The Wangled Hiss

Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

English

First Advisor

Thisbe Nissen, M.F.A.

Second Advisor

Todd Kuchta, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Alen Hamza, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Karen R. Blaisure, Ph.D.

Keywords

Female authors, hybrid literature, Pakistani literature in English, Pakistani novel in English, science fiction literature, young adult literature

Abstract

The Wangled Hiss is a young adult science fiction novel that follows the transformative journey of Yahyah Azad, an eighteen-year-old Pakistan Army-brat who is jolted out of his sheltered, bubble-wrapped life into the heart of socio-political upheaval. Raised on video games and immersed in virtual reality, Yahyah finds in these digital realms a sense of belonging and emotional grounding often absent in his real life. But when a twist of fate leaves him lost in the unforgiving terrain of Balochistan, the line between simulated worlds and harsh reality begins to blur. Struggling with disorientation and despair, Yahyah must confront the limits of his virtual training and the raw demands of survival. The novel explores how lessons drawn from video game logic—strategy, resilience, decision-making—become unexpected tools in navigating real-world dangers. Along the way, he is forced to face his deepest phobias, including an encounter with Zhaak, a genetically engineered snake with a cryptic mind of its own, and AI-generated holograms that challenge his perception of truth, identity, and control. The Wangled Hiss is a speculative exploration of fear, friendship, and the fractured realities we build—and must eventually break through.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

8-1-2035

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