Fusion Fire (Firebird Trilogy) (Paperback)

by Kathy Tyers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
In this sequel to the best-selling science fiction novel Firebird, Lady Firebird Angelo (Mari), who accepted Master Sentinel Brennan Caldwell's offer of pair bonding, eagerly awaits the birth of her twin sons. But her old life as a Wastling on her home planet of Netaia haunts her: her sister Princess Phoena, who hates Mari for escaping the suicide command all younger children of Netaian nobility face, will use any means to eliminate her. Meanwhile, the Shuhr, enemies of the Caldwells, step up efforts to wipe out Brennan's bloodline in order to prevent the Master Singer's (God) prophesied return of the Messiah through the Caldwell line. The innovative use of musical metaphors is highly effective in portraying God as the being who sang the universe into creation, and Mari's continuing journey toward belief realistically portrays a woman of war struggling to understand the Lord of Peace. The Firebird series is the most original Christian sf series to appear in years and belongs in every collection.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"... the most original Christian SF series to appear in years and belongs in every collection." -- Library Journal, Feb. 2000

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Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764222155
• ISBN-13: 978-0764222153
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #936,759 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good read, but needs to be taken in parts, December 6, 2003

By	"lirealbean" (Bozeman, MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fusion Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

I must say I was very excited to read Fusion Fire after having read the 1988 version of Firebird. I was aware that Firebird was redone and that its sequals were writen to follow the new format aswell, but I was unprepared for the differences in the book. I had been warned that Tyres preaches, and that this book is better left to those who wish to read such, but as one who respects but does not choose to folow that doctrine, I found that at times I felt alienated or better yet, uncomfortable. Getting past that, the book is a good science fiction read that presents moral dilemas and philosophical problems that can, if you don't technically follow the christian doctrine, make one ponder human nature and cultural formation. The reason I say this book should be taken in parts is that the characters are placed in terrible emotional situations that either don't end till a disappointing few pages before the end, or do end only to begin another, even worse dilema, ten pages away.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Double Take, August 10, 2000

By	Abraham H. Silverman "Abe" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read the orignal Firebird, a nice space opera-ish romantic tale with detailed and fulfilling characters and a well constituted plot. I read the "new" version, and while I didn't like it as much as the original, I found enough of the familiar elements that endeared me to the original book to be reasonably satisfied. This sequel tho - wow. Its a different story with different motivations behind it. I kept looking at the cover to make sure I was reading the right book. All of a sudden the continuity that had made the original so wonderful had been ripped apart by a series of improbable plot twists and characters that acted, well, out of character. Read the original. Read the new one if you are looking for psedo christian literature, but the new one, whew.... don't recommend it.

UPDATE: I finally found the original Firebird at the used book store a couple months ago -- wow. Every bit as good as I remembered. This is one that's worth hunting down. Just make sure it's the "normal" sized paper back you're picking up, not the slightly larger, although thinner, "updated" version!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Sequel to Firebird , December 16, 2006

By	Kyle Pratt (Chehalis, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

Rejected by her home world of Netaia, Lady Firebird now lives in the Federacy, with pair bond (husband), Master Sentinel Brennan Caldwell. Back on Netaia, her sister Princess Phoena, plots Firebird's murder and the restoration of Netaian aristocratic rule. Seeking to exploit the current tense situation are the Shuhr, enemies of the Caldwell family and their faith.

All three books in this series have been criticized for their Christian content because the first book was originally written as a secular novel. I find it hard to understand why someone would criticize Kathy Tyers for writing about her faith. Christian art, in all forms, is meant to either to glorify God or present ideas about the faith. In all three books of this series, this is done rather subtly. You could remove every mention of faith and religion and the story would still work.

Firebird, Fusion Fire and the third in the trilogy, Crown of Fire are not hard science fiction. These are stories of war, romance and yes, faith in a science fiction setting. The spiritual elements are merely a plus for believers. I recommend Fusion Fire.

Kyle Pratt