Pyrokinesis in fiction
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Pyrokinesis is the postulated psi ability to excite the atoms within an object, possibly creating enough energy to ignite the object.[citation needed] In fiction, however, it is not just starting fires with the mind, but has been extended to generating, absorbing, and controlling all forms of fire/flame and heat.[citation needed]
The fires generated by various characters can range from very low-temperature flames merely "for show" to as hot as solar plasma undergoing nuclear fusion.[citation needed]
Pyrokinesis is a popular theme in fantasy, science fiction, and superhero comic books.[citation needed]
[edit] Feats of pyrokinesis
Through psionic generation of fire or mental control of nearby flame, pyrokinesis in fiction may allow the wielder to use fire for a wide variety of purposes, such as projecting fire in the form of fireballs or flame bolts, surrounding oneself with an aura of flames, being immune to the effects of heat and fire, exhaling fire without harm to one's mouth and throat, or forming objects or creatures out of fire.[citation needed] Characters in the novel Firestarter speculated whether a pyrokinetic might even be able to excite a single atom enough to split it and generate a nuclear explosion.
[edit] Examples of pyrokinesis in fiction
The following fictional characters are explicitly identified as having the psionic power of pyrokinesis:
- Charlene "Charlie" McGee, main character of Stephen King's novel Firestarter.
- Junko Aoki of the Miyuki Miyabe novel Crossfire and the film Kurosufaia (Pyrokinesis in English) [1]
- Liz Sherman, young woman from Hellboy comic books and film[1]
- St. John Allerdyce, alias Pyro, fire-wielding mutant in X-Men comics and films.[2]
- Wilder and Wallace, brothers in the film Wilder Napalm [2]
