Bobby Conroy Comes Back from the Dead audiobook

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.

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.

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.

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?

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)

Loved it.

Just loved it!