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The Pool of Fire
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The Pool of Fire (The Tripods #3)
Time travel, fantasy and alternate history are themes that capture and hold some very loyal readers. Older fans may need or just prefer Large Print; younger fans are often encouraged to read by Large Print.This series offers selections from current and bestselling authors as well as perennial favorites and true classics of the genre.
Will Parker has managed to escape from t...more
Will Parker has managed to escape from t...more
Hardcover, Large Print, 198 pages
Published
May 7th 2001
by Thorndike Press
(first published 1968)
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Okay, but definitely the weakest of the trilogy. Felt more like a summary of how everything got resolved than its own story, and Will is increasingly hard to like. His heedlessness and sulking and self-absorption seem correct when he's thirteen; less understandable (or even believable) when he's in his late teens and chosen for special missions essential to the fate of all humanity.
As the characters grow older and interact with a wider range of the populace, the omission of women also becomes m...more
As the characters grow older and interact with a wider range of the populace, the omission of women also becomes m...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2 likes · like · see review
Nov 23, 2008
mlady_rebecca
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1977-1982,
genre__childrens_sf_fantasy,
author__john_christopher,
genre_sub__aliens_and_space_travel,
genre_sub__dystopias_utopias,
2008,
__childhood_rereads,
read_more_than_once,
fiction__part_of_a_series,
genre__sf,
fiction__speculative,
in_retrospect__favorite,
best_of__childhood_favorites
Checked this one off the other day as read, but never got around to a review. I enjoyed this book, the whole trilogy. Kinda fun rereading a childhood favorite.
I've read a lot of discussion lately on protecting children from books, and I look back at books like this and I'm so glad I read them. The lessons they had about self-sacrifice, independence, the value of having your own mind and not living in easy complacency. They had a hand in forming who I am today. Would I be the same person if I'd...more
I've read a lot of discussion lately on protecting children from books, and I look back at books like this and I'm so glad I read them. The lessons they had about self-sacrifice, independence, the value of having your own mind and not living in easy complacency. They had a hand in forming who I am today. Would I be the same person if I'd...more
Nov 07, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
trt-posted-reviews
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
After discovering the Tripods' plot to destroy mankind, Will rushes back to the White Mountains to tell the other uncapped humans. With a race against time to overthrow the Tripods, Will and his friends must go across the globe recruiting massive amounts of youth to deal the final blow to the aliens.
After capturing a Tripod, they discover that alcohol has a sleep-inducing effect on the aliens. Armed with this new knowledge, will the resistance be able to ta...more
After discovering the Tripods' plot to destroy mankind, Will rushes back to the White Mountains to tell the other uncapped humans. With a race against time to overthrow the Tripods, Will and his friends must go across the globe recruiting massive amounts of youth to deal the final blow to the aliens.
After capturing a Tripod, they discover that alcohol has a sleep-inducing effect on the aliens. Armed with this new knowledge, will the resistance be able to ta...more
Jun 19, 2012
Melissa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-literature,
young-adult
The Pool of Fire
Book 3 of the Tripods Trilogy
Christopher, John
New York: Aladdin, 1970
204 pages
Chapter book
Genres: Science fiction, coming of age, drama, quest, adventure, young adult
Fritz manages to escape the city and he, Will and Beanpole return to the resistance headquarters. The boys travel all over the world to set up resistance cells. When a Master is captured live, the resistance discovers that the Masters can be controlled with alcohol. The resistance places alcohol in the City water sup...more
Book 3 of the Tripods Trilogy
Christopher, John
New York: Aladdin, 1970
204 pages
Chapter book
Genres: Science fiction, coming of age, drama, quest, adventure, young adult
Fritz manages to escape the city and he, Will and Beanpole return to the resistance headquarters. The boys travel all over the world to set up resistance cells. When a Master is captured live, the resistance discovers that the Masters can be controlled with alcohol. The resistance places alcohol in the City water sup...more
Jan 01, 2011
Agnes
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Agnes by:
Bill
Shelves:
youth
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Will and the ragged band of rebels to which he belongs has made some inroads against the alien Masters; in Book 3, Christopher forces the issue: will the rebels, in true David-and-Goliath fashion, vanquish their oppressor?
As he did in Book 2, Christopher raises some broader themes, even while he continues to develop the character of his protagonist. What constitutes freedom? What makes a good government? What is coming of age, for a person and a society? He leaves us with a satisfying response,...more
As he did in Book 2, Christopher raises some broader themes, even while he continues to develop the character of his protagonist. What constitutes freedom? What makes a good government? What is coming of age, for a person and a society? He leaves us with a satisfying response,...more
While I can’t say that I was disappointed by this final chapter to the Tripods Trilogy, I have to admit that was just slightly below the first and second books in the series (The White Mountains and The City of Gold and Lead, respectively). The story takes off from where we were left, at the end of The City of Gold and Lead-In a world where alien Masters control all of mankind through strange, mandatory metal caps, only one small group of free men survive, hidden in a remote camp. Will, our stor...more
The Pool of Fire
Main Characters: N/A
Setting: N/A
POV: Narrator
Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Grade Level: 6.8
Summary: Long ago, the Tripods--huge, three-legged machines--descended upon Earth and took control. Now people unquestioningly accept the Tripods' power. They have no control over their thoughts or their lives. But for a brief time in each person's life--in childhood--he is not a slave. For Will, his time of freedom is about to end--unless he can escape to the White Mountains, where the...more
Main Characters: N/A
Setting: N/A
POV: Narrator
Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Grade Level: 6.8
Summary: Long ago, the Tripods--huge, three-legged machines--descended upon Earth and took control. Now people unquestioningly accept the Tripods' power. They have no control over their thoughts or their lives. But for a brief time in each person's life--in childhood--he is not a slave. For Will, his time of freedom is about to end--unless he can escape to the White Mountains, where the...more
I'd give it 3.5. It wasn't as good as the second book, but it was very exciting and tense, with a good, thoughtful conclusion.
I thought the whole series was very interesting, suspenseful, and had some really harrowing, scary moments. All 3 books are good, quick reads that held my interest and kept me on the edge of my seat. My only problem is that I feel that the books have a lot of action, but not so much character or emotional development. Many of the characters seem rather two-dimensional and...more
I thought the whole series was very interesting, suspenseful, and had some really harrowing, scary moments. All 3 books are good, quick reads that held my interest and kept me on the edge of my seat. My only problem is that I feel that the books have a lot of action, but not so much character or emotional development. Many of the characters seem rather two-dimensional and...more
Nov 19, 2011
Melinda
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
juvenile-lit,
sci-fi
This is the third and last of the "Tripod" trilogy, picking up almost exactly where "City of Gold and Lead" left off.
Will has returned to the resistance base camp in the Swiss Alps. Enough information is passed on about the Masters (who ride in Tripods when outside of their city) and their cities to allow specific plans to be started to overthrow them. Will has found out that the Masters plan to kill all humans and replace earth's atmosphere with their atmosphere so they can begin living there....more
Will has returned to the resistance base camp in the Swiss Alps. Enough information is passed on about the Masters (who ride in Tripods when outside of their city) and their cities to allow specific plans to be started to overthrow them. Will has found out that the Masters plan to kill all humans and replace earth's atmosphere with their atmosphere so they can begin living there....more
I really loved this book. William escaped the City of Gold and Lead plunging from the city into the River. He then plans with their leader to destroy the tripods, (giant three legged machines) and their masters. In the chapter The Green Man on the Green Horse was a chapter where William rides, (in green clothes) on a horse painted green to guide the tripod into a deal pit. They succeed and go to the city. They all raid it and extinguish the pool of fire.
It think the author didn't have really a...more
It think the author didn't have really a...more
This is the final book in the Tripods trilogy by John Christopher. It does a great job of wrapping up the story and explaining how the free men take on the Tripods in their golden cities.
In this book the rebel faction of free humans works to recruit others to their cause; they also spend time learning some of the technologies of the ancient people. A plan is put together to infiltrate the Tripod cities and destroys the Masters.
Fast paced and intriguing, this book is a great conclusion to the ser...more
In this book the rebel faction of free humans works to recruit others to their cause; they also spend time learning some of the technologies of the ancient people. A plan is put together to infiltrate the Tripod cities and destroys the Masters.
Fast paced and intriguing, this book is a great conclusion to the ser...more
Once again, I enjoyed this book more than its successors. This one included more action and battle, being concerned with the rebellion of humanity against the alien Masters. Action helps compensate for weak characterization. :) It also rolls to a nice ending note, feeling far less abrupt than The White Mountains. I enjoyed it, though cannot recommend it for magical prose or sympathetic characters (or even any real character development). Still, a fun read if you've already adjusted your expectat...more
Continues the slide in quality from the strong The White Mountains and the solid The City of Gold and Lead. Christopher bogs down with post-war didactic musings about the necessity for unified human government, when what we've been hoping for is action and a satisfying end to the oppressive masters. He introduces Ruki, then abandons him; there is pointless wandering in the desert; there are gaps of months and years between plot points.
If you're a fan of the first two, by all means, check into t...more
If you're a fan of the first two, by all means, check into t...more
I had a great time rediscovering this classic trilogy with my 9-year-old son. On re-reading, I realized how male-centric these are (only one minor female character to speak of), but we enjoyed them so much that it didn't matter. My son's favorite character was Beanpole, because he completely related o him - often he'd become completely exasperated with Will's hotheadedness and knee-jerk reactions, yellingout loud "You IDIOT!" whenever Will blundered into another mess of his own making. Big thumb...more
A fine conclusion to the Tripods trilogy which sees the craziness get even crazier since the Masters are going to exterminate humanity once their giant atmosphere-changer ship thing arrives at Earth. The free human resistance gets with the program launching attacks on the Cities of the Masters and other wackiness. The best part about this final book is that after everything is said and done, the story continues showing what happens afterwards which is anything but a glorious Hollywood ending. Ou...more
The last in the trilogy of the Tripods series by John Christopher and a satisfying end at that. Lots to say about what a waste war is and our heroes are just that, heroic.
Loved the dig at television as being one of the ways the aliens were able to brainwash the masses on earth.
One star docked for the exhaustive technical description that I just could not follow without visuals, probably says more about me than the writing.
Another star docked for not just a lack of strong female characters but N...more
Loved the dig at television as being one of the ways the aliens were able to brainwash the masses on earth.
One star docked for the exhaustive technical description that I just could not follow without visuals, probably says more about me than the writing.
Another star docked for not just a lack of strong female characters but N...more
The third in the White Mountains trilogy, this was the last book I read on the Tripods. Apparently now there is a fourth, but as far as I knew at the end of this book, the good guys won, and there were no more tripods or aliens. I will someday go back and read the fourth, but for now, I've read this trilogy many times. It still holds that nostalgic feeling for me, as I was introduced to the series as a child. I can't recommend it enough, and hope everyone who has kids keeps this story alive for...more
Wonderful ending to the series -- I can't wait to share them with the kids. It's fantastic science fiction pared down to the essentials, and it continues to be entertaining and relevant.
If it has a flaw, perhaps the last page will leave readers feeling somewhat cheated, as though an essential paragraph or three went missing at the typesetters. Generally speaking, though, you can pick any of the books in the trilogy up and fall right into it, feeling genuinely involved in the conflict and becomin...more
If it has a flaw, perhaps the last page will leave readers feeling somewhat cheated, as though an essential paragraph or three went missing at the typesetters. Generally speaking, though, you can pick any of the books in the trilogy up and fall right into it, feeling genuinely involved in the conflict and becomin...more
What a great ending to this trilogy! Christopher took this series a step further and really tried to harness some deeper social issues that we as a human race either thrive or dive on. I really enjoy this author because the main character is not perfect. He is flawed, and as an adolescent boy I can see how relatable he could be for young male readers. A really great novel, I'm impressed. Also, I haven't read the last 5 pages because I am so sad to have the series end. I'll get to them eventually...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A disappointing end to the series. I really liked the science fiction premise set in the first book and was really looking forward the development of an alien species that could completely conquer the human race. The second book has some interesting descriptions of that species. But in this book it seemed absurd that a species that has mastered intergalactic space travel could be so easily conquered by humans with technologies of the 1600s.
Ultimately, this book held up. It’s a classic for a reason. I particularly loved how scientific and careful all the planning was — there are no plot holes here. But I couldn’t ignore the datedness. Most immediately obvious to me is that there is not a single woman in this book... (Full review at http://www.parenthetical.net/2010/04/...)
majorly disapointed in this book. The war aspects were okay but it turned political and showed how man could never get along. Yada yada yada. It took me much longer to finish this 3rd of the triology just because I really didn't care about the ending. There is a 4th in the 'trilogy' that is a prequel and I am hesitant to read it because of how much I disliked the 3rd.
I have re-read these books several times over the years, and they have stood up quite well. They're quite suspenseful and interesting, without being over-the-top preachy, which a book like this easily could be. What stood out to me this time was their amazing economy. They're only around 100 pages each, yet they don't feel like slight books in any way.
I can't stress how much I've enjoyed these books. Such a simple story, simple layout but executed wonderfully. For me at least, it grasped my attention to it's fullest. Obviously if you're about to read the 3rd book then you've read the first 2. You won't be disappointed with "The Pool Of Fire." Read on.
format: audiobook (one of the best)
format: audiobook (one of the best)
Oct 02, 2010
Beverly
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s,
science-fiction
Two stars to sum up what I thought about this lackluster, awkwardly written series. The third volume saw the defeat of the tripod Masters (this can't be a spoiler) and the humans trying to form a democratic world government. This series has an antiwar message but it is full of warlike actions and ruthless acts. And there are NO GIRLS whatsoever in it. It seems dated therefore not a classic.
Feb 02, 2012
Christine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction,
childrens-literature
A good ending to the trilogy, though I can see how some would want more "action" in the story. Sometimes when there is a lot to write about, strategy has to work as action, and the author does a good job of this. The end of the book does raise issues relevant to our world today and the choices we face as individuals and society.
The final chapter of the Tripods trilogy was very well done. I have always been curious as to what happened 50-100 years down the road as Will 'left his seas and islands'. Did mankind make it out to the stars to confront the Masters? Were they able to hold their emotions in check? Christopher leaves open some very future-directed questions to the fate of the characters, but the book itself was wonderful.
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John Christopher
is the pseudonym under which the British science fiction author Samuel Youd has been most successful. Youd has written under the following pseudonyms:
• John Christopher
• Stanley Winchester
• Hilary Ford
• William Godfrey
• Peter Graaf
• Peter Nichols
• Anthony Rye
He is best known for The Tripods trilogy, published under the pseudonym John Christopher.
His novels were popular during the...more
More about John Christopher...
• John Christopher
• Stanley Winchester
• Hilary Ford
• William Godfrey
• Peter Graaf
• Peter Nichols
• Anthony Rye
He is best known for The Tripods trilogy, published under the pseudonym John Christopher.
His novels were popular during the...more
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“I was remembering the things we had done together, the times we had had. It would have been pleasant to preserve that comradeship in the days that came after. Pleasant, but alas, impossible. That which had brought us together had gone, and now our paths diverged, according to our natures and needs. We would meet again, from time to time, but always a little more as strangers; until perhaps at last, as old men with only memories left, we could sit together and try to share them.”
—
42 people liked it
“Some people are oil and water.”
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