The Fire Eternal

Infobox Book
name = The Fire Eternal
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Chris D'Lacey
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = The Fire Within series
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genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Scholastic Press
release_date = September 2007(UK), July '08(US)
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 506 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 The Fire Within (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.

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 reappearance in the ending, which signals a gigantic cliffhanger which readers will believe will pick up at the beginning of book five tentatively named Dark Fire.

Characters

Humans/Hybrids:

Elizabeth Pennykettle (Liz) - The landlady and the maker of the mysterious clay dragons. She is pregnant with a boy, Arthurs child. Lucy Pennykettle - Liz's daughter, now 16, firmly believes that David is not dead and will return to save the Artic. As a result of her grief combined with her teenage years, Lucy is easily aggravated and hostile. She has two dragons, Gawain and Gwendolen.

David Rain - David was Liz's tenant 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 knowledgeable.

Suzanna Martindale (Zanna) - Zanna is a Goth who fell 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. She has a dragon, Gretel, and owns a shop in this book, called The Healing Touch.

Alexa (Lexi) - The daughter of David and Zanna. She is 5 years old, a bright and intelligent child, yet shows strange awarenesses and abilities, possibly because of being born to a powerful sibyl and David's mysterious new form. She is the only one who can see G'lant [or at least seemingly] , and draws pictures of him.

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. Mysteriously disappears into the Scottish islands at the end with a essence of the purest Darkfire.

Arthur - A man who loves Liz greatly. Up until recently has spent his life as a monk and gaining some special powers of his own, such as he can see through Bonningtons eyes by "commingling". He is almost completely blind due to his body being invaded by an alien life form, but is nevertheless 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 magizine. 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. Near the end of the book he seems to have gained the power of a Teller and is driven with the motive of protecting the Pennykettlesand the Martindales. His eyes change from blue to brown.

Dragons and Animals:

Gawain - The last real dragon in the world. Last seen crumbling and falling into the Arctic ocean. His eye has been retrieved by the sea goddess Sedna.

Gwendolen (pronounced Gawendolen) - Lucy's special "IT" dragon. Skilled with modern technology, especially computers. Uses her tail to connect with them (Possibly a USB). Has also shown to be successful at inserting memories into someone, as shown when she did this to Tam Farrel to restore his memory.

G'reth - David's wishing dragon, made by Lucy, has traveled 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. Refers herself as the most powerful of the Pennykettle dragons. Has the ability to create potions from flowers.

Gadzooks - David's special writing 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 imminent swells to three times his size.

Gollygosh Golightly (Golly) - David's natural healing dragon, made by him personally. He does not only heal living things but he can also fix modern appliances and other natural things.

Gwillan - A puffler dragon, likes collecting the post. A special dragon of Liz's, to whom she is very close.

Groyne - A mysterious dragon that used to belong to Dr. Bergstrom. He has since affiliated himself to David and has the ability to turn into a narwhal tusk or, travel anywhere and also become invisible. He can also transform into other clay dragons.

Grace - Sophie's [David's ex-girlfriend] listening dragon. Temporarily had her ears snapped off.

Listener - A listening dragon made by Liz. It rests on top of the fridge and appears to have no real name.

Bonnington - The Pennykettle's family cat, who fell ill with tongue cancer in Fire Star - possibly a result of drinking dragon's fire. He now has the abillity to transform into any other feline form [preferably his panther form] .

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.

Gauge - A time-telling dragon. Moves his paws to represent the hands of a clock.

Darkling - An evil dragon made from obsidian. Its heart is made from dark fire instead of icefire like the Pennykettle dragons are made from. He is shaped more like a gargoyle than a dragon.

Avrel - A polar bear, descendant 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. He has currently become appart of Tam Farrell

Kailar - A polar bear, descendant of the fighting bear Ragnar. Aids Ingavar in the search for the eye of Gawain. He to has become appart of Tam Farrell

Sedna - The sea goddess who had her fingers chooped off by her father. She retrieves the eye of Gawain for David in exchange for fingers.

U.S/Canada Release

According to Chris's website, "The Fire Eternal" is now available in the U.S and Canada.The book was silently released and Chris didn't know until a fan emailed him and told him. He sent out a special thanks to Jolson.