Firestarter [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephen King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 2003

Innocence and beauty ignite with evil and terror as a young girl exhibits signs of a wild and horrifying force.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Excellent condition with only a slight wrinkle on jacket. Beautiful cover art. This may be a First Edition, but is worth the purchase in any case. --Seller --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

After this and other books he went on to become the Steven King we all know and love. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Signet (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451167805
• ISBN-13: 978-0451167804
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (181 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Authors, A-Z

More About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Among his most recent are the Dark Tower novels, Cell, From a Buick 8, Everything's Eventual, Hearts in Atlantis, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Bag of Bones. His acclaimed nonfiction book, On Writing, was also a bestseller. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Give Me Fuel, Give Me Fire, Give Me That Which I Desire!", November 7, 2004

By 

Will Culp (Greenville, South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firestarter (Mass Market Paperback)

Firestarter(1980). A Novel By Horror Author Stephen King.

With Stephen King's first novel, 'Carrie', he carefully explored the phenomenon of supernatural and psychic abilities that are inside of us all, just waiting to be tapped. With 'Firestarter', King attempts yet again to write a novel all about psychic abilities, or, in this case, pyrokenesis. While the novel revolves around pyrokenesis, it also describes the secrecy and greed of the government, and how they manipulate their citizens to satisfy their own needs. After the release of 'Cujo' and 'The Stand', two of King's most acclaimed novels, people could only wait for 'Firestarter', which became a huge hit like its predecessors. So, was I impressed with 'Firestarter', or just dissapointed? Read on to find out!

Plot-

Charlie McGee, an innocent little 7 year old, has a terrible secret. In the flick of an eye, she can start fires, and she is oftentimes unable to stop them. Because of Charlie's inhuman abilities, The Shop(an elite branch of the CIA), constantly pursues Charlie and her father Andy to be able to study Charlie for militairy use. As Charlie and Andy travel all over the eastern coast, from New York to Maine, The Shop is always one step behind, giving meaning to the phrase, "you can run, but you can't hide." Although they may be at a disadvantage, Charlie and Andy are constantly trying to find a way to tell the world their sad story, and end the persecution of themselves. Can they do it? You'll have to find out...

Writing/Opinions/Etc.-

While I've been reading Dean Koontz lately, I've never picked up and read 'Firestarter', supposedly one of Stephen King's strongest novels. I decided to read it, and I'm glad I did. While this book may be typically overlooked by novels like 'Cujo' and 'IT', it's no less riveting and thoughtful, able to capture your imagination and keep it. King writes about government conspiracies and psychic abilities, and makes his fictional accounts seem breathtakingly real, as if this may be happening right around you. King has always seemed to be a better author in the late 70's and early 80's, as his novels are better-written, and, often better plotted, and 'Firestarter' is no less different. As I read the book, the pages seemed to be on fire(couldn't help it!), but I was delighted to see the pure emotion and care King put into 'Firestarter'. While it was never a pivotal or famous book in his catalogue, 'Firestarter' is a King novel no fan should pass up.

Overall, 'Firestarter' is a spooky thriller that scares you with the possibilities of a corrupt government and supernatural abilities, while keeping you glued to the novel until it's fiery finale. Definitely a book for any King fan, 'Firestarter' is sure to please almost any reader with an eye for suspense and who likes to have a few sleepless nights.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO FANS OF SUSPENSE AND STEPHEN KING! SOME PEOPLE OVERLOOK IT, BUT THOSE THAT HAVE ANY SENSE DON'T... BUY IT!

Also Recommended-

Cujo- Stephen King
Lost Boy, Lost Girl- Peter Straub
Watchers- Dean Koontz

Thanks For Reading!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of Kings Finer Moments, December 29, 2005

By 

Mr. Sinister (El Cajon, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firestarter (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read every Stephen King novel at least once, I can say without a trace of guilt that Firestarter is one of his finer moments. Pure story. This is King at the height of his powers. Straight forward and ass-kickingly killer. Meet Charlie, she's a little girl that can set fires with her mind. Her father has a small gift called The Push which nearly kills him whenever he uses it too hard. The Shop (King's version of the All-encompassingly-evil secret government agency) is trying to get ahold of the little girl because this ability she has of making fires seems like a good tool in the art of modern warfare. Well...they kill off mommy ... and the race is on. Daddy and Charlie are on the run with nowhere to go and no one they can trust. King kicks out all the stops on this one. Great storytelling. One of his very best. I've reread this one at least half a dozen times. One of my personal favorites. ranks right up there with It, The Shining & 'Salem's Lot. This is King in top form.

Dig it!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnifique, October 16, 2001

By 

Eimear Coffey (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Firestarter (Mass Market Paperback)

Being far too impatient to wait quietly for Stephen King to write a new book, I've recently taken to collecting some of his older novels to read in the meantime. "Firestarter" is one of King's earlier works, but it shows none of the amateur qualities that often afflict the early novels of some writers.

The book tells the story of Charlie, an 8 year old girl who possesses the power of pyrokinesis, a result of experiments her parents took part in during their college years. This ability makes a sinister government outfit known only as "The Shop" particularly keen to get their hands on her, and they don't care how they go about it.

The book opens with Charlie and her father on the run from Shop agents through the streets of Manhattan. Through their desperate attempts to escape, we begin to see more of the mysterious powers Charlie and her father possess, right up to their inevitable capture. However, where the book really starts to bite is in the Shop's Virginia compound, where a disillusioned hitman starts to think that perhaps Charlie can teach him more about death than any of the hundreds of people he has dispatched during his "career".

Firestarter is a genuinely riveting book, one that will have you cheering out loud for Charlie and her dad, Andy, and that will have you fuming at the insensitivity, inhumanity and cynicism of the bureaucrats that run any federal government.