The Fire People

"The Fire People" by Ray Cummings is a science fiction story set in the future, where Earth is thrown into turmoil by meteors radiating an enigmatic light. Professor James Newland, along with his children Alan and Beth, investigates these cosmic events, which he believes are connected to intelligent beings living on Mercury, thus introducing Miela, a unique inhabitant of Mercury. The story unfolds as the first meteor arrives, grabbing the attention of a farmer and sparking global curiosity and fear in the common folk. The event starts a scientific exploration, leading Professor Newland to propose the existence of intelligent life on Mercury. As the story develops, Alan's budding relationship with Miela takes center stage as the book sets up a conflict between Earth and the Mercurians, framed by space exploration and the threat of invasion, and highlighting how both worlds fates are interwoven with the lives of the major characters.