Firestarter by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A searing and captivating sci-fi horror thriller.

Andy is on the run from the authorities with his daughter, Charlie. He'd thought her secret would be safe. But, horrifyingly, he has realised, she will always be in danger.

For Charlie possesses a gift - the psychic ability to conjure fire, one she cannot yet control. A gift that may be a curse.

People learn to fear Charlie - and wish to weaponise her ability. At all costs, Andy must protect her, though he fears they are on an inevitable collision course into an inferno.

'Firestarter' is Stephen King's sixth novel, a thriller fused with elements of both sci-fi and horror, the relationship between a father and daughter at its heart. There is a classic, cinematic feel to the theme of the secret government programme and the pursuit of a child with mutant abilities. Like its predecessor, 'The Dead Zone', and King's first novel, 'Carrie', 'Firestarter' explores psychic phenomena, in this story specifically pyrokinesis and telepathy.

Stephen King has a particular knack for writing children leading as protagonists in adult novels. Charlie is a shining example of this; we witness the innocent little girl mature and become battle-scarred through the ordeals she suffers. Her father, Andy, strives to protect her, prepared to sacrifice himself if necessary, while fearing for her if he were no longer there to protect her. There are hidden depths to this story, with many universal concepts drawing on our empathy for such extraordinary circumstances.

The novel smoulders with suspense, both slow-burning and in sudden flashovers, with dramatic action sequences, emotional moments, supernatural and sci-fi themes, and moral and political philosophy. The villainy portrayed is chilling - both in the demonstration of power we can recognise around us every day on a close or widespread scale, and in the more acute and insidious evil of Rainbird. With a large cast of friends and foes, the characters’ interweaving and overlapping story arcs form a riveting and immersive narrative; this is undoubtedly a classic Stephen King novel. I would love to read a sequel, in the same way we got 'Doctor Sleep' so many years after 'The Shining'.

There have been several screen adaptations, first with a film version of the novel in 1984. A belated TV sequel to the film followed in 2002, featuring a grown-up Charlie in 'Firestarter: Rekindled’. A remake of the original film was released in 2022, with whispers that this may develop into a franchise.

Gripping and emotive, 'Firestarter' is an intense and provocative thriller that you won’t want to end.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram