The Fire Eternal
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| The Fire Eternal | |
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| Author | Chris D'Lacey |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Fire Within series |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Scholastic Press |
| Publication date | September 2007(UK), July '08(US) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 429 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN |
| Preceded by | Fire Star |
| Followed by | Dark Fire |
The Fire Eternal is a 2007 novel by an English author, Chris D'Lacey. It is the fourth book in his Icefire series, following on from "The Fire Within", "Icefire" and "Fire Star". It was released in September 2007 in the UK, and is due to be released in the Fall of 2008 in the US and Canada.
[edit] Plot summary
Five years have passed since David Rain, now a cult author, disappeared mysteriously in the Arctic. Life in Wayward Crescent has settled to relative normality. But as the weather grows wild and the ice caps melt, all eyes turn north, where bears and the souls of the Inuit dead are combining to produce a spectacular solution... ...a solution with its focus on David and Zanna's child, Alexa.
David makes a remarkable reapearance in the ending, which signals a gigantic cliffhanger which readers will believe will pick up at the begining of book five: Fire Snow
[edit] Characters
Humans/Hybrids:
Elizabeth Pennykettle (Liz) - The landlady and the maker of the mysterious clay dragons.
Lucy Pennykettle - Liz's daughter, now 16 and firmly believes that David is not dead and will return to save the North Pole. As a result of her grief combined with her teenage years, Lucy is easily aggravated and hostile.
David Rain - David was Liz's lodger and a college student in the previous books, but at the end of Fire Star he disappeared in the North Pole and the question of "is he dead" was unanswered. David features in The Fire Eternal, but his character is now much different, having 'commingled' with Fain, absorbed Gawain's fire tear, and joined spirits with polar bear Ingavar. During the book, he has taken up answering questions about what he was, with Bergstom's answer: 'Sometimes' Questions are raised about his own origins: who are his parents? David was shown the dragons in previous books, but was still always unsure of that world, yet in The Fire Eternal he has become much more knowledgable.
Suzanna Martindale (Zanna) - Zanna is a Goth and a Pagan, that falls in love with David at college and knows a great deal about dragons and other mythical creatures. She is a descendant of Gwendolen, a powerful sibyl, and is a sibyl herself. She lives with Liz, Lucy and Arthur, and is the mother of Alexa, David's child.
Alexa (Lexie) - the daughter of David and Zanna. She is 5 years old. Shows strange awarenesses and abilities, possibly because of being born to a powerful sibyl and David's mysterious new form.
Gwilanna - An ancient sibyl. Wants the tear for herself and to resurrect the dragons. Helps David, the Pennykettles and the Martindales more in this book than ever before and seems more human.
Arthur - A man who loves Liz greatly. Up till recently has spent his life as a monk and gaining some special powers of his own. He is almost completely blind due to his body being invaded by an alien life form, but is never the less a genius. He teaches Physics at Scrubbley University, and knows much of the workings of the world. He lives with Liz and is engaged to her.
Tam Farrel - A reporter for a newspaper. He was doing a report on David Rain, seeing if he was real, when he got tangled in the whole big mess known as dragons. In the end of this book he was captured and invaded by the Ix (evil Fain) but successfully escaped.
Dragons and Animals:
Gawain - The last real dragon of the world. Last seen crumbling and falling into the arctic ocean.
Gwendolen (pronounced Gawendolen) - Lucy's special dragon. Skilled with modern technology, especially computers. Uses her tail to connect with them. (Possibly a USB)
G'reth - David's wishing dragon, has travelled through space and time, and commingled with a Fain.
Gretel - The potions dragon and servant of Zanna, who used to belong to Gwilanna. Is feared yet respected by the other dragons.
Gadzooks - David's special dragon, who used to help him get inspiration for his books, but has now been inactive for 5 years with David gone. He misses his master intensely.
Gruffen - A guard dragon, when danger is iminent swells to three times his size.
Gollygosh Golightly (Golly) - David's natural healing dragon, made by him personally.
Gwillan - A snuffler dragon, likes collecting the post. A special dragon of Liz's, to whom she is very close, and who sheds his fire tear in the tragic final scenes.
Groyne - A mysterious dragon that used to belong to Dr Bergstrom until his death. He has since affiliated himself to David and has the ability to turn into a narwhal tusk and travel anywhere and also become invisible.
Grace - Sophies [David's ex-girlfriend] listening dragon. Temporarily had her ears snapped off.
Bonnington - The Pennykettle's family cat, who fell ill with cancer in Fire Star - possibly a result of drinking dragon's fire - but commingled with a young and innocent Fain being. Cat and Fain became fused and as a result, Bonnington can transform into many animals and also has a special connection with Fain-tainted Arthur, allowing him to see through Bonnington when he holds him.
G’lant – Zanna’s Valentine dragon, Given to Zanna by David as a goodbye present, but has another mysterious purpose. G'lant is invisible to all, but can be seen by Alexa.
Darkling - An evil dragon made from obsidian. It's heart is made from darkfire instead of Icefire like the Pennykettle dragons are made from.
Avrel - A polar bear, son of the Teller Lorel, one of the original nine bears who ruled the ice. He assists Ingavar (commingled version of David Rain) in search of the eye of Gawain.
Kailir - A polar bear, son of the fighting bear Ragnar. Aids Ingavar in the search for the eye of Gawain.
[edit] U.S/Canada Release
Despite The Fire Eternal being released in September 2007, a Fall release is now planned, according to Chris d'Lacey's website. It was released in the U.S. on July 1, 2008, according to Barnes and Noble.
