The Firebird is based upon a Russian fairy tale. There are many versions of this tale; Lackey has used elements from several of them in building her novel, as well as adding features of her own invention.

Several other fantasy and science fiction authors have written novels based on European fairy tales. Robin McKinley's Beauty (1978), Pamela Dean's Tam Lin (1992), and Joan Vinge's Hugo-winning The SnowQueen (1980; see separate entry), are among the most notable. C. J. Cherryh's Rusalka (1990) and Yvgenie (1991) are other fantasy novels inspired by Russian folklore.

Each book is very much the product of its own author's vision, so making overall comparisons among them is difficult. For example, Tam Lin includes a contemporary setting, while The Snow Queen is the first book of a galaxy-spanning trilogy.

However, all these writers, as well as Lackey, were working within a shared tradition that sees folklore and legends...