The pool of fire
1968
- children's stories
- science fiction
- juvenile fiction
- human-alien encounters
- teenage boys
- dystopias
- extraterrestrial beings
- children's fiction
The story
This is the conclusion of the Tripods series written under the name John Christopher. These young adult science fiction stories are set on Earth ruled by the alien Tripods. A prequel detailing the conquest was added 20 years later. The series: 0.5 (Prequel) When the Tripods Came (1988) 1. The White Mountains (1967) 2. The City of Gold and Lead (1967) 3. The Pool of Fire (1968)
What it’s like
Plain, brisk prose that moves like a long walk: short sentences, practical detail about food, weather and tired feet, and a sense of open country under a heavy sky. The mood is sun-bleached unease softened by stubborn hope, the kind of book that suits a long train journey, an afternoon in a garden chair, or a stretch of reading before sleep. Its landscapes are English hills, roads and ruined towns, rendered in concrete, earthy strokes rather than lush description, and the alien Tripods loom as cold, distant machines whose presence is felt more in dread than in spectacle. The pacing is steady, with the tension building through travel, close escapes and uneasy encounters rather than constant action. Its emotional register is earnest and hopeful, following young people who grow more resolute as the stakes harden and the bonds between them deepen. Violence is present and occasionally sudden, including deaths and some harsh fighting, but it is not graphic and there is no sexual content. Best for readers who want young-adult science fiction with a clear moral spine, a melancholic but purposeful tone, and a story that rewards patience.
More books like The pool of fire
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved The pool of fireand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
