It's not every day that you get to start an anthology of short fiction by reading about growing up with Stephen King as a father. This was what solidified my interest in what was about to become a wild ride.

This collection was gripping and intelligent. From the moment I read "Who's Your Daddy?" a nonfiction story about Stephen King, I was hooked. While only two of these are brand new stories, they are all new to me and I enjoyed them thoroughly. By far my favorites are "Dark Carousel" and "In the Tall Grass." Both left me afraid to sleep in the dark.

All of these tales share one interesting aspect in common. The protagonists are dubious characters. There is no doubt that they've done something wrong at some point in the story or in their backstory, yet I identified with them all the same. Joe Hill makes you root for the bad guys. Or at least feel sorry for them.

I highly recommend this for a pre-Halloween read, but be warned. If you are a fan of the author or of his father, Stephen King, you may have read most of these stories as they have been released in another form over the last few years and are simply compiled into this particular collection.

Full Throttle is my first foray into Joe Hill's work. Like any anthology of stories, there were hits and misses. I was surprised by the blend of realistic and fantasy elements since I'd guessed most would hit on the supernatural in some way. All definitely fit into the horror genre. The highlight story for me was "Dark Carousel".

Holy. Frickin. Moly. This might be one of the best collections of short stories out there, and definitely the best proof of Joe Hill’s talent as a writer. The range of stories is perfect - taking you from horror, to steampunk fantasy, to fairy-tale-gone-wrong, to zombies, to horrors of real life (i.e. war). Folks thinking this will be a purely horror collection may be disappointed in that fact, but the quality and creativity and awesomeness of all of these stories will hopefully help you get past that fact. I loved the allusions to circus-carnival-horror story vibes, and the tall grass story was amazing (excited to learn in the afterword that it’s already en route to Netflix streaming!). The fairy land hunting story felt like a new and original Dr. Moreau (though not really related, just my brain reaching for connections), and the same with the crazy freaky carousel (I felt “Needful Things” with zero connection or similarity, it just gave me the same FEELING if that makes sense).

I’ve been hit or miss with Hill, but this collection feels like mastery on display.

This might be my new favorite horror story anthology. Damn, Joe Hill can write a good scare.

Now, I mostly read novels, but I’ve read enough of Hill’s work that his name will bring me out regardless of what the book is. I was not disappointed.

Like any anthology, you’re going to love some stories more than others, but I loved so many of these. Both the stories ‘Late Returns’ and ‘In the Tall Grass,’ a collaboration with his father Stephen King, left me reeling, fascinated, and creeped out in the best ways.

The writing in these stories were nuanced, well-planned, and fantastically well-written. Hill has a knack for a gritty, relatable, way of turning a phrase that makes his shocking twists and turns all the more unexpected.

If you’re a horror fan, this is definitely for you. If you’re not sure if you’re a horror fan and you want to find out, this book is full of a dozen different scary niches you can try. Definitely check this one out for yourself.

Full Throttle is, as I have come to expect from Joe Hill, a work that takes off and goes from the very first paragraph; you will be horrified, disgusted, heartbroken, and find yourself caring, way more than you want to, even about the characters you know you shouldn't. What you will not be is sorry that you took the time to indulge in this anthology of deliciously terrifying horror stories that dropped Tuesday, right in time for Spooky Season.
Every story moves quickly- and although I am looking forward to watching the Netflix interpretation of 'In The Tall Grass', his collaboration with his father, the Master of Horror, Stephen King, I have to admit that my favorite of the collection was 'Throttle', the very first story in the book. I reread it 3 times before I sat down to write this.
Yes, Joe HIll's father is the Master of Horror but I daresay he himself has a title of his own- like the Overlord of Terror and Dread, as dread is what he weaves the most artfully into every single thing he writes- 'Full Throttle' does not disappoint.

Eh, I feel like it is better for Joe Hill to work on his own and not as much with his dad Stephen King. There collaboration is not the best. Write a sequel for Nosferatu instead!!

This was a good collection. The introduction was fantastic and really got me excited to read the stories! Some were misses for me, but others were great. Good for established Joe Hill fans and creepy short story lovers.

I got an ARC of this book.

So I am a big Joe Hill fan. I have read almost everything he has published. I watch everything that is made from his books. He is one of my favorite horror authors. On the flip side, I can't stand Stephen King's writing or the movies made from his writing. His books bore me. I just don't enjoy them. Please keep these two things in mind when I talk about the book. 

Of the stories, there were some that stood out. The best story in the collection for me was "Late Returns". It was like Hill wrote a story specifically for my taste. There were a lot of emotion. A TON OF EMOTIONS. There were lots of emotions around books. Everything centered around books that were overdue. I would like to take this moment to point out that I have never had an overdue library book. So I would fail to appear if this story was how bookmobiles worked. I am a bit saddened by this idea. 

Some of the stories stuck out for other reasons (this is the time to remember that I just don't like Stephen King's writing. I do like his tweets about his corgi however). The first story in the anthology was co-written with King. The story DRAGGED for me. Was this because I saw an author's name that I didn't like or because the story just wasn't for me? I can say it was both this time. You can tell the difference between the stories Hill wrote on his own and the ones that King was involved with and named on. I read the first one with King, I skipped the second. I just didn't want to read another story I wouldn't enjoy. After the first few pages of the second story, I just skipped ahead.

Most of the stories were wonderful. None of the others were as wonderful as "Late Returns", but it is really hard to reach perfection over and over again. I really enjoyed the variety of characters and locations. Some of the story were super gory and some were more psychological. This was a good mix for an anthology with more good than bad. It felt balanced and well written (even the stories I didn't like were well written which is just annoying). 

Ignoring the fact that King was involved (since who can fault King or Hill for wanting to write together, they are huge names and seem to have a good family relationship), this book was almost a five star book. The random insertion of homophobia and transphobia that did nothing to advance the story or create characters made me drop the book a star. There really is no need for it. It is like using rape as the go to horror plot for women. Hill is a better writer than this, it was really off putting to see him sink lower than I have seen before, repeatedly.

There aren’t many writers out there who are as thoughtfully scary as Joe Hill.

Hill has long shown a particular knack for telling stories that are, at their hearts, about the fears that we evoke in one another. Sure, there are supernatural or paranormal elements to some of his tales, but in the end, the real fear – the real impact – comes from man’s connection to man … and what happens when that connection is stretched, twisted or severed entirely.

Hill’s latest book is “Full Throttle,” a collection of 13 stories aimed at stoking the coals of that fear, seizing hold of your imagination and pulling it into the depths. There are heroes and villains (although sometimes it can be a little tricky to tell the difference). There is justice and vengeance (although again – sometimes they look awfully similar). There are strange fantastic realms and there are places that look just like home, weird beasts and regular folks.

Take the collection’s initial offering, for instance. “Throttle” – a tale Hill co-wrote with father Stephen King – is about a biker gang being relentlessly pursued through the deserts of the American Southwest by a shadowy figure in a semi. The pacing is deliberate even as the characters speed both away from and toward their fear; there are moments that are brutal and jarringly visceral. It is also a story about family, about what it means to be a parent when a child’s life has strayed significantly from the one you had hoped for them.

“Faun” ventures more into the realm of the supernatural, when a wealthy big-game hunter is given the opportunity to venture into a different world and take aim at the beasts that reside within. “Wolverton Station” is a weird tale about a corporate hatchet-man whose impulse decision to take the train has some horrifying ramifications. There are some striking experiments with form in pieces like “The Devil on the Staircase” and “Twittering from the Circus.”

The terrors of stories like “Thumbprint” and “You Are Released” are anchored in the real world; the latter was a close second in terms of my personal favorites, a thoughtful and insular look at what might happen when it all boils over and burns. Something like “Mums,” however, lets you make your own decisions as to what the “real world” even means.

Perhaps the best of the bunch – although of course your mileage will vary – is “Late Returns,” a thoughtful story that is probably the most hopeful in the entire collection. A man returns to his hometown following the passing of his parents and winds up as the new driver of the local library’s Bookmobile. Only this Bookmobile – a relic from the late 1960s – doesn’t just travel from place to place. Occasionally, it will move through time, allowing people from the past – people with books to return – one last great read before their end. It is an absolutely stunning story, smart and just the right degree of sentimental; I’d argue that it’s among the best work that Hill has ever done.

And on and on and on.

The truth is that it would be easy to expound at length upon just about every one of these stories. Hill’s narrative gifts are tremendous, and he unleashes them here to full effect. His ability to construct such sturdily delicate plots, both solid and subtle, is a joy to experience. He creates worlds in which we can’t help but immerse ourselves. It’s impressive enough that he can do that world-realization in his novels; to do that within the relatively limited parameters of short fiction is doubly so. The journey is taut and fraught and emotionally charged; the destination is visceral and surprising and both exquisitely chosen and utterly unexpected. He earns every shocked to hand-to-mouth he gets - and there are a few.

What you might not expect from a book of scary tales is how funny they are. Hill’s wicked sense of humor isn’t omnipresent, but when it pokes its s—t-stirring little head up, it makes a big impression. He’s clever, but not overly so; there’s none of the performative neediness you sometimes get when a writer tries to show off. There’s nothing needy or show-offy about Hill’s work; it’s more than strong enough to exist on its own terms.

Really, it comes back to those human connections. Fear burns brightest when there’s something to lose, and what greater loss could there be than those who are close to us? Hill understands that as well as anybody, and that thread runs to some degree through almost everything he writes.

“Full Throttle” is an outstanding collection of work from the pen of an outstanding writer. Joe Hill began his career trying to step out of his father’s shadow, but that time has long passed. He’s not standing in the long shade anymore, if he ever was. Instead, he’s casting a shadow of his own, one that grows longer with every exceptional offering.

Traveling the road, traveling between worlds, traveling into our deepest fears. Joe Hill hits every nerve and nuance in this short story anthology. Although most have been published elsewhere, most of the stories were new to this readers and those that I had read in the past were well worth revisiting. In Hill's introduction he speaks of either running to or away from the influences of our parents, and with a father like Stephen King, there is much to think about. Hill has run toward his father's influence and embraced it fully, but has most definitely evolved into a wonderful writer of the macabre and tantalizing terrifying in his own right. Full Throttle is a well formed collection and well worth the read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to read a prepublication copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. And, oh, dear readers, make sure you read the ENTIRE book, cover to cover or live forever with thoughts of what might have been.

This is a truly magnificent collection of short stories that I'm honored to have received an ARC for!! Each of them were dark and fascinating in their own way, but In the Tall Grass was my favorite! As always, you're an evil genius, Joe!!

Full Throttle is a collection of 13 short stories (2 of which are written with Stephen King). This is my first read by this author and overall, it didnt disappoint. Though there were a few bumps on this thrill ride. All stories rate between 3 and 5 stars.

My favorite story was Late Returns, definitely 5 stars! Other favorites were Dark Carousel, Wolverton Station, Faun, Mums, All I Care About Is You, and You Are Released.

The 4 star reads were Throttle (written with King), By The Silver Water of Lake Champlain, Tall Grass, and Twittering From The Circus of the Dead,

The 3 star reads were Thumbprint and The Devil On The Staircase. I just couldn't get into these two the way I could the others. That isn't to say they are poorly written, they just didn't work for me.

All of these stories are well written. There are bits of many different genres, which I enjoyed. The character development was well done and the settings and suspense building were excellent. Overall, this was a fun read and I would recommend going on the ride that these stories will take you. I am definitely going to look into reading more of Hill's work.

My appreciation to William Morrow, HarperCollins, Joe Hill, and NetGalley for providing me with a gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm thankful I got the chance to read the ARC. Joe Hill has been one of my favorite authors for awhile now. He's still behind his father, Stephen King, but he's definitely up there. This book had great collection of short stories. Each one different with some even written in different styles. About half of the stories ended leaving me wishing there was more to read. Maybe they'll get made into Creepshow stories (I know one definitely is). You never know in Mr. Hill's universe. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes Stephen King, mysteries, thrillers, horror, coming of age stories, stories that make you think, etc. I will always look forward to new work coming from this author.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Full Throttle by Joe HIll. This is a nice diversion - several short stories that will definitely keep you thinking. I liked them all, and some I liked alot. The one thing I can guarantee is that Stephen King fans, and Joe Hill's too, will like these short vignettes that are part horror, comedy, and just a bit scary.
Recommend.

As a general rule, I don't read short stories. Unless they are in-betweenie shorts in a series that I already read. Quite simply, they don't really suit my reading style and I tend not to get the best from them. However, that said, I loved his father's shorts and so, a while back, I read Hill's Strange Weather and really enjoyed the stories in that so I thought I'd give it a whirl.
It's an eclectic mix of stories, as every compilation should be, so obviously there were some I really loved and others that were a bit on the hmmm side for me. Every box of chocolates has its Turkish Delight! I've scored the book a five star read overall as, on the whole, the pluses way outshone the negatives.
There are a couple of stories contained herein that were co-written with his father. To be honest, I didn't notice any difference in quality between these and the solo efforts and that's a big compliment! I also understand that one of these co-authored stories has been optioned by Netflix - that's going to be interesting! I'd be quite interested in seeing this as, for me, that story wasn't one of my favourites!
Ones I really loved...
Late Returns - A recently bereaved man finds an overdue library book and, on returning it to the library, inadvertently also finds himself in a new job; driving the mobile library. His clients are, well, let's just say, quite interesting... Blooming loved this one!
Throttle - A motorcycle gang gets more than they bargained for riding out after a break at a truck stop. Very, very cleverly plotted!
All I Care About You - This one features a young girl who really wants something for her 16th birthday so "employs" a clockwork friend. Oh My! What an ending to this one!
I could say so much more about this book but I fear that my review will become longer than one of Hill's stories! It's an ideal book for dipping into in between longer reads or just going hell for leather and devouring in one go. I did a bit of both - reading just over half in one go and then savouring the rest over a few more days.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

There’s something for every reader in this collection of Joe Hill’s short stories. Dark fantasy. Dystopian sci-fi. Apocalyptic suspense. Time travel. And of course, horror: creature horror, supernatural horror, psychological horror, and the horror in realizing that people are what you should be afraid of most.

I fell in love with Joe Hill’s work after reading his graphic novel series Locke and Key; after that, I sought out his novels. Having read Locke and Key as well as his books, I truly think Joe Hill excels at short stories. He has brilliant, creative ideas, and he can craft a horror scene like no one else (except maybe his father.) I’ve been put off by short stories before because they end abruptly or feel unfinished or somewhat unrealized. That doesn’t happen with any of the stories in Full Throttle. Each story is addictive and easily digestible; some may leave you wanting more, but in a good way.

While I really loved “Throttle,” “All I Care About Is You,” “Late Returns,” “Mums,” and “In the Tall Grass," this collection has such a great variety of stories that I enjoyed many aspects of each one. A few of them have been published before in other anthologies or on their own, so if you’ve read his work elsewhere, you may come across them again.

Full Throttle is a must-read for any horror fan, or someone looking to start reading horror. Thanks William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

My favorites:

’Throttle’
’Dark Carousel’
’Wolverton Station’
’By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain’
’Late Returns’ - Loved this one!
’In the Tall Grass’

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of FULL THROTTLE in exchange for an honest review.

To me Full Throttle was a mixed bag of both good and bad stories. The stories I liked, I really enjoyed. The stories that I didn’t like, I really did not like.

Joe Hill has really got a knack for telling punchy, short stories. This collection is no exception. Personally, I loved Dark Carousel. There is something mysterious and creepy about carnival atmospheres, and he was able to capture that so well.

I had a little trouble with Twittering from the Circus of the Dead. Me personally, I struggle with long term reading in something that's not in paragraph form. In this case, a string of tweets. The story was there, but I just kind of stumble on that.

Great book, well written, and highly recommend!

This is a superb collection and the layout/flow of the stories was well planned.

Standouts for me in no particular order:
Mums - whoa
Faun - would love to see this adapted for TV/Film
Dark Carousel. - wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiild horses
All I Care About is You - you did it, you shocked me


Really though there were no stinkers in here which is rare for a short story collection. Let's face it there is usually one big massive pile of poo in a short story collection.

Was pleasantly surprised to find a small micro story at the end of the book as well, it was a highly enjoyable tiny tale.

To be honest I used to consider myself not a fan of Joe Hill based on his novels (don't judge me) but he really has a way with short stories and I would now proudly proclaim that yes I am a fan of Joe Hill's writing. Sure but some of these stories could have cleanly been worked into full length novels but may have lost some of their creepy charm along the way.

Perfect fall read.