July 26, 2016

“The Fireman” by Joe Hill – Hellfire on Earth

The Fireman by Joe Hill (Book cover)

Humanity will most certainly one day be wiped out from existence, and whether that takes thousands, millions or billions of years isn't really all that relevant in the large scheme of things, at least when compared to the rest of the universe.

It's a topic that has fuelled the imaginations of authors for centuries upon centuries as they imagined all the possible ways things could come to an end.

Today, we've seen zombies, viruses, monsters, natural disasters, nuclear wars, scientific experiments, alien invasions, giant meteors, magical cataclysms... you name it. It's a bit difficult to put a new spin into a genre that's been going strong for so long, but it seems like Joe Hill managed to do so in his most recent novel, The Fireman.

The premise in this book is relatively simple: a very different sort of plague is spreading through the country, one that manifests itself as black and golden marks across the body.

Those afflicted with the disease, appropriately named Dragonscale (or Draco Incendia Trychophyton), have no cure to turn to, and so they wait the rest of their days out, in fear of the fateful moment when they will suddenly burst into flames. Indeed, the spontaneous combustion virus has already claimed millions, and there is nothing to be done about it.

A nurse in her former life, Harper Grayson sees her life turned upside down as she notices the symptoms of infection on herself. She feels alone in the madness and chaos that consume everything.

Cremation squads roam the streets ripe with unrest and paranoia, drowning Harper's hope by the second. However, all is not lost for rumours circulate of a mysterious roaming stranger with an unnatural connection to the Dragonscale: The Fireman.

To begin by addressing the most obvious, it needs to be said that the premise really is an original one for a post-apocalyptic book, deviating from all the standards we've come to expect. Now, there are of course many tropes of the genre present, but with this new approach they never feel tired or out of place; it's a welcome breath of fresh air that rejuvenates everything around it.

As you'd expect it from Joe Hill if you've read some of his other books, the story almost prides itself on taking you into unexpected places and defying your expectations of what's to come.

The plot is quite expansive full of precise, detailed and vivid descriptions of what the world has come to. It feels like a very long journey, but one that piques your interest every step of the way.

One of the more powerful aspects of this book is the characterisation. The people we get to meet in this book (especially protagonists like Harper and The Fireman) are explored in outstanding detail, their inner worlds mapped out with minute attention to detail.

Each character is unique, multifaceted and powerful in his or her own way, whether they be inspiring, pitiful, dominating, or disgusting. They feel as real as the people we've come to know in our daily lives.

As a matter of fact, Joe Hill manages to turn the Dragonscale itself into a character, and perhaps one of the most nefarious villains in the genre; the way it brings death, chaos and destruction without discrimination is something we don't even see in our worst nightmares. There is also a great deal of focus placed on how the world responds to the epidemic, the various structural changes which take place in culture and society.

The Fireman by Joe Hill (Book cover)
As you'd expect, we see the world slowly degenerate into paranoia and mass hysteria, with some seizing the opportunity to exert their own power and influence over others. And of course, there are always those for whom the apocalypse is the long-awaited moment to shine bright above everyone.

To conclude, The Fireman is definitely one of the more unique and engaging post-apocalyptic novels to be published in recent memory, with an original premise and an equally-skillful delivery.

Fans of the genre will definitely want to give it a shot as it offers a vast and varied experience like few of its peers.



Joe Hill (Author)

Joe Hill


Personal site

Joe Hill , born under the name Joseph Hillstrom King, is an American writer and comic book author. He is the son of legendary horror writer Stephen King, and so far he has written three novels, Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, and NOS4A2, as well as a short story collection, 20th Century Ghosts.

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