Altoona professors’ latest 'Horror Joy' podcast explores indigenous dark fiction

ALTOONA, Pa. - Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, assistant professor of English and of women's, gender and sexuality studies, released a new episode of their podcast, "Horror Joy."

In the episode titled "Never Whistle at Night," Onishi and Stoyanoff delve into the 2023 anthology "Never Whistle at Night," edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. This collection, featuring indigenous dark fiction, navigates the intersections of horror, colonization, and representation.

The hosts will discuss the following topics:

• The impact of these stories both in the classroom and as a means of broadening perspectives
• Key stories such as "White Hills" "The Ones Who Killed Us," and "Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth"
• The importance of blood and the construction of identity
• The joy and complexity found in these narratives

The stories navigate the tension of imagined and real worlds, mortals and monsters, blood and identity and community and isolation. They call on the reader to reconsider preconceptions of the world, and remind readers that all of us (in the United States) occupy stolen lands.

The full episode can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle. Learn more about the "Horror Joy" podcast online.