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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Wow, so this book is really pretty cool. I like to read short story collections, and normally, one recognizes a theme running through the story. October Country, however, is like visiting a big box store on samples day. You can't predict what you'll taste next, but, whether good or bad, you're eager for the next sample. Some of the stories that stood out for me were The Scythe, The Wind, The Watchful Poker Chip..., and The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone. Honestly, I think the only story I didn't like was The Next in Line. Prior to reading The October Country, the only writing I had read by Mr. Bradbury was Zen in the Art of Writing. I think it's time I expanded my repertoire.
As I am reading these short stories, I keep thinking some of them seem familiar; there is a reason for this. If I can find it, I will add the trailer/article on the adaptation --
The Dwarf Another one that is a little sad, and cruel. Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/JtOR-ugAO_s
The Next in Line this one would make a nice new Twilight Zone tale, and from what I can tell, it has only been a radio program - https://youtu.be/2fJ-Yp8tFzY
The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse the need to be a part of something, I think we have all felt it at some point in time, and once you have it, you don't want to let it go.
Skeleton kind of a creepy tale about being obsessed with being a hypochondriac, filmed for Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/5ohZ5k2vVEk
The Jar a gullible hick story, retold a couple of times, once for Alfred Hitchcock Presents - https://youtu.be/MQXKQGRifQw
The Lake a bit of a sad story, Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/fkTll3La1po
The Emissary another sad one, poor Dog, and how terrible to be stuck in bed, missing everything! Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/ROiaZd1rlq4
Touched with Fire I kind of liked this story about insurance agents who decide to use their powers for good. A lot of these stories were told on Ray Bradbury's own show, which I actually have on DVD, perhaps I need to sit down and watch a few more of these: https://youtu.be/yc7ly4J11Gc
The Small Assassin a little postpartum paired with maybe a little The Omen? Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/yc7ly4J11Gc
The Crowd this was the first one I KNEW I had seen before - on Ray Bradbury Theater, one of the better ones. https://youtu.be/58UFolQ5UQo
Jack-in-the-Box Found a teaser for this movie, but can't find the movie on IMDB?? https://youtu.be/KUjZ_0mqLEk
The Scythe Is there a trend of sad tales from Bradbury's early stories?? this is another one. Reminded me a bit of On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony, but only in idea, certainly not tone
Uncle Einar Cute. I pretty much love everything about this story.
The Wind Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/y7OD9Oz1vKM (and a radio program: https://youtu.be/_-bE6kw8e_Q) - creepy. A precursor to The Mist, only it is not monsters IN the wind, it is the wind itself you must be aware of.
The Man Upstairs Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/U5TlcMsguc0 - creepy again. not a favorite
There was an Old Woman Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/tkSnUvUqv7Y - I refuse to accept death!! and thus she didn't.
The Cistern - We all float down here. it is amazing to me how many of these tales remind me of a newer story by another author. Bradbury truly was inspirational
Homecoming an animated short: https://youtu.be/W2w5QBAvLgY - yet again, a bit of a sad tale. another one that has precursors to The Umbrella Academy
The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/VliFFDOXOcY - another BIG WINNER, again, a bit of a nod from Stephen King when he wrote The Dark Half, but this is a much happier version. I truly love this story.
The Dwarf Another one that is a little sad, and cruel. Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/JtOR-ugAO_s
The Next in Line this one would make a nice new Twilight Zone tale, and from what I can tell, it has only been a radio program - https://youtu.be/2fJ-Yp8tFzY
The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse the need to be a part of something, I think we have all felt it at some point in time, and once you have it, you don't want to let it go.
Skeleton kind of a creepy tale about being obsessed with being a hypochondriac, filmed for Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/5ohZ5k2vVEk
The Jar a gullible hick story, retold a couple of times, once for Alfred Hitchcock Presents - https://youtu.be/MQXKQGRifQw
The Lake a bit of a sad story, Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/fkTll3La1po
The Emissary another sad one, poor Dog, and how terrible to be stuck in bed, missing everything! Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/ROiaZd1rlq4
Touched with Fire I kind of liked this story about insurance agents who decide to use their powers for good. A lot of these stories were told on Ray Bradbury's own show, which I actually have on DVD, perhaps I need to sit down and watch a few more of these: https://youtu.be/yc7ly4J11Gc
The Small Assassin a little postpartum paired with maybe a little The Omen? Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/yc7ly4J11Gc
The Crowd this was the first one I KNEW I had seen before - on Ray Bradbury Theater, one of the better ones. https://youtu.be/58UFolQ5UQo
Jack-in-the-Box Found a teaser for this movie, but can't find the movie on IMDB?? https://youtu.be/KUjZ_0mqLEk
The Scythe Is there a trend of sad tales from Bradbury's early stories?? this is another one. Reminded me a bit of On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony, but only in idea, certainly not tone
Uncle Einar Cute. I pretty much love everything about this story.
The Wind Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/y7OD9Oz1vKM (and a radio program: https://youtu.be/_-bE6kw8e_Q) - creepy. A precursor to The Mist, only it is not monsters IN the wind, it is the wind itself you must be aware of.
The Man Upstairs Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/U5TlcMsguc0 - creepy again. not a favorite
There was an Old Woman Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/tkSnUvUqv7Y - I refuse to accept death!! and thus she didn't.
The Cistern - We all float down here. it is amazing to me how many of these tales remind me of a newer story by another author. Bradbury truly was inspirational
Homecoming an animated short: https://youtu.be/W2w5QBAvLgY - yet again, a bit of a sad tale. another one that has precursors to The Umbrella Academy
The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone Ray Bradbury Theater: https://youtu.be/VliFFDOXOcY - another BIG WINNER, again, a bit of a nod from Stephen King when he wrote The Dark Half, but this is a much happier version. I truly love this story.
dark
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Considered one of the best horror short story collections for good reason.
Ray Bradbury was just an amazing writer. This collection is excellent with just a few that are too weird or too slight. But his use of language and description is, as always, right on target, reeling the reader in and keeping us on the edge of our seats to see what happens next. ★★★★ for the collection. Synopses of the stories follows.
"The Dwarf": A dark and painful tale about a young woman who only wants to help and the jealous man who turns her good into evil...and apparently can't see what he's done that's so wrong.
"The Next in Line": A young wife becomes very fearful in a town whose cemetery has an unusual method of interring the dead of families who cannot pay for burials in full. An interesting study of her breakdown and her husband's unfeeling response.
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse": Poor Mr. Garvey is a terrible bore and never has had much of a social life...until the avant garde crowd decides that boredom is the latest rage. Garvey finds that he loves being the center of attention and is willing to go surreal lengths to stay there.
"Skeleton": Very creepy story of a man who has pains in his bones, convinces himself he is at war with his own skeleton, and is finally driven to consult an unorthodox specialist. The last line of the story is fantastic.
"The Jar": Another story of man looking for attention. A poor farmer buys a (kindof disgusting) "thing" in a jar which becomes the center of nightly discussions among his neighbors. His wife hates the thing and tries to ruin his fun...but he has another surprise up his sleeve.
"The Lake": An emotional piece about first love--a love lost to the cold death-grip of the water and how it all comes rushing back to the young man who will never forget Tally.
"The Emissary": A young invalid has two primary contacts with the outside world--his dog and his teacher. His teacher stops by to play games with him and the dog goes on adventures outside, bringing back the smells of the seasons as well as bringing in people he meets to visit his master. But then his teacher is killed in an accident and Dog disappears. The boy is all alone until one night Dog returns...smelling very strange indeed and bringing with him a very unexpected guest.
"Touched with Fire": Two old insurance men have made it their mission to rescue future murderees from their fate. They have learned to spot the psychological and outward signs...but with one woman their good intentions don't have the effect desired.
"The Small Assassin": A horror story built on postpartum depression before it had even been named as such. A woman becomes convinced that her baby is out to kill her....
"The Crowd": A man has a night-time auto accident and has a feeling that the crowd around him gathered much too fast. He doesn't know why it bothers him so much, but he does a bit of research on accidents in the area and comes to a startling conclusion. Before he can share his findings with authorities he has another accident....
"Jack-in-the-Box" This one is odd. A boy is raised in complete seclusion--seeing only his mother and "Teacher"--after his father is killed by the "beasts" outside (in what the reader presumes was a car accident). He is repeatedly told that if he leaves the World (house) that he will die. No wonder he thinks he's dead at the end of the story....
"The Scythe": a brilliant examination of the ways of death and the power of grim reaper.
"Uncle Einar": More dark fantasy than horror, it tells of Uncle Einar, a man with wings (one wonders if he's a vampire) who loses his night-time flying radar one night in an accident with a high tension power line and finds love. He thinks he'll never fly again until his children show him a way he can fly during the day and not be shot down as a monster.
"The Wind": A world traveler finds that he has braved the elements one too many times when the elements come after him in his own home.
"The Man Upstairs": An interesting and creepy twist on the vampire story and how a young boy with an interest in "innards" manages to defeat the man living upstairs.
"There Was an Old Woman": There was an old woman who didn't believe in death--defied it for years. And when death finally came calling and snatched her body away from her, she determined to get it back.
"The Cistern": A young woman who has lost her love describes the secret world in the sewers under the city...where lovers reunite after death. Her sister scoffs at her...until the young woman leaves the house and doesn't come back.
"Homecoming": Uncle Einar's family (all supernatural beings, but one) gather at Halloween for a Homecoming. Timothy is the lone mortal in the family and he feels his differences very much. All he wants is to be able to be like everyone else--something all children feel at one time or another.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone": A reclusive author's fans track him down to ask him why he went into hiding and gave up writing 25 years ago.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
"The Dwarf": A dark and painful tale about a young woman who only wants to help and the jealous man who turns her good into evil...and apparently can't see what he's done that's so wrong.
"The Next in Line": A young wife becomes very fearful in a town whose cemetery has an unusual method of interring the dead of families who cannot pay for burials in full. An interesting study of her breakdown and her husband's unfeeling response.
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse": Poor Mr. Garvey is a terrible bore and never has had much of a social life...until the avant garde crowd decides that boredom is the latest rage. Garvey finds that he loves being the center of attention and is willing to go surreal lengths to stay there.
"Skeleton": Very creepy story of a man who has pains in his bones, convinces himself he is at war with his own skeleton, and is finally driven to consult an unorthodox specialist. The last line of the story is fantastic.
"The Jar": Another story of man looking for attention. A poor farmer buys a (kindof disgusting) "thing" in a jar which becomes the center of nightly discussions among his neighbors. His wife hates the thing and tries to ruin his fun...but he has another surprise up his sleeve.
"The Lake": An emotional piece about first love--a love lost to the cold death-grip of the water and how it all comes rushing back to the young man who will never forget Tally.
"The Emissary": A young invalid has two primary contacts with the outside world--his dog and his teacher. His teacher stops by to play games with him and the dog goes on adventures outside, bringing back the smells of the seasons as well as bringing in people he meets to visit his master. But then his teacher is killed in an accident and Dog disappears. The boy is all alone until one night Dog returns...smelling very strange indeed and bringing with him a very unexpected guest.
"Touched with Fire": Two old insurance men have made it their mission to rescue future murderees from their fate. They have learned to spot the psychological and outward signs...but with one woman their good intentions don't have the effect desired.
"The Small Assassin": A horror story built on postpartum depression before it had even been named as such. A woman becomes convinced that her baby is out to kill her....
"The Crowd": A man has a night-time auto accident and has a feeling that the crowd around him gathered much too fast. He doesn't know why it bothers him so much, but he does a bit of research on accidents in the area and comes to a startling conclusion. Before he can share his findings with authorities he has another accident....
"Jack-in-the-Box" This one is odd. A boy is raised in complete seclusion--seeing only his mother and "Teacher"--after his father is killed by the "beasts" outside (in what the reader presumes was a car accident). He is repeatedly told that if he leaves the World (house) that he will die. No wonder he thinks he's dead at the end of the story....
"The Scythe": a brilliant examination of the ways of death and the power of grim reaper.
"Uncle Einar": More dark fantasy than horror, it tells of Uncle Einar, a man with wings (one wonders if he's a vampire) who loses his night-time flying radar one night in an accident with a high tension power line and finds love. He thinks he'll never fly again until his children show him a way he can fly during the day and not be shot down as a monster.
"The Wind": A world traveler finds that he has braved the elements one too many times when the elements come after him in his own home.
"The Man Upstairs": An interesting and creepy twist on the vampire story and how a young boy with an interest in "innards" manages to defeat the man living upstairs.
"There Was an Old Woman": There was an old woman who didn't believe in death--defied it for years. And when death finally came calling and snatched her body away from her, she determined to get it back.
"The Cistern": A young woman who has lost her love describes the secret world in the sewers under the city...where lovers reunite after death. Her sister scoffs at her...until the young woman leaves the house and doesn't come back.
"Homecoming": Uncle Einar's family (all supernatural beings, but one) gather at Halloween for a Homecoming. Timothy is the lone mortal in the family and he feels his differences very much. All he wants is to be able to be like everyone else--something all children feel at one time or another.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone": A reclusive author's fans track him down to ask him why he went into hiding and gave up writing 25 years ago.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
I'm absolutely in love with Ray Bradbury's writing style. It's poetic without being out of reach. Each short story is haunting, eerie, and beautiful at once. They are perfectly encapsulated twilight zone episodes. No wait, actually they are. During my reading of this book I researched Ray Bradbury and found out he wrote most of the Twilight Zone episodes.
I got this version of The October Country (DelRey) from a Night Worms box and I like that it has an introduction by Ray Bradbury himself. It's very interesting to hear his process from the man himself. Two of the stories in this collection, Uncle Einar and Homecoming, are loosely connected because both have Uncle Einar in them. I thought this was cool. As to a favorite story? If I HAD to pick it would be Skeleton or The Cistern, but The Small Assassin was probably one of the scariest stories I've ever read. Suffice it to say, it's really hard to pick a favorite. They were all gems and this book will stick with me for a long, long time.
I got this version of The October Country (DelRey) from a Night Worms box and I like that it has an introduction by Ray Bradbury himself. It's very interesting to hear his process from the man himself. Two of the stories in this collection, Uncle Einar and Homecoming, are loosely connected because both have Uncle Einar in them. I thought this was cool. As to a favorite story? If I HAD to pick it would be Skeleton or The Cistern, but The Small Assassin was probably one of the scariest stories I've ever read. Suffice it to say, it's really hard to pick a favorite. They were all gems and this book will stick with me for a long, long time.
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A spooky collection of short stories by Bradbury that brings chills, laughs, and sometimes terror in rapid fire succession. Each story shows off Bradbury's different strengths in his dialogue, his prose, and his skill at capturing a single emotion with the perfect combination of words. His characters are always lively and dynamic even if their development isn't the deepest, and while they may not talk like real people, they have a life of their own. A few of these stories tugged me on my heartstrings or gave me shivers, and others were either fine or even plain stupid. Not Bradbury's most famous work, but one that was worth exploring. The Emissary is on story that will stick with me for a while.
Naturally, some stories I enjoyed more than others. But surprisingly, I enjoyed most of these. Short story collections are always hit or miss for me, and sometimes I find that because I can't get as invested in a short story like I can a novel, I pay them less attention. But these pleasantly surprised me.
I do feel it should have started on a stronger first couple of stories, like The Small Assassin or Jack-In-The-Box (both of which were my favorites), but once I got into the swing of it, I had fun. It took me much longer to get through this collection because I do need breaks from short stories every now and then, and maybe having 18 in one collection is a bit much. But they were all, for the most part (with the exception of one or two that I didn't quite care for) atmospheric. They touched on the haunting, spooky quality that is autumn, October, Halloween.
I won't rate each story individually, but I'll rate the collection as a while at 4 stars.
I do feel it should have started on a stronger first couple of stories, like The Small Assassin or Jack-In-The-Box (both of which were my favorites), but once I got into the swing of it, I had fun. It took me much longer to get through this collection because I do need breaks from short stories every now and then, and maybe having 18 in one collection is a bit much. But they were all, for the most part (with the exception of one or two that I didn't quite care for) atmospheric. They touched on the haunting, spooky quality that is autumn, October, Halloween.
I won't rate each story individually, but I'll rate the collection as a while at 4 stars.
I was pleasantly surprised by this enchanting collection; while I've always known Bradbury to be a great writer and a champion of fantastic fiction, I've had less exposure to his work than I'd like to admit so I wasn't entirely certain what "The October Country" would have in store for me. This is a volume of quiet, textural, sometimes hilarious and often melancholic tales with a heavy focus on death and loss as its most central unifying thread, and its presence can be felt hanging like a shadow over each one of these stories. Bradbury's prose is simplistic and almost fit for younger readers (a style which he'd later perfect in the brilliant "Something Wicked This Way Comes") but it is never boring or dull in the slightest, and Bradbury is a master in the art of evocation; his clear adoration and enthusiasm for language and literary form just courses through this book's veins and bleeds off of every page, resulting in a collection with a poetic sensibility deeply rooted in the kind of Americana one can tell Bradbury so clearly epitomizes just through reading his words alone. With the days getting shorter and colder and the trees all now thoroughly colorful, there's no better time to give this a read (as the title suggests).