Book Review: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

There's something incredible about the spirit of imagination and creativity we harbor as human beings. Something about it makes us feel more human, even if we cannot fathom exactly where, why or how we create what we do.

Equally, there's something unreliable about imagination, especially with the inexperience and innocence of youth. In Joe Hill's short story collection, 20th Century Ghosts, many of the narrators are still young and unsure of themselves, bringing into question the tangibility of what they see and understand. And the adults surrounding them either operate obliviously in the background, or add their own superstitious fears and doubts to the narrative.

In "My Father's Mask," for example, our young narrator Jack takes us into his parents "other" world at their cabin near Big Cat Lake, and Jack's perception of reality is turned upside down: he is faced with a labyrinthine forest where ghosts play impromptu card games, a boy on an old bicycle floating along a path late at night, "playing-card people" in mirrors, and a man in a mask that he thinks is his father but is not entirely sure. As he leaves the cabin, Jack accepts this new world as reality, and the reader is forced to accept it as well.

Originally released in 2005 by PS Publishing in the UK only, 20th Century Ghosts finally makes its North American debut. It is a highly imaginative collection of short stories Hill has written over the years, and displays Hill's mature writing style and command of the short story genre. The stories in this collection show Hill's diverse tastes and range from the humorous and heartfelt to the macabre and horrific.

And the writing in this collection is damn good. Unlike Hill's recent novel Heart-Shaped Box (which relied on dry prose, stereotyped characters and a thin plot), the prose in 20th Century Ghosts is very readable. It's easy to get lost in the worlds Hill has created, and before you know it, you'll be finished and wanting more.

Article Author: Kevin Eagan

Kevin Eagan is a Blogcritics Books Editor and (occasional) freelance writer based in the Greater St. Louis, MO area. He also writes at There There Kid, a blog that focuses on literature, culture, and music.

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