Steve Book

Current status
 Duration
 First appearance
 Last appearance
 Cause/reason
 Introduced by
 Residence

**Steve Book** is a fictional character in the ABC daytime drama *General Hospital*.

He was portrayed by Brad Schmidt on September 30 and October 3, 2022. He returned on October 19. Schmidt next returned on July 24, 2023 and August 23, 2023.

Schmidt previously filled in for Johnny Wactor as Brando Corbin temporarily for three days in 2022.

## Background

On September 9, 2022; Spencer is in the PCPD Interrogation Room. Jordan assigns Rory to process Spencer before he goes to prison. Rory gives Spencer an envelope to put his personal effects in. Rory tells Spencer that he talked to his C.O. buddy in Pentonville who will see if he can get Spencer assigned to a work detail in the library. Spencer thanks Rory but says he can take care of himself.

## Storylines

On September 30, 2022; Spencer is shelving books at the prison library when the guard leaves the room and an inmate named Steve Book comes in. Spencer looks at him as the man picks up a book and leafs through it. Spencer walks by him and Steve slams the book out of Spencer's hand. He says that was long overdue and tells Spencer to pick up the book. They argue and Book slams Spencer in the face with a book and knocks him to the floor and he's like his female counterpart Hilda Dorsey who was threatening Alexis Davis a year earlier prior to it.

Spencer asks Steve what his problem is, Steve says Spencer is the one with the problem. Spencer asks how he is Steve’s problem. Steve says Spencer used his connections to steal his job. It took him 12 years to get assigned to the library and he is out now. Spencer says 12 years is a long time. Book agrees and tells Spencer to pick up the book again. When he does, Steve steps on Spencer’s fingers in an attempt to return the favor to Hilda.

Spencer apologizes and Steve says that anything useless offends him and that includes Spencer. He says rumor has it that Spencer's father wanted to buy the prison last year and now hard working citizens are paying to feed and house Spencer. He threatens to Spencer a "tax break" but Cyrus comes in quoting scripture.

Steve tells Cyrus to leave. Cyrus agrees if Book will let Spencer go. He does and Steve says Cyrus is a walking after school special. Cyrus tells Steve that if he changes his mind about the preaching, he knows where to find him. Book tells Spencer that he got lucky this time but next time he will make sure they aren’t interrupted as he leaves the room.

Spencer suspects Cyrus arranged for him to be alone with Steve but Cyrus denies it. Cyrus tells Spencer that he just made Book into an enemy. Spencer asks why they call him that and assumes it is because he works in the library. Cyrus explains that Book once beat a man into a vegetative state with an Oxford dictionary.

On October 19 as Cyrus was telling Spencer in the library that he will look out for him, Steve comes in. He tells Spencer that Sonny can't keep Spencer safe all the time and Cyrus is just an old man. Cyrus asks Steve if he wants Spencer to join his side. Spencer stops the arguing and asks what Steve wants. Steve says he has been working in the laundry room and wants Spencer to step down as librarian. Spencer refuses and Cyrus tells Steve to leave but Steve punches Cyrus. In retaliation, Cyrus slams Steve against the wall and twists Steve's arm behind his back.

Cyrus lets Steve go before a guard comes in and asks what is going on. Cyrus claims Steve has a shiv which the guard finds in Book's pocket. Book is sent to solitary confinement as he claims he is innocent. Spencer suspects Cyrus had the shiv planted on Steve and Cyrus said he has connections that Steve knows nothing about. Cyrus explained to Spencer that it isn't his place to kill Steve but he can briefly keep Book away from Spencer. Spencer gives Cyrus a translation of the New Testament ("A book for a Book.") that came into the prison while clarifying that he owes Cyrus nothing and Cyrus agrees.

After John Brennan's arrest and John was put in Pentonville for his crimes including a hostile takeover of the W.S.B., Book is given a new cellmate who happened to be John Brennan.

## Crimes Committed

* Put a man in a coma by beating him with an Oxford dictionary [revealed Oct 3, 2022]
* Serving a prison sentence for at least the last 12 years [revealed Oct 3, 2022]
* Smashed a book into Spencer Cassadine's face [Sep 30, 2022]
* Stepped on Spencer's fingers [Oct 3, 2022]
* Punched Cyrus Renault [Oct 19, 2022]
* Assaulted Cyrus Renault again by grabbing him by his hoodie and throwing him into a wall, threatening him with further violence, then threatened Drew after he intervened on Cyrus' behalf [Jul 31, 2023; sent to solitary confinement]
* Charged at Drew and Cyrus with a shiv [Jul 31, 2023; sent to solitary confinement]

## Health and Vitals

* Pinned against the wall by Cyrus Renault and had his arm twisted behind him [Oct 19, 2022]
* Had a shiv planted on him by Cyrus; sent to solitary confinement [Oct 19, 2022]
* Rendered temporarily unconscious after Drew slammed him into a table [Jul 31, 2023]
* Got into a hand-to-hand fight with Drew after he charged Cyrus and Drew with a shiv, a fight which ended with Drew punching him across the face [Jul 31, 2023]

## Relationships

* Friends
* Enemies

* Frank Anderson - Fellow inmate
* Greg Barnes - Fellow inmate
* John Brennan - Fellow inmate and Steve's cellmate
* Hilda Dorsey - Steve's female counterpart and fellow inmate
* Chris Gentry - Fellow inmate
* Paul Gentry - Fellow inmate
* Paul Hornsby - Fellow inmate
* Olivia Jerome - Fellow inmate
* Johnny Zacchara - Fellow inmate

* Drew Cain
* Laura Collins - Current Mayor of Port Charles
* Alexis Davis
* Ellen Garten - Former Warden at Pentonville
* Janice Lomax - Former Mayor of Port Charles