Summary: Reporter Philip Dempster is assigned to write a series of articles on suspected cult rackets within the city. As he carries out his investigation, he finds himself at the heart of a number of arson fires—each killing the leader of the particular cult that Philip had just been researching. As he closes in on identifying the murderous arsonist, Philip finds himself in increasing danger of becoming the firebug’s latest fiery casualty.
Bloch: “Regency was an obscure outfit which at the time employed an obscure editor named Harlan Ellison on its staff. I don't know if he was the original reader of the manuscript or the instigator of its acceptance, but I do know he called to say the book had come up around twelve hundred words short of their standard length. Interpreting my ten minutes of nonstop profanity as an indication that I was currently involved with a television deadline, he volunteered to add the necessary wordage at the beginning of the novel. I most gratefully accepted this gracious offer..."
Note: Collected in the omnibus volume, Screams (1989; along with The Will to Kill and The Star Stalker).
Bloch: “Regency was an obscure outfit which at the time employed an obscure editor named Harlan Ellison on its staff. I don't know if he was the original reader of the manuscript or the instigator of its acceptance, but I do know he called to say the book had come up around twelve hundred words short of their standard length. Interpreting my ten minutes of nonstop profanity as an indication that I was currently involved with a television deadline, he volunteered to add the necessary wordage at the beginning of the novel. I most gratefully accepted this gracious offer..."
Note: Collected in the omnibus volume, Screams (1989; along with The Will to Kill and The Star Stalker).
Bibliography
US: Regency Books; pb 1961
Germany: Scherz ("Mit Feuer Spielt Man Nicht"); pb 1961
US: Lancer Books; pb 1967
Germany: Scherz ("Mit Feuer Spielt Man Nicht"); hc 1969
Austria: Scherz 1970, nfd
UK: Corgi; pb 1977
France: Editions Pac ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1977
France: Neo ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1984
US: Tor; pb 1988
US: Underwood-Miller (Screams omnibus); hc 1989
France: 10 - 18 ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1991
Italy: Mondadori ("Il gusto del fuoco"); pb 1991
France: Pocket ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1993
Germany: Diogenes ("Feuerengel"); pb 1994
Spain: Grupo Unido de Proy ("Piromano"); pb 1994
Spain: Valdemar ("Piromano"); pb 2007
Germany: Fischer ("Mit Feuer Spielt Man Nicht"); pb 2018
Germany: Scherz ("Mit Feuer Spielt Man Nicht"); pb 1961
US: Lancer Books; pb 1967
Germany: Scherz ("Mit Feuer Spielt Man Nicht"); hc 1969
Austria: Scherz 1970, nfd
UK: Corgi; pb 1977
France: Editions Pac ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1977
France: Neo ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1984
US: Tor; pb 1988
US: Underwood-Miller (Screams omnibus); hc 1989
France: 10 - 18 ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1991
Italy: Mondadori ("Il gusto del fuoco"); pb 1991
France: Pocket ("L'incendiaire"); pb 1993
Germany: Diogenes ("Feuerengel"); pb 1994
Spain: Grupo Unido de Proy ("Piromano"); pb 1994
Spain: Valdemar ("Piromano"); pb 2007
Germany: Fischer ("Mit Feuer Spielt Man Nicht"); pb 2018