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Fire in Winter #1
The Mutant Season
Winter is the mutant season.
When winter comes the mutants gather.
They have always lived in the shadows, invisible.
Now they will be tested. The first mutant leader to emerge into the light of public life has been murdered. Finding her assassin has fallen to the clan, a clan already beset by the pressures of the normal world.
Michael, torn between his mutant clan and a normal lover.
Melanie, alone among the mutants and rejected by the normals.
Jena, willing to use her mutant powers and her sexual wiles to get what she wants—Michael.
As society faces the implications of human evolution first-hand, and political maneuvering threatens to tear the clan apart, the mutants must find a way to protect their identity, their lovers, and their very lives.
When winter comes the mutants gather.
They have always lived in the shadows, invisible.
Now they will be tested. The first mutant leader to emerge into the light of public life has been murdered. Finding her assassin has fallen to the clan, a clan already beset by the pressures of the normal world.
Michael, torn between his mutant clan and a normal lover.
Melanie, alone among the mutants and rejected by the normals.
Jena, willing to use her mutant powers and her sexual wiles to get what she wants—Michael.
As society faces the implications of human evolution first-hand, and political maneuvering threatens to tear the clan apart, the mutants must find a way to protect their identity, their lovers, and their very lives.
289 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
10 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Robert Silverberg
2,328 books1,623 followersThere are many authors in the database with this name.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 5, 2016
En mi primera juventud cienciaficcionera me maravilló. Le clavé 9/10, la mejor nota que tengo para un libro de Silverberg ( y cayeron 30 suyos según mi base de datos).
Hoy no me atrevería a re-leerlo. Los poquitos que he releído de autores viejunos hoy me resultan o planos o insulsos o directamente infumables.
Hoy no me atrevería a re-leerlo. Los poquitos que he releído de autores viejunos hoy me resultan o planos o insulsos o directamente infumables.
July 30, 2014
Mutants are finally able to emerge from the shadows and be who they are in the public eye--people with a long and rich history, forced to hide because they could be persecuted for their poorly understood powers. With a mutant politician pushing peaceful coexistence, political and social cooperation is strained between mutants and non-mutants, especially when a group emerges that wants mutants to rule as a superior class. Non-mutant Andie has been assisting the mutant politicians who want integration, but she may end up uncovering plans for the future that are anything but peaceful.
I wanted to like this because of the concept--I have a soft spot in my heart for plots that remind me of The X-Men. This was incredibly close to those comics, first of all, though more political--not only are they called mutants just like in the Marvel franchise, but they have the same exact conflict. If the glaring similarity had been my only problem here, I probably would have doled out more stars to this, but I had an incredibly hard time connecting to the writing. The characters felt wooden to me and I felt they were being moved around, puppeted, strategically placed for a plot. The whole trope of a race of superhumans having attractive, striking eyes also felt very overused to me.
I wanted to like this because of the concept--I have a soft spot in my heart for plots that remind me of The X-Men. This was incredibly close to those comics, first of all, though more political--not only are they called mutants just like in the Marvel franchise, but they have the same exact conflict. If the glaring similarity had been my only problem here, I probably would have doled out more stars to this, but I had an incredibly hard time connecting to the writing. The characters felt wooden to me and I felt they were being moved around, puppeted, strategically placed for a plot. The whole trope of a race of superhumans having attractive, striking eyes also felt very overused to me.
January 31, 2017
I am a big Silverberg fan and when I saw his name as a "co-author" I picked this book up largely because of him.
Twenty pages in I wanted to slap all the mutants, their families, and their kids in the face.
Genetics depends on the genetic material of the two parents. Genetics does not care if you are married, in love with, or have a dislike for.
The protagonist is a young man who has mutant ancestry. The mutants have been around and living in hiding for 600 years. They live in clans and mostly marry or breed in clan.
In 2017(?) they have come slightly out of the closet after the horror (?) of the 1990's.
The protagonist is in love with a normal and his parents are terrified that he will waste his "gift"
They don't seem to know about in vitro-fertilization, multiple sex partners or that males can impregnate without benefit of marriage.
If the Clans had any sense they would have had a multipartner breeding scheme going for at least 150 years (G. Mendel)
I am thinking about not continuing with this book due to scientific stupidity.
Twenty pages in I wanted to slap all the mutants, their families, and their kids in the face.
Genetics depends on the genetic material of the two parents. Genetics does not care if you are married, in love with, or have a dislike for.
The protagonist is a young man who has mutant ancestry. The mutants have been around and living in hiding for 600 years. They live in clans and mostly marry or breed in clan.
In 2017(?) they have come slightly out of the closet after the horror (?) of the 1990's.
The protagonist is in love with a normal and his parents are terrified that he will waste his "gift"
They don't seem to know about in vitro-fertilization, multiple sex partners or that males can impregnate without benefit of marriage.
If the Clans had any sense they would have had a multipartner breeding scheme going for at least 150 years (G. Mendel)
I am thinking about not continuing with this book due to scientific stupidity.
January 22, 2012
In the midst of clearing off my bookshelves to make more room. This has been on the shelf for a very long time, and I've never finished reading it.
I've picked it up several times, but lost interest about midway through.
I've picked it up several times, but lost interest about midway through.
August 19, 2008
I didn't much like it, but the concept intrigued me.
January 29, 2023
i read this book in like two sittings so thats good it was a bit slow at some points but had enough action and interest to propel me forwards. i wish more had been delved into (ie the human experimentation in brazil) firsthand and its disappointing to see the sequel takes place in the future. I really thought melanie was going to end up at one of the facilities and while i'm glad she escaped I feel like we missed out on an interesting story direction. also sidenote why the fuck did the authors make michael's mom chinese but then like continuously make japanese cultural references when talking about her. lol. i know this is from 1989 but still. i think the main reason i will not read the sequel is because i really grew to hate michael. i would have liked if the authors had treated his relationship with jena for what it actually was- mental and physical rape. in general lots of weird power dynamic stuff happening in the book (like why is kelly in high school and michael's out of college and we are all cool with that? i just had to ignore it). like making melanie have confusing feelings following her assault by a woman is like, something that could really happen, but given that it is never touched on again i doubt it was included in good faith or with any nuance and felt instead like fanservice, disgustingly. even though i felt bad for michael because I could actually recognize unlike the authors that he was a victim of sexual abuse he still was just generally such a dumbass that it was frustrating. i dont think his character was granted the inner depth that reflecting the seriousness of the things that happened to him. he felt like a very immature character it would have been more believable i guess if he had been in high school instead of like a fully grown adult. i also wish that melanie and kelly could have reconnected because theres would be one of the only human/mutant friendships to survive the story. oh well. this story was alright, if a bit predictable (every "twist" is incredibly obvious). could see it being used as the framework for a more nuanced retelling/reboot. certainly its themes are timeless and something about the idea of mutants i think always attracts readers attention.
July 7, 2019
The Mutant Season
This was an interesting story that started off slowly and in places just too much talking and no movement. The story line was an excellent choice and with more to come should get better.
This was an interesting story that started off slowly and in places just too much talking and no movement. The story line was an excellent choice and with more to come should get better.
August 1, 2022
I really enjoyed it! Found it refreshing compared to other mutant related books I’ve read! It really saddened me tho that I couldn’t find any other books of the saga in my country! Was only able to read up until the second book
June 15, 2017
I only made thru the third chapter of this book. There wasn't anything that really grabbed me. I wouldn't suggest this to anyone.
August 10, 2019
Buena idea, mal escrita. Si Silverberg no escribió esto, ¿para que escriben su nombre en la portada? Es indignante.
December 21, 2022
Great book, awaiting on the
Sequel. I was surprised how much detailed sex there was in the book! 🤪
Sequel. I was surprised how much detailed sex there was in the book! 🤪
March 27, 2023
Très moyen. Le sujet n’est pas assez approfondi. Même s’il y a une suite, je ne la lirai pas. Désolée!
August 3, 2024
was ok, but i didn't like they made michael married that chick who his family was said to marry, he should have married the other girl, but all said hope he is happy, lol
October 26, 2010
I'm pretty sure that this was a re-read, but I decided that I wanted to read through this entire series, so I asked my library to locate a copy for me through InterLibrary Loan. It was fun to read and I have a copy of the next book, The Mutant Prime, on the way.
July 4, 2013
F****k que rifado!
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November 21, 2018I have thegerman translation: Zeit der Mutanten
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews