Fictionalized history of King Kamehameha and the eventual clash when the Europeans land in Hawaii. Respectful and lovingly recounted, Shender retells the mystery of Kamehameha's birth, all while expertly explaining customs and culture of the region. Born under the shadow of an ominous omen, Kamehame ...more
A review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book Once There Was Fire: A novel of Old Hawaii written by Stephen Shender
I purchased this book from Amazon in the Kindle edition. I have always wondered about the people of Hawaii just before the White man arrived. I had read James Michner's epic ent ...more
After 700 years of isolation, Hawaii was on the brink of contact with the Western world as this story begins. It is told first person by Namakeha, nephew of Kamehameha I, the great king who united the islands in 1810. Framed as Namakeha's memoirs written at the urging of his royal Hawaiian wife Esth ...more
This novel spans more than 100 years in Hawaiian history from 1748 to 1859. I am ashamed to say I had no knowledge of the Hawaiian culture or history prior to reading this book. It was interesting to learn that the island chieftains were warring in a ceaseless battle to rule.
Seemingly realistic stories, created by imagination and thorough research
It was told in such detail as to make it a bit long and slow at times, yet I found the characters and their roles quite interesting and believable. Well done, Mr. Shender! Mahalo nui loa! ...more
Stephen Shender brings Hawaiian history to life in Once There Was Fire! When outsiders come to isolated Hawaii for the first time, it really shakes up the order of things. Kamehameha keenly seizes the opportunity to end hundreds of years of factional division. Shender’s writing is cinematic, bringin ...more
Visitors think of Hawaii as a place of surf, sand, and flowing lava, but Stephen Shender's new book is a keen reminder that 'once there was fire'--the fire of culture that had grown for 1400 years prior to its first encounter with Europeans, and one which reached its apogee in the reign of King Kame ...more
I read the paperback edition of Stephen Shender's "Once There Was Fire". First, a comment about the quality of the book: it was very well and professionally presented as a paperback.
Now, about the writing. The story of Hawaii just before European contact is told through the eyes of a fictitious cha ...more
Interesting historical fiction story of Hawaii. I've never been to Hawaii, but have read many books on the state. This one has lots of info, tho' as it's not a scholarly work, the facts in it may or may not be correct. i am hoping they are as they sound like they should be. Mr. Shendor seems to have ...more
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is the best biography of Kamehameha the Great you could find. Granted, this is not a historiographer's biography; even the subtitle is up-front on identifying this book as a "novel." Stephen Shender invents dialogue, massages drama, and fills in the bl ...more