Firestarter
Published: 29, September 1980
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Psychic, Science Fiction, Superhero, Suspense, Supernatural, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Stephen King's novel Firestarter is a science fiction horror thriller. Firestarter was nominated for the British Fantasy Award, Locus Poll Award, and Balrog Award for Best Novel in 1981. It was made into a film in 1984. Firestarter: Rekindled, a miniseries based on the film, premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002, and a remake from Blumhouse Productions is set to premiere on May 13, 2022. The original film from 1984 was a terrific film, and I'm hoping that this new adaptation will be just as excellent, if not better, than the previous one since, with modern technology, they can make the "Firestarter" bits even better.
The characters in Stephen King's books are virtually always intriguing, and Firestarter is no exception. Charlie is a fantastic young girl, and by the conclusion of the novel, I was rooting for her. Her role is little at first, but she begins to come into her own around halfway through and only improves from there.
Andy is a genuinely nice person who clearly cares about Charlie and wants to protect her. As his past is uncovered, it becomes clear that he has continuously utilized his talents for the good of others, whereas most of us would be tempted to exploit them for our own profit.
The antagonists are just as intriguing, with John Rainbird being particularly terrifying. He's one of the few characters in any literature or film that I despise the most.
It's a classic Stephen King novel in every way. It's a paranoid tale with interesting characters. He's always been a genius at incorporating the weather and scenery into his stories as well.
With the addition of a flame thrower, it transforms into a work of art. The earlier legends like these are mostly warnings about the corruption of power than political assertions.
With lifelike scene and scenario creation, flawless language, and character development, Stephen King brings the craft of writing to life, making you adore the good people and hate the evil ones.
The three-dimensionality of this now-famous movie narrative explodes off the paper. It served as a reminder that the maestro is hard at work, creating masterpieces with every stroke of his pen or each keystroke.
If you've just seen the movie and think it's alright to skip the book, you're losing out on a lot. I thought I knew what to anticipate from seeing the movie so many times before reading this book, but I was incorrect; I adored Andy for always being such a wonderful father, and Charlie, who I believe was born into doom with her skills.
I was outraged and angry at Rainbird, and I wanted to break every bone in his body and then let him recover so I could break his bones all over again, which is fantastic evidence of a brilliant author's writing when it makes me think about a character in his novel in such a twisted way.
Stephen King doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves for his work. He's always engaging, writes effectively, and has fantastic character-driven narratives. Yes, some of his topics are supernatural, but once you get over that, you'll see what a brilliant writer he is and what makes excellent writing.
I read Firestarter a long time ago and enjoyed it, and I liked it much more when I read it for this review. This is one of Stephen King's most sympathetic works, in my opinion, because the supernatural concepts aren't pushed too far. Everything is believable, and he understands how to pull you into the plot and make his characters come alive for you.
That is more than can be said for a lot of today's authors. To be honest, I think Stephen King has written some fantastic books; The Stand, Carrie, The Green Mile, Misery, and Pet Sematary are just a few of my favorites; in fact, I like everything he has written.
The secret is to read his novels with an open mind, and you'll discover numerous hidden meanings and the truth will be revealed to you, and you'll enjoy everything he writes, as I and many other readers have. The same may be said for another great late novelist, Anne Rice; simply read her works in the same way and you'll find the cosmos concealed in her words.
I vividly remember the anguish I felt for Charlie while she was blowing things up, and how pleased I was while watching the movie since I was practically her age when I watched it, and I had no idea who Stephen King was at the time.
However, practically all of my favorite films were adaptations of his works. I used to read a lot of novels since I was super young, but I never cared who wrote them since I was simply interested in reading whatever I could get my hands on. But when I discovered who Stephen King is, I realized I owned roughly thirty of his books and had never realized it.
The movie is essentially a synopsis of the book, and you're losing out on a lot of details that will make you love or detest the characters you're reading about, as well as a variety of other feelings.
In a nutshell, it was a fantastic portrayal of pyrokinesis and the behind-the-scenes activities of pharmaceutical research. I really liked this book, but the movie doesn't do it credit.
Don't worry; the movie isn't horrible; it's simply not on the same level as the novel. If you haven't seen the movie yet, read this book first. Once the new film is released, I will update this section.
As the author intended, I never liked The Shop agency personnel. Apart from the movie, the book still includes certain information that wasn't in the movie, and I was entertained and give this book a hundred percent recommendation and points.
Final Thoughts
It's a delight to read Firestarter. It's short and sweet, clocking up a little over 400 pages, and the plot flows along well. Even as it becomes more difficult to see how Charlie and Andy can have a happy ending, it's nearly impossible not to cheer for them.
As the novel advanced, I found it to be more and more of a page-turner. Firestarter, like most of Stephen King's early work, takes a basic yet powerful premise and turns it into a fantastic story.
I suggest it to anybody searching for a gripping novel with well-developed characters, whether they are long-time Stephen King fans or newcomers.
Synopsis
“Master storyteller Stephen King presents the classic #1 New York Times bestseller—soon to be a major motion picture!
Andy McGee and Vicky Tomlinson were once college students looking to make some extra cash, volunteering as test subjects for an experiment orchestrated by the clandestine government organization known as The Shop. But the outcome unlocked exceptional latent psychic talents for the two of them—manifesting in even more terrifying ways when they fell in love and had a child. Their daughter, Charlie, has been gifted with the most extraordinary and uncontrollable power ever seen—pyrokinesis, the ability to create fire with her mind. Now the merciless agents of The Shop are in hot pursuit to apprehend this unexpected genetic anomaly for their own diabolical ends by any means necessary...including violent actions that may well ignite the entire world around them as Charlie retaliates with a fury of her own...”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
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Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
Buy the Kindle Version Here
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