The Illustrated Man

Rating:
Summary: NOT ALL KIDS HATE THIS BOOK
Review: I was NOT forced to read this wonderful book, and I was NOT "pulled away from video games and TV" to read it (that "stereotype" offends me). I enjoyed this book because it had some ideas that I have never thought about before (no, not all 13 year olds are idiots who can't think deeply), such as ZERO HOUR. Some stories were neat because you could see what people thought the future would be like. It is a window into the darker side of technology and mankind, and is NOT RESTRICTED TO STEREOTYPICAL ADULTS-KIDS CAN READ IT TOO.

Rating:
Summary: Here, shallowness is obliviated.
Review: If this author does not break your heart, shatter your skull, or ripple your sense of time, you are not worthy. Your soul, call it what you like, will be ripped wide and you will question reality the way you should have long ago. Maybe things aren't supposed to be the way they are.

Rating:
Summary: Deceivingly challenging.
Review: I may only be 16, but as far as I'm cancerned the people who gave this book poor reviews have very obviously missed the point. The plot of the book may concern a man who had 'movies drawn on him by some tatooist from the future' but the the concept of the book deals with the ignorance, and consequent vulnerabilty of mankind. Although it may look it from some angles this is not a book to read then put aside, it is a thought provoking collection of short stories, that belongs amoungst some of the best books written this century.

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed the book!
Review: I have read the book for an assignment in honors English class. I am a high school student and I would like to ask a question to those "children" who suppossedly read the book. How old are you? Most of you who wrote reviews didn't deserve to put your crude comments in whereas you should not have read the book unless you were mature enough to read it. I thought that it was a pretty good book. It may not be one of his best, but it was good enough! I liked "The Other Foot" because it made me realize how much racist criticism there is in the world and it was great to read how they built a new sense of community =)

Rating:
Summary: Dated concepts, Timeless writing
Review: Some people I know have had real trouble 'getting' Bradbury's work. The bulk of his best work was written in the 50's and 60's. Some concepts in this book are simply outdated. However, in every story is study of a concept that never has and never will be out-dated, The Human Condition. 'The Man', 'Kaliedascope' and 'The Long Rain' are my personal favorites. Potential readers must also understand that Bradbury is not a science fiction writer. A lot of his stories have science fiction themes and backgrounds, but Fantasy is a better way to describe his work. From hard core fantasy, such as what you will find in this book, to subtle fantasy, such as 'Dandelion Wine' you will find the most important element of Bradbury's work is EMOTION. This man is a true one of a kind Artist. I also recommend: Something Wicked this Way Comes, Dandelion Wine, The October Country, Fahrenheit 451 and any of his other earlier short story collections. Bradbury truly is a GrandMaster. PS- You Kids should keep your opinions to your self. You are only making yourselves look bad.

Rating:
Summary: One of Ray's Best
Review: Disregard the unkind reviews obviously posted by unfortunate young cretins forced away from their TV's and video games to read the book in school. I think this is one of Bradbury's most consistent collections of short stories. I rank it with "The Martian Chronicles". One of my absolute favorite Bradbury stories, "The Long Rain", is included here.

Rating:
Summary: Shouldn't even get 1 star!
Review: This is the most idiotic and badly written book ever. It makes absolutley no sense, and has absolutley no plot. All it is is about this tattooed freak who some time traveller tattooed, but with movies. Then, it's just each one of the movies doing little stories. I've met four year olds who could make better plots. The bottom line here is: read this book if you like idiotic, lame, badly written books with no plot.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Ray Bradbury's books are interesting to read. They always leave you with a "feeling" in the pit of your stomach and also give you much to think about.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: One the five best sci-fi novels of the century (along with Martian Chronicles, of course!). Theire is so much imagination in this story that it is impossible for any lover of good stories not to be drawn into them. Probably one of the last great sci-fi writers. The last descent science-fiction book was probably in the mid-70s. Another shame: I can find about fifty diffrent Star Wars books and Star Trek manuals in my bookstore, but only one Bradbury book.

Rating:
Summary: Most boring and confusing book ever!
Review: Hard to follow is one way to describe a very dull and depressing book. The print in the paperback is smaller than the font on Lawyer contract paper. His stupid writing is much worse than mine (I'm 13). I aggree with the other 1 star people on this page and the others are nerds or stupid.