Stephen Coonts
Encyclopedia
Stephen Coonts is an American
thriller and suspense
novelist.
Coonts grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia
, a small coal-mining town http://stephencoonts.wordpress.com/about and earned an B.A.
degree in political science at West Virginia University
in 1968. He entered the Navy
the following year and flew an A-6 Intruder
medium attack plane during the Vietnam War
, where he served on two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
. He accumulated 1600 hours in the A-6 Intruder and earned a number of Navy commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross
. (His navigator
-bombardier
was LTjg
Stanley W. Bryant who later became a Rear Admiral and deputy commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe.)
After the war Coonts served as a flight instructor for A-6 aircraft for two years, then did a tour as an assistant catapult and arresting gear officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). After being honorably discharged from duty as a lieutenant in 1977, Coonts pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.)
degree at the University of Colorado
, graduating in 1979. He then worked as a lawyer for several oil and gas companies, pursuing his writing interests in his free time.
Coonts published short stories in a number of publications before writing Flight of the Intruder in 1986. That book, based in part on his experiences as an A-6 pilot during the Vietnam War, spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists, and later (1991) was made into a movie
. This launched his career as a novelist, and he continued writing adventure-thrillers, most of them based on the main character from his first book, Jake Grafton. Coonts has also written several other series and stand-alone novels, but is best known for the Grafton books.
Today Coonts continues to write, having had seventeen New York Times bestsellers (out of 20 books). He lives in Las Vegas
with his wife and son, Brandon.
Deep Black Series with William H. Keith
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thriller and suspense
Suspense
Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work. Suspense is not exclusive to fiction, though. Suspense may operate in any situation where there is a lead-up to a big event or dramatic...
novelist.
Coonts grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,725 at the 2000 census. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival,...
, a small coal-mining town http://stephencoonts.wordpress.com/about and earned an B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political science at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in 1968. He entered the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
the following year and flew an A-6 Intruder
A-6 Intruder
The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American, twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather medium attack aircraft to replace the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider...
medium attack plane during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, where he served on two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed the "Big E". At , she is the longest naval vessel in the world...
. He accumulated 1600 hours in the A-6 Intruder and earned a number of Navy commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
. (His navigator
Flight officer
The title flight officer was a military rank used by the United States Armed Forces where it was an air force warrant officer rank. It was also an air force rank in several Commonwealth nations where it was used for female officers and was equivalent to the rank of flight lieutenant...
-bombardier
Bombardier (air force)
A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb...
was LTjg
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
Stanley W. Bryant who later became a Rear Admiral and deputy commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe.)
After the war Coonts served as a flight instructor for A-6 aircraft for two years, then did a tour as an assistant catapult and arresting gear officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). After being honorably discharged from duty as a lieutenant in 1977, Coonts pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, graduating in 1979. He then worked as a lawyer for several oil and gas companies, pursuing his writing interests in his free time.
Coonts published short stories in a number of publications before writing Flight of the Intruder in 1986. That book, based in part on his experiences as an A-6 pilot during the Vietnam War, spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists, and later (1991) was made into a movie
Flight of the Intruder
Flight of the Intruder is a 1991 film directed by John Milius, which is based on the novel of the same name by A-6 Intruder pilot Stephen Coonts...
. This launched his career as a novelist, and he continued writing adventure-thrillers, most of them based on the main character from his first book, Jake Grafton. Coonts has also written several other series and stand-alone novels, but is best known for the Grafton books.
Today Coonts continues to write, having had seventeen New York Times bestsellers (out of 20 books). He lives in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
with his wife and son, Brandon.
Jake Grafton Series
- Note: The list below represents Stephen Coonts' suggested reading order.
- Flight of the IntruderFlight of the Intruder (novel)Flight of the Intruder is a novel written by Stephen Coonts in 1986 telling the stories of United States Navy aviators flying the A-6 Intruder – a two man, all-weather, aircraft carrier based strike aircraft on missions during the Vietnam War. The main character is Jake "Cool Hands" Grafton, a...
(1986), ISBN 0870212001 (filmed in 1991Flight of the IntruderFlight of the Intruder is a 1991 film directed by John Milius, which is based on the novel of the same name by A-6 Intruder pilot Stephen Coonts...
) - The Intruders (1994), ISBN 1591141281
- Final Flight (1988), ISBN 0385245556
- The Minotaur (1989), ISBN 0440207428
- Under Siege (1990), ISBN 0671722298
- The Red Horseman (1993), ISBN 0671748874
- Cuba (1999), ISBN 031220521X
- Hong Kong (2000), ISBN 0312253397
- America (2001), ISBN 0312253419
- Liberty (2003), ISBN 031228361X
Tommy Carmellini Series
- Note: The list below represents Stephen Coonts' suggested reading order.
- Liars and Thieves (aka Wages of Sin) (2004), ISBN 0312283628
- The Traitor (2006), ISBN 031232359X
- The Assassin (2008), ISBN 9780752868691
- The Disciple (2009), ISBN 978-0-312-37283-5
- Note: Tommy Carmellini also appears in the Jake Grafton novels Cuba, Hong Kong, America and Liberty
Deep Black Series with Jim DeFelice
- Deep Black (2003)
- Biowar (2004)
- Dark Zone (2004)
- Payback (2005)
- Jihad (2007)
- Conspiracy (2008)
Deep Black Series with William H. KeithWilliam H. Keith, Jr.William H. Keith is an American author. He served during the Vietnam War in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman. He became a professional artist, working in the game industry with his brother Andrew, before becoming a full-time author...
- Arctic Gold (2009)
- Sea of Terror (2010)
- Death Wave (2011)
Others
- Fortunes of War (1998), ISBN 0312185839, ISBN 0312969414
- The Garden of Eden (2006) (writing as Eve Adams)
Non-Fiction
- The Cannibal Queen: A Flight into the Heart of America (1992), ISBN 067174884X
- War In The Air: True Accounts (1996), ISBN 0671881906
- On Glorious Wings: The Best Flying Stories (2003), ISBN 0312877242
- Victory (2003), ISBN 0312874626
External links
- Official site
- Interview at the Pritzker Military LibraryPritzker Military LibraryThe Pritzker Military Library is a research library for the study of military history in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded in 2003 by COL James N. Pritzker, IL ARNG to be a non-partisan institution for the study of "the citizen soldier as an essential element for the preservation of...
- Stephen Coonts audio interview with National Review Online