I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Everything I've read so far by Joe Hill has not disappointed me. I've only recently started getting into reading short story collections and I was really excited to pick up Full Throttle because I absolutely loved his previous novella collection, Strange Weather. All of the stories are pretty grim but they're also exciting and horrifying at the same time. One thing that I really loved about this book is that Joe Hill provides commentary at the end of the book for each short story. I found it really interesting to learn how he came up with the ideas for each story and what authors and locations inspired him. I highly recommend this collection to any horror and thriller fans!

The masterful Joe Hill returns with FULL THROTTLE, a collection of thirteen short stories.


The thirteen tales range from dark fantasy to horror to sci-fi, but they all share the same relentless drive and sense of momentum that Hill has become known for. The book opens with a lengthy introduction, which reads more like a chat with really interesting friend. Hill relates several anecdotes about his career, childhood, and growing up as Stephen King's son, including one story that he means to be funny, but is actually quite alarming. (The story involves King driving his young son around while drinking beer and throwing the cans out the window.) Hill also include story notes at the end of the book, which range in length from one sentence to a few pages apiece. The stories themselves vary in quality, with the worst of the bunch opening the collection.


THROTTLE is a collaboration between Hill and Stephen King (One of two in the book), and is the weakest story in the collection. Originally published in a Richard Matheson tribute anthology, THROTTLE is a tribute to Matheson's DUEL, with a vengeful trucker stalking a motorcycle club along a desolate stretch of desert highway. The characters are all despicable and interchangeable, and if you've seen/read DUEL, there's nothing new to see here.


DARK CAROUSEL and LATE RETURNS are Hill channeling his famous father, which he does perfectly. Both are pure Stephen King; DARK CAROUSEL tells a pitch-black tale of supernatural vengeance that could have been penned by King early in his career, while LATE RETURNS is a gentle remembrance of the ghosts of the past, which is reminiscent of King's more recent output.


THE DEVIL ON THE STAIRCASE and TWITTERING FROM THE CIRCUS OF THE DEAD both play with form as they tell their tales. DEVIL is formatted in such a way that the sentences and paragraphs resemble ascending and descending staircases, while TWITTERING is told entirely in a teenaged girl's tweets, as she slowly realizes the the out-of-the-way circus that her family stumbled upon may have more going on than meets the eye.


FAUN and BY THE SILVER WATERS OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN both have their literary roots in other authors. BY THE SLIVER WATERS... was originally published in a Ray Bradbury tribute anthology, and is a beautiful tribute to the legendary author. Hill tells a wonderfully understated story about two children who stumble upon the corpse of a lake monster, and debate what to do with it. Bradbury would have been proud. FAUN is a spin on C.S. Lewis' NARNIA books, and features a millionaire who leads rich hunters into an enchanted wonderland to hunt mythical beasts. FAUN is the most frustrating story in the book. While almost every story is outstanding, this is the one that I most wanted to continue.....If Mr. Hill were to expand this into a novel, or sequelize it, I would not object in the least.


THIUMBPRINT and MUMS both have a militaristic bent to them: THUMBPRINT follows a disgraced vet who comes home from the desert to find herself stalked by a mysterious person sho is leaving papers with thumbprints on them in and around her home, and MUMS follows a young boy whose father is planning an act of domestic terrorism.


WOLVERTON STATION is a whimsically dark story that evokes echoes of English folk horror, while ALL I CARE ABOUT IS YOU ventures into futuristic sci-fi, as a young girl, depressed about how her family's recent financial downturns will effect her birthday, finds solace in the company of a robotic friend-for-hire.


The book includes a second Hill/King collaboration, IN THE TALL GRASS, another story that has the King family DNA written all over it. If the story is a little too derivative of Scott Smith's THE RUINS, well.....at least it is a well-told, riveting derivation. Another story that ended with me wanting more.


Hill closes out the collection with YOU ARE RELEASED, which really hit me hard. The story follows a plane full of people who discover that World War III may have broken out while the were airborne. He doesn't take up a lot of space with this tale, but he manages to create a plane full of real people, and avoids the easy stereotypes. Closing the book with this story really gave me a lot to think about. (This book also includes the literary equivalent of a motion picture after-credits scene, so stay tuned.)


Hill writes a great novel, but his short stories are where he really excels. In his introduction, Hill surmises that he probably has another few dozen short stories in him before he calls it a day.....I hope it turns out to be a lot more than that.


HarperCollins provided a review copy.

Does anyone else finish a book by their favorite author and immediately want to write a review about it because you loved it so much that you want what you type to be an accurate portrayal of how you feel, but you ALSO like need a minute because HOLY CRAP that was a lot!!

Because that's what I deal with every time I'm blown away by Joe Hill's newest book. And let me just take a moment to appreciate the fact that the day that I finally join the ranks of NetGalley reviewers, I happen to get an ARC for this? Because holy crap. Thank you, NetGalley. I owe you my life.

In this amazing collection, there are 13 short stories that have captivated me as a fan and reader. All of them dealt with different themes (as short stories do), but what they all had in common was that they were unforgettable. And I have to take a short moment to express my undying love for "Late Returns", which, after reading only a little of the story, almost made me cry at work because I'm a big dumb baby. I think everyone that has lost someone would love to be driving that tricked out library-mobile and come across their own Late Return.

Because I'm new to this, I'm afraid to say anything that might spoil a book that doesn't come out until October of this year, but to ANY fan of the weird, gruesome, paranormal, and even sometimes hilarious: try this book. (I know I'll be buying a copy as soon as it hits the shelves. Gotta keep the collection growing.)

It is rare to consider the introduction to a book as part of its review, but this one deserves special mention, as it is a short story unto itself. In it, Joe Hill pays homage to the writers who have influenced him, most notably (and most lovingingly), his parents, Stephen and Tabitha King. How wonderful to be raised surrounded by writers (and readers), who encourage and support. While growing up in the shadow of the world's most beloved horror fiction writer could have been daunting, Hill sees it as a blessing and describes his relationship with his father (and mother) in a way that every parent hopes for their child. Joe Hill is a terrific writer in his own right and after this introduction, I was more than ready to dive into this diverse collection of short stories. He does not disappoint. In particular, I loved "Late Returns," as it fulfills every librarian's wish to find the perfect book for every patron.

Joe Hill has done it again. Brilliant prose. Terrifying concepts. This is a collection that keeps you thinking about it long into the night.

Can't wait to recommend to library patrons that are fans of short stories and the King family of authors!

This collection of short stories was better than his last collection, STRANGE WEATHER. It's hard to pick a favorite among them, but I know LATE RETURNS has a lot of highlights of appreciation, while IN THE TALL GRASS will stay with me for a while.