Ring of Fire is the seventh Thunderbirds novel released, and third by Armada Books. Published in October 1966, the paperback novel was written by John Theydon, and once again features the International Rescue family of heroes partaking in a new adventure.
Blurb[]
Thunderbirds in trouble! International Rescue is forced to fight for its existence against the sinister Hood. Even the World Navy seems against the Tracys. It wants to use Tracy Island to test an atomic missile. It looks as if Jeff Tracy must either break security or see his organisation in ruins.
But did the Hood triumph too soon? Brains has a plan. With the help of Lady Penelope and her cockney chauffeur Parker, Scott Tracy and his brother can still save themselves and the world.
All the incredible gadgets of the six-wheeled pink Rolls and of International Rescue's atomic Thunderbirds are used to the full in this exciting story of T.V.'s most amazing family.
Plot[]
The heat is on for Thunderbird 1, as Scott Tracy faces both rescuing workers at a nuclear power station, and an erupting volcano which could lead to even greater disaster. To make matters worse, the Hood has returned with a scheme to wipe Tracy Island off the planet.
Chapter Titles[]
- Thunderbirds Away!
- Race Against Time
- Subterranean Menace
- Cobaltium 5
- Ultimatum
- Calling Lady Penelope
- The Hood Strikes
- Desert Encounter
- Runaway Rift
- Oceanic Threat
- Operation Desperation
Characters[]
(in order of appearance)
- Jeff Tracy
- Lecturer
- Grandma Tracy
- Scott Tracy
- Alan Tracy
- Tin-Tin Kyrano
- Virgil Tracy
- Gordon Tracy
- Brains
- John Tracy
- Professor Jorge Silva
- Manuel Rivera
- Kyrano
- Admiral Obergaust
- Secretary
- Commander Mike Craddock
- Palena police officers
- W.N.S Hornet No. 1
- Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
- Parker
- Factory guards
- The Hood / "Raschid el Haroun"
- Mustapha
- Mahmoud
- Nikita Bandranaik
International Rescue Equipment Used[]
- Thunderbird 1
- Thunderbird 2
- Thunderbird 4
- The Mole
- Firefly
- Domo
- Excadigger
- FAB 1
- FAB 2
Trivia[]
- The events of Vault Of Death are mentioned in this story.
- Gordon briefly takes command of Thunderbird 1, while Scott is trapped under the collapsed laboratory towards the start of the story.
- Not to be confused with the Thunderbirds Are Go! episode of similar name, of which there is no relation.
- Ring Of Fire is the first book in the series not to use a cover illustration.
- The wraparound image itself is particularly notable for being part of a series of photographs which have gained almost infamous status over the decades. Originally shot to promote the TV Century 21 story Solar Danger, this particular photo went unused, before finding a home as this book's cover. Subsequently, the photo has been reused numerous times for publicity, posters, gum cards, and even on the back cover of VHS tapes, despite having barely anything to do with the television series.
- This has led to something of an urban myth that an episode featured International Rescue facing alien invaders was filmed, when in fact, it was simply an unused image for a comic cover.
