Once upon a time, a government project emerged with a rather strange objective. It involved injecting volunteers with a peculiar drug, aiming to trigger... something. The consequences were dire. Some of the volunteers went completely insane, while others resorted to mutilating themselves. However, at least two individuals developed psychic abilities.

These two individuals, who happened to fall in love, eventually had a child. This child inherited a combined genetic gift that manifested in a rather unique way - the child was like a human lighter. *lol*

Then, unfortunately, the program lost its funding. As a result, the survivors were essentially set free into the wild and managed to live undisturbed for a while. But then, something occurred that caused the program to target them once again.

Ever since that fateful event, a little girl named Charlie and her father have been constantly on the run.

Yes, this is the premise of this book, which was adapted into a movie many years ago, with Drew Barrymore playing the role of Charlie. And just this year, a new version was released, which was quite a disappointment.

After watching both movies (and let's not talk about the modern one, as I'm still recovering from it) and even reading what is considered the follow-up novel, it was finally time for me to read the original source material.

Naturally, the book is far more detailed than either of the movies. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the old movie still held up quite well.

The story is a bit of an odd one, especially considering the author. There are many lines that clearly indicate it was written by Stephen King. However, there were also some instances where it felt... different. Not in a bad way, mind you. Perhaps it's because the horror element in this book was relatively mild, and I'm always on the lookout for it in all of King's works. *shrugs*

Anyway, I really liked the flashbacks in the book, and I also liked one or two of the characters (yes, the Cherokee Rainbird was one of them despite his actions). Other than that, it was one of those books where most of the people are rather unpleasant, and you just want them to face the consequences of their actions. I mean, forget about the guy who worked for the program and killed a woman and then raped her corpse just because she knew something, just remember what they did to Vicky!

I think what makes this book quite fascinating is its age. Nowadays, we are inundated with mutants and their amazing powers, and we've become so accustomed to it that the trope has lost some of its value. But back in the day, it was a completely different story.

Supposedly, when this book was written, there was a huge fascination with drugs (at least in America), and this, combined with the author's own creativity, heavily influenced the story.

No, it's not one of King's best works, but it is definitely one of his most iconic.

Actually, it is more of a 4 than a 3. This statement implies that there is a certain quality or characteristic that is being evaluated, and the assessment leans more towards a higher value. It could refer to various aspects such as performance, quality, rating, or any other measure.

Perhaps in a particular context, like a product review or a job evaluation, the person making the statement believes that the subject in question has more qualities or features that align with the criteria for a 4 rather than a 3. It might suggest that there are some notable strengths or improvements that push the evaluation closer to the higher end of the scale.

However, it's important to note that the determination of whether something is more of a 4 than a 3 can be subjective and may vary depending on different perspectives and individual judgments. What one person considers a 4, another might view as a 3 or vice versa. Nevertheless, this statement indicates a preference or inclination towards a higher rating, highlighting the perception of greater value or excellence in the given context.

Exploding Chickens!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book :-) Firestarter is indeed one of my favorite Stephen King books. It shares similarities with Dean Koontz's works (whom I read more frequently than Stephen King), especially those with sci-fi and/or conspiracy elements. Specific Dean Koontz titles on a similar theme include: By the Light of the Moon, False Memory, Sole Survivor, and Dark Rivers of the Heart. It is also similar to Stephen King's more recent novel, The Institute.

Firestarter was chosen as the March 2010 monthly group read in the Stephen King Fans group. However, the audiobook on CD wasn't released until April 1st, so I was a little late in reading this.

I read it for the second time in 2022 after watching the horrible film remake.

Some of my favorite passages from the book are:

"She looked like a time traveler from the year 1963. And all the people on PTL looked like time travelers from 1963."

"For just one second the totality of childhood came back and he could hear the whisper of trolls as they crowded eagerly toward him."

"The brain is a muscle that can move the world."

"You're crazy," Cap said. The words escaped before he could hold them back, but Rainbird did not seem offended. "Oh, yes," he agreed, and drained his own brandy. He went on smiling."

"Somewhere the black horse was kicking at its stable door, wanting to get out, wanting to run free. He could feel oily sweat running down his cheeks."

"The black horse was loose. It was starting its run. Take me out of here, Andy thought dimly. Take me out of here; the horse is loose and the woods are burning. The headache came in a sickish cycle of thudding pain."

"Don't you hurt my horse!" she screamed at the advancing silhouette, the dream-father who was not her father. "Don't you hurt the horses. Oh, please don't hurt the horses!"

These passages add depth and atmosphere to the story, making it even more engaging and memorable.