John Steakley





John Steakley

Author profile


born
January 01, 1951 in Cleburne, Texas, The United States

died
November 27, 2010

website

genre


About this author

John Steakley, born 1951 in Cleburne, Texas, is an author, best known for his science fiction writing. He has written two major novels, Armor (1984) and Vampire$ (1991), the latter of which became the basis for John Carpenter's Vampires movie. He has also written several short stories in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Not a prolific writer, he lived most of his life in Texas, aside from brief spells in South America and Hollywood in his youth. After a long illness, novelist John Steakley passed away at his home in McKinney, Texas, on November 27, 2010.


Average rating: 4.01 · 4,114 ratings · 336 reviews · 2 distinct works
Armor
4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 3,373 ratings — published 1984 — 11 editions
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
add to my books
Vampire$
3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 785 ratings — published 1990 — 15 editions
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
add to my books

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

“You are
What you do
When it counts"
- Armor”
John Steakley

“Because it was the right thing?"
"Oh shit, I hope not."
"Afraid of becoming noble?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.
"That too. But basically, that's the worst reason I can think of for killing. 'That its the right thing to do'. You kill out of outrage or fury or to keep from dying or something like it, that's fine. Hell, kill them rather than bother with them - or be bothered by them. But if you're killing them because 'its the right thing to do', its only the right thing because you've done so many wrong things up until then to make that spot. It's not the right thing to do. It's the best of the last of your choices."
"That's the longest I've ever heard you talk at one time."
"That's because you never ask me about my hair."

- Armor”
John Steakley

“Oh, My God..." Even as he saw the face and heard that voice say "Crow..." he was throwing himself backward out of the shaft. Then the top of the elevator car blew out and the air was filler with shrapnel, everybody hit the deck, and crow grabbed his crossbow, yelling, "Get back! It's him, the vampire!" But it was too late. The vampire rose with the grip of a single beautiful hand, almost levitating toward them, his power and eyes and smile and terrible beauty so alien but so familiar, so pale but so solid, so horrible but so magnetic. And he came closer and closer. "Get back," ordered crow, and the Team started to obey. "Too late," the vampire said, halting them with the voice. "You've let me get too close." Crow raised his crossbow all the way then saied: "Hold it there." The thing laughed and said, "Are you joking?" "Stop!" said Crow. And the vampire smiled and showed his big teeth and said: "Stop me...”
John Steakley

Polls

JUNE SCIENCE FICTION: This run-off poll determines which novel becomes our June 2011 SF Book of the Month.

 
  43 votes, 60.6%

 
  28 votes, 39.4%

5 comments
More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
SciFi and Fantasy...: Space Opera Theme Books Needed 87 350 Nov 30, 2008 06:12pm  
Fantasy Book Club: What Are You Reading in April? 48 147 Apr 20, 2009 07:57am  
SciFi and Fantasy...: What I am also reading in April 41 266 Jun 30, 2009 07:43pm  
Beyond Reality: What are you reading right now? 180 337 Jul 01, 2009 01:34am  
Terminalcoffee: Vampires, Vampires, Vampires --> reading backwards -> tiny bunnies ->ninja kittens 199 83 Aug 19, 2009 08:59am  
The Sword and Laser: Sci Fi battle armor and bugs! 3 35 Jun 24, 2010 06:39pm  
Beyond Reality: Nominations for June 2011! 55 73 Mar 21, 2011 12:17pm  
The Sword and Laser: Side read Armor ::SPOILERS:: 28 69 Jul 28, 2011 10:21am