A terrific cast of narrators lend their voices to 13 stories by Joe Hill, two of which are cowritten with his dad, Stephen King. Hill himself reads the utterly delightful introduction, remembering his childhood and his path to becoming a successful horror writer. The first story, “Throttle,” follows, with Stephen Lang perfectly portraying a gang of bikers who are being terrorized by a maniacal trucker. From there, narrating duties are shared by Neil Gaiman, Zachary Quinto, Kate Mulgrew, and more. Listeners will find their own favorites. However, booklovers may agree that “Late Returns,” narrated by Wil Wheaton—about a librarian slipping through time to offer the dead one last great read—is the gem of this collection. A.T.N. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2019 Best Audiobook, 2020 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

★ 07/01/2019

Hill’s haunting second collection of short fiction (after 2005’s 20th Century Ghosts) contains 11 reprints and two new tales, many in homage to films and other stories that have inspired him. Echoes of Richard Matheson’s “Duel” ricochet from the terrifying “Throttle” (cowritten with Stephen King), which features a biker gang at the mercy of a relentless big rig driver with a deadly agenda. Shades of Narnia color “Faun,” in which a small door in a ramshackle farmhouse leads to a hunting ground. In “Thumbprint,” a veteran realizes that her disturbing actions in Iraq might not have been so out of character after all. In the visceral, horrifying “Dark Carousel,” a group of teens runs afoul of magic that animates the ragtag, bloodthirsty animals of a boardwalk carousel. The ghostly, achingly poignant “Late Returns” is a love letter to librarians and a haunting exploration of the transformative power of grief. Hill tackles his dark subjects with humanity and empathy, and his complex, fully realized characters leap into the imagination. This collection cements Hill’s reputation as a versatile master of scares both subtle and shocking. Agent: Michael Choate, Choate Agency. (Oct.)

The poet laureate of everyday terrors returns with a baker’s dozen of deliciously sinister tales. . . . Miniature masterworks of modern horror, proving that life is hard, weird, and always fatal.” — Kirkus Reviews [starred review]

“In his new collection of short stories, Joe Hill shows how insanely good he is at shocking, terrible, whoa, cover-your-mouth-and-gasp endings . . . . Seamless and finely crafted work.” — New York Times Book Review

“This collection cements Hill’s reputation as a versatile master of scares both subtle and shocking.” — Publishers Weekly [starred review]

“Hill’s latest collection of short stories is compulsively readable. Thirteen stories weave in and out of gritty realism, whimsical folklore, and futuristic sf, flowing from one to the next in a fast-paced journey through the surreal. Hill fills each story with shocking plot twists, excellent worldbuilding, and satisfying kismet.” — Library Journal

" Hill is a versatile talent, and this kaleidoscopic collection whirls from crime premises that sound like they could be out of a hardboiled noir, to lyrical and magical-realist works dripping with atmosphere and impressive visuals, to midwestern gothic nightmares straight out of the ’70s horror heyday. Across them all, Hill’s clear voice and talent rings through loud and clear." — barnesandnoble.com

“Hill calls to mind Harlan Ellison at his absolute best, with a penchant for cruel characters learning hard truths.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Full Throttle is a great collection and just more proof that Hill is one of the great storytellers of the early 21st century. Highly recommended.” — SFF World

“This new collection of short fiction by acclaimed horror and suspense writer Joe Hill proves that Hill can do it all.” — CrimeReads

“A four-pack of mayhem in this sparkling collection of short novels. . . .Worth waiting in line for, if you’re a Hill fan. If you’re not, this is the book to turn you into one.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on STRANGE WEATHER

“Every piece is driven by anxiety and unease and feature Hill’s trademark characters who feel absolutely real. But it is also the sense of place that dazzles, whether it’s a sinister version of Narnia in ‘Faun,’ on a coastal pier in ‘Dark Carousel,’ or on a plane as WWIII breaks out in ‘You Are Released.’ Hill lulls the reader into deep enjoyment, even as the terror lies just around the corner.” — Library Journal [starred review]

“[I]n times like these, when real-world terrors outstrip our night terrors, how can a novelist possibly compete? Joe Hill, the author of several terrifying bestsellers, rises to this challenge in Strange Weather.” — Washington Post on STRANGE WEATHER

“[A]nother must-read from a increasingly impressive storyteller [...] Strange Weather speaks to the versatility of Joe Hill’s craft, telling deeply disturbing stories in which cataclysmic forces of nature seem like a gentle rain when set against the actions of villains who are all too human.” — barnesandnoble.com on STRANGE WEATHER

“The Weather quartet unleashes a perfect storm of styles, from a slow-burn thriller to ethereal sci-fi, all told with a consistently strong voice…. Hill whips up emotional moments in all four that strike like lightning and thunderously rumble your soul.” — USA Today on STRANGE WEATHER

“Original and gripping, a page-turner.” — George R. R. Martin on THE FIREMAN

“[The Fireman] reaffirms [Joe Hill’s] gifts for riveting attention and pushing genre conventions to new extremes. ” — New York Times Book Review on THE FIREMAN

“[A] superb supernatural thriller . . . a tremendous, heartrending epic of bravery and love set in a fully realized and terrifying apocalyptic world, where hope lies in the simplest of gestures and the fullest of hearts.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on THE FIREMAN

“[An] undeniably readable work.” — Booklist (starred review) on NOS4A2

“A genuinely scary novel filled with people you care about; the kind of book that still stays in your mind after you’ve turned over the final page. I loved it unreservedly.” — Neil Gaiman on HEART-SHAPED BOX

“Powerful . . . a fast-paced plot that crackles with expertly planted surprises and revelations . . . a truly memorable debut.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on HEART-SHAPED BOX

“[An] inventive collection . . . brave and astute.” — New York Times Book Review (Editor’s Choice) on 20th CENTURY GHOSTS

“[O]ne of the best [horror] collections of the year.” — Locus on 20th CENTURY GHOSTS

Hill calls to mind Harlan Ellison at his absolute best, with a penchant for cruel characters learning hard truths.

In his new collection of short stories, Joe Hill shows how insanely good he is at shocking, terrible, whoa, cover-your-mouth-and-gasp endings . . . . Seamless and finely crafted work.

Full Throttle is a great collection and just more proof that Hill is one of the great storytellers of the early 21st century. Highly recommended.

" Hill is a versatile talent, and this kaleidoscopic collection whirls from crime premises that sound like they could be out of a hardboiled noir, to lyrical and magical-realist works dripping with atmosphere and impressive visuals, to midwestern gothic nightmares straight out of the ’70s horror heyday. Across them all, Hill’s clear voice and talent rings through loud and clear."

This new collection of short fiction by acclaimed horror and suspense writer Joe Hill proves that Hill can do it all.

Hill calls to mind Harlan Ellison at his absolute best, with a penchant for cruel characters learning hard truths.

[An] inventive collection . . . brave and astute.

The Weather quartet unleashes a perfect storm of styles, from a slow-burn thriller to ethereal sci-fi, all told with a consistently strong voice…. Hill whips up emotional moments in all four that strike like lightning and thunderously rumble your soul.

[An] undeniably readable work.

A genuinely scary novel filled with people you care about; the kind of book that still stays in your mind after you’ve turned over the final page. I loved it unreservedly.

Original and gripping, a page-turner.

[I]n times like these, when real-world terrors outstrip our night terrors, how can a novelist possibly compete? Joe Hill, the author of several terrifying bestsellers, rises to this challenge in Strange Weather.

[The Fireman] reaffirms [Joe Hill’s] gifts for riveting attention and pushing genre conventions to new extremes.

[A]nother must-read from a increasingly impressive storyteller [...] Strange Weather speaks to the versatility of Joe Hill’s craft, telling deeply disturbing stories in which cataclysmic forces of nature seem like a gentle rain when set against the actions of villains who are all too human.

[O]ne of the best [horror] collections of the year.

[An] inventive collection . . . brave and astute.

[O]ne of the best [horror] collections of the year.

[The Fireman] reaffirms [Joe Hill’s] gifts for riveting attention and pushing genre conventions to new extremes.

In his new collection of short stories, Joe Hill shows how insanely good he is at shocking, terrible, whoa, cover-your-mouth-and-gasp endings . . . . Seamless and finely crafted work.

[I]n times like these, when real-world terrors outstrip our night terrors, how can a novelist possibly compete? Joe Hill, the author of several terrifying bestsellers, rises to this challenge in Strange Weather.

[An] undeniably readable work.

Full Throttle is a great collection and just more proof that Hill is one of the great storytellers of the early 21st century. Highly recommended.

The Weather quartet unleashes a perfect storm of styles, from a slow-burn thriller to ethereal sci-fi, all told with a consistently strong voice…. Hill whips up emotional moments in all four that strike like lightning and thunderously rumble your soul.

Hill calls to mind Harlan Ellison at his absolute best, with a penchant for cruel characters learning hard truths.

This new collection of short fiction by acclaimed horror and suspense writer Joe Hill proves that Hill can do it all.

[An] inventive collection . . . brave and astute.

A terrific cast of narrators lend their voices to 13 stories by Joe Hill, two of which are cowritten with his dad, Stephen King. Hill himself reads the utterly delightful introduction, remembering his childhood and his path to becoming a successful horror writer. The first story, “Throttle,” follows, with Stephen Lang perfectly portraying a gang of bikers who are being terrorized by a maniacal trucker. From there, narrating duties are shared by Neil Gaiman, Zachary Quinto, Kate Mulgrew, and more. Listeners will find their own favorites. However, booklovers may agree that “Late Returns,” narrated by Wil Wheaton—about a librarian slipping through time to offer the dead one last great read—is the gem of this collection. A.T.N. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2019 Best Audiobook, 2020 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine