I love Joe Hill ~ BUT ~

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cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
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wyoming
Heart Shaped Box was my first Joe Hill read. I don't know for sure if his identity was widely known then, but I do know I got my copy through Book of the Month, and that I bought it solely because I thought it sounded good. No where in the description of the book was it mentioned who he was.

I know there are differing opinions on whether Joe writes like his father. But for me, the tone was immediately recognizable. Not to diminish his talent in any way, to me it was just a case of he learned from the master. But it was similar enough to me to take the jacket down and give the author picture a good once over. Then it was obvious to me. But I really had no idea beforehand.

Can't say it bothered me though. I got a chuckle out of it and a thrill knowing there was another King out there to read.
 

Sigmund

Waiting in Uber.
Jan 3, 2010
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In your mirror.
Hi.

I got Heart-Shaped Box from the library and within a chapter or two I thought to myself, "Nice. Very nice. Stephen King might have some competition." I didn't think to look so closely at the authors image. I did however Google "Joe Hill" to see what else he might have written and voila! "His parents are authors Stephen and Tabitha King."
I can totally understand why he chose not to use the King name.

I think most SK Constant Readers recognized Richard Bachman stories/books as Stephen King almost immediately. (I guess we *outted him*?)

I also dislike being lied to. I don't see Joe Hill nor Stephen King as liars (either by omission or commission).

Just my two cents.

(BTW-if one were to do a little research one would see how caring, compassionate and GENEROUS the entire King family is.)

Peace.
 

ghost19

"Have I run too far to get home?"
Sep 25, 2011
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Arkansas
I read "In the Tall Grass" a few weeks ago authored by Stephen King and Joe Hill. Somehow I missed this one when it first came out. One of the eeriest damn stories I've read in a while. I was very impressed at the collaboration. The whole story reminded me of when I first started reading Mr. King's books. The whole story keeps you off guard and just looking over your shoulder after you've turned the lights out..lol
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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New Zealand
I read "In the Tall Grass" a few weeks ago authored by Stephen King and Joe Hill. Somehow I missed this one when it first came out. One of the eeriest damn stories I've read in a while. I was very impressed at the collaboration. The whole story reminded me of when I first started reading Mr. King's books. The whole story keeps you off guard and just looking over your shoulder after you've turned the lights out..lol
This is another one I haven't read yet.