Sandi's Reviews > 20th Century Ghosts

Short story collections can be hit or miss. Some stories may be wonderful, others may be clunkers. Every story in “20th Century Ghosts” is wonderful, some are even superlative. While Hill is a horror writer, not all of the stories in this book are horror. And, some of the ones that deal with the typical subjects of horror are not horrific. To me, the best stories in this collection are:

“20th Century Ghost”, a touching story about a haunted movie theater.

“Abraham’s Boys”, a tale about teen-age rebellion in unusual circumstances.

“Better than Home”, a sweet story told from the perspective of the autistic son of a baseball coach. It really tugged at my heart.

“My Father’s Mask”, a very creepy warped, fairytale-like story that left me with the shivers.

“Voluntary Committal”, an indescribable fantasy/horror story about brotherly love.

Be sure to read the acknowledgments at the end. Hill throws in a terrific little story as an encore.

I have to admit that I am now a Joe Hill fan and will be on the lookout for his next book. His work isn’t formulaic; and, as some of his short stories prove, he leans more towards psychological horror than blood & gore. His work is rich and complex. His characters are multidimensional and realistic. I highly recommend Joe Hill’s work for anyone who wants a good read.