However, the costs for these benefits are extremely high. Excepting one character, all of the people with abnormal abilities in this novel gained them after taking an experimental drug of the government. During the experiment, one of the experimentees died after becoming severely neurotic - he clawed his eyes out. Another went into cardiac arrest and died shortly after. In the years that followed, two went completely insane and were sent to a distant location to await death. Four, and possibly five, committed suicide. That left only two experimentees of interest: Andy and Vicky, who married shortly after the experiment.
Though Andy and Vicky had six wonderful years together, they were always being watched. Vicky's abilities were weak, but Andy could make a person bend to his will by using his mind. To do so gave him headaches, though, and each time he used what he called the "push", he came a little closer to death. When they had a little girl, whom they named Charlene, their problems increased tenfold. Somehow, Charlie had inherited pyrokenisis, or the ability to start fires by merely thinking about it. To use her abilities did not cause any physical ailment, perhaps because she was born with her abilities. As a baby, Charlie would instinctively start fires when upset, just as other children would cry. It was a miracle that she didn't burn the house down.
One day the government decided to take action and attempt to use the McGee's abilities against them. After killing Vicky, they kidnapped Charlie. Though Andy managed to retrieve Charlie, all semblance of normal life was gone. The government continued to chase them until they were caught.
During their flight from danger, Charlie learns that she will not always be accepted by others because of their fear of her abilities. From government agents to doctors, the fear Charlie instills gives her power over people. The government wishes to misuse this power, and it is only luck that Charlie's parents were wise enough to teach her good morals and that she has a high enough character to resist abusing her abilities.
FIRESTARTER delves into the costs and consequences people who possess special abilities pay. The novel shows both the positive and the negative, giving an overall view of what life with abnormal abilities could be like. Therefore, Stephen King's FIRESTARTER realistically presents both the benefits and the curses of possessing abnormal abilities.