Hellstone [Paperback]

Steven Spruill (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Playboy Mass Market Paperbacks (December 1980)
• ISBN-10: 0872167682
• ISBN-13: 978-0872167681
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,229,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

1968: Andrews University. Graduated with B.A. in biology.
1969: Married Nancy Lyon

1969-1974: Hazleton Laboratories. Laboratory technician, technical writer.

1974-1981: The Catholic University.
While studying for a doctorate in clinical psychology, Spruill sold his first novel, Keepers of the Gate, to Doubleday in 1976. Five more of his novels were published while he completed graduate school. During this period, Spruill also served as an adjunct professor at Catholic University, teaching creative writing to students in the drama program at Catholic U. In 1980, Spruill completed his doctoral dissertation on Creativity, and was awarded the Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1981.

1981-present: After completing a year's internship at Mount Vernon Hospital in Virginia, Spruill turned to writing, full time. Fifteen of his novels, two novellas, and one non-fiction book have been published by Doubleday, Playboy Press, St. Martin's Press, TOR, Berkley, and Dell. His pseudonyms include Steve Morgan (UK), Steve Lyon, and Steven Harriman (Berkley). His work has sold in over twenty foreign countries. Several of his novels were selections of The Literary Guild and the Doubleday Book Club. Three of his medical thrillers were condensed in Good Housekeeping Magazine and one in Reader's Digest Books. Both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly have awarded starred reviews to his novels. Spruill's novel Rulers of Darkness was nominated for the British Fantasy Award. It was this novel that, in 1995, coined the term "Hemophage" to describe the "reality" behind the vampire myth. In 1995, the Catholic University of America conferred upon Spruill its award for "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Literature." Other recipients of this award in the arts include Susan Sarandon and Jon Voight.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars just short of spectacular, June 20, 2003

By 

David Group (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hellstone (Paperback)

Based on the cover of this novel (some undefinable creature holding a stone covered in runes) I was expecting a cheap thrill of some rampaging creature ripping the heads off people or something along that lines. What I got instead was a rather smart thriller that was more Alistair MacLean than Stephen King. In fact, this was like a MacLean espionage thriller with quite a bit of Dean Koontz-like horror elements grafted onto it, as a research team attempts to uncover the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster, with various individuals attempting to sabotage the expedition. A mysterious stone covered in runes also features into the story. Though the writing is not quite polished enough to make it a must-read, and the novel is perhaps a bit too ambitious for its own good, those looking for something different and challenging should seek this out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books, February 4, 2006

By 

Eric Bottos (Houston Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hellstone (Paperback)

When I picked up this book for a couple books at a Half Price Bookstore I really thought it was going to be a typical monster book.
The cover artwork is goofy, and you just don't expect too much from a book with a cover like that. However this book proves you can not judge a book by its cover.

The story begins in Roman times with a band of Druids being pursued accross Scotland by a band of Roman Soldiers. Best first chapter ever. The minute you read the last line of the first chapter - I dare you not to be hooked on this story.

To tell you anything about the story after that would ruin it for you. The book's big mystery and the reveal as to what is actually going on at Loch Ness for the last 1000 years is just too creative and fun to tell you.

I love this book. I have read it 4 times and enjoyed it every reading. Recently I got rid of most of my library. Out of 2500 books I kept about 50 - and this was one of them. I encourage anyone who get the chance to read this book.