The psychopath plague [Hardcover]

Steven G Spruill (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038513147X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385131476
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,888,565 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 70's Sci-Fi at its best, June 15, 2005

By 

Corey B. Downing (Concord N.H. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The psychopath plague (Hardcover)

I took a chance on the Psychopath Plague while browsing in a local secondhand book store. The main character is Elias Cain a rootless jack of all trades in a future(no date is ever given)where specialization is the key. Mr. Cains most notable quirk is his need for stimulation provided by any risky situation. After winning a high stakes game(some sort of super chess) our hero gains his loyal alien sidekick Pendrake. Soon, this duo sets out to discover why Earth is suffering from a wave of violence that threatens to wipe out all humans if not stopped.
The characters are well developed and likable in a fast paced plot. The 1978 copyright gives a charming precomputer feel to a future setting. I got a chuckle out of the hero picking the key lock on a spaceship. The only problem with the book is the ending is a bit hashed together to fit within the 252 page length.