▁in ▁ 1 9 6 5 . ▁ ▁Plot ▁The ▁novel ▁is ▁based ▁in ▁a ▁future ▁where ▁the ▁majority ▁of ▁the ▁human ▁population ▁live ▁under ground . ▁Alan ▁Pow ys ▁works ▁at ▁the ▁transport ▁department . ▁His ▁grand father , ▁Simon ▁Pow ys , ▁is ▁the ▁minister ▁for ▁space ▁transport ▁and ▁is ▁the ▁pres um pt ive ▁nom ine e ▁for ▁his ▁party ▁to ▁succeed ▁the ▁current ▁president . ▁Alan ' s ▁cousin ▁Helen ▁Curt is ▁is ▁leader ▁of ▁the ▁Rad ical ▁Liberal ▁Mov ement , ▁the ▁government ' s ▁opposition . ▁ ▁The ▁arrival ▁of ▁the ▁Fire c low n ▁in ▁the ▁lower ▁levels ▁of ▁the ▁under ground ▁city ▁and ▁his ▁performances ▁featuring ▁fire ▁capt iv ate ▁those ▁who ▁see ▁it . ▁He ▁is ▁thought ▁by ▁Simon ▁Pow ys ▁to ▁be ▁a ▁dangerous ▁re bel , ▁his ▁nie ce ▁thinks ▁convers ely ▁that ▁the ▁Fire c low n ▁is ▁there ▁to ▁reign ite ▁people ' s ▁passion ▁for ▁dem ocracy . ▁ ▁A ▁fire ▁breaks ▁out ▁in ▁the ▁lower ▁levels ▁forcing ▁the ▁Government ▁to ▁shut ▁them ▁off , ▁people ▁revol t ▁and ▁the ▁Fire c low n ▁fle es . ▁Un con vin ced ▁by ▁his ▁grand father ' s , ▁and ▁the ▁Government ' s , ▁assertion ▁that ▁the ▁Fire c low n ▁is ▁a ▁terror ist , ▁Alan ▁sets ▁off ▁to ▁find ▁the ▁Fire c low n ▁for ▁an ▁explanation . ▁Helen ▁accompan ies ▁him ▁providing ▁a ▁ship ▁and ▁des perate ▁to ▁believe ▁the ▁Fire c low n ▁is ▁a