You Are Released

by Joe Hill

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

1 pages, Unknown Binding

Published September 4, 2018

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

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story about a flight. What was it about the flash in Guam the pilot announced? What about all the different characters aboard and their strives? The author did a great job with this story in depicting the set of people in a plane and the staff. Well crafted characters and an interesting ending. Highly recommended!

[Jamie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that struck me about this short story is that it is another example of Joe Hills blinding ability at misdirection. Things are set up in this story to go one way, but rather than deliver an ending that showcase humanities worst the author provides a twist and reveals human beings, though flawed have the ability to endure.

This is achieved mainly because the characters are so instantly recognisable and then situation something we all fear. Best of all it leaves you wanting.

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of a group of strangers in an airplane as they hear the start of a nuclear war.

This is a story of the end of the world as observed by a group of international travelers in the air. They are unable to land at the original destination because this city is certain to be a target of nukes. They head north. Where and if they will land remains to be seen.

[Karl Drinkwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, with nice shifts of voice with PoV, and compelling to read. It's exactly what good short fiction should be. It's not surprising that this made the overall shortlist for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction (Bram Stoker Awards 2018). I was chair of the Long Fiction Jury, and this was one of my recommendations.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my lunch story (from the last literary issue of Russian 'Esquire'), and I completely forgot myself while reading. For thirty minutes I was on that plane with all its passengers, shocked and shaking with emotions, floating in the sunshine above the apocalypse. I had no idea that Joe Hill was such a talented writer, and now I feel like I must read one of his novels asap!

[Nick Katenkamp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t really understand the love for this one. It tells of a passengers aboard a plane learning a nuclear war is starting, but the characters are all poorly done caricatures.

[Jimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Are Released is a short story that is in Full Throttle, a short story collection by Joe Hill. This was my favorite short story in Full Throttle. Ironically, this is the last short story in this collection.

You Are Released is a great story that centers on in international 777 airplane trip. The author gives the reader some insight with some passengers and the flight crew. I was amazed how Mr. Hill brought up both religion and politics in the same short story, yet I was not swayed either way with these references. Bravo, Mr. Hill, simply bravo. I found You Are Released simply amazing and is at the tip of the spear with current events in the world. This is an amazing and wonderful story.

[Bernardo Villela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a story of sewn-together King vignettes.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one.

[Donna Denn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this one from Lividian Publications. Beautiful artwork by Francois Villancourt and a great story. The story itself is from Joe Hill's novel, Full Throttle. Well worth buying!

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this first a few years back in the "Full Throttle" collection. The "Flight or Fright" collection has been on my shelf for a bit but I haven't read it there yet. This recent re-read was because I received a copy of the illustrated, signed, numbered small press (Lividian Productions) chap book edition of this story. It's a thing of beauty from top to bottom--structure, typeface, illustrations---and it breathes another breath of life into this taut, emotional, balanced story. A great short story that is scarily plausible. Hill fully defines each of his characters no matter how much or how little "screen time" they receive.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is brilliantly written. Normally I dislike stories that use multiple points of view but it worked perfectly in this one, all of the characters were distinct and interesting, and all added a unique flavour to the overall texture of the work. I was absolutely absorbed in what was happening, what would happen, how they felt about it... and although it is complete as it is, I still want more, I think about what might happen with them after the story ended. Excellent story.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

more a character piece, or set of pieces, than a short story... just not much happening, there is no meaningful plot elements, no scares, no monsters, no, um, anything notable... on the plus side: Hill writes people much like his father, which means he does it quite well... sadly, there wasn't anything frightening about this one for me, so it just falls dead...

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best short stories I’ve read in regards to character. Most people in short fiction even go authors struggle in making a fully realised or at least relatable character. Joe Hill made around ten. I nearly knocked a star off because of the unclear ending. I don’t like ambiguity but I can appreciate it if done well. Joe just offered too many points for an answer that wasn’t true.

[Andrew kutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made the mistake of reading this one a day before getting on a plane and if you don’t know, this one does take place on a plane. now I will say I was OK with being on a plane after reading this one because it wasn’t anything to do with the plane having problems or anything, but it was still an interesting experience.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe Hill has an uncanny ability in 40 pages to take you on a journey that some authors couldn’t achieve in 900 pages. This tale is no different with the added bonus of grabbing your heart and squeezing it to a pulp.

[John Esse · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the real possibility of nuclear apocalypse that is constantly hovering over our heads isn't "horror," I don't know what is. This story has some satisfyingly dark contemplations on that, but also some unsatisfying commentary on politics and racism.

[Martin Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story by Joe Hill that appears in his collection Full Throttle. The story is set entirely on a transatlantic airplane. I gave it four stars because it's short and to the point while hitting with a big question an important one at that.

[David Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this terrifying chapbook in the mail from @lividianpub the other day, and leave it to @joe_hill to leave me completely unnerved about flying in less than 40 pages.

[Retrospective Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars. Read this as a wonderful Lividian Patreon chapbook signed by Joe Hill. A quick read with every human emotion on display.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing what Hill is able to do in so few. This short story has even more relevance with the current state of the world. Thanks to Lividian Publications for the high quality chapbook!

[vk chompooming · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good character driven tale told on a plane.

[Tiffany Lynn Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Are Released is not the story I was expecting going in and that is a great thing. Those last few paragraphs are going to stick with me.