The Fire God (Complete Two Volumes)

Tianxia BachangBeijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. · ChinaDec 2024

4.0

Word count: 361K words
Chapters: 23

Summary

Since the late Qing dynasty, Tianjin has produced a steady stream of remarkable figures—the so-called "Seven Eccentrics and Eight Oddballs," each counted among one or the other, some upright and some crooked, some kind and some wicked. Above the Seven Eccentrics and Eight Oddballs stand the "Four Gods and Three Demons." What the Three Demons are we'll leave as a teaser for later; the Four Gods are Dou Zhanlong, who knows the value of any treasure; Cui Laodao, who subdues demons and captures spirits; Guo Deyou, who cracks one bizarre case after another; and Liu Hengshun, who hunts down criminals and brings them to justice. This book centers on Liu Hengshun, the "Fire God" who hunts down criminals, vividly portraying his thrilling exploits as he subdues demons, punishes evil, and repeatedly solves the strange and gruesome murder cases of Tianjin.

Editor's review

Tianxia Bachang moves his pen from the world of tomb raiders to late-Qing Tianjin, using the folk genealogy of the Four Gods and Three Demons to build a stage for street-corner tales. The protagonist of Fire God, Liu Hengshun, is one of the Four Gods, a man who tracks down criminals and catches thieves, his identity poised between constable and sorcerer, wedged precisely in the gap between the authorities and the jianghu. The book strings together unit-style bloody cases; the crimes are written as bizarre and strange, yet the landing point is always human nature and rules. Reading it gives you the rhythm of an old-style storyteller, along with the author's customary interest in folklore research. The two volumes are not light in length, but each case is relatively independent, suitable for reading in segments before bed or during a commute—no need to devour it in one sitting. If you are familiar with Tianjin's dock culture and old canal-transport lore, you will find more places to smile in recognition; if you read it purely as a curiosity-driven tale, that will not hinder your entry either. One warning: the book contains many descriptions of demons and evil spirits and details of violent crimes, and the atmosphere is gloomy—it is not a lighthearted comedy of street life.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy the street life and folk tales of Republican-era Tianjin
Readers who follow Tianxia Bachang's works and prefer unit-style crime-solving structures
Folklore enthusiasts interested in folk character genealogies of the Seven Wonders and Eight Oddities type
People who want something with a storyteller's feel for commuting or bedtime reading, with cases that stand alone

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer strict historical accuracy and do not accept supernatural elements
Readers sensitive to descriptions of violent crimes and demons, who are easily discomforted
People who want a single-mainline long novel and are not used to unit-linked structures

Reading tips

Start with the opening section that explains the Four Gods and Three Demons, and get a rough grasp of the character genealogy; the later cases will flow much more smoothly.
Pause after each case and think back on how Liu Hengshun handled things—you can see the author's attitude toward rules.
You do not have to plow through the two volumes in order; you can pick cases by interest, since each is relatively independent and does not affect comprehension.
Do not skip over Tianjin dialect and old trade jargon—guess from context, and it actually tastes better.

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

版权信息
火神：九河龙蛇
第一章枪打美人台
第二章收尸白骨塔
第三章金麻子卖药
第四章杜大彪捉妖
第五章邋遢李憋宝
第六章斗法分龙会
第七章张瞎子走阴差
第八章孙小臭儿下山东
第九章火烧三岔河口上
第十章火烧三岔河口下
火神：外道天魔
第一章刘横顺拜师
第二章金鼻子截会
第三章城隍小先生
第四章夜审李子龙
第五章分宝阴阳岭
第六章老油条破案
第七章青龙潭怪婴
第八章韦陀斗僵尸
第九章三妖化天魔
第十章二上龙虎山

FAQ

I haven't read any other works by Tianxia Bachang. Can I read this directly?

Yes. The characters and stories in this book are relatively independent and do not rely on previous works. The opening explains the folk genealogy of the Four Gods and Three Demons, so it is not hard to get into. The author's customary supernatural style and storyteller rhythm may take a few pages to get used to, but once you finish one case patiently, it flows smoothly.

Is this book a ghost story or a crime-solving story?

It has both, but the focus is on crime-solving. Liu Hengshun's role is to track down criminals and catch thieves; each unit revolves around a bizarre and bloody case, involving rumors of demons and folk sorcery along the way, and the final landing point is often human affairs and rules—it is not a pure collection of supernatural horror.

Do the two volumes need to be read in order?

It is recommended to read them in order, but not strictly required. The cases are relatively independent, and skipping around does not affect comprehension; however, the character relationships and the Four Gods and Three Demons thread unfold gradually as the pages progress, so reading in order lets you experience the building of this folk world more completely.

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About the author

Tianxia Bachang Author · China · 1978

Tianxia Bachang, whose real name is Zhang Muye, was born in Shenyang in 1978 and is a native of Tianjin. He is a Chinese online writer of suspense and adventure fiction. In 2006 he began serializing Ghost Blows Out the Light, which pioneered the online tomb-raiding novel genre. His work often draws on folk secrets and regional legends, with eerie, atmospheric prose and dense suspense, blending suspense, mystery, otherworldly fantasy, martial arts, and social fiction. His representative works also include The Lost Tomb, Cat Burglar, and The River God, as well as the Mojin, Cui Laodao, Dou Zhanlong, and Tiankeng series and titles such as The Underground World: The Loulan Demon Ear, The Fire God, and Absolute Loop. Many of his works have been adapted for film and television, and he has had a profound influence on contemporary genre fiction and screen adaptation.