Summary

Community summary are the opinions of contributing users. These summary do not represent the opinions of Port Moody Public Library.
The book opens with David’s memorable narration of his father’s death. He also manages to explain that Epics were ordinary men who suddenly possessed extraordinary powers after the appearance of “Calamity” in the night sky. As a kid, David believed in what his father believed, that although there were bad Epics who were using their powers for personal advantage, there also must be heroes that would protect the general public from the bad Epics. While David and his father are visiting a banker, an Epic named Deathpoint (yep, you guessed it, if he points at you, you will vaporize) storms into the bank and starts killing people left and right to prove his power. David’s father planned on shooting Deathpoint with a gun from one of the fallen security guards, but is stopped when another more powerful Epic named Steelheart also enters the bank. Steelheart names himself the ruler of Chicago and in the ensuing aftermath Deathpoint tries to strangle Steelheart from behind. David’s father, wrongfully believing Steelheart is the hero everyone has been waiting for, shoots Deathpoint in the head. In the process, Steelheart’s face is grazed by the bullet, surprising everyone, especially Steelheart. Scared by his sudden vulnerability, Steelheart executes David’s father and all the people in the bank to remove all eyewitnesses. All except David. Ten years later, David has grown up by himself in Newcago (Chicago under Steelheart’s rule) and has been plotting vengeance the whole time. His knowledge of Epics leads him to the Reckoners, a shadowy group of humans who are the only ones fighting back. Can David help the Reckoners defeat Steelheart and liberate the people of Newcago? Read Steelheart to find out!