William Sleator (1945–2011)
Author of House of Stairs
About the Author
William Sleator was born on February 13, 1945 in Harve de Grace, Maryland. In 1967, he received a BA in English from Harvard University. He mainly wrote science fiction novels for young adults. His first novel, Blackbriar, was published in 1972. He wrote more than 30 books including House of show more Stairs, Interstellar Pig, The Green Futures of Tycho, Strange Attractors, The Spirit House, The Boy Who Couldn't Die, and The Phantom Limb. His picture book, The Angry Moon, won a Caldecott Award in 1971. He died on August 3, 2011 at the age of 66. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by William Sleator
Associated Works
Bruce Coville's Book of Spine Tinglers II: More Tales to Make You Shiver (1997) — Contributor — 48 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Sleator, William
- Legal name
- Sleator III, William Warner
- Birthdate
- 1945-02-13
- Date of death
- 2011-08-03
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA
- Place of death
- Bua Chet, Thailand
- Places of residence
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
England, UK
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Thailand
University City, Missouri, USA (childhood)
Bua Chet, Thailand (last years of life) - Education
- Harvard University (A.B. | English | 1967)
- Occupations
- novelist
pianist
children's book author
young adult writer - Relationships
- Rhode, Paul Peter (companion, -1999)
Chitsa-Ard, Siang (companion, -2008)
Sleator, Tycho (sibling) - Organizations
- Boston Ballet (pianist)
Members
Discussions
Found: Juvenile novel - Kids have to escape room with red light in Name that Book (January 2023)
Found: Sci-fi fiction book about alien tournament looking for a stone in Name that Book (April 2022)
80s children's science fiction in Name that Book (November 2016)
Children's or young adult novel based on ideas of classical conditioning in Name that Book (October 2014)
Children's Mystery Book - 20th century in Name that Book (July 2013)
Young Adult boy and girl who read each others' minds in Name that Book (November 2010)
YA SF kids in a social experiment in Name that Book (June 2010)
YA Sci-Fi "The Cube"-like Book? in Name that Book (October 2009)
YA Held Hostage in Endless Stairs in Name that Book (May 2009)
Science fiction, man trapped in a "time box" (?), lots of push-ups and sit-ups in Name that Book (January 2009)
Young Adult Novel in Name that Book (December 2008)
Trapped on endless staircase in Name that Book (August 2008)
book about teens and mind control in Name that Book (July 2008)
Book about homeless children and bizarre experiments in Name that Book (April 2008)
Reviews
Interstellar pig by William Sleator
Novella. Slow first half, fast second half. Easy read. Very interesting premise.
I was not sure what to expect, but the title caught my eye.
It turned out to be a boring summer vacation that became a real adventure for Barney.
Stuck in the Captain’s House, which is far from the village, and no one close to Barney’s age (16) it is looking pretty dull. Then three young people show up that have rented the small cinderblock cottage close by. Young, tan, good looking, without much background, they give something of interest for Barney.
There is also a role playing game the threesome are addicted to, that also attracts Barney’s interest — Interstellar Pig. A strange game that seems based on the world of Space and the planets. Barney is dying to play a round of the game with the three.
Zena, Manny and Joe are looking for something that is key to Interstellar Pig and think it is in the Captain’s House or very close by. They come to the conclusion that Barney knows where the item is and decide to give Barney entry to the game.
Sci-fi and fantasy are part of the mix, while the two segments jockey to get what they want. Who will be the winner?… (more)
It turned out to be a boring summer vacation that became a real adventure for Barney.
Stuck in the Captain’s House, which is far from the village, and no one close to Barney’s age (16) it is looking pretty dull. Then three young people show up that have rented the small cinderblock cottage close by. Young, tan, good looking, without much background, they give something of interest for Barney.
There is also a role playing game the threesome are addicted to, that also attracts Barney’s interest — Interstellar Pig. A strange game that seems based on the world of Space and the planets. Barney is dying to play a round of the game with the three.
Zena, Manny and Joe are looking for something that is key to Interstellar Pig and think it is in the Captain’s House or very close by. They come to the conclusion that Barney knows where the item is and decide to give Barney entry to the game.
Sci-fi and fantasy are part of the mix, while the two segments jockey to get what they want. Who will be the winner?… (more)
Max finds himself in possession of a time travel device which is being eagerly sought by both the scientist who invented it and his alter ego from a different time line.
I just had a horrible flashback to highschool. This was a class read my English teacher made us read. I can not believe all these years later I still remember this horrific book. Some memories are better left covered over with a dark blackness never to be revealed. This is one of them but unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky.
It was horrible then and I don't care what anyone says I'm not about to 'give it a try' now. Some books don't deserve a second chance. This one doesn't deserve a first chance. There are better ways to spend your time than this. You could, for example, scrub the shower or pet an angry porcupine. The most this book deserves is a moment of silence for the book that was murdered on its behalf.… (more)
It was horrible then and I don't care what anyone says I'm not about to 'give it a try' now. Some books don't deserve a second chance. This one doesn't deserve a first chance. There are better ways to spend your time than this. You could, for example, scrub the shower or pet an angry porcupine. The most this book deserves is a moment of silence for the book that was murdered on its behalf.… (more)
Lists
Best Dystopias (1)
Read in 1999 (1)
Books with Twins (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 33
- Also by
- 11
- Members
- 5,902
- Popularity
- #4,183
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 199
- ISBNs
- 237
- Languages
- 6
- Favorited
- 18