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Fireball
In this tense coming of age novel, the story opens at the end of an intensely hot summer in Vancouver as Chris, a complex and misunderstood youth, has just driven a stolen police car through a road block and over a cliff to his death. Unraveling the events that lead to such a death, the novel traces the lives of four teenagers and the months that will come to define their future. Hailed as heroes for saving a drowning woman, boys soon attract unwanted attention as minor celebrities and, as the weeks go by, the public admiration is replaced with envyuntil the pressure builds to the final fiery climax. Darkly comic and cinematic in tone, this dramatic debut novel captures the spirit of spent youth.
- GenresFiction
292 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2010
4 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Keevil
43 books37 followersTyler was raised in Vancouver, Canada. He first came to the UK in 1999 to study English at Lancaster University. He returned home to finish his degree, and after graduating undertook a variety of bizarre jobs, working as a treeplanter, a landscape gardener, a deckhand on a fishing barge, a ‘greenhorn’ in the shipyards, a restaurant busser and a kayak shop assistant. After paying back his student loan, and saving up some money, he moved to Prague to try his hand at being a starving writer – the only problem being that he didn’t know how to write yet. The money ran out before he learned, and after a brief stint living in Birmingham, he moved to Wales in 2003.
While working part-time cleaning toilets at a petrol station, Tyler committed to learning the craft, and after picking up a handful of short fiction awards – including a Writer of the Year Award from Writers Inc. of London – he began selling his stories to magazines. He is interested both in literary and slipstream fiction, and has been published in New Welsh Review, Planet, Transmission, Dream Catcher, Black Static, and On Spec, among others. A translation of his story, ‘Masque of the Red Clown’ has also recently been commissioned by the French-Canadian magazine, Solaris. Tyler has also written for the screen; a short film he wrote recently aired on ITV Wales, whilst another picked up the Welsh Dragon Award at the Newport International Film Festival. Welsh editors have always been supportive of his writing, from Arthur Smith to Dafydd Prys to Francesca Rhydderch to Helle Michelson, and now more recently Lucy Llewellyn at Parthian.
Like most Canadians, Tyler enjoys his winter sports, including hockey and snowboarding, but since coming to Wales he has discovered the wonders of hiking and camping – particular along the Pembrokeshire coast. He currently works part-time in a factory near his hometown of Llanidloes, and lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire.
While working part-time cleaning toilets at a petrol station, Tyler committed to learning the craft, and after picking up a handful of short fiction awards – including a Writer of the Year Award from Writers Inc. of London – he began selling his stories to magazines. He is interested both in literary and slipstream fiction, and has been published in New Welsh Review, Planet, Transmission, Dream Catcher, Black Static, and On Spec, among others. A translation of his story, ‘Masque of the Red Clown’ has also recently been commissioned by the French-Canadian magazine, Solaris. Tyler has also written for the screen; a short film he wrote recently aired on ITV Wales, whilst another picked up the Welsh Dragon Award at the Newport International Film Festival. Welsh editors have always been supportive of his writing, from Arthur Smith to Dafydd Prys to Francesca Rhydderch to Helle Michelson, and now more recently Lucy Llewellyn at Parthian.
Like most Canadians, Tyler enjoys his winter sports, including hockey and snowboarding, but since coming to Wales he has discovered the wonders of hiking and camping – particular along the Pembrokeshire coast. He currently works part-time in a factory near his hometown of Llanidloes, and lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 30, 2025
This book is about a young guy whose biggest accomplishment in life so far is being in the proximity of another young guy who is far more interesting than himself. I find this premise relatable.
It is a beautifully written and engaging novel that plumbs the struggles of growing up, growing out, and cementing your place among those you both admire and fear with a refreshing candour.
It sits somewhere between Catcher in the Rye and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas in my mind and is perhaps the greater of the three.
A most cromulent read.
It is a beautifully written and engaging novel that plumbs the struggles of growing up, growing out, and cementing your place among those you both admire and fear with a refreshing candour.
It sits somewhere between Catcher in the Rye and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas in my mind and is perhaps the greater of the three.
A most cromulent read.
July 5, 2020
I am really glad that I stumbled upon this book. It’s a great read and well written while managing to stay out of the limelight in that shadowy area of obscurity. I agree with those who labeled this a “hidden gem”. Books like this are exactly what that idiom is meant to describe.
July 11, 2013
I can't believe this book isn't more well known. It is reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye and The Outsiders but still manages to bring a unique feel to the story. This is partly because of the modernisation of the characters and the 21st century feel to the story in general. Also, the characters are well formed and easy to relate to.
However, the novel is written in this staccato fashion which offers brief glimpses of insight into the story being told, and switches direction, train of thought and points in time from chapter to chapter. Its difficult to explain how this works, but it really does. It feels so natural and easy going and like you are sitting with the protagonist and he is telling you the story in a casual way, and he adds in different pieces of information as he remembers things that are relevant.
Usually I don't get on well with novels that reveal key plot points early on and then you have to read your way back to them. But with this book I can't imagine it being written any other way. It just works.
However, the novel is written in this staccato fashion which offers brief glimpses of insight into the story being told, and switches direction, train of thought and points in time from chapter to chapter. Its difficult to explain how this works, but it really does. It feels so natural and easy going and like you are sitting with the protagonist and he is telling you the story in a casual way, and he adds in different pieces of information as he remembers things that are relevant.
Usually I don't get on well with novels that reveal key plot points early on and then you have to read your way back to them. But with this book I can't imagine it being written any other way. It just works.
August 12, 2021
Rating: 8.5/10
Fireball is a really good book, and should be more popular than it is! It follows the tale of Chris, Razor, Karen and Jules, being set in Canada. The main focus is upon the events leading to Chris driving off a cliff in a “fireball” (hence the name), and how this happened. I liked best the narration from Razor’s point of view, being Chris’ best friend, and depth being added to each of the characters- with jealousy in the group throughout. Overall, Fireball is an underrated book- and worth a read!!
Fireball is a really good book, and should be more popular than it is! It follows the tale of Chris, Razor, Karen and Jules, being set in Canada. The main focus is upon the events leading to Chris driving off a cliff in a “fireball” (hence the name), and how this happened. I liked best the narration from Razor’s point of view, being Chris’ best friend, and depth being added to each of the characters- with jealousy in the group throughout. Overall, Fireball is an underrated book- and worth a read!!
January 18, 2020
I think this book can be filed as 'a little gem'.
I don't recall where I discovered this book, but it follows the shenanigans of Chris, Razor, Jules and Karen.
The prose and storytelling is a delight.
I don't recall where I discovered this book, but it follows the shenanigans of Chris, Razor, Jules and Karen.
The prose and storytelling is a delight.
February 25, 2013
BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER EVER READ.
I have the privilege of being taught by Tyler and must recommend his short stories which are even better than fireball. This book , as well as most of Keevil's writing has mastery of simile, simple description that is so smooth and natural almost feels like your experiencing the emotion with the characters.
What I like is, he didn't let the the other characters become one dimensional and had all of them grow into something that you might no predict but just go - Yeah of course that's how they end up.
I love the conflict between relationships , the strong and somewhat ambiguous dynamic between Razor and Chris. this relationship is so typical with males , but Tyler caught not only the aggressive and stereotypical side of this dynamic, but the inner most secrets about bromance. us guys no matter what actually get on and care about each other. even if we need to use violence to nurture it. it really hits home how complex masculinity is in a ever changing post-postmodern world where guys are expected to fill so many roles.
this books shows us that boys will boys without ever drifting into cliché.
I have the privilege of being taught by Tyler and must recommend his short stories which are even better than fireball. This book , as well as most of Keevil's writing has mastery of simile, simple description that is so smooth and natural almost feels like your experiencing the emotion with the characters.
What I like is, he didn't let the the other characters become one dimensional and had all of them grow into something that you might no predict but just go - Yeah of course that's how they end up.
I love the conflict between relationships , the strong and somewhat ambiguous dynamic between Razor and Chris. this relationship is so typical with males , but Tyler caught not only the aggressive and stereotypical side of this dynamic, but the inner most secrets about bromance. us guys no matter what actually get on and care about each other. even if we need to use violence to nurture it. it really hits home how complex masculinity is in a ever changing post-postmodern world where guys are expected to fill so many roles.
this books shows us that boys will boys without ever drifting into cliché.
February 8, 2012
An enjoyable and quick read about teenage angst set in Vancouver. Nicely developed characters (especially the narrators best friend Chris), some black humour and some surreal sections. Would make an excellent beach book
August 13, 2017
A terrific read lovingly revealing tragic story of outsider teens in conflict with the mechanics of society. The harshness of the story is tempered with humour and embroidered with a fond nostalgia.
August 28, 2014
I seriously thought this was an amazing book and really enjoyed reading it.
March 23, 2013
Fantastic...along the lines of classics like Rumblefish. Don't know why this book isn't more well known.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews