Altoona professor talks horror, joy and storytelling with Andrew F. Sullivan

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, have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast. In the latest episode, Stoyanoff speaks with Andrew F. Sullivan, author of "The Marigold," about the relationship between horror and joy.

Sullivan links the joy of horror to subverted expectations, catharsis and the generative possibilities of horror, especially in books, where meaning is co-created with readers and not all answers need be provided. The author discusses how his Irish Catholic upbringing functions as an enduring identity that shapes his sense of mystery, belief systems and worldbuilding, including fragility, debate and misinterpretation as story engines.

Sullivan describes his beginnings as a writer through libraries, early storytelling inspired by "Jurassic Park," reading widely, manual labor jobs and later mentorship in a graduate program with author Miriam Toews. The conversation turns to "The Marigold's" Toronto setting, ecological crisis and wildfires, urban wildlife like raccoons,and the novel's critique of capitalism, corporate greed and gig-economy precarity.

The full episode can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle.