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A review by mysteriousnorse
The October Country by Ray Bradbury
4.0
"The Dwarf" 4/5 Stars
This collection starts strong with the sad cruelty of humanity on full display.
"The Next in Line" 2.5/5 Stars
I enjoyed the setting more than the story. The ending just kind of happens...
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" 3/5 Stars
A zany, fun story that makes fun of postmodernism.
"Skeleton" 4.5/5 Stars
Definitely a standout of this collection as it examines parts of a whole and the treachery of the body. I think the supernatural section at the end is almost unnecessary, but it’s a nice cap on the horror.
"The Jar" 4.5/5 Stars
Perception is everything, and the truth is nothing. This is way ahead of its time.
"The Lake" 5/5 Stars
The best of the collection really touches at the natural horrors of loss and memory.
"The Emissary" 3/5 Stars
Interesting, but ultimately the ending lets it down.
"Touched With Fire" 3/5 Stars
Another one where the ending lets it down.
"The Small Assassin" 4/5 Stars
Babies are terrifying.
"The Crowd" 3.5/5 Stars
A base Bradbury story that involves taking a common phenomena and applying some conspiratorial thinking.
"Jack-in-the-Box" 2/5 Stars
I wonder in Daron Aronofsky read this story because it feels like a non-supernatural version of mother! in a lot of ways. The kid is being groomed and is the center of the world for his caretaker. It’s the low point of the collection for me.
"The Scythe" 3/5 Stars
A little predictable, but it may be because it’s so copied.
"Uncle Einar" 4/5 Stars
One of two stories in this collection to feature members of the Elliott family, a collection of movie monsters and immortal beings. This story focuses on a character named Uncle Einar, who tries to find a way into the skies after damaging his biological radar.
"The Wind" 3/5 Stars
I was hoping for a little more here. Bradbury manages to make a cool supernatural force, but I think the narrative conceit of a phone call let down some of the dramatic potential.
"The Man Upstairs" 3.5/5 Stars
A nice little horror-mystery from a child’s perspective.
"There Was an Old Woman" 4/5 Stars
A enjoyable little dark comedy.
"The Cistern" 4/5 Stars
A cool little love story!
"Homecoming" 4/5 Stars
The other Elliott family story involves a child’s desires and expectations. The desire to grow up is something that many writers put as a blanket statement, but Bradbury gives his young protagonist an expectation that his family’s pressures need to fulfill.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone" 3/5 Stars
It’s an interesting concept, and I think it’s meant to be encouragment to not only read and write, but to go out and experience life. However, I think it comes off as rather strange in a world that doesn’t really do much of either.
This collection starts strong with the sad cruelty of humanity on full display.
"The Next in Line" 2.5/5 Stars
I enjoyed the setting more than the story. The ending just kind of happens...
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" 3/5 Stars
A zany, fun story that makes fun of postmodernism.
"Skeleton" 4.5/5 Stars
Definitely a standout of this collection as it examines parts of a whole and the treachery of the body. I think the supernatural section at the end is almost unnecessary, but it’s a nice cap on the horror.
"The Jar" 4.5/5 Stars
Perception is everything, and the truth is nothing. This is way ahead of its time.
"The Lake" 5/5 Stars
The best of the collection really touches at the natural horrors of loss and memory.
"The Emissary" 3/5 Stars
Interesting, but ultimately the ending lets it down.
"Touched With Fire" 3/5 Stars
Another one where the ending lets it down.
"The Small Assassin" 4/5 Stars
Babies are terrifying.
"The Crowd" 3.5/5 Stars
A base Bradbury story that involves taking a common phenomena and applying some conspiratorial thinking.
"Jack-in-the-Box" 2/5 Stars
I wonder in Daron Aronofsky read this story because it feels like a non-supernatural version of mother! in a lot of ways. The kid is being groomed and is the center of the world for his caretaker. It’s the low point of the collection for me.
"The Scythe" 3/5 Stars
A little predictable, but it may be because it’s so copied.
"Uncle Einar" 4/5 Stars
One of two stories in this collection to feature members of the Elliott family, a collection of movie monsters and immortal beings. This story focuses on a character named Uncle Einar, who tries to find a way into the skies after damaging his biological radar.
"The Wind" 3/5 Stars
I was hoping for a little more here. Bradbury manages to make a cool supernatural force, but I think the narrative conceit of a phone call let down some of the dramatic potential.
"The Man Upstairs" 3.5/5 Stars
A nice little horror-mystery from a child’s perspective.
"There Was an Old Woman" 4/5 Stars
A enjoyable little dark comedy.
"The Cistern" 4/5 Stars
A cool little love story!
"Homecoming" 4/5 Stars
The other Elliott family story involves a child’s desires and expectations. The desire to grow up is something that many writers put as a blanket statement, but Bradbury gives his young protagonist an expectation that his family’s pressures need to fulfill.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone" 3/5 Stars
It’s an interesting concept, and I think it’s meant to be encouragment to not only read and write, but to go out and experience life. However, I think it comes off as rather strange in a world that doesn’t really do much of either.