Joe Hill (aka, Stephen King’s son) first published 20th Century Ghosts in 2005 with various editions published since then. Given his father’s talent, it shouldn’t be surprising that his son can tell compelling stories, too. In his first book, Hill focuses on ghosts of all sorts.
The best known story in 20th Century Ghosts is “Black Phone” which became a surprise hit movie in 2021. Black Phone 2 is in theaters now and took in $26 million at the Box Office its Opening Weekend. In the original story, a teenage boy is abducted by a serial child killer known as the Grabber. When the boy encounters a mystical black rotary phone in captivity, he uses it to plot his escape by communicating with the ghosts of the Grabber’s slain victims.
In his Introduction, Christopher Golden refers to Joe Hill as “one stealthy bastard” because of his ability to write wistfully supernatural stories and darkly disturbing mainstream fiction. With Halloween just around the corner, 20th Century Ghosts fits right in this stealthy season. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
| Title | Originally published in… | PAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction (by Christopher Golden) | N/A | xi |
| “Best New Horror“ | Postscripts no. 3 (2005) | 1 |
| “20th Century Ghost“ | The High Plains Literary Review final issue (2002) | 25 |
| “Pop Art“ | With Signs & Wonders (2001) | 47 |
| “You Will Hear the Locust Sing“ | The Third Alternative no. 37 (2004) | 69 |
| “Abraham’s Boys“ | The Many Faces of Van Helsing (2004) | 91 |
| “Better Than Home“ | Better Than Home (chapbook, 1999) | 111 |
| “The Black Phone“ | The Third Alternative no. 39 (2004) | 135 |
| “In the Rundown“ | Crimewave no. 8 (2005) | 155 |
| “The Cape“ | Previously unpublished | 173 |
| “Last Breath“ | Subterranean Magazine no. 2 (2005) | 195 |
| “Dead-Wood” | Subterranean Press February online newsletter (2005) | 205 |
| “The Widow’s Breakfast“ | The Clackamas Literary Review spring/summer issue (2002) | 207 |
| “My Father’s Mask“ | Previously unpublished | 241 |
| “Voluntary Committal” ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | Voluntary Committal (chapbook, 2005) | 263 313 |
| “Bobby Conroy Comes Back from the Dead” | Postscripts no. 5 (2005) | (U.S. print and audio book editions) 219 |
| “The Saved” | The Clackamas Literary Review spring/summer issue (2001) | U.K. slipcased edition |
| “The Black Phone: The Missing Chapter” | Previously unpublished | U.K. slipcased edition |
| Story Notes (by the author) | N/A | U.K. slipcased edition |
| “Scheherazade’s Typewriter” | Previously unpublished | All editions (“hidden” in the Acknowledgements) |
The cover reminds me of the photos of young Truman Capote in early editions of his books. But of course you can’t judge a book by….
Dan, that cover photo does have that young Truman Capote vibe. And “Joe Hill” looks a lot like a young Stephen King…
He does look like Dad. I read his collections several years ago and thought that, in general, they were pretty good.
Jeff, I’ve read the Joe Hill short stories–pretty good–but I haven’t gotten to the novels yet. I did read a Joe Hill Graphic Novel/Comic Book series. Hill won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
His other son, Owen, writes too-mainstream fiction.
Patti, the King family is talented. Stephen King’s wife writes, too!
Do I really want to read stories written by a guy in an AC/DC T-shirt?! Nah! Besides, I’m not a fan of horror!
Bob, I like AC/DC’s music especially “Money Talks.”
You have eclectic tastes!
Bob, but you knew I have eclectic tastes from my DAPA-EM days!
Stephen King’s work is wildly uneven, including some of his most popular work. I’ve yet to read too deeply into Tabitha’s, Joe Hill’s or Owen’s fiction, all of whom have written at least some horror among other work.