The novel “Fire Pattern” by Bob Shaw was published for the first time in 1984.
Ray Jerome is a journalist with a background as an engineer so he has a very practical and down-to-earth attitude. When he’s assigned the task to write an article about a case of spontaneous human combustion, he’s far from happy. Jerome thinks that it may be a hoax and has no desire to deal with that kind of story.
After getting some information about the subject, finding that in the past there have been documented cases of spontaneous human combustion never really explained, Jerome can only go to investigate the latest case. A track leads him to look for a doctor, instead he comes across another case of spontaneous human combustion that takes place in front of his eyes. Something is really happening but it turns out quite different from what he could have imagined.
The phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion refers to cases in which the remains of human bodies were found that appear to be burned spontaneously, without external causes. In these cases, the heat developed is so high as to reduce the victim’s body almost completely to ashes but it remains very contained.
There are various hypotheses to explain this phenomenon but it was possible to perform forensic analyzes only in very few cases. The consequence is that there are no sure explanations and that’s why some theories border into the paranormal.
Bob Shaw sometimes took inspiration from pseudoscience and in “Fire Pattern” probably the idea came about after reading some source of that type rather than from the news. His interpretation of this phenomenon, however, is very scientific and rational and not surprisingly was discovered by a character who’s indeed skeptical.
The protagonist of the novel Ray Jerome works for the Whiteford Examiner, a small town newspaper. When asked to write an article about a case of spontaneous human combustion, his reaction is negative on the subject. Soon, however, he’s forced to change his mind when he eyewitnesses a new case.
Spontaneous human combustion is the basis of this novel but Bob Shaw develops it going far beyond it. This phenomenon allows the protagonist to discover that behind it there’s a much bigger picture hiding. The explanation that is given is far from paranormal and is connected to other events in which Ray Jerome is involved.
As almost always, Bob Shaw does a great job in developing the protagonist of “Fire Pattern”. From the beginning of the novel, he gives him depth by inserting various details about his past and his personality at the same time advancing the plot.
From the beginning, the tension is kept high by several twists and turns, initially connected directly to spontaneous human combustion and then usually to dangers of other types for Ray Jerome. That’s also connected to the problem that on several occasions he doesn’t know who he can trust.
In my opinion, the main problem of “Fire Pattern” is that the plot tends to become more and more convoluted. The fact that the story goes beyond spontaneous human combustion makes it complicated but because of this it’s difficult to manage the various elements that are added after the start focused on that phenomenon.
This isn’t the first time a novel by Bob Shaw would’ve needed to be longer to better develop its plot. His standard novels were much shorter than those we are used to today so some of his plots may seem developed in haste.
In my opinion, “Fire Pattern” is a novel that has an intriguing beginning, sometimes the story is at risk of getting lost in the second half and has an ambiguous ending. Not the best of Bob Shaw but I still found it enjoyable so if you have the time to read it I think it’s worth it.
