When I delved into Stephen King's recent novel The Institute, which centers around a mysterious place exploiting the powers of gifted children, I noted the echoes of previous King characters. There was Danny Torrance's telepathy and Carrie White's telekinesis.

My Goodreads friend Matt astutely pointed out Charlie McGee's pyrokinesis from the 1980 novel Firestarter. At that moment, I realized I had neither read the book nor seen the movie starring Drew Barrymore.

Now that I've finally read it, indeed, Charlie and her powers would have been a perfect fit in the world of The Institute.

I've read over 20 of King's books, and Firestarter ranks among the best.

In the beginning of the book, eight-year-old Charlie and her father Andy are on the run from a mysterious government agency known as The Shop. Years ago, when they were college students, Andy and his future wife Vicky participated in a Shop-run study where they were injected with a drug and monitored for any special abilities. They developed some, but not major ones. (Andy could "push" people to do things against their will.)

However, when they became a couple and had a child, Charlene (a.k.a. Charlie), the result was truly explosive.

Now The Shop has learned about Charlie and will stop at nothing to capture her and her dad. (We soon discover they've killed Vicky.)

Like The Institute, Firestarter is more of a sci-fi adventure than a horror story. Much of the book focuses on Andy and Charlie trying to stay ahead of The Shop's agents. What King does masterfully is interweave flashbacks, so as the present-day chase unfolds, we gradually learn how Andy and Charlie got into this situation and, more importantly, what's at stake.

King handles the story's supernatural elements with great ease, providing authentic details to make everything seem realistic. The father-daughter relationship is also very touching. Sometimes, though, he relies too much on short, clipped chapters.

Still, it's far more successful than The Institute. While the new book lacks compelling villains, this one has a couple who are distinct and memorable. Especially sinister is John Rainbird, a Cherokee Vietnam vet who gains Charlie's trust and has a chilling, sickening endgame in mind.

Το απόλαυσα! Από τα καλά βιβλία του βασιλιά, έχω διαβάσει πολλά και όλα μου έχουν προσφέρει κάτι μοναδικό.

Οι ιστορίες που περιέχονται σε αυτά είναι γεμάτες με αγάπη, αγωνία, θυσίες και επιτυχίες. Κάθε βιβλίο είναι σαν μια μικρή περιπέτεια που οδηγεί τον αναγνώστη σε διαφορετικές τοποθεσίες και στάσεις.

Μου αρέσουν ιδιαίτερα οι περιγραφές των χαρακτήρων, οι οποίες είναι τόσο λεπτομερείς που τους καταφέρνουν να γίνουν πραγματικοί στο μυαλό μου. Επίσης, η χρήση της γλώσσας είναι πολύ όμορφη και δημιουργεί ένα ιδιαίτερο ατμόσφαιρο.

Συνολικά, τα βιβλία του βασιλιά είναι ένας πραγματικός θησαυρός και το συνιστώ ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους τους λάτρεις της λογοτεχνίας.

We don't need no water, let the pyrokinesis burn. Burn one hotter with obsessive-compulsive forced washing mysophobia, burn.

The setting of this story, which at the time of publishing was still a hot topic, involves a cold war spy conspiracy secret agency with a background of human free drugs experimentation. This makes it a highly suspenseful read, especially as it escalates towards greater complexity than in other works of King. It even includes a meta level, not just focusing on local dread and terror or cosmic horror, but rather on the real-life consequences that superpowers could lead to.

This makes it rather untypical. One doesn't fear the protagonists or a mysterious, paranormal activity, but rather the consequences of the decisions made by the puppetmasters in the background. It is a psychological thriller that uses the characters' abilities to create suspenseful scenarios and effectively fuses plot and character. Something that the mainstream superhero genre should perhaps consider restarting when including psi abilities, as it has enormous potential for completely fresh ideas, ranging from romance to horror.

The writing is sharp, direct, and switches between different plotlines, which is also not typical for King. This is one of his underappreciated, early masterpieces. Maybe, instead of the cold war setting, it could have been changed to a general military government conglomerate world domination conspiracy setting, as the idea of having superheroes in such a scenario was quite fresh in a book during those days.

King's novel The Institute is a darker and more horrible continuation of this idea, leading to the uncomfortable, final, often asked, and never answered question of how large the real secret human experimentation complex might be, next to the secret prisons, secret killings, secret special black operation forces, etc. Could it be thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands? Millions might be a bit of an overexaggeration, but it could involve a few superheroes and many average people receiving special, potentially fatal final treatments from their governments in an attempt to breed über soldiers.

Fun fact: King shared in an interview how his wife taunted him by saying something like, "You wrote Misery about a man in a bed with a crazy woman. Then you wrote Gerald's Game about a woman tied to a bed. Next, you'll write a novel about a couch without anything happening." When I first saw the plot description, I couldn't help but think of her ingenuity in pointing out the fact that her husband truly has a tendency to recycle certain ideas and topics, as seen in this case with Carrie and fire. But hey, he's the King, and he has the right to do whatever he wishes.

Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created, and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

Every day is a wonderful day for reading Stephen King's works. And let me just clarify that I'm not reading or re-reading this particular piece with the anticipation of any movie or TV adaptation.

I'm delving into it because I渴望再次体验那种黑暗的恐惧，那是关于影子政府机构在充满深刻人物刻画的70年代毒品迷雾中玩弄X战警的故事。而且那些毒品甚至不是有趣的那种。氯丙嗪？呸，这可是早期的金。偏执才是更好的“毒品”。

当然，几乎在我读完《研究所》的那一刻，我就想读这本书了，想要再次享受那种感觉，不过是来自不同的时代，一个不同的、更纯真的时代。是的，70年代是一个纯真的时代。这很奇怪，但却是事实。

回到《火starter》！查理和安迪太棒了。查理显然在整个“被欺骗、复仇”的情节中占据重要地位，但我惊讶于自己是如此喜欢安迪。他真正理解了任务：不惜一切代价。

作为一个父亲，我能理解这一点。甚至在我14岁第一次读这本书的时候，我就理解了。而且两次，故事的铺垫和结局都非常美妙。

In conclusion, I returned to the Maine area with my uncle Steve. Specifically, in 1980 with "Firestarter", a historical period in King's bibliography.

Charlene McGee, also known as Charlie, our "little" protagonist, is an 8-year-old girl on the run with her father. Charlie can start fires (the bad thing!). She is still young and doesn't fully understand what it is and especially what this "special" ability of hers will entail. Then...

The novel has a science fiction setup, but as you read it, you find yourself in that gloomy, fantastic yet everyday place that King has accustomed us to, especially with his early books, say up until the 1990s. It is a difficult place to describe. It is something you feel as you continue to read and live between the lines that flow inexorably towards a pyrotechnic finale, but also full of food for thought about the different, the dangers of innovations/technologies that are submerging us and making us automatons, blind in the face of life threatened by them.

The reading races along from the very first pages, so dense with tension and suspense, and I read and read with anxiety, the words almost fleeing incandescently, I try to catch up with them... exhausting! Then suddenly I come to a dead end, so halfway through the book everything calms down, it becomes like that unreal silence after a storm. I am disoriented, I don't understand why, let's say that right then and there I start to doubt the positive continuation of the reading. Why King?

Then the fuse reignites and it is a riot of sparks, fires and especially redemption. Yes, because in the end I understood that that almost boring central part had been well thought out by King, to take a break. It couldn't continue at that pace because everything would have exploded too soon...

The original text "Was ok" is rather brief and lacking in detail. Here is an expanded version:

It was an experience that was, in general, just okay. There were no major highs or lows. It started off in a somewhat ordinary manner, and as it progressed, it didn't really deviate much from the expected. The overall atmosphere was neither overly exciting nor disappointingly dull. It was a sort of middle ground, where things just happened without leaving a particularly strong impression. However, upon closer inspection, there were perhaps a few small亮点 that could be noted. But all in all, it was just an okay occurrence that, while not remarkable, also wasn't a complete letdown.

You can let me know if you have any specific requirements or if you want me to make further changes to this expanded text.

Oh. My. Gosh. Review to come.....

I just had an amazing experience that I simply have to share with you all.

It was something that left me completely in awe and I can't wait to write a detailed review about it.

The anticipation is killing me as I try to gather my thoughts and put them into words.

You can expect a comprehensive review coming your way soon, filled with all the details and my honest opinions.

Stay tuned and get ready to be amazed along with me!

I absolutely adored this book. It is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite Stephen KING novels.

The story unfolds in the most graceful manner, constantly keeping you on the edge of your seat. It's truly a remarkable achievement by Stephen to have crafted such captivating worlds and characters endowed with supernatural powers.

From the very beginning, the narrative draws you in and refuses to let go. The vivid descriptions bring the settings and the characters to life, making you feel as if you are right there in the midst of the action.

The way the plot develops is both thrilling and engaging, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Stephen KING's ability to create a sense of mystery and suspense is truly masterful.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for any fan of Stephen KING or anyone who enjoys a good supernatural thriller. It is a testament to his talent as a writer and his ability to transport readers to otherworldly realms.

The next book on my journey to reading all Stephen King's books in publication order is a real gem. It's one of the many books that clearly demonstrates why Stephen King is a highly successful and bestselling writer.

This book truly showcases his remarkable talent. It is filled with brilliant suspense and horror that has moments capable of making your flesh crawl. Despite being a fairly large book, it didn't take me long to read at all. In fact, it was so engaging that it was hard to put down! I would most definitely recommend this one to any fan of the genre.

Charlie is an incredibly brilliant character. Every second she is in the book, I was completely hooked and couldn't put it down. This isn't just a story about an extraordinary girl with life-threatening powers. It also delves deep into themes such as growing up, innocence, and how to cope with death. The book is heart-breaking, powerful, and almost without fault.

‘A kid of your age—any kid—could get hold of matches if she wanted to, burn up the house or whatever. But not many do. Why would they want to?’ This quote really makes you think.

The only reason I'm not giving this book the full 5 stars is because of how it slows down in the middle. I felt that the middle section of the book was a little disjointed from the beginning and the ending of the story. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent book.

There is nothing quite like a father's love, and I really love the dynamic that Charlie and her father have. I have read numerous books with a mother-daughter relationship, but a father-daughter relationship sometimes has a different and more profound impact.

Throughout this book, there are many fast-paced, suspense-filled moments. It's a thrilling cat and mouse game, with multiple chases and capture sections that I absolutely loved. King's attention to detail in this book is truly impressive and adds to the overall enjoyment of the reading experience.

Next up on my Stephen King quest is Firestarter.

Again, it’s not a review as such but a collection of my thoughts on the book. So, there most definitely will be spoilers.

Firestarter was originally released in 1980 and was King's 6th release not including The Star Invaders.

This story is a page-turning masterpiece. It flows effortlessly with literally no break in the pace whatsoever. From the initial chase and capture, to John Rainbird ruthlessly planning and playing with a young girl’s emotions, right up to Andy McGee orchestrating an escape that you can’t help but get fully behind.

Parts that I loved include Charlie growing up and her first experiences with her ability from her father's perspective.

‘And he felt it pass him - the invisible, incredible bolt of death from his daughter's mind…. A soft, soundless passage of warm air… and then the teddy bear was on fire.’

‘Fire extinguishers had appeared silently, undiscussed, with almost the same stealth as dandelions appear during that period when spring and summer overlap.’

Eddie Delgardo sitting at the airport, his ‘half pleasant chain of daydreams was broken by a strange feeling of warmth coming from his feet.’ Eddie looked down and screamed, his shoes were on fire. Followed by a mad dash to get his feet first, closely followed by the rest of him into a water-bearing container.

The characters of John Rainbird and Cap Hollister were perfect for the regimental bad guy and psychopath with a cunning plan. When Cap was pushed into aiding and abetting the escape attempt by Andy McGee, it all just fell into place almost with a satisfying click of the fingers. And then Charlie just vaporizes that chunk of lead heading from Rainbird’s gun and ‘For a moment it seemed that a high wind was rippling Rainbird’s clothes – and those of Cap behind him – and that nothing else was happening.’ But it did, all hell breaks loose.

My only issue was with something that didn’t quite feel right for the story. It was Rainbird at the computer asking it questions until the penny drops and the plan revealed by an artificial intelligence. To me, it would just have been better to have Rainbird discover it in a different fashion, but that’s just me and it was only a minor complaint.

So that’s my 17th Stephen King book finished and I now sit at 25% completed. I think Firestarter will remain as a favourite as I work my way through the back catalogue. Both characters and plot were spot on.

I’ll finish on another quote.

‘God loves to make a man break a vow. It keeps him properly humble about his place in the world and his sense of self control.’

Yep.

Also posted at.

http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...

I have liked it. Although there have been moments when I thought the story advanced very little (I think it has too many pages), in general, I have liked it. Note: 3.5/5

The story is about a father and his daughter who have "powers" or extrasensory abilities such as premonitions, modifying people's thoughts, and pyrokinesis.
The father obtained these powers when he unknowingly participated in a study or experiment at the university on a new "drug".
Then the father fell in love and later married another colleague from that study and had that girl named Charlie. They didn't know if she would have the power of the mother, the father, or something different.
Of course, all of this about the experiment or study was a cover-up by the government. After suspecting that they had powers, they kept them under close surveillance until one day they killed the girl's mother and kidnapped the girl. But she was quickly recovered by her father, and thus began the persecution of the father and the girl across the country by the organization called "the Store".
The father's power is to manipulate the mind, making people do what he wants to do, but it has the drawback that it causes severe migraines the more he uses it or the more intensely he applies it.
The girl's power is mainly pyrokinesis, that is, the ability to produce fires at will.

This story has an interesting premise with its exploration of these unique powers and the conflict that arises from them. The relationship between the father and daughter also adds an emotional layer to the narrative. However, as mentioned earlier, the pacing could be improved in some parts to make the story more engaging and less拖沓. Overall, it's a story that has its strengths and weaknesses, but it still manages to hold the reader's attention.

I'm on my second reading of this, and this time I'm using the audio version. I never thought it was possible, but I actually enjoyed it even more this time around!

The plot is truly excellent, filled with rich and well-developed characters. The ending is both fun and solid, leaving me completely satisfied.

One thing that really piqued my curiosity is how Charlie ended up as an adult. I would absolutely love to hear more about her life and what she accomplished. A sequel similar to Doctor Sleep would be more than welcome!

I can't wait to see if the author decides to continue Charlie's story. In the meantime, I'll be recommending this book to all my friends and family.