later into the night than expected with a sore face from talking and a chest full to bursting with care and appreciation for those around me. Beast is a book I itch to share with anyone who will listen—not just like-minded readers who enjoy a good book, or those horror fanatics who always welcome a scare. Beast is a story with a lot of heart—and we’ve all got one of those.”

Zoe McKenna, <i>The British Columbia Review</i>, October 2024

“Richard Van Camp’s Beast takes us deep into the heart of the Northwest Territories. There, against the backdrop of the 1980s, tradition and supernatural forces collide as Van Camp—as always—masterfully weaves a tale of friendship, duty, and the haunting legacies of the past. Lawson’s journey to uphold a centuries-old peace treaty is compelling and profound, making Beast a standout in contemporary young adult fiction. Van Camp’s storytelling is vivid and chilling, seizing the essence of a community grappling with its history and the unknown. Beast is another testament to Van Camp’s exceptional longevity and talent as a writer. Van Camp has blessed us with another must-read, one filled with a story so indelibly crafted that years later, we will all undoubtedly recall this work as a memory, an experience.”

Morgan Talty, national bestselling author of <i>Night of the Living Rez</i> and <i>Fire Exit: A Novel</i>

“Beast is a singular force. It’s the offspring of Stranger Things, Stephen King, and vintage Van Camp. Rich in lore, terror, pop culture, and traditional knowledge, this novel is a page-turning, spine-tingling delight.”

David A. Robertson, author of <i>The Barren Grounds</i>

“With canny references to Indigenous and Métis languages, practices, and traditions throughout, Van Camp creates an intimacy and shared experience with the reader … Van Camp’s world is one of medicine and magic where the power of relationships and the coming together of traditions trumps the will of the individual who would destroy everything for personal gain.”

Christina Barber, <i>The Seaboard Review</i>, November 2024