John A. Russo Books In Order

Publication Order of The Living Dead Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Picture Books

Publication Order of Graphic Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

An American writer with a highly influential reputation, the author and screenwriter John A. Russo has been writing for some time now. With a variety of films such as the infamous ‘Night of the Living Dead’ under his belt, he’s an extremely versatile and experienced novelist. Working with a diverse range of directors over the years, such as the acclaimed horror director George A. Romero, his novels have an extremely visceral and visual style.

Early and Personal Life

Born on the 2nd of February in 1939, John A Russo was born and raised in the United States of America. Growing up with a clear love of both the written word and the big-screen, Russo quickly understood that he could combine both of these passions for an engaging effect. Taking inspiration from his well defined love of genre horror and cinema, he soon set about creating his style and voice to be.

Graduating from school and higher education, he fast became acquainted with the cinema and how it worked as an art-form. Constantly learning throughout his upbringing, he was continually honing and refining his voice, creating an idiosyncratic and distinctive outlook. This would come to determine his perspective in the following years to come, as he clearly had a very keen eye for one particular area of cinema and literature.

Working on a number of film sets in a variety of different capacities, he has learned a whole range of different trades over the years. This has included working as an actor, a producer, a director and a screenwriter, all of which have allowed him an in-depth view of the industry unlike any other. It has also allowed him to utilize a very visceral and visual style within his writing itself, giving an immediacy it may otherwise not have had.

Still writing to this very day he has produced a number of non-fiction books about his time in cinema as well. These have assisted other up-and-coming writers and directors, including big names like Quentin Tarantino as well. With a lot more to come yet, his legacy will continue to live on, as there’s plenty more planned on the horizon yet.

Writing Career

Writing the book ‘Night of the Living Dead’ back in 1974, John A. Russo was soon well on his way towards becoming one of the foremost writers of horror of his generation. Creating a highly unique style and brand with this particular novel, it would set the template for the zombie horror genre for decades to follow. With his combination of engaging characters and social issues, he was able to build something that hadn’t really been seen before up until that point.

This has been Russos main franchise to date with his ‘The Living Dead’ series totaling three books so far. With a whole film series coming from this, as he’s worked with the legendary horror director George A Romero, it has managed to spawn a whole industry. Taking a revolutionary look at the zombie sub-genre, something which hadn’t really been fully utilized before, it helped to change the face of horror cinema for years to come.

Over the years he has grown to become seen as one of the pioneers of his genre, with a whole host of imitators following in his wake. Creating a mass formula of sorts, his template has gone on to be used by many others in a variety of different iterations over the the years. Not only that, but he is continually respected by those working within the industry today, with many leading figures citing him as one of their primary influences.

Attending a number of different events over the course of his long and extensive career, he is also a highly vocal spokesperson for his craft too. Featuring on the line-up of many conventions, he has become a major act for many people within the horror community with his almost iconic status. This has even included starring along side the heavy metal band Metallica in the past as well, something which also really helped boost his profile.

There’s still a lot more to come yet from this author, as he continues to tour and maintain his presence as spokesperson for his art-form. With a lot of non-fiction books on working in the industry coming from him too, he has also been able to impart his knowledge to others. This is something that won’t be stopping anytime soon, as his writing career and legacy grows from strength-to-strength into the foreseeable future.

The Majorettes

Originally published in 1979 through the Pocket Books publishing label in September, this was another early horror from John A. Russo. Working as a stand-alone, it uses many of his tropes that he’s used before, developing them and taking them in new directions. With a clear eye for the macabre, it manages to fully explore the darker and nastier aspects of human nature, which definitely needs to be taken into consideration before reading.

There’s a psychotic killer on the loose and they’ve already raped and murdered two young girls, leaving this book with a very grisly beginning. Not only that, but it seems that this killer doesn’t have any pattern behind their killing spree, which is the official line of the police investigating. This isn’t the case, though, and there definitely is a pattern to their work, and it’s something so simple that they have to spot it before it’s too late. Will they, though? Can they? What will happen to the majorettes?

The Academy

Initially published through the Burning Bulb Publishing label in 2014, this was first brought out on the 9th of June. One of the later horror novels from John A. Russo as an author, it shows a clear development in both his tone and his overall style. Whilst it may offer similar fare to his other novels, it’s sure to keep readers hooked, as well as offering some surprises along the way.

Taking the 1985 classic ‘Day Care’ from the same author, this title updates it for a modern audience, as it sees the horror revisited. As young child geniuses are enrolled in ‘The Academy’, they’re pushed to reach their full potential with an implanted device. One child learns the truth behind it, though, and he wants nothing to do with it, but his mind is already their, as he loses himself to revenge. What is the truth behind it all? Can he ever truly discover what’s really going on? Will he be able to escape from the Academy?