The highly anticipated fifth novel from acclaimed horror author Joe Hill, titled “King Sorrow,” is scheduled for release on October 21. This monumental 896-page tome narrates the eerie tale of college friends who inadvertently summon an otherworldly evil. For those looking to acquire it, the hardcover edition of “King Sorrow” is currently available for pre-order at a significant discount, priced at $26.60, a considerable reduction from its standard $40.
In addition to this new release, Joe Hill`s seminal debut fiction collection, “20th Century Ghosts,” is being reissued as an eye-catching 20th Anniversary Edition. Launched on August 19, this special paperback is offered for $16, a decrease from its original $20. While Walmart`s pre-orders for $15 have already sold out, copies can still be secured through Amazon.
William Morrow describes this reissued collection of short stories as a Deluxe Collector`s Edition, highlighting its distinct multicolored sprayed edges and a brand-new afterword. “20th Century Ghosts” houses an array of captivating horror narratives, most famously “The Black Phone,” which inspired a successful film adaptation in 2021. With “Black Phone 2” slated to premiere on October 17, this is an ideal time to revisit the compelling source material.
The Anniversary Edition of “20th Century Ghosts” features a cover design that perfectly encapsulates its ghoulish themes, with misty blue and magenta artwork. Its page edges are particularly striking, showcasing a unique blend of violet and blue hues adorned with magenta swirls and delicate neon pink insects crawling across them.
This 336-page collection features 15 diverse stories, many of which first appeared in smaller journals early in Hill`s writing career. Beyond the well-known “The Black Phone,” the collection includes other standout stories like “Abraham`s Boys,” a compelling follow-up to “Dracula”; a Kafka-esque narrative about a boy`s transformation into a giant insect; and “Pop Art,” a poignant tale exploring the friendship between a troubled boy and a boy made of inflatable plastic.
Originally published in 2005 with a limited print run, “20th Century Ghosts” garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning prestigious Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Awards. At the time of its publication, Joe Hill`s identity as the son of legendary horror author Stephen King was not publicly known; he revealed this in 2007, leading up to the release of his debut novel, “Heart-Shaped Box.” The collection is further enriched by an introduction from author Christopher Golden and a new afterword penned by Hill himself.
“King Sorrow” marks Hill`s return to novel writing, following “The Fireman” in 2016, thus ending a nearly decade-long anticipation for his fans. This 896-page novel, his longest to date, is set within the fictional Rackham College in Maine. The plot centers on Arthur Oakes, who, under duress, is compelled to steal rare books from the college library. He enlists his friends to help him escape this nightmare, leading to a suggestion of summoning a dragon to thwart the drug dealer responsible for his predicament. Arthur and five friends perform the summoning ritual using an ancient journal bound in its author`s skin. Predictably, invoking an evil entity with such a book has dire consequences, forcing the group into the grim task of sacrificing one person annually to placate the summoned evil, lest they all be sacrificed.
As widely known, Joe Hill is the eldest son of the esteemed horror writer Stephen King. The duo has collaborated on several projects, including two stories featured in Hill`s 2019 short story collection, “Full Throttle.” In a noteworthy coincidence, the “20th Century Ghosts: Anniversary Edition” is released on the same day as a new anthology of short stories set within the universe of Stephen King`s classic 1978 novel, “The Stand.” This 800-page anthology, titled “The End of the World As We Know It,” includes an introduction by King himself and original contributions from dozens of authors, with the hardcover edition available for $26.74.
Catch Up on Joe Hill`s Novels and Collections
Joe Hill`s Novels
All four of Joe Hill`s previous novels have become bestsellers, with several garnering awards. His 2007 debut novel, “Heart-Shaped Box,” notably won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His 2010 novel “Horns” was adapted into a 2014 movie starring Daniel Radcliffe. “NOS4A2” (pronounced Nosferatu), published in 2013, was later transformed into a two-season television series by AMC. The 2016 novel “The Fireman” is a post-apocalyptic story about a deadly fungus, highly recommended if you enjoyed “The Stand.”
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Heart-Shaped Box (2007)
- Paperback: $9.63
- Mass Market Paperback: $7
- Hardcover: $29.75
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Horns (2010)
- Paperback: $13
- Hardcover: $32
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NOS4A2 (2013)
- Paperback: $12.50
- Hardcover: Sold out
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The Fireman (2016)
- Paperback: $11.68
- Hardcover: $34
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King Sorrow (2025)
- Hardcover: $26.60
Short Story and Novella Collections
Beyond “20th Century Ghosts,” Hill has also published two additional collections of shorter fiction. The 2017 collection “Strange Weather” features four novellas (short novels), and “Full Throttle” from 2019 represents Hill`s most recent original publication of collected works.
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20th Century Ghosts (2005)
- 20th Anniversary Paperback: $16
- Paperback: $11
- Hardcover: $35
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Strange Weather: Four Short Novels (2017)
- Paperback: $27.48
- Hardcover: $39
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Full Throttle (2019)
- Paperback: $15
- Hardcover: Sold out
Joe Hill`s Locke & Key Series and Other Comics
Joe Hill has also established a prolific career in comic books. Most notably, he is the creator of “Locke & Key,” the supernatural fantasy series successfully adapted into a popular Netflix series. The complete original nearly 1,000-page run of “Locke & Key” is available either in a six-volume slipcase collection or as the hardcover Keyhouse Compendium. The slipcase box set currently offers a more budget-friendly option.
For premium collectors, a trio of hardcover Master Editions provides another way to experience the series, though these are priced higher at $50 each, and Volume 2 can be particularly challenging to locate. Several follow-up side stories and prequel volumes have been released since the main series concluded.
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Locke & Key 6-Volume Slipcase Set (Paperback): $78
- Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft: $12
- Volume 2: Head Games: $17
- Volume 3: Crown of Shadows: $17.83
- Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom: $17
- Volume 5: Clockworks: $20
- Volume 6: Alpha & Omega: $18.25
- Locke & Key: Keyhouse Compendium (Hardcover): $123.49
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Locke & Key: Master Editions (Hardcover)
- Master Edition: Volume 1: $50
- Master Edition: Volume 2: $50
- Master Edition: Volume 3: $50
- Locke & Key: Heaven and Earth (Hardcover): $10
- Locke & Key: Small World Deluxe Edition (Hardcover): $13.50
- Locke & Key: The Golden Age (Hardcover): $30
More Comics by Joe Hill
For those interested in more of Joe Hill`s comic work, explore the selection below. We particularly recommend the 6-volume Hill House Comics Box Set and “Joe Hill: The Graphic Novel Collection,” a nearly 500-page compilation featuring five graphic novels.
- Hill House Comics 6-Volume Box Set (Paperback): $52
- Joe Hill: The Graphic Novel Collection (Paperback): Preowned
- Joe Hill’s Rain (Hardcover): $11
- Basketful of Heads (Hardcover): $10
- Plunge (Hardcover): $12.74
- Dying is Easy (Hardcover): $18.71
- Thumbprint (Hardcover): $22
- The Cape (Hardcover): $24
- The Cape: Fallen (Hardcover): $10.38
- The Cape Omnibus (Paperback): $28 (Releases December 9)