No one's read Firestarter?

[Guin]

Come on! It's great! Evil government mind-control drug experiments gone haywire! Psychokinesis that puts Carrie to shame! Rolling Stone magazine as the only trustworthy media outlet in the USA!

Am I really the only one who has an opinion?

[Moderator]

When Jordan reorganized the Forum so that there were sub-forums for each title, many of the old posts were purged so it looks like we are starting without any comments. No reason not to start a new discussion, though. :smile2:

[michal]

I just finished re-reading Firestarter, and there was even a nice thread discussing it. But since you asked :biggrin2:, it is a fantastic book. I read it for the first time when I was no more than 13 or 14, and reading it now over a decade later (my GOD I feel old), I enjoy it much more. I like the idea of a gift being a curse and of how Charlie gets older and smarter as the book moves on.

[Jake Featherston]

I read it back around 1986, I believe it was.

I don't recall it being one of his better works (while I like his older stuff too, I tend to one who thinks Mr. King has become a better writer since the early 1990s), but in all honesty, I don't recall it that well at all. A lot of my memories of it seem to derive more from the film (which I actually saw before I ever read my first Stephen King novel), rather than from the book itself. 1986 was a long time ago, after all.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

No indeed not, Ms. Mod.

We had some discussion about it last year and the general consensus was that everyone should read it in an election year in the US, as it's perhaps one of Sai King's most 'political' novels (along with The Dead Zone) IMO. Guatanamo Bay anyone?

REALLY marvellous book (who doesn't love Charlie?) and I think I'm in a minority of one in that I really enjoyed the movie too, despite it's failings I think George C. Scott was chilling as Rainbird.

Long days and pleasant nights

[aptpupil]

John

Totally agree with your assessment of both Firestarter and The Dead Zone. For me, however, The Dead Zone was the better novel. Firestarter, may though, have had an edge as a movie.

One of my personal claims to fame is that, in the early 1980's, when I was a young man, I spent a full three hours in the departure lounge at Prestwick Airport sharing a table with George C Scott and his wife Trish Van de Vere, while our flight to New York was undergoing repairs. I think he took pity on me because I was young and travelling alone, and probably looked lost. It actually took a third party to whisper in my ear and inform me who the couple actually were. George was a real gentleman, and very friendly. His wife, unfortunately, wasn't having a great day, and left the table every five minutes to give a mouthful to the poor British Airways representative who was standing in the corner.

I guess some of us can handle life's little inconveniences better than others. I'm sure she's really nice, though! :smile2:

[Bostonbaby_21]

I just recently got it with a number of other books, and hope to be reading it soon :smile2:

[Patricia A]

One of the best. I read that when it first came out, then again a few years back.
I agree with John about it being socially significant even still.
I may read it again soon. :smile2:

[aneaglesangel]

I just re-read this again not so long ago. I lucked out and got a nice hardcover edition in the Unitarian church for 50 cents! It's not in as bad shape as The Shining that I got the same way, but still a little beat up. Either way, it's still a good story. But I think there was only one Stephen King story that I didn't like as much as the rest of the ones I've read and I can't even remember what it was. So I guess I'm a little biased!

[Atlana]

I have not read the book yet. But I have watched the movie. I want to read the book but it's hard to fine where I live because no one else like Stephen King :(

[Patricia A]

I have not read the book yet. But I have watched the movie. I want to read the book but it's hard to fine where I live because no one else like Stephen King :(
There are a lot of places online where you can get any book you like.
I can't imagine being in a place where no one else likes Stephen King... it gives me shivers! :eek2:

[Drawn to Ka-tet]

I have read Firestarter more than once and I am always finding relevance with the political and scientific communities.
I do believe that if 'they' could find talent like Charlie's, 'they' would try to harness it for their own rotten purposes.

Long days and pleasant nights.

[jules17330]

I read Firestarter at least once a year. It was one of the first books I picked up by SK and to this day, I regard it as one of the best. I love the complexity of Rainbird and the relationship between Charlie and Andy. This book also shows how effortless SK manages to put large amounts of backstory into his novels without boring the pants off of people. Also, the amount of research he must have done is astonishing. Just my little opinion, anyway.

[dawnde]

Yes I really enjoyed Firestarter ,very intriquing, makes me want to read again!

[dawnde]

Yes that is unacceptable, no one liking Mr. King!, you should start something! Like, I don't know maybe a protest, something like that!:wink2::biggrin2:

[adrianmarley]

God, it's so long since I read this novel. I read it a few times as a teenager and thought it was great. Thinking back on it, I agree with John in that it is one of SK's most political novels. He handles the whole evil government plot very well and the relationship between the father and daughter is beautifully handled. Just thinking about it makes me want to read it again. I suspect I'd get much more out of it this time around.

[Denise Marsden]

I read 'Firestarter' some time ago, and I agree about the Political angle which seemed to me quite radical at the time. The inclusion of the damaged native american psyche was also interesting from a spiritual point of view.I drew a few comparisons to 'Carrie' in the development of the plot, a personal journey from self defense to total annihilation of self and others.

[atlantis]

The thing I remember most about Firestarter is that it was so compelling, I actually read it in one sitting. (Okay I may have gotten up to go the restroom.):oops:

[Dylan Roberts]

I finished reading an autographed copy of it the other night..I hadn't read it since I was a young 'un, and I got a LOT more out of it this time around...

Governments testing experimental hallucinogens on poor college kids...With the professors being agents involved.

Hmmm...maybe Tim Leary WASN'T really just in it for freeing the minds of my parents generation lol..

(Not that I think that goal was actually ever really achieved. They're just baby boomer slaves to the dwindling economy now, really. Guess they learnt their lesson, eh ? )

[ponygirl01]

Nope, i read it. But it was sooooo long ago i'd have to read it again to remeber everything. i also enjoyed the movie. Drew Barrymoore was a good little actress.

[Mookie]

I am reading Firestarter right now! Completely fantastic! I am about halfway through it. And as is usual for me the book is sooo much better than the movie. Can't wait to finish and sink my teeth into something else. My last three books by Mr. King are Duma Key, Just after Sunset and Four past midnight. One, I haven't read is Nightmares and Dreamscapes. Guess I just picked my next one!:biggrin2: Can't wait!

[Bryan James]

I've read 'Firestarter' a few times. I'll be reading it again soon as I stumbled on a first edition this morning. I don't collect, but I can think of worse ways to spend three bucks.

~BJS

[plgordon]

Firestarter is among the SK titles that I also have not yet read, I had a copy in my hand the other day at the book store, but I opted for Talisman and Black house. I love that there are still a few I have not read yet. I promise when I do I'll find this thread and tell you what I thought!!

[Mookie]

I just finished Firestarter yesterday it's fantastic! I am off to the library to pick up Nightmares and Dreamscapes. I cannot wait! I have always been more of a fan of S.K. novels...until I picked up Just After Sunset! I now know, what I was missing by neglecting those fabulous short stories! Happy reading everyone!

[Er0tic NeUr0t1c]

loved the book, more sci-fi than horror. Stephen's conspiracy theorist comes out. Pretty wicked. Rainbird was an intense character.

[Mookie]

loved the book, more sci-fi than horror. Stephen's conspiracy theorist comes out. Pretty wicked. Rainbird was an intense character.

I wanted Rainbird to be the first to get scorched. He was an intense character. Intensely manipulative as well.

[Smikes]

I enjoyed both the book and the movie. The movie actually stands out more in my mind, which is unusual as I usually will have a larger store of sections of the book floating around in there. The most striking thing I recall was being excited about Charlie taking her story to Rolling Stone - it was fun to imagine the chaos that would cause IRL. I think the villain in the movie was George C. Scott's best role - yes, better than Patton.

[judythegeek]

I just read firestarter, and I loved it! I love the evil government, man against the establishment plot!!

[jcadams]

I just finished rereading this last night. I LOVE this book, and the movie, but I always try to read the book then watch the movie right after. Does anyone else think there should be a second Firestarter? I always wanted to know what happened to Charlie after the magazine came out, assuming that her story was published.

[djbeilstein]

Have never read FIRESTARTER – but I need to!

[Rabid Assassin]

I just finished the book and loved it I felt so attached to charlie and her father.

[AncientLady]

'Fire Starter' was my very first Stephen King. I read the excerpt in Omni (now defunct magazine). I have the full novel from my very first Book Club membership about 29 years ago. (I just checked and then double-checked, I have a first edition Stephen King! way, way cool. Ok, so a lot of people do, but I still have my very first one.)

I so enjoyed the Omni excerpt that I waited and went looking for the full novel. And loved it.

The book read so quick and I really wanted more. It sorta hooked me on Stephen King and I haven't been disappointed since.:love:

I'm a newbie to this board and I can't remember why I went looking for Stephen King stuff this afternoon (I've been working on a 'crash' client site all day).

But, yes, there are those of us who have read Fire Starter (and almost every other Stephen King book ever published, just like my sister).

Cheers to all!

[teejay17]

I haven't read it since high school, and even then it was one of my early forays into the King Universe. So I'd like to revisit it now, in retrospect, after reading The Dark Tower series, and a few others; it will also be cool to read it after Discordia comes out next week.

[stone, rose, unfound door]

It's one of his best books in my opinion :)

[sissy]

Good book, and the movie is the first S.K. movie I ever saw ( so its my FAVORITE King movie)

[SunshineLady]

I've read all the books and liked this one but haven't re-read it in years. I did see the movie recently as a re-run and agree that George C. Scott was great. I also liked David Keith as the dad--I've always thought he is over-looked because he generally has a co-starring role rather than being a lead.

[Trueivy]

I read the book amd saw the movie. I agree it's a good book and if people really read into it is controversial, especially around the time it came out. What I loved about it is it had the same message that the stand had, but in a subtler way. Keeping Charlie safe, secure, and alive was more important to the common people, people who didn't even know her well, the average Joe and Jane.

[Susanne]

I loved Firestarter! But I didnt like the movie. It really disappointed me. The book is so much better.

[Snaggletooth]

This was the 2nd SK book that i ever read, after The Shining, many years ago. The movie was yet to come. It's one of my favorites, probably because the government gets toasted and scorched, and we all know that the gov is evil (I'm an arrogant, extreme liberal, you see.....wait, don't the TeaParty people believe this as well?? I'm so confused......).

[smunchkin]

I have indeed read this as well. I enjoyed it but maybe i need to reread it. Also cant remember a king novel that ive stopped reading because i dont like it so maybe im not the best judge. maybe not my favorite of his but a wonderful read as so much of his work is!