Fire Starter

Fiction by Stephen King
Reviewed by Spencer D.
Not in the NVHS Collection as of this post


This novel is about the efforts of fugitives Charlie McGee and her father, Andy. The result of a government experiment gone awry. Both Andy and his late wife Vicki were injected with a drug that allowed them limited psychic abilities. They passed on this power to their daughter, who captures the government’s attention with her pyrokinesis - the ability to start fires with her mind. The Shop, a seedy branch of central intelligence, will stop at nothing to kidnap the child and force her into experiments in which her power of fire is monitored to an intense degree.

Stephen King sets the story at a fast pace to emphasize the urgent chase as the government agents hunt the two fugitives. This is one of Stephen King’s early novels, and one of the first in which a child is the main character. Although this is one of his first times making a child the main character, he does an absolutely amazing job and shows that once again he is a master of words. King’s witty dialogue and ability to build suspense add to this enjoyable novel. The reader can’t help but become absorbed into the action, and feel the heat rise as the tension mounts through these strenuous situations and tough decisions. I would recommend this book to all Stephen King fans and those admire his work because this is one of his best early novels.