Scan barcode
A review by 0hfortheloveofbooks
Timeless Stories for Today and Tomorrow by Wessel Hyatt Smitter, John Cheever, Robert M. Coates, John Keir Cross, Helen Eustis, William Sansom, Russell Maloney, E.B. White, Walter Van Tilburg Clark, John B.L. Goodwin, J.C. Furnas, Ludwig Bemelmans, Hortense Calisher, Henry Kuttner, Nigel Kneale, John Steinbeck, Roald Dahl, Jean Hrolda, Christopher Isherwood, Josephine Winslow Johnson, Shirley Jackson, Christine Noble Govan, Franz Kafka, Ray Bradbury, Sidney Carroll
3.0
3.5 stars
Honestly I didn't even realize Bradbury didn't write these stories until I actually picked up the book to begin reading. But I would have read this book regardless for his introduction alone. Not many introductions blow me away but then again, not many introductions are written by Ray Bradbury. There is something in his words that I just find so comfortable, not to mention, eloquent. So I decided to keep reading. I figured if I'm not going to read a story written by Bradbury, I want to read a story deemed fantastic by Bradbury.
None of these stories really screamed fantasy in the way I always assumed was "fantasy;" which is probably for the best as I never have been a fan of the high fantasy genre. Instead, these stories have hints of darkness, of the horrors of everyday life, peppered with a few well placed fantastic events and situations. As Bradbury mentions in his introduction, he really sought out stories to prove there is fantasy in our everyday life.
Like most short story collections, there were stories I loved, stories I enjoyed, and stories that just missed the mark for me. A few stand outs include: The Portable Phonograph by Walter van Tilburg Clark, a melancholy post apocalyptic story about finding joy. None Before Me by Sidney Carroll, a story about obsession in the most ultimate terms. The Demon Lover by Shirley Jackson, this one was a slow burn and really didn't do much for me until I really thought about it. It went in a completely different direction than I was anticipating. The Laocoön Complex by J.C. Furnas, a strange story about a man and a snake; a concept I had never thought of before! And finally, The Pedestrian by the name himself, Ray Bradbury. This story felt very reminiscent of Fahrenheit 451 and that alternate future that might not be all that far off.
All in all, they were fun, enjoyable stories. I just wish Bradbury had written them! Haha
Honestly I didn't even realize Bradbury didn't write these stories until I actually picked up the book to begin reading. But I would have read this book regardless for his introduction alone. Not many introductions blow me away but then again, not many introductions are written by Ray Bradbury. There is something in his words that I just find so comfortable, not to mention, eloquent. So I decided to keep reading. I figured if I'm not going to read a story written by Bradbury, I want to read a story deemed fantastic by Bradbury.
None of these stories really screamed fantasy in the way I always assumed was "fantasy;" which is probably for the best as I never have been a fan of the high fantasy genre. Instead, these stories have hints of darkness, of the horrors of everyday life, peppered with a few well placed fantastic events and situations. As Bradbury mentions in his introduction, he really sought out stories to prove there is fantasy in our everyday life.
Like most short story collections, there were stories I loved, stories I enjoyed, and stories that just missed the mark for me. A few stand outs include: The Portable Phonograph by Walter van Tilburg Clark, a melancholy post apocalyptic story about finding joy. None Before Me by Sidney Carroll, a story about obsession in the most ultimate terms. The Demon Lover by Shirley Jackson, this one was a slow burn and really didn't do much for me until I really thought about it. It went in a completely different direction than I was anticipating. The Laocoön Complex by J.C. Furnas, a strange story about a man and a snake; a concept I had never thought of before! And finally, The Pedestrian by the name himself, Ray Bradbury. This story felt very reminiscent of Fahrenheit 451 and that alternate future that might not be all that far off.
All in all, they were fun, enjoyable stories. I just wish Bradbury had written them! Haha