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Bradbury Classic Stories #1: From The Golden Apples of the Sun and R is for Rocket by Ray Bradbury
mr_shoemonger's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ratgirlreads's review
Classic Stories I is a great way to get an overview of Ray Bradbury and his writing style. Many of the themes he explores in longer works are present in miniature in the short stories collected here—anti-censorship, fascination with and delight in space technology, science, and possible futures, his fear of these same three things if they should go the wrong way—atomic bombs, introverts’ nightmares of noise and media bombardment and overconnectedness—his love for small towns and nostalgia for boys playing and learning, what outer space will be like for humans, and how it could be visited and lived in. Some of the stories are better than others—hardly surprising in such a varied collection—but the variety guarantees that any reader can find favorites.
nilocennis's review
4.0
Bradbury is one of the greatest to ever do it, and this collection is pretty solid evidence as to why. Though the first volume, The Golden Apples of the Sun , is a little uneven, the back half, which comprises most of R is for Rocket , is truly spectacular.
There's a through-line to these stories that is subtler by the nigh-omnipresent rockets throughout much of this text; instead, the stories carry within them a palpable yearning, a desire to see more, to do more, than that which is allowed us. The best stories seize that feeling and allow the reader to join Bradbury and share his sense of wonder at the possibilities of the universe around us.
Some of my favourite stories are:
"The Fog Horn"
"The Great Wide World Over There"
"R is for Rocket"
"The Rocket"
"The Rocket Man"
"The Dragon"
"Frost and Fire"
There's a through-line to these stories that is subtler by the nigh-omnipresent rockets throughout much of this text; instead, the stories carry within them a palpable yearning, a desire to see more, to do more, than that which is allowed us. The best stories seize that feeling and allow the reader to join Bradbury and share his sense of wonder at the possibilities of the universe around us.
Some of my favourite stories are:
"The Fog Horn"
"The Great Wide World Over There"
"R is for Rocket"
"The Rocket"
"The Rocket Man"
"The Dragon"
"Frost and Fire"
corpsewhale's review
4.0
Bradbury's stories are heartbreaking, fascinating, and just plain interesting. They contain standard themes like love and homesickness, but he gives them new life by putting them into different realms and realities. He writes such a variety of stories that I'm sure most people could find at least one to love.
toloveabook's review
4.0
Favourite stories: The Fog Horn, The Wilderness, The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl, The Flying Machine, The Great Wide World Over There, The Powerhouse, The Rocket Man (reread), The Exiles (reread), Here There Be Tygers, The Strawberry Window, The Dragon, Frost and Fire, The Sound of Summer Running (reread).
davidcuen's review
3.0
I love Ray Bradbury and all his stories. This was not an exception but it wasn’t my favourite book either. To be honest it’s two books: The Golden Apples of the Sun (2 stars for me) fully of melancholy and vintage storytelling and R is for Rocket (4 stars for me) which has fantastic stories like The Rocket, Here there be Tygers and Frost and Fire (a master piece). So the combination wasn’t perfect for me but loved R is for Rocket!
blissful_day's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
princess_starr's review
3.0
When I found out Ray Bradbury died back in June, I was admittedly heartbroken. He was one of my first introductions to sci-fi, and aside from one book, I’ve always enjoyed his work. (Still not a fan of Something Wicked This Way Comes.) But admittedly, I haven’t read very much from Bradbury so I quickly rectified this.
So I picked up this collection, notably containing “The Fog Horn” and “A Sound of Thunder,” to help bolster my collection. And I did like this collection. The both halves of the book contain more introspective slice-of-life tales that do take a darker look at the nostalgic days of childhood that Bradbury really likes (particularly with “I See You Never” and “The Big Black and White Game”) as well as genre-defying tales (STRONG reads for “The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind,” “Embroidery” and “The Exiles.”) And yet, there’s also ones that don’t work for me. (Like the aforementioned “A Sound of Thunder.” I know, classic but…I don’t know. Maybe because I know the twist already.)
That said, I do like this collection, and would give it a fair shot to anyone l think would like a quick handful of short reads.
So I picked up this collection, notably containing “The Fog Horn” and “A Sound of Thunder,” to help bolster my collection. And I did like this collection. The both halves of the book contain more introspective slice-of-life tales that do take a darker look at the nostalgic days of childhood that Bradbury really likes (particularly with “I See You Never” and “The Big Black and White Game”) as well as genre-defying tales (STRONG reads for “The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind,” “Embroidery” and “The Exiles.”) And yet, there’s also ones that don’t work for me. (Like the aforementioned “A Sound of Thunder.” I know, classic but…I don’t know. Maybe because I know the twist already.)
That said, I do like this collection, and would give it a fair shot to anyone l think would like a quick handful of short reads.
samseybert's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75