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Firestarter is a novel by Stephen King originally published in 1980. It was serialized in Omni magazine prior to being published.
Story
Template:Spoiler The title character of Firestarter is Charlie (Charlene) McGee, a young girl with pyrokinesis — the ability to create fire with the power of her mind. Charlie is a mutant; she was born with her pyrokinetic talent due to her parents' involvement in an experimental drug trial in college. Charlie's father, Andy, is also gifted with extrasensory powers, however, they are weak in comparison to his daughter's talent.
The McGees are harassed by The Shop, a governmentally controlled organization that was involved in the original drug trials. They wish to study and experiment on Charlie; her parents naturally protest. Eventually The Shop murders Charlie's mother, and Charlie and Andy flee to New York in a desperate attempt to escape. They find temporary refuge at a lake cabin in upstate New York, however, they are eventually hunted and captured by John Rainbird, a Native American assassin and taken to The Shop's complex in Virginia.
Imprisoned at The Shop, Charlie must find a way to reunite with her father while learning to better control her powers. At first she resolves not to use her abilities, but later changes her mind, due to the advice of Rainbird, who pretends to be a friendly janitor. She is unaware that The Shop intends to kill her after completing their series of experiments.
Andy McGee eventually uses his powers to convice a Shop staff member to help him and Charlie escape. The two do meet, but before they can leave the complex, Rainbird shoots and kills Andy. Before he dies, Andy tells Charlie to "burn it all down." She honors his wish and incinerates the entire Shop complex, killing Rainbird and many others in the process.
The book ends with Charlie offering her story to the magazine Rolling Stone. She hopes that revealing her story will make it impossible for The Shop to kidnap and harm her again.
Adaptations
Firestarter was adapted into a movie in 1984, directed by Mark L. Lester and starring Drew Barrymore as Charlie, David Keith as Andy, and George C. Scott as Rainbird. It also starred Heather Locklear and Martin Sheen.
A TV movie sequel, Firestarter 2: Rekindled was made in 2002. It starred Marguerite Moreau as a grown-up Charlie and Malcolm McDowell as Rainbird.
See also
External links
- Firestarter at IMDb
- All Movie Guide entry for Firestarter
- Firestarter 2: Rekindled at IMDb
- All Movie Guide entry for Firestarter 2: Rekindled