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 Cover of the first edition of Birth of the Firebringer | |
Birth of the Firebringer, Dark Moon, The Son of Summer Stars | |
| Author | Meredith Ann Pierce |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult speculative fiction |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books |
| Published | 1985-1996 |
The Firebringer Trilogy is a fantasy series written by Meredith Ann Pierce. The first novel, Birth of the Firebringer, was published in 1985, followed by Dark Moon in 1992, and concluding with The Son of Summer Stars in 1996. Remembered for Pierce's rich use of language, the series fell out of print in the early 90s, and began commanding high prices online. The series was re-published in paperback by Firebird Books in 2003.[1]
The series follows Jan, prince of the Vale-dwelling unicorns of the Ring. His people have been exiled from their sacred homeland by the poisonous wyverns for the last 400 years, and are awaiting the arrival of the Firebringer, a prophesied warrior who will bring the gift of fire to the tribe and lead them in the battle to reclaim their homeland.
The trilogy differs from many fantasy novels in that humans are not the focus, although in Dark Moon they play a major role. These unicorns talk, act, think and grow as main characters, not as afterthoughts, and their actions may surprise a reader versed in traditional unicorn mythology.
Pierce first created the story that would become Birth of the Firebringer as a child. With her brother's input, she developed a rough version of the book's opening scene. She continued to write the story for a number of years, but then abandoned it until she graduated from college.[2]