... I read my first ever Stephen King at the age of 14, and I was hooked, this review is going to be about that book, “Firestarter”.
The Author
**************
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine, America in 1947. His first sojourn into the field of writing was at the tender age of ... Read review
Stephen King wasn't exactly in peak form when he wroteFirestarter, so this 1984 movie ... more
adaptation was at a disadvantage even before the cameras rolled. There were so many King movies being made at the time the weaknesses of this one became even more apparent. In her first film role after her memorable appearance inE.T., Drew Barrymore stars as a little girl whose parents acquired strange mental powers after participating in a secret government experiment. From this genetic background she has developed the mysterious ability to set anything on fire at will, especially when she's angry. That makes her very interesting to government officials seeking to exploit her skill as a secret weapon. Her father tries to protect her by using his powers of mind-control, while George C. Scott plays an Indian who believes the girl must be destroyed. There is a routine climax involving a lot of impressive pyrotechnics, but none of this is grounded in a dramatically solid foundation, and none of the characters are developed enough for us to care about them. Director Mark L. Lester, who the following year madeCommandowith Schwarzenegger, keeps the pace cracking along, but nevertheless the movie gradually turns into a laughable thriller with no suspense whatsoever. It's a movie only a pyromaniac could love. --Jeff ShannonOn the DVD:This is a largely no-frills presentation, albeit with a decent anamorphic print. The only extras are the original theatrical trailer and a nicely presented menu. A fold-out booklet has informative liner notes and a reproduction of the film poster.
Postage & Packaging:£2.69 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: A compelling read with excellent storyline Disadvantages: I was up all night reading it.
My life is, as many these days, hectic and there are times when I just want to escape from it all. When I feel like this there is nothing better than escaping into a good book. You see, I love to read, and although I will read any book my favourites are those that feature horror or fantasy. And my favourite author is Stephen King who, in my opinion, writes the very best horrors. I read my first ever Stephen King at the age of 14, and I was hooked, ... .../>
The Author
**************
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine, America in 1947. His first sojourn into the field of writing was at the tender age of 12, when he and his brother started a local newspaper. His first published novel, however, was “Carrie”, which arrived in 1974. He is a prolific writer, and has published countless novels and short stories, many of which have been adapted as movies, both as Stephen ... more
My life is, as many these days, hectic and there are times when I just want to escape from it all. When I feel like this there is nothing better than escaping into a good book. You see, I love to read, and although I will read any book my favourites are those that feature horror or fantasy. And my favourite author is Stephen King who, in my opinion, writes the very best horrors. I read my first ever Stephen King at the age of 14, and I was hooked, this review is going to be about that book, “Firestarter”.
The Author **************
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine, America in 1947. His first sojourn into the field of writing was at the tender age of 12, when he and his brother started a local newspaper. His first published novel, however, was “Carrie”, which arrived in 1974. He is a prolific writer, and has published countless novels and short stories, many of which have been adapted as movies, both as Stephen King and Richard Bachman.
The Storyline ****************
When Andy and Vicky agreed to take part in a psych test, organised by a secret government agency (The Shop), involving taking a low grade hallucinogen “Lot 6”, they had no idea that it would give them Pyschic powers. And, what no-one could have predicted was that they would marry and have a child, Charlie, who has somehow inherited a mix of their powers and is now pyrokinetic, that is she is a firestarter.
Now the government are after her, and it's upto her Dad to keep her safe........
The Characters ******************
There are a vast range of characters within the book here I'll introduce just a few :
Andy McGee : Andy took “Lot 6” as part of an experiment while at college. As a result he now has mild mind control powers, which he calls “The Push”. However, whenever he pushes, it does some kind of damage to his brain and gives him severe headaches.
Vicky McGee : Vicky also took part in “Lot 6”, she has occasional telekinesis, that is she can sometimes move things using only her mind.
Charlene McGee : Charlie is something completely different, she has inherited psychic powers from both her Mum and Dad. She is telekinetic, has a touch of mindreading, but most significantly, she is pyrokinetic and can light fires with the force of her mind.
Dr Wanless : Dr Wanless is the scientist who conducted the original experiment. He is the epitome of a mad scientist and is now obsessed with the result, that is Charlie.
Cap : Cap is the head of “The shop” a secret government agency, that seems completely above the law. A, quite sympathetic character, who is trying to clear up the mess left by his predessor.
Rainbird : A truly frightening character, Rainbird is a native American, who is “The Shops” best assassin.
There are, of course, many other characters within the story, all equally well written.
The Stories Within The Story *********************************
As with all Stephen King books, there are underlying storylines, dealing with among others Charlie's relationship with her father, and her desire to live a quiet life with him. It is this depth that makes this such a good story.
Horror or Paranoid Drama? ********************************
I guess this will depend on what you as a person find frightening. I personally would put this book firmly as a horror. I remember when I first read it, being truly frightened by some of the characters. But, my best friend at the time, couldn't see anything scary as such, but we both agreed it was a great book.
A Good Read *****************
Definitely ! ! !
Firstly, I love Stephen King's style of writing, the way you are drawn into the plot and need to know what happens next. Then the story itself is so compelling, each of the characters has some trait, that makes you want to find out what happens to them. Reading the book as an adult, is a very different experience to that as a teenager, now I'm older and know a little bit more about what America was like at the time the book was written, I can understand the paranoid undertones more.
However, this is not a book for those of the Mills & Boon disposition, there are no love stories, except that of family love, this is a gripping horror/drama from start to finish.
Other Information *********************
First Published : 1980 Publisher : Plume/Penguin ISBN : 0452273307/0451167805 No. Pages : 416 Price : From 46p on Amazon Marketplace, or borrow it from your library for free.
There is also a DVD available starring a very young Drew Barrymore as Charlie, which is a very good adaptation.
Advantages: Paranoia, strange powers, men in black - if you like that kind of thing, check this out. Disadvantages: On the other hand, if you don't like that kind of thing...
'Firestarter' is perhaps one of King's less well known books - certainly it is among the least talked about. At the time of publishing it must have seemed as though the master of horror was taking his fiction in a new direction, for this is far easier on the terror than other novels from the same period.
The book follows a father and daughter on the run from a government agency investigating psychic powers. During their University years, the mother ... ...were administered a drug called Lot 6, supposedly a hallucinogen. At the time, they weren't o know that the drug would in fact give them psychic powers. When in later life they had a baby girl, they were alarmed to discover that she was pyrokinetic - able to start fires with the power of her mind. Now the government has decided to reclaim its experiment, and put it to work as a weapon.
Far more a thriller than a horror, the novel remains deeply ...
RichardW 11.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Firestarter - Stephen King
Advantages: Completely hooked from the first page Disadvantages: No obvious disadvantages
Young Charlie McGee is a very special girl. The result of scientific experimentation on her parents, she has the ability create fires wherever and whenever she chooses, by force of will alone. On the run from sinister government agents with her telekinetic father, she only wants to forget her monstrous abilities, and live a normal life. When the pair are captured, Charlie must decide between saving her father and using her fiery powers at the whim ... ...weapon.
Less of a horror novel than straight suspense but no less powerful for all that. Despite some obligatory gore sequences early on this develops along different lines instead with a great combination of chase and intrigue. What makes this so convincing is the characters, as with all early King novels you feel that only a little effort was placed into the overall story line. He just thinks up a fairly routine plot device stirs it up with enough ...
toon_33 23.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Firestarter - Stephen King
Advantages: a great read, you can sleep at night afterwards Disadvantages: you may never trust the government again
Stephen King's imagination is legendary. This is one of the books that gave him that reputation. It is a thoroughly believable book that is able to touch on sixth sense, conspiracy theory, and terror all at once. The story tracks the movements of a father and his daughter who are on the run from government agents. Through a series of flashbacks the reader is able to piece together the government funded experiment that went, depending on one's point ... ...The girl is the product of two people that participated in the experiment and is therefore affected to a much greater degree. This book is not as obviously frightening as King's other stories, and is therefore accessable to more people, but it is very disturbing on a much more subtle level. ...
JeffSumm 23.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Firestarter - Stephen King
Advantages: Gripping, nervous, highly realistic Disadvantages: Don't even think of buying it if you're afraid of fire!
...plot, but she is a firestarter - in other words, using her mind she can start fires of terrifying proportions.
That is the premise. The story that springs from it is superb, believable, gripping, involving. You will feel for Charlie's plight, you will shudder at those who attempt to capture her.
This is not a monsters and evil story, which is the stereotype Stephen King regrettably finds himself stuck with. Rather, it's an exceptional novel based ... ...not seem far-fetched after the first hundred pages, I promise.
However, it is not the events that will ensnare you. It will be the characters. They are almost scarily perfect, and will have you rooting for them or loathing them. No-one fails to inspire a feeling, and they make the book. ...
AndrewDalton 11.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Firestarter - Stephen King
Advantages: Loveable characters, great ending, 500 pages. Disadvantages: Too long for some?
Stephen King is arguably one of the best writers alive today, if not of all time. He made himself famous with books such as Carrie and The Shining, and more recent books such as Cell. He specialises in Horror books, although he has also branched of into fantasy books on several occasions. In my opinion this book is somewhere in between horror and science fiction.
The story follows the struggles of single father Andy McGee and his adorable daughter ... ...have given both of the psionic abilities. Charlie has the ability to start fires using her mind, a talent known as pyrokinesis. She is the story's main character, and the government assosiation "The Shop" are constantly hunting her down in order to test and harness her seemingly boundless power. Stephen King portrays the struggles of the young girl (around the age of 7 in the novel), as she tries cope with her extraordinary power and the government ...
JamieJCO 29.08.2008 (12.09.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Firestarter - Stephen King
Product Information for "Firestarter - Stephen King" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Horror
Title
Firestarter
Author
Stephen King
ISBN
0340899042; 0340952695; 0670315419
Manufacturer's product description
Firestarter is the mesmerising and menacing story of a sinister government agency, a fateful drug experiment, and a pigtailed girl named Charlie, who has an unimaginably terrifying gift: the power of pyrokinesis.
Compare Firestarter - Stephen King to other similar Horror Books »
Stephen King's claim to fame ; Superb atmosphere ; Sublime plot ; A vivid imagination that stretches all supernatural boundaries ; Probably responsible for some of the best horror films of the 70's and 80's
Some unessesary background in the first half ; Kubrik mucked up the story too much ; Could have been much more (*)
![Stephen King's Firestarter [VHS] [1984]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83952422.jpg "Stephen King's Firestarter [VHS] [1984]")
