The Ray Bradbury Chronicles, Vol. I

That said, I read him simply for my edification because, to my taste, he is almost always in command of his objectively great writing within well-thought-out stories. No matter how good they are, I don't emotionally enjoy reading Ray Bradbury unless it's a rare story that isn't filled with his signature gloom. Nearly every time I can remember reading him, I get depressed for him because he was so paranoid about so many different things that he thought could or would happen in the future. I get just as angry at the same time because his literary prowess is forcing me into his paranoid mindset. I would like to think that the writing was an outlet for him- especially when it became expected out of him by a growing audience. Maybe each time he thought "that will spread the word that may help us to escape this eventuality" and then enjoyed a deep breath and smiled. HAH! I WAS ON TO SOMETHING: I his introduction to "The Toynbee Convector" he states that he is not an optimist and follows by saying: "I am an optimat behaviorist, which means everyday I write and create and in creating, help to change the world, I hope, for the better." At least he looks at the bright side of the coin! Please bear with me- in a predictable continuation of self-disclosure I (my ego) think I coined a brilliant quote at its conclusion: I am a hopeless optimist who shapes my entire mentality on a positive and hopeful perspective. Tricking myself into this, despite all the notions otherwise that one can't help being invaded by, might be the greatest thing I've ever achieved. When the mind wins over matter what does it matter - why mind - when matter is unkind? Ray never struck me as "haha! funny" but he certainly had dark humor mastered: His subtle humor in the second one fell flat because you'd never find somebody on a trip to the sun that was afraid of fire but the rest of his attempts, in this volume, should force upon you the "inner snicker" he had when writing it. The best examples are obviously in the "Marionettes, Inc." since all of his stories about that company are excellent, funny and intelligent. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME OUT: In "The Dragon" - What is he alluding to when he writes "Women deliver forth monsters."? -StrictlySequential (goodreads)