A review by katieikewilhelm
The October Country by Ray Bradbury

5.0

He rummaged in the desk and brought forth hand-bills and posters. “I had been writing about living. Now I wanted to live. Do things instead of tell about things. I ran for the board of education. I won. I ran for alderman. I won. I ran for mayor. I won! Sheriff! Town librarian! Sewage disposal official. I shook a lot of hands, saw a lot of life, did a lot of things. We’ve lived every way there is to live, with our eyes and noses and mouths, with our ears and hands. We’ve climbed hills and painted pictures, there are some on the wall! We’ve been three times around the world! I even delivered our baby son, unexpectedly. He’s grown and married now - lives in New York! We’ve done and done again.” Stone paused and smiled. “Come on out in the yard. We’ve set up a telescope. Would you like to see the rings of Saturn?”

Ray Bradbury is magic, and The October Country is no exception. I loved this weird little collection of quirky characters and their stories…some horrific, some sweet, some bizarre, some hilarious, but all of them original and thought provoking. I never get sick of his writing or his incredible, imaginative brain. “The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone” should be required reading for every human being on how to do life right, and it was the perfect way to end the set. A total delight.