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Prisoner Of Fire
Vanessa smith looked like any normal seventeen year old girl. But Vanessa wasn't normal at all. She possessed extraordinary telepathic powers - and in the 1990s telepathy was the ultimate weapon in psychological warfare. Vanessa, along with other gifted children, was virtually a prisoner at Random Hill Residential School, developing her abilities for Government exploitation.
So when she escaped, Vanessa became a political embarrassment. Questions were asked by the Opposition. It was vital for the Prime Minister, the ruthless dictatorial Sir Joseph Humbolt, that everything that marked Vanessa's existence should be erased. And orders were given that she should be hunted down - using telepaths like herself - and destroyed.
So when she escaped, Vanessa became a political embarrassment. Questions were asked by the Opposition. It was vital for the Prime Minister, the ruthless dictatorial Sir Joseph Humbolt, that everything that marked Vanessa's existence should be erased. And orders were given that she should be hunted down - using telepaths like herself - and destroyed.
320 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1974
45 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Cooper
100 books45 followersExcerpted from wikipedia:
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).
In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 14, 2024
In this short novel, psychology and mental manipulation clash with psychiatrists and psychopaths as well. We even have a charming mad scientist who seems to have come straight out of "a bowler hat and a leather boot" because, in this very British book, courtesy is essential; even the government killers are perfect gentlemen who care about you offer a drink before negotiating how they are going to liquidate you.
November 26, 2015
A girl raised in a training facility for paranormals possesses extraordinary telepathic powers in a near future (relatively) world where telepathy and the few others with the power are viewed by Government as, potentially, threatening psychological weapons. She escapes and is hunted down by the opposing political interests: One who wishes to extinguish her, the Other who wishes to turn her into the ultimate weapon.
Prisoner of Fire is an easy-reading action story, where no heavy or complicated questions are asked. The notable and interesting element of the book was the ending, which I found held a strange effect. And, it was within the last few pages of the book, where the story and Vanessa, the main character, became scorched in my mind. There's a good technique employed to the very--very end, oddly memorable (I had to give a chuckle for Cooper's, let's say vision...)---a book I may have to read again down the road for an attraction other than just the simple story. I'm tempted because of this to rate this a 4 out of 5, but, the rating will be: 3/5.
Prisoner of Fire is an easy-reading action story, where no heavy or complicated questions are asked. The notable and interesting element of the book was the ending, which I found held a strange effect. And, it was within the last few pages of the book, where the story and Vanessa, the main character, became scorched in my mind. There's a good technique employed to the very--very end, oddly memorable (I had to give a chuckle for Cooper's, let's say vision...)---a book I may have to read again down the road for an attraction other than just the simple story. I'm tempted because of this to rate this a 4 out of 5, but, the rating will be: 3/5.
July 13, 2022
“Prisoner of Fire” by Edmund Cooper (1974) This Edition 1977
Overall Rating 8/10 – Flaming Good
Plot
A young telepathic girl, Vanessa Smith, escapes from her special school for paranormals and finds herself at the centre of a plot to kill her and also at the centre of another plot to kidnap her for nefarious gain. Along the way she stumbles into an unlikely friend who understands her and seeks to protect her. The race is on …
Writing Style
The writing is pretty standard for 1974 but almost doesn’t show its age (just a few areas where you would suspect you are not reading a totally modern novel). Sentences are short and crisp, the words are easy to digest with very little repetition of adjectives and verbs.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
Cooper has a unique way of writing the future. His ideas on how we would look are limited but conceptually quite good. If you were watching a black & white film made in 1950 about the future, say, 100 years from then, you might indeed be reading an Edmund Cooper novel.
In typical fashion, the author managed to slot in a few unexpected sexual scenes. They are always very short in nature, decidedly different, and usually occur only once throughout the entire novel. This time we had two or three.
There was an element of horror. It was not the kind of horror that you might see on the television but, rather, a very disturbing horror. Imagine if you will, a person hanging themselves because they know they are being manipulated to harm someone else. Imagine each action being vividly described in the narrative. Pretty gory huh? If I now tell you the victim is an immature 10 year old boy, how does that make you feel? As I said, “horror” but not like a TV film.
Lastly, while I was reading the book, I considered that the author could be making a whole load more out of the concept (which is brilliant). I was imagining all sorts of different ways the plot could have gone and, in particular, I thought he was missing some very big tricks. Pretty much, now I have finished the book, I still feel the same way. However, the last section of the coda absolutely destroyed me. (Don’t read it first, you will have nothing to wait for). Bravo Edmund.
In all, a great story but it dragged somewhat. Worth it though!
Overall Rating 8/10 – Flaming Good
Plot
A young telepathic girl, Vanessa Smith, escapes from her special school for paranormals and finds herself at the centre of a plot to kill her and also at the centre of another plot to kidnap her for nefarious gain. Along the way she stumbles into an unlikely friend who understands her and seeks to protect her. The race is on …
Writing Style
The writing is pretty standard for 1974 but almost doesn’t show its age (just a few areas where you would suspect you are not reading a totally modern novel). Sentences are short and crisp, the words are easy to digest with very little repetition of adjectives and verbs.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
Cooper has a unique way of writing the future. His ideas on how we would look are limited but conceptually quite good. If you were watching a black & white film made in 1950 about the future, say, 100 years from then, you might indeed be reading an Edmund Cooper novel.
In typical fashion, the author managed to slot in a few unexpected sexual scenes. They are always very short in nature, decidedly different, and usually occur only once throughout the entire novel. This time we had two or three.
There was an element of horror. It was not the kind of horror that you might see on the television but, rather, a very disturbing horror. Imagine if you will, a person hanging themselves because they know they are being manipulated to harm someone else. Imagine each action being vividly described in the narrative. Pretty gory huh? If I now tell you the victim is an immature 10 year old boy, how does that make you feel? As I said, “horror” but not like a TV film.
Lastly, while I was reading the book, I considered that the author could be making a whole load more out of the concept (which is brilliant). I was imagining all sorts of different ways the plot could have gone and, in particular, I thought he was missing some very big tricks. Pretty much, now I have finished the book, I still feel the same way. However, the last section of the coda absolutely destroyed me. (Don’t read it first, you will have nothing to wait for). Bravo Edmund.
In all, a great story but it dragged somewhat. Worth it though!
June 10, 2022
A young girl called Vanessa with powerful telepathic powers is held captive at a sinister research centre, reputedly for similarly gifted children. Sensing foul pay, she escapes and is found by a physically and emotionally scarred retired academic and psychologist, Roland. Together they try to outwit government hitmen and devious psychics, each with their own bleak agendas. This 1974 novel is a short, 91 page book that got going quickly and entertainingly, but ended all too abruptly, as though Mr Cooper had suddenly grown bored of his project. Entertaining and inventive, nevertheless, as most of EC's books are.
June 19, 2021
I went in looking for a cheesy government- chases-psychic-girl story - and while that's what I got, it's a pretty terrible take on the trope. It starts off okay, but then Vanessa loses all her character traits and turns into a mcguffin, and every other character starts off with only one and stays that way. Also a bit of creepyness that I'm sure seemed fine in the 70s but today is just rape...
February 16, 2025
This book was sci-fi romance before that and "romantasy" was ever a thing. It honestly set my brain on fire when I was in high school & heavily inspired my own ideas about tragic romance.
December 28, 2016
I think this is a interesting and well-written novel.
The author is growing fast in my eyes.
And the sad end wae a surprise.
The author is growing fast in my eyes.
And the sad end wae a surprise.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews