Fiedler, 79, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus and a UB English professor since 1964, will publish his latest book, "The Tyranny of the Normal," a critical examination of bioethics, medicine and technology, in July.

And, Fiedler says he has "at least one more" book in him. His next project, tentatively titled "Back to Innocence," will be a revised study of popular culture. It will bring his brilliant career at the heart of critical American literature full circle, revisiting the acclaimed 1955 work, "An End to Innocence: Essays on Culture and Politics," that launched him.

This work continues, however, despite being relegated to cramped, rented quarters since that tragic December morning when Buffalo firefighters plucked Fiedler and his wife Sally from their second-floor porch as their century-old home, filled with Fiedler's vast collection of manuscripts and literary works of the last two centuries, went up in flames around them.

"I found that losing everything in the fire was just the first hazard," Fiedler said recently. "The second hazard has been trying to get the money out of the insurance company." Fiedler recently received a settlement for the contents of his home, even though much was irreplaceable.

Wrangling continues over the cost of rebuilding, however. Both Fiedler and the insurance company are armed with appraisers, and binding arbitration is a possibility. Once a price is agreed upon, Fiedler says, the actual reconstruction work will take three to six months.

The fire apparently began in the early morning hours of Dec. 14 in Fiedler's study: a study, Fiedler concedes, that was piled deep with original literature and prose he had collected over six decades in academia. "It was a room just made to be a bonfire. I'm afraid I'm not a very organized person," he confessed.

Arguably one of the greatest literary critics of this century, Fiedler has made a career of writing that which most would only whisper. His hallmark has been his unique "power to disturb." In fact, some familiar with Fiedler's writings; books such as "Fiedler on the Roof," "The End of Innocence," "The Last Jew in America," and "Love and Death in the American Novel," might argue that his works were sufficiently incendiary that spontaneous combustion was a distinct possibility. In fact, it was believed to be an overworked electrical outlet that started the blaze.

Valued first editions of books such as James Joyce's "Ulysses," Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," and Bernard Malamud's "The Natural," were lost in the blaze. So were bound galley prints of Thomas Pynchon's "V" and Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," along with six decades' worth of original works collected by Fiedler. More than 5,000 printed volumes, including the Fiedlers' extensive poetry collection, were destroyed.

"I used to throw galley prints out, until someone told me that they are considered pre-first editions and are quite valuable," Fiedler explained. The Heller and Pynchon galleys alone were likely worth $5,000.

Fiedler says that the diligent work of firemen and preservationists has saved nearly half of his original manuscripts. His reputation as a cynical critic evaporates when he can find only kind words to describe those who helped him in his hour of need.

"The firemen were just marvelous," he said, recalling the cold December night. The "prompt and tender work" of the firemen, Fiedler explained, allowed preservationists to "freeze-dry" Fiedler's original manuscripts, virtually all of which were in his study.

Much personal memorabilia, including letters Fiedler had written to his wife from the Battle of Iwo Jima, was lost in the blaze as well. But, he said, some old photos were saved, as was his original Ph.D. diploma. "It was appropriately singed around the edges, so I framed it in a shadow box. Now, it looks like something recovered from Pompeii," joked Fiedler.

Fiedler says the fire was hurtful, but avoids calling it tragic. He, his wife, his eight children and boatload of grandchildren all are safe and well. "At first, we were reluctant to go in the house," Fiedler says. "But after a while, it all began to seem unreal; more a vivid nightmare than a memory."

The documents that were saved held up remarkably well, says Fiedler. And, this time, Fiedler has a student assisting him in cataloging and documenting what is there. After all, they will be useful if Fiedler can ever convince himself to finish his often-postponed autobiography. "But, I only belong in the present, I'm not very good at looking back," explained Fiedler.