The Illustrated Man

This is only the second book of short stories that I've finished in recent memory. For the most part, I don't like short stories, but these were very good. They are unrealistic in their views of Mars and space travel coming from the late 1940s and early 1950s. The beauty is not the science in them, but rather it is the story-telling. There is a depth of feeling and a drawing out of thought about life. The true brilliance is the way with words to stir the imagination and the heart. Bradbury does this powerfully. These stories are charged, one in the horror of revenge and one in the beauty of family love and the span in between.

When it comes to Ray Bradbury, I’m definitely a fan of his gothic-styled fantasy stories, but even though I am less interested by his space-based sci-fi exploration I will admit that he is a master of language and has a way of picking up on the small humanities within his characters to keep the stories well-motivated. This collection begins with “The Veldt”, a story that I sought out a number of years ago in single form after hearing deadmau5’ electronica musical rendition, and which even after years away still strikes an ominous chord due to the themes around toxic family structures and technology. Most of the stories in this selection are similarly focused on humanity’s interactions with technology and space, a clear show more preoccupation for Bradbury as he was writing during an era of an increased availability (and dare we say obsession) with both. Like many other science fiction “predictions,” few of Bradbury’s specifications came true in a literal sense, but his exploration of themes such as increased alienation, conflict between different life forms (or races), and the many ways technology could influence our lives (for better or worse) still hold much intrigue and possibly even truth. While I can’t say I’ll ever feel the need to read this collection again (space and tech doesn’t quite do it for me on a recurring basis), Bradbury’s language and narration was expectedly comforting and highly engaging through each of the short vignettes herein. Now, if only the vague frame story of the Illustrated Man was made into an actual novel, I would be much more inclined to read deeply into that! show less

These sci-fi short stories are timeless (and not just because after re-revisiting these stories after several decades it was like reading them for the first time). The stories' themes examine human nature (often dark and evil) and probe real and psychological fears (of our children, of nuclear holocaust) that remain relevant even now. Counterbalancing some of the heavier material are other stories that examine man's religiosity. None are clunkers, though one or two stories are a bit heavy handed by today's standards, with their meaning spelled out for the reader in too much detail. But for the most part, these 18 tales are masterpieces of the genre. Originally written in the late 40s and early 50s for pulp magazines, these stories stand show more the test of time and tell us an incredible amount about ourselves, and illustrate a fantastic vision for our future, even today. show less

Siguiendo el estilo de 'Crónicas Marcianas', Ray Bradbury recopila varios de sus relatos, ya publicados en diversas revistas, todos ellos conteniendo historias con elementos en común, para formar una novela. Aunque bien es cierto que 'El Hombre Ilustrado' no tiene la cohesión de 'Crónicas Marcianas' ni alcanza los niveles de calidad de ésta.

El libro empieza a raíz del encuentro de un personaje con el Hombre Ilustrado, una especie de fenómeno de feria que tiene todo su cuerpo tatuado; pero se trata de tatuajes muy especiales, ya que cada dibujo refiere una historia del futuro. A pesar de que el Hombre Ilustrado avisa reiteradamente a este personaje del peligro que conlleva estar a su lado, decide acampar con él. Y es que está show more fascinado con las ilustraciones que decoran su piel. A partir de aquí se van desplegando cada uno de los dieciocho relatos, cada uno de ellos asociado a una ilustración distinta.

Todos los cuentos contienen esa poesía inherente a las historias de Bradbury, en los que impera el carácter literario y de fábula más que el científico. Bradbury nunca se ha preocupado de la parte científica de sus libros, algo que le han achacado algunos de sus colegas en múltiples ocasiones. Pero a él no le preocupan detalles del tipo de si la luna sale por tal o cual lado, a él lo que le importa es contar historias.

En 'El Hombre Ilustrado' se dan la mano diversos géneros, fantásticos, ciencia ficción y terror. Entre los que más me han gustado se encuentran 'Caleidoscopio', que cuenta la caída de varios astronautas hacia la atmósfera. 'Los desterrados', homenaje a los grandes maestros de lo sobrenatural, que narra lo que les sucede cuando sus libros son destruidos. 'El zorro y el bosque', donde es posible viajar al pasado para huir de la guerras del futuro. 'Marionetas S.A.', cuento que narra la posibilidad de hacer una copia de ti mismo para salir de ciertos apuros. 'La hora cero', relato inquietante donde los niños de la Tierra son utilizados para invadirnos. 'El cohete', donde priman los sueños por encima de cualquier cosa, en donde el protagonista le hace a su familia un regalo fabuloso. Pero realmente todos los cuentos tienen algo memorable. No cabe duda, Ray Bradbury fue un visionario. show less

Bradbury is known as a science fiction writer for good reason, but man this collection is a reminder of how dark and horrifying a lot of his stories can be. More often he's using his familiar realm of rockets and martians as a backdrop for psychological horror that would fit right alongside Shirley Jackson or Stephen King. Actually, any time that someone uses "Black Mirror/Twilight Zone" as a comp I would add this collection to that list. The Illustrated Man is a great dive into the mind of a brilliant storyteller and an example of why Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors.

Imaginative science fiction; there's an inextricable link between Bradbury's stories and art which isn't found quite as often in other sci-fi writers like Asimov. "The Exiles" came to be one of my favourites over reading this collection, but so many of them inspire the mind. Mars comes to feel less like the planet of red dust that we see in reality, and more like an Eden or an Oz, a fantastical other-world where the imagination can run rampant.

Four stars.

There is no Ray Bradbury of our generation. No one writes short stories anymore the way he did, for much of his style seems to be a bygone relic (see also Harlan Ellison). Now, perhaps, those writers sharpen their words into claws and write Black Mirror episodes. Bradbury’s stories in this collection are not toothless—but it often seems he would get right up to a point and refuse to put too fine a point on it… “the reader understand, and I have other stories to write!” you can almost hear him shout.

The titular tattooed man is nothing but a framing device for the eighteen stories here. He’s sufficiently creepy and pitiable, but not used as much as I would have liked. My favorites: The Exiles, in which dead authors of horror show more live in some kind of afterlife on Mars. Ever wanted to know how Poe and Dickens would have talked to each other? Wonder no longer. Kaleidoscope, where all protagonists and living dead in the coldness of space and face their deaths in bitterness and wonder. The Other Foot; Mars is colonized by black people (likely American), the older generation remembering the horrors of deadly racism. When a white man visits Mars, there is no pity for him. The Man is Jesus come to visit another planet just as humans land there, and each responds not unlike descriptions in the New Testament. Man never changes. The Fox and the Forest, a metaphorical title about a time-traveling couple escaping their horrible present in the past, and the bounty hunter sent to bring them back.

Perhaps my favorite is The Rocket, about a poor Italian man who wishes to travel the stars. With only $3000, he makes a poor investment and it seems his family will never see space as the rich upper class can.

I won’t spoil the story, because so much of the joy of reading Bradbury is in the discovery of his world. He doesn’t care so much about engines and laws of gravity and how science works so much as he cares about the men and women of his stories. They become, in scant words and paragraphs, real people. Mars is not the fourth planet of our solar system, Mars is possibility and the unknown. Mars is a mirror for humanity and where we can reimagine ourselves. Our old horror is just behind, but a new joy and tragedy waits. show less