Bobby Conroy Comes Back from the Dead: A Dark Gothic Horror Short Story

by Joe Hill

From the New York Times bestselling author of NOS4A2 and Horns comes this e-short story—from Joe Hill’s award-winning collection 20th Century Ghosts.

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 one 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. Francis 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. . . .

 

 

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2007

About the author

Joe Hill's debut, Heart-Shaped Box, won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His second, Horns, was made into a film freakfest starring Daniel Radcliffe. His other novels include NOS4A2, and his #1 New York Times Best-Seller, The Fireman... which was also the winner of a 2016 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror Novel.

He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.

He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.

He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.

Reviews

[Andrew Lennon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like the last story in this collection, it isn't really scary. I'm fact it's a bit of a love story.
It's the old high school crush thing. What would've could've should've happened and then they grow up and meet. And realise that it just doesn't work that way.
A nice story, just not even a bit horror.

All reviews can be found at http://lennonslair.blogspot.co.uk

[Jonathan Echevarria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a common misconception that all of the stories collected in 20th Century Ghosts are all ghost stories. Despite the misleading title of the book this isn't the case at all. (Unless you read the introduction which states that the book contains non-horror related stories. But I digress...) Bobby Conroy Comes Back from the Dead is sort of a romantic story that takes place on the movie set of Dawn of the Dead as they film the final scenes of the iconic movie. You can tell that Joe Hill must be a fan of George Romero because he gets a lot of little tidbits about the classic film perfectly.

Regardless of the setting of the novella, the main focus is on Bobby and Harriet who were two potential lovers who never took a chance with each other. The exact reason why is never clearly revealed, but Joe Hill's masterful writing style reveals the chemistry between the two very nicely. Despite the two of them supporting each others dreams, they sacrificed the relationship that never got the chance to bloom. I was quickly sucked into their world and I definitely cared about these two's relationship with each other. Despite the ending not being resolved with a nice little bow, I was still happy I read the story and it was a true testament of Joe Hill's skill as a writer.

I give this novella a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I had a lot of fun with this little story. It's reads like this that keep me supporting Joe Hill's work.

[Diane Larson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost got sucked into the fact that Stephen King is Joe Hill's father and gave this short story a 2 instead of a 1, but then I realized that this story was definitely a 1 for me. Neither of the characters were likeable (the man was winy and bitter - even attacking the woman who he never had the guts to develop a relationship with - and the woman showed a lack of character by not really standing up for the man she had chosen.)And then there was the trite ending with the line, who wants a do-over (meaning, with their lives, obviously, rather than reshooting the scene). It was just too cutesy and simple. And no, I didn't give Joe a bad rating because he is Stephen King's son, if some of you were thinking that. I read a writer's work and evaluate it only by the quality of the work. I've read two other pieces of work by Hill and didn't care for those either. Now I'm done with him. I can't help but wonder if Hill would be very successful if he didn't have the powerful, influential father he has. It seems like there are so many writers with more talent who are virtually unheard of. Maybe I just don't have a feel for Hill's stories, or maybe this is just another example of the Emperor's New Clothes - the way our culture is so quick to worship our celebrities and everything associated with them.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Not scary at all which was a bit disappointing, but it was written like a classic romantic-sitcom between two failed comedians and it had a warm and fuzzy ending. Not what I was expecting at all, but still pretty enjoyable. Everyone wants a do-over is the message of the story, ain’t that the truth?

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much I just bought the whole book. Somehow thought this was a zombie story - instead it was an excellent character piece set during the filming of one of Romero's movies. The voices are clear, funny, and engaging. Definitely interested in more of Hill's work.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shit, I don't know. It just feels like a lame Stephen King story to me.

[Zoë Birss · Rating 4 out of 5]

So... I'm reading a story by Joe Hill in a collection of short zombie fiction. I think it would be reasonable for me to expect horror. Instead - a love story.

This beautifully engaging story finds its tone and the unique voices of the characters very quickly. It isn't a zombie fiction at all, really, but that it takes place on the set of Romero's Dawn of the Dead between two struggling actors now playing zombie extras for a dollar. They once knew each other in high school, were lovers, pursued their careers and drifted apart, and are now becoming reacquainted after their disappointments.

The setting is perfect for the story. The time period, the mall, a low-budget film set for a film destined to become a classic. It all perfectly serves the story. Needs will appreciate Hill's description of real people who were present that day, of accurate portrayals of the shooting, and even real scenes from the film.

Though not horror, there is something perfectly dreary and hopeless and just a little bit sick underneath it all that feels just like a Romero film.

Recommended to fans of Joe Hill and George Romero. Or even just George Romero - it's an excellent tribute.

[Sean Brennan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so, tale in homage to Gearge Romero.

[Сибин Майналовски · Rating 1 out of 5]

На теория - "обяснение в любов" към Джордж Ромеро. На практика - слаба ракия.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of the collection 20th Century Ghosts.

[Call me Jeeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing from else’s perspective maybe the ghosts of the past working maybe a future not yet known but the addition of George Romero a master at telling ghost stories and the horror stories. Joe hill will soon have movies television and books all over the place. Did he sell his like daddy . Evil is the heart of that man, not just stoney, but damn cavernous and dark.

[Nick Katenkamp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining for the most part but ultimately pointless. The two main characters are well developed, and I found their banter humorous but without more context and a larger purpose for their interaction it left me feeling disappointed.

[William Cherico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off pretty depressing but feels somewhat hopeful by the end, like Bobby and Harriet are going to be able to make up for wasted time. The decision to set it during a shoot for a zombie film was smart, it played in well to the theme of Bobby finding purpose in his life again.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crush story. Not a love story. Not a zombie story. Not horror. Some name dropping. What woulda, coulda, shoulda, sorta happened-ish like for sure...you know?

[Dustin Domingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly not horror but a story I have a good time reading when I come across it.

(Recently read it in John Joseph Adams' "The Living Dead)

[Andrew kutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really good, and I love the references to his childhood because he was in Creepshow and George Romero was the one that directed that and it was just a fun Drama filled story.

[Whitley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two adults who clearly had a romance meet during the filming of a zombie movie, and end up reconnecting.

[Kaitlyn (ktxx22) Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Hill you old romantic! Well if you’d have told me this story would be a sweet one vs a scary one I would’ve been surprised and honestly I was. Really enjoyed this.

[Mayumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei muito como o set de um filme de zumbi é a ambientação para o protagonista "voltar à vida". Essa dualidade entre vida e morte potencializa tudo. Muitos sentimentos. Gostei muito.

[Dylan Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Maggie Leroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just loved it!