Fire Time
Fire Time is a science fiction novel by Poul Anderson, first published in 1974. It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Hugo [Award for Best Novel|Best Novel] in 1975.
Plot introduction
Fire Time takes place on the planet Ishtar in the "Anubelea" system, located 300 parsecs away from the Sun. Ishtar's peculiar orbit around the three stars of the Anubelea system results in the "Fire Time", a dramatic increase in heat every thousand years as the "demon star" Anu approaches the planet. As the northern hemisphere heats up, large numbers of Ishtarians flee south, leading to a collapse of civilization. The northern natives take advantage of the Gathering's culture to win two victories in Valennen territory. The presence of visitors from Earth raises the prospect of changing the dynamics of history, though, with Earth involved in an interstellar war of its own, human aid is not guaranteed.| Name | Short description | Stellar classification | Luminosity | Temperature | Mass | Mean distance from Bel | Aphelion from Bel | Perihelion from Bel |
| Bel | Yellow dwarf | G2V | 5800 Kelvin | - | - | - | ||
| Ea | Red dwarf | not given | not given | not given | not given | 6000 AU | - | - |
| Anu | Red giant | not given | not given | - | 224 AU | 40 AU |