Rating: Summary: Why was there no sci-fi? Review: As with most short story collections the quality varies here a little bit but the great thing is that it doesn't vary all that much. Most of the stories here are prime Bradbury, part nostalgia, part fantastic but possessing a charm that nobody else can really quite emulate. Science fiction fans won't find much here to please them if that's all they're looking for but everyone else should be able to find something to satisify them. The stories ran the gamut from funny to senimental to slightly creepy to serious to just downright weird, all of them told in his by now fairly unique style. Most of the stories read very quickly and some come off as slight because of that, like they're sketches for an idea that might have been expanded into a short story later but even the slimmest tales have something to recommend them. For a man who should be years past his peak, this isn't bad at all and borders on excellent, many of these stories are tales you'll remember long after you've closed the book and set it aside. A fine addition to his canon and the best example that the truly great writers never stop producing fine stuff.
Rating: Summary: Vintage Bradbury Review: As with most short story collections the quality varies here a little bit but the great thing is that it doesn't vary all that much. Most of the stories here are prime Bradbury, part nostalgia, part fantastic but possessing a charm that nobody else can really quite emulate. Science fiction fans won't find much here to please them if that's all they're looking for but everyone else should be able to find something to satisify them. The stories ran the gamut from funny to senimental to slightly creepy to serious to just downright weird, all of them told in his by now fairly unique style. Most of the stories read very quickly and some come off as slight because of that, like they're sketches for an idea that might have been expanded into a short story later but even the slimmest tales have something to recommend them. For a man who should be years past his peak, this isn't bad at all and borders on excellent, many of these stories are tales you'll remember long after you've closed the book and set it aside. A fine addition to his canon and the best example that the truly great writers never stop producing fine stuff.
Rating: Summary: A delightful retread of old Bradbury territory Review: Bradbury, eighty this year, continues to produce imaginative, entertaining fiction. The stories in DRIVING BLIND resound earlier themes and concerns - youth encountering experience, the destructiveness of technology, and the mysteries and wonders of a small time circus - but Bradbury renders it all with the same loving detail and love of language that have made him one of the most distinguished American storytellers of the last half century. Recommended for a hot summer evening.
Rating: Summary: A delightful retread of old Bradbury territory Review: Bradbury, eighty this year, continues to produce imaginative, entertaining fiction. The stories in DRIVING BLIND resound earlier themes and concerns - youth encountering experience, the destructiveness of technology, and the mysteries and wonders of a small time circus - but Bradbury renders it all with the same loving detail and love of language that have made him one of the most distinguished American storytellers of the last half century. Recommended for a hot summer evening.
Rating: Summary: inconsistent? Review: Every time I start a Bradbury short story collection, I find myself greatly disappointed, but then, about halfway through I start to like more and more of the stories. I'm not sure if he deliberately puts his stronger stuff at the end, or if it's merely something like me readjusting to his victorian euphoric style. Overall, I did enjoy it. And the last story "That Bird that Comes Out of the Clock" was absolutely wonderful, and at the very least I will recommend that one story to many.
Rating: Summary: inconsistent? Review: Every time I start a Bradbury short story collection, I find myself greatly disappointed, but then, about halfway through I start to like more and more of the stories. I'm not sure if he deliberately puts his stronger stuff at the end, or if it's merely something like me readjusting to his victorian euphoric style. Overall, I did enjoy it. And the last story "That Bird that Comes Out of the Clock" was absolutely wonderful, and at the very least I will recommend that one story to many.
Rating: Summary: Not his usual fine work Review: I love the works of Ray Bradbury, ever since High school when we had to read Fahrenheit 451. I have enjoyed many of his stories, when I settled in with this one however, I found myself disapointed. Most of these stories were so unlike his well written classics.I found them lacking his usual talented works and became bored reading them. There were a few stories in here that I found all right, but I probably will never pick this book up again, only maybe to dust it off once in awhile and place with rest of my well read Bradbury collection.
Rating: Summary: Not his usual fine work Review: I love the works of Ray Bradbury, ever since High school when we had to read Fahrenheit 451. I have enjoyed many of his stories, when I settled in with this one however, I found myself disapointed. Most of these stories were so unlike his well written classics. I found them lacking his usual talented works and became bored reading them. There were a few stories in here that I found all right, but I probably will never pick this book up again, only maybe to dust it off once in awhile and place with rest of my well read Bradbury collection.
Rating: Summary: Bradbury's best collection since The Toynbee Convector Review: If you are accustomed to Bradbury's Science Fiction writing and are expecting more of the same, you will be apt to be disappointed by Driving Blind. With the exception of the short story "Mr. Pale" this book deals with pure earth-bound fiction with bits of American trivia thrown in the mash. Incidentally, Mr. Pale may be one of the stronger stories of the book, but most stories are thinkers. Some may leave you wondering "what was that all about?" (Only to discover what it was about a few hours later when it registers.) The book when read complete and finished with Bradbury's "Brief Afterward" will make a lot more sense after completion, perhaps. I have a hard time ranking it either a 3 or 4, being generous I give it a four but I'd prefer a 3.5 for this effort. The writing is strong and often critiques, albeit vaguely, modern life. This is no Fahrenheit 451 but it's worth reading and it's light and easy to pick up on the commuter train without stressing your brain cells too much. Somewhat serious, somewhat funny, it covers a broad range of topics.
Rating: Summary: It's about life, not life on mars Review: If you are accustomed to Bradbury's Science Fiction writing and are expecting more of the same, you will be apt to be disappointed by Driving Blind. With the exception of the short story "Mr. Pale" this book deals with pure earth-bound fiction with bits of American trivia thrown in the mash. Incidentally, Mr. Pale may be one of the stronger stories of the book, but most stories are thinkers. Some may leave you wondering "what was that all about?" (Only to discover what it was about a few hours later when it registers.) The book when read complete and finished with Bradbury's "Brief Afterward" will make a lot more sense after completion, perhaps. I have a hard time ranking it either a 3 or 4, being generous I give it a four but I'd prefer a 3.5 for this effort. The writing is strong and often critiques, albeit vaguely, modern life. This is no Fahrenheit 451 but it's worth reading and it's light and easy to pick up on the commuter train without stressing your brain cells too much. Somewhat serious, somewhat funny, it covers a broad range of topics.
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