By Ray Bradbury

I bought this along with a bunch of others from H.P Lovecraft, Asimov, and Heinlein with a gift certificated from Barnes & Noble, so it was basically free, which I like because I am cheap.

I had not remembered, or maybe I was too young when I first read Bradbury, that he is a crafter of emotion. He is a story teller with a veneer of science fiction. In reading this, I have gained new respect for him and I believe he is an American master, worthy of study.

The Illustrated Man is a collection of science fiction short stories that are book-ended by the even shorter story of the illustrated man, a sort of wandering vagrant with magical pictures tattooed on his skin. This chilling haiku is merely the platform for a lovely set of stories that are short in length, deep in theme, and wide in emotional palette.

Although some may find the ‘science’ portion of his fiction to be dated, with stories of rockets, martians, and Venusian rain forests; it doesn’t matter. The substance and execution of the stories within are intelligent, and beautifully crafted. The last story in particular, about a man who wants to build a rocket for his family though he does not have the means brought me to tears.

Other clever tales talk of marionette body doubles; a planet where the earth’s banned or censored writers and their forbidden works and characters made real have been banished; The last thoughts of astronauts doomed to die is space; fill this book. There are even two tales in particular that hint at suspicion of children left neglected by their parents and open to darker influences called The Veld and Zero Hour.

Bradbury remains loyal to science fictions roots, and yet he takes it further into the realm of literature by his talented story telling. Other books to be considered by Bradbury are Fahrenheit 451, Dandelion Wine, and The Martian Chronicles.