• 20th Century Ghosts

  • By: Joe Hill
  • Narrated by: David LeDoux
  • Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (1,847 ratings)

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20th Century Ghosts  By  cover art

20th Century Ghosts

By: Joe Hill
Narrated by: David LeDoux
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Publisher's summary

A dazzlingly original, award-winning collection of visions and nightmares from the New York Times best-selling author of Heart-Shaped Box.

Imogene is young and beautiful. She kisses like a movie star and knows everything about every film ever made. She's also dead and waiting in the Rosebud Theater for Alec Sheldon on an afternoon in 1945....Arthur Roth is a lonely kid with big ideas and a gift for attracting abuse. It isn't easy to make friends when you're the only inflatable boy in town....Francis is unhappy. He was human once, but that was then. Now he's an eight-foot tall locust and everyone in Calliphora will tremble when they hear him sing....John Finney is locked in a basement that's stained with the blood of half a dozen other murdered children. In the cellar with him is an antique telephone, long since disconnected, but which rings at night with calls from the dead.

The past isn't dead. It isn't even past.

©2005, 2007 Joe Hill (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Winner, Short Stories/Collections, 2008

"Most of the stories display the unself-conscious dash that made Hill's novel an intelligent pleasure....Not just for ghost addicts." (Kirkus Reviews)

Featured Article: From Page to Scream—35 Spine-Chilling Listens that Inspired Horror Movies


There’s nothing better than turning off all the lights, grabbing a cozy blanket, and settling in with a good horror flick. Many of those standout suspenseful flicks have distinguished literary roots—based on books written by some of the most masterful authors in the genre. Here’s a spotlight on the books behind exceptional horror movies—a few of our favorite spooky or terrifying tales that will no doubt have you sleeping with the lights on.

What listeners say about 20th Century Ghosts

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Maybe its just me......

I like Joe Hill and have read/enjoyed (hard copy) Hear-Shaped Box.

This collection of stories was a little difficult for me to warm up to. I only really liked Black Telephone. The rest felt..... unfinished. Maybe its just a writting style Im not used to.

I have to say I liked the reader. He sounded a little like he had a head cold but that "stuffiness" made all the "kid" parts see so real.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dug it. Want more.

Solid stories. Not haunting or everlasting but all worth a listen. Looking to pick up more from Mr. Hill.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful as always

Joe Hill manages to avoid nepotism and becomes a prolific horror writer in his own right. I love the differences between stories and the different types of fear they elicit. Bravo.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this guy

Always loved Joe Hill, and the short stories were perfect for my short attention span these days :-)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome stories

who said ghost stories had to have ghosts? definitely worth the read. i really enjoyed the unique stories.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

Wonderful collection of short stories. Definitely worth listening to. The stories stick with you long after you finish the book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The short story "King"!

This book contains some awesome short stories. Joe Hill Is giving his family members a run for their money.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good Listen.

love all of Joe Hill's stuff, although some of the stories left me a little bit unsatisfied.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great stories with a subpar reading

If you are fan of Joe Hill, Stephen King, or Neil Gaiman, you’ll enjoy this short story collection. However I would recommend reading rather than listening.

The performer sounds like he has a cold through out his performance. It’s subtle, but once you notice it, it is both distracting and annoying.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great

20th century ghosts is a wonderful collection of short stories that show the creative imagination of Joe hill. each tale contains a well-developed world and characters. if you're looking for away to pass the time pick-up 20th century ghosts. you wont be disappointed

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