City on Fire (Dapiran book)

City on Fire is a novel by Garth Risk Hallberg, published in 2015. It is a sprawling epic set in New York City during the 1970s, focusing on a diverse cast of characters whose lives intersect against the backdrop of a city teetering on the brink of chaos. The narrative weaves together multiple storylines, exploring themes of class, art, politics, love, and loss against the backdrop of a looming New Year's Eve blackout in 1977.

The novel opens with the shooting of Samantha Cicciaro in Central Park and then expands outward to encompass the interconnected lives of a wealthy family, a group of young artists and anarchists, and a detective investigating the shooting. Key characters include Regan and Keith Hamilton, members of a powerful real estate family; Mercer Goodman, a writer and teacher; William "Billy Three Sticks" Hamilton-Schwatt, Regan's brother and a musician; and Nicky Koza, a young man involved in the burgeoning punk rock scene and the arson attempts that give the book its name.

City on Fire is notable for its length (over 900 pages), its complex structure, and its detailed portrayal of New York City during a period of significant social and economic upheaval. Hallberg's ambition to create a sweeping portrait of the city and its inhabitants has been both praised and criticized, with some reviewers celebrating its scope and detail, while others found its complexity overwhelming.