Reviews

Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales by Ray Bradbury

myriadreads's review

5.0

Some of the best short stories ever written in these pages! Even with a few weaker stories here and there, as in any collection of this size, it's beyond a 5-star read.

brightwatcher's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

geoffwood's review

3.0

The big thing that strikes me returning to Bradbury after nearly 20 years is how utterly conservative the dude is. Truly does not seem to get enough cred as being like Reverse Lovecraft convinced that Life and Art peaked in 1850 (hmm) and tortured by how the progress of time and society (hmm) will ultimately outlaw/burn/ignore Beauty and then people will just watch TV and screw and crush butterflies in their hands.

That said, for this being the top 10% or whatever of his work, a good 25% of these are just DOGS, like the 15 different riffs on Fahrenheit 451 or the Bazooka Joe jokes stretched out into ten pages (see: How Are Irish Fellas Like Gay Fellas, What If a Cowboy Was Mean to His Barber).

That said, when it works, goddammit he's good. "The Swan" ("lime vanilla ice") is one of my favorite short stories ever, and most of the horror is effortlessly chilling. Just uh maybe toss the Martian stories and the Irish stories and the What If An Old Author Guy Was Alive Today stories and the Censors Deserve to Die stories and the Surprise! They're a Robut stories and ...

chloekg's review

5.0

I started reading this collection on a chilly night in Yellowstone National Park. As the character's horror rises in the first story, the howls of coyotes began to rise on the night air. A physical chill swept through my spine. Bradbury is a master of evocation, and these stories deliver the full range of emotion and awe.

luisasm's review

5.0

An excellent collection, as usual.

jessicaistired's review

4.0

This book is very enjoyable, but it’s probably best to break it up into smaller chunks instead of reading it altogether. It got a bit daunting towards the end. There are, of course, a few duds, but I found the majority of the stories to be interesting, haunting, and often times moving.

The book starts out strong with “The Whole Town’s Sleeping”, but the stories don’t quite keep up the same momentum after that one. That one in particular made me feel sick to my stomach and gave me the creeps which is perfect. Bradbury is a master of sci-fi but also human connection and nostalgia. His writing often leaps off the page and gets right into the action. This may not be the strongest collection, but it would be a shame to miss out on it completely.

sunscour's review

4.0

This book weighted about 6 pounds.....

mhar's review

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jrinehart31's review

5.0

I’ve been on a big short story kick lately, and these are some of the best I’ve read. There’s a huge mix here genre wise, a good bit of sci-fi but also a lot of romance, horror, and some good slice of life stories. Really, really good stuff.

misslupinelady's review

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0