The Only Good Indians

• Genre: Fiction; contemporary horror/ thriller
• Originally Published: 2020
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 3 parts; 31 chapters; approximately 310 pages; approximately 8 hours, 37 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: In this horror/thriller novel, four Indigenous friends commit a disturbing act involving a herd of elk. Years later, the men find themselves haunted by a vengeful supernatural force seeking retribution for their actions. The novel explores guilt, identity, cultural heritage, and the repercussions of past sins.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Graphic horror; violence; colonization and marginalization

Stephen Graham Jones, Author

• Bio: Born 1972; Blackfoot Indigenous American author known for his contributions to horror and contemporary fiction; often explores themes related to Indigenous American identity and storytelling
• Other Works: Mongrels (2016); Mapping the Interior (2017); My Heart Is a Chainsaw (2021); Don’t Fear the Reaper (2023)
• Awards: Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel (2020); Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction; Fantasy & Speculative Fiction (2020); Shirley Jackson Award (2020); Alex Award (2021)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Being a “Good Indian”
• Feminine Rage as a Vengeful Force
• The Consequences of Abusing Nature

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Deepen their understanding of the horror genre.
• Investigate the history of colonization to contextualize the text and increase understanding of the novel’s character, conflict, and themes.