***************REWRITTEN AGAIN**************

I have rewritten this 2 times. The people that give “helpful” ratings never explain to me what the review is missing. I added more detail this time, and I hope it shines through in the rating process.

This book has it all. It has fantasy, horror, science fiction, and drama, all packed in. There is a story, but in the story there are many short stories. Let me explain.

Synopsis
Some nameless wanderer meets the Illustrated Man one night. They talk for a little, and they both go to sleep. But, before the Illustrated Man goes to sleep he says, "Don't you look at them [illustrations] either, I warn you. Turn the other way when you sleep." Now, what do you do when someone tells you, "Don't look down," you look down of course, and that's exactly what the narrator does. He stares at the man's illustrations until the first one comes to life...

Storyline
There are 18 short stories excluding the background story with the narrator and the Illustrated Man. These stories are some of the best stories ever written. Every single one makes you think, and every single one is original in its own way. Bradbury is one of the most inventive writers ever. I can't believe how fascinating his stories are. Each one with a different twist. Each story based on a fictional foundation. Each story unique in its own way. There are so many ideas in this book, and most of the stories seem futuristic to this very day. He's talked about things so far advanced in the future that I don't think I'll live to see them become invented. I'm not even sure if what he thought up will ever be invented. It's honestly amazing how well written and thoughtful his stories are. I need at least 15 minutes after I read one of those short stories just to think. If any author's writing makes you think a lot, it's Bradbury's. Wow, what an exceptional writer.

Characters
There are so many characters to choose from. Never in my life have I met so many characters in one book. The characters are also so unique. Their qualities are so easy to relate to, but their problems are so different. I guess the foundations for their problems are like ours, but they seem so out there. Bradbury is a master of creativity. He's crafted the most unique dilemmas for characters to get into. They all are so juicy, each one has something miraculous about them, and each one is conflicted with a rare trouble. Bradbury also doesn't just write about one group of people, he writes about them all. I'm just so astonished how this one person has come up with so many great and innovative story ideas. You could give me a lifetime, and I wouldn't be able to come up with something so fresh, so original.

Favorite Story
They're all favorites of mine, but one in particular has to be discussed. The first story in the book called Veldt is an exceptional piece of literary work. I've read this story over and over because it's so complex.
Synopsis
There's a family with 2 kids, one boy and one girl. The house they live in is very futuristic, washes its own dishes, turns off the lights automatically etc. The boy and the girl become obsessed with this one room dubbed the nursery. This was no average nursery though, the nursery would absorb their emotions and emulate a place from them. One emulation, the only emulation we witness, is called the veldt. The 2-dimensional walls and ceiling, transform into the realistic, life like, 3-d southern African grazing areas as soon as the 2 kids think it up. The nursery mimics anything they think of. The 2 kids spend all their time in there exploring, the distance they can cover is infinite, because that's how the nursery works. The parents are getting worried, because the animals that are from the veldt start getting violent, and too life-like. They become scared because the animal's (lions and tigers) violence only comes out of the kid's emotions, and they think their kids have turned or become violent. They immediately want to shut down the nursery until it's too late.
Thoughts
As you can see, the story is so weird and so thoughtful; it's just amazing. The idea is so fresh and so real, I felt like I was in the veldt when I read this short story because it's so descriptive, and so honest. Like I said before, this really makes you think.

This book deals with many issues. There is nothing too vulgar though. Every issue is simple and straightforward and absolutely entertaining. None of the stories are offensive. There is some violence, but no real disturbing subjects.

You've got to read this book. It's one of the best (if not the best) collections of short stories I've ever read. I don't really think it's actually a collection, there just happens to be lots of short stories that sprout out of one background story. Anyway, this book is excellent. You will learn so many lessons, and expand your horizons infinitely. Bradbury has done a phenomenal job here, and you'd be making a mistake if you didn't read it.

All short story fans must read this book. All adventure fans must read this book. All horror fans must read this book. All science fiction fans must read this book. All drama fans must read this book. Everyone that likes any type of story must read this book. This book has it all, and everyone will enjoy the originality of Bradbury's writing. This book has been in print since it was published in 1951. I haven’t heard of one person that didn’t love this book.

Personally, I picked up this book because I'm a big fan of short stories. I can't get enough. I've read all of Hemingway's short stories, all of Salinger's short stories, and lots of Fitzgerald's short stories. So I picked this up, and I was dumbfounded after the first little short story called Veldt. I wanted to read more, and I finished the book in a few hours. My jaw dropped at least once per page. There are so many shocks and surprises; it just never gets boring. Bradbury is a tremendous writer if he can always keep me beguiled like that. This book is so enticing, I really can't stress that enough. You'll really love this book, and you have to just give it a chance.


Recommended: Yes