The Book: “The Pumpernickel” by Ray Bradbury. Originally published in Collier’s in May, 1951, the story was read in Long after Midnight published by Bantam in 1978.
The Setting: Small town Earth.
The Story: Bread reminds an old man of a happy time in his life.
The Science: Old people get a bit carried away by memory. This is not science fiction.
The Reaction: Another Bradbury vignette. Ho hum.
The Cover: Still not thrilled by it.
Next Up: Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke.
The Book: “The Great Fire” by Ray Bradbury. Originally published in 1949 by Triangle Publications. Story was read in The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury published by Bantum Books in 1961.
The Setting: Middle America.
The Story: A young lady enjoys going on dates.
The Science: Meh.
The Reaction: Meh.
The Cover: Same as usual.
Next Up: “The Blue Bottle” by Ray Bradbury
The Book: “The October Game” by Ray Bradbury. Originally published in the March 1948 edition of Weird Tales, the story was read in Long after Midnight published by Bantam in 1978.
The Setting: Halloween, middle America.
The Story: A man hates his wife and wants revenge on her. At a Halloween party, partygoers and the family sit around and play a game ala “This is the witch’s cold dead heart” which goes somewhat differently than the wife expected.
The Science: N/A
The Reaction: I liked reading it. It’s a short couple of scenes and has that implied horribleness that Bradbury specializes in.
The Cover: Same as before.
Next Up: “The Human Angle” by William Tenn
The Book: “The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl” and “Powerhouse” by Ray Bradbury. “Fruit” was first published by Detective Book Magazine in November 1948. “Powerhouse” was also published in 1948, copyright Street and Smith Publications. Both were read in The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury published by Bantum Books in 1961.
The Setting: Earth.
The Story: “Fruit” – A murderer grows increasingly frantic that he has left fingerprints in his victim’s home. This is his downfall.
“Powerhouse” – A not religious woman has a religious experience at a remote desert power station.
The Science: Not science fiction, not relevant.
The Reaction: These are both lovely little stories. Bradbury has a way of establishing a story and a character very quickly. “Fruit” starts slow and whips itself into a frenzy, “Powerhouse” is slow and reverent throughout except for the climactic experience. Both very nice.
The Cover: Same as last time.
Next Up: Against the Fall of Night by Arthur C. Clarke
The Book: “I See You Never” by Ray Bradbury. Originally published in 1947 in The New Yorker magazine. Edition read in The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury published by Bantum Books in 1961.
The Setting: Los Angeles, CA. Earth.
The Story: A Mexican worker in Los Angeles who overstays his visa is deported and bids farewell to his landlady.
The Science: N/A
The Reaction: A nice enough story – one of those snapshot stories Bradbury loves. Given the current fury of the immigration debate in this country, it was interesting to read this story from 1947.
The Cover: Same as last time.
Next Up: “Morning Star” by Robert Spencer Carr.
The Book: “El Dia de Muerte” by Ray Bradbury. I can’t find any publishing data, but several sources indicate the story is from 1947. Story was read in The Machineries of Joy, published by Bantum Books in 1965.
The Setting: Mexico City. Earth.
The Story: A child is killed and other things happen on the Day of the Dead in Mexico City.
The Science: N/A
The Reaction: I think it’s supposed to play as a snapshot of the day – many things happen, centered around a child, but I was mostly annoyed with it. I didn’t care.
The Cover: Awesome. A rocket, a psychedelic dinosaur/skull/cobweb mushroom, and a dimetron. Doesn’t make sense, but I’m loving it.
Next Up: NSF “I See You Never” by Ray Bradbury
The Book: “The Miracles of Jamie” and “One Timeless Spring” by Ray Bradbury. Both originally published in magazines in 1946, they were read in Long after Midnight published by Bantam in 1978.
The Setting: Earth, middle America
The Story: “Jamie” is about a boy who thinks he can do miracles, but he can’t. “Spring” is about a boy who thinks he is being poisoned out of childhood.
The Science: Not Applicable. Well, maybe child psychology stuff, but, meh.
The Reaction: Both stories start with the thought that there could be sci-fi or fantasy in the stories, but bring you to the eventual conclusion that these are just kids who don’t understand the world yet. Or who refuse to see it with adult eyes. Which is fine. But not what this project is about.
The Cover: The subtitle of the book reads “22 Hauntings and Celebrations.” The cover art has clearly decided to focus on the hauntings side. Not one of those creepy faces is wearing a party hat.
Next Up: “Frost and Fire” by Ray Bradbury.
The Book: “The Invisible Boy” and “The Big Black and White Game” by Ray Bradbury. Both stories originally published in 1945. Read in the anthology Golden Apples of the Sun, edition read was published by Bantum Books in 1961.
The Setting: Earth, the Ozarks and Wisconsin, respectively.
The Story: WARNING! These stories are Not Science Fiction. “The Invisible Boy” tells the story of a lonely and creepy old lady in the Ozarks, not a boy who is invisible. “The Big Black and White Game” is about baseball and racial tension.
The Science: Not applicable.
The Reaction:A couple of very nice little stories, but… not project appropriate. I fear there’s going to be a fair amount of this with Bradbury.
The Cover: It’s a confusing cover – whirls and swirls of old timey pasted together graphics. Supposed to confer a sense of wonder and mysticism, I suppose. But I don’t even want to think about what’s going on with some of those graphics.
Next Up: That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis.
headed for alien territory 