Cold Fire

The Coldest Fire Burns Within

Fallout burns with a cold fire. So, for the Andersen family, does guilt.

October 4, 1957, and the world is about to change.

With the launch of Sputnik, the Soviets have unleashed a dangerous new era. Atom bomb tests poison the air. Russian aggression threatens the homeland, already beleaguered by polio, espionage, and race.

Amid Cold War paranoia, the Andersens (introduced in Distant Early Warning) must deal with fallout of a different kind. After a devastating flood claims their daughter, Georgia withdraws into unbearable grief. Marsh yearns for a safer house, a better job, and the affection of his once-vibrant wife. And ten-year-old Wil retreats to the fantasy of TV to escape the confusing world of bullies, air-raid drills, and the girl next door.

Each carries a secret fear-that they are responsible for the tragedy consuming their lives. Just as each will discover that they alone hold the key to surviving this brave new world.

With memorable characters and luminous prose, Cold Fire probes the very heart of America in a time that resonates powerfully with our own.

Praise for Jeff Widmer's work