In the first of six projected volumes on fire, Pyne (biology and society, Arizona State U.) begins when there was no fire on the Earth, because there was no oxygen in the atmosphere. Then he recounts such milestones as fire colonizing by hominids, aboriginal fire, agricultural fire, buildings habitats for fire in the cities, pyrotechnics, industrial fire, and the future of fire. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)