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Frost and Fire
The Creatures That Time Forgot • novella by Ray Bradbury (variant of Frost and Fire) - First published in Planet Stories (August 1946.)
- Placed there by a past rocket ship that crashed, the people of the storied land are within sight of another rocket ship on a distant mountain plateau. The plot follows Sim, the protagonist of this story, and his apparently short life on a planet where people are cursed by radiation to live only eight days.
- Placed there by a past rocket ship that crashed, the people of the storied land are within sight of another rocket ship on a distant mountain plateau. The plot follows Sim, the protagonist of this story, and his apparently short life on a planet where people are cursed by radiation to live only eight days.
50 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1946
22 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Ray Bradbury
2,561 books25.1k followersRay Douglas Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and realistic fiction.
Bradbury is best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and his short-story collections The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), and The October Country (1955). Other notable works include the coming of age novel Dandelion Wine (1957), the dark fantasy Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962) and the fictionalized memoir Green Shadows, White Whale (1992). He also wrote and consulted on screenplays and television scripts, including Moby Dick and It Came from Outer Space. Many of his works were adapted into television and film productions as well as comic books. Bradbury also wrote poetry which has been published in several collections, such as They Have Not Seen the Stars (2001).
The New York Times called Bradbury "An author whose fanciful imagination, poetic prose, and mature understanding of human character have won him an international reputation" and "the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream".
Bradbury is best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and his short-story collections The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), and The October Country (1955). Other notable works include the coming of age novel Dandelion Wine (1957), the dark fantasy Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962) and the fictionalized memoir Green Shadows, White Whale (1992). He also wrote and consulted on screenplays and television scripts, including Moby Dick and It Came from Outer Space. Many of his works were adapted into television and film productions as well as comic books. Bradbury also wrote poetry which has been published in several collections, such as They Have Not Seen the Stars (2001).
The New York Times called Bradbury "An author whose fanciful imagination, poetic prose, and mature understanding of human character have won him an international reputation" and "the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 14, 2014
I will always love Ray Brabury's books.
They are never boring, never the same, they never have long descriptions or silly dialogues.
It's simply a beautiful story.
They are never boring, never the same, they never have long descriptions or silly dialogues.
It's simply a beautiful story.
April 4, 2023
Bradbury's books always feel like I am reading a dream. His voice is very calm even when something hectic or exciting is happening.
This is the story of a species stranded on a planet not their own. Because of the severe climate and radiation their life span has been reduced to eight days in some areas and 11 days in others. In the spirit of evolution they have "adapted." In that handful of days they grow, mature, breed, age and die. This is accepted by most. Not Sim.
Sim is our hero and he is hellbent on finding a way to expand those eight days. First for himself. Later for those who come after him. He is an unselfish hero and eventually succeeds.
This is short, which is fitting, but I think it could have been 300 pages and Bradbury would have told the story in an engrossing way. Some short stories are obviously MEANT to be so. Others...you wish were not. This is one where I wish it was not.
This is the story of a species stranded on a planet not their own. Because of the severe climate and radiation their life span has been reduced to eight days in some areas and 11 days in others. In the spirit of evolution they have "adapted." In that handful of days they grow, mature, breed, age and die. This is accepted by most. Not Sim.
Sim is our hero and he is hellbent on finding a way to expand those eight days. First for himself. Later for those who come after him. He is an unselfish hero and eventually succeeds.
This is short, which is fitting, but I think it could have been 300 pages and Bradbury would have told the story in an engrossing way. Some short stories are obviously MEANT to be so. Others...you wish were not. This is one where I wish it was not.
June 21, 2017
Loved it, except for the ending. Was it supposed to convey hope? Optimism? Too rushed, poorly handled - unlike the rest of the story.
April 20, 2020
A remarkable story
I first read this novella when I first discovered science fiction. I was retelling it to my husband when I began to realize what an impact it had on me. As a young person it taught me about life- it’s preciousness, it’s fleetness, it’s stages, it’s hope and it’s despair. It taught me about courage, about commitment, about the gift of learning and the gift of curiosity and discovery. That’s an awful lot to learn from just one story. I can’t say why this one left me gasping in awareness, but I have never forgotten the utter joy of reading it. It was the right read at the right time and did what good literature is supposed to do. It opened my mind in a flash and expanded my world to infinite horizons.
I first read this novella when I first discovered science fiction. I was retelling it to my husband when I began to realize what an impact it had on me. As a young person it taught me about life- it’s preciousness, it’s fleetness, it’s stages, it’s hope and it’s despair. It taught me about courage, about commitment, about the gift of learning and the gift of curiosity and discovery. That’s an awful lot to learn from just one story. I can’t say why this one left me gasping in awareness, but I have never forgotten the utter joy of reading it. It was the right read at the right time and did what good literature is supposed to do. It opened my mind in a flash and expanded my world to infinite horizons.
January 9, 2018
Ateş ve Buz bir distopya diyebiliriz sanırım ya da orta halli bir bilim-kurgu filmi. İnanılmaz akıcı ve dikkat çekici bir konusu var. İnsanların bencilliklerini bir kenara bırakmasının zorluğunu bir kez daha görüyoruz. Sevdiğim bir hikâye oldu.
June 11, 2021
Öykülerin ustasından kalemini incelikle kullandığı, içe dokunan, şok eden, merak ettiren üç ustaca öykü. Bradbury'nin öykücülüğü edebi hazları garanti eden türden.
February 17, 2025
Life was pushing him, rushing him along toward oblivion.
The ship he had come to for salvation was now slowing his pulse, darkening his brain, poisoning him.
- I really wish I didn't read this story as a kid.
The ship he had come to for salvation was now slowing his pulse, darkening his brain, poisoning him.
- I really wish I didn't read this story as a kid.
May 25, 2020
2.5*
Just like with many other Bradbury stories, the idea was better than execution. This is the short story which meant to convey the fast-fleeing life of one person, commenting on the mortality, purpose of life, place of an individual within society. However, as is the issue with his other work, the author just jumps from one point to another, making the story and characters seem inconsistent and illogical.
Just like with many other Bradbury stories, the idea was better than execution. This is the short story which meant to convey the fast-fleeing life of one person, commenting on the mortality, purpose of life, place of an individual within society. However, as is the issue with his other work, the author just jumps from one point to another, making the story and characters seem inconsistent and illogical.
July 22, 2024
Well, this was a weak one.
It was a fun idea that didn’t really make sense.
But I get it. It’s an Allegory.
It’s the human condition in fast forward.
Except he left a lot of things out.
Except it doesn’t make sense. Oh, sure, he uses the old excuse of “radiation” to give people superpowers.
Except the only Noble people are the Scientists (oh, so selfless).
The very conscious-of-his-impending-death protagonist wants three more days, but the minute he gets it he forgets about it and throws them away. The Author doesn’t even bother with a reason.
The protagonist hurts his leg and then goes for an impossible run just fine. The Author doesn’t even bother with a reason.
At the last few pages, during the sprint to survive, the love interest is described to have “smooth white skin”. That was a weird aside.
I also don’t like it when authors use a single sentence to describe the death of hundreds of people for no reason other than a dramatic whim.
This is the old story of an author bending everything to his will. He has an idea, he has a plot, and everything else be damned.
This is a story where you can skimm and not lose much.
A funny coincidence since the characters themselves are running fast to get to the end.
The Heroic protagonist doesn’t even give those that he is leaving behind to suffer and die another thought.
Typical 1946 Adventure problems.
It was a fun idea that didn’t really make sense.
But I get it. It’s an Allegory.
It’s the human condition in fast forward.
Except he left a lot of things out.
Except it doesn’t make sense. Oh, sure, he uses the old excuse of “radiation” to give people superpowers.
Except the only Noble people are the Scientists (oh, so selfless).
The very conscious-of-his-impending-death protagonist wants three more days, but the minute he gets it he forgets about it and throws them away. The Author doesn’t even bother with a reason.
The protagonist hurts his leg and then goes for an impossible run just fine. The Author doesn’t even bother with a reason.
At the last few pages, during the sprint to survive, the love interest is described to have “smooth white skin”. That was a weird aside.
I also don’t like it when authors use a single sentence to describe the death of hundreds of people for no reason other than a dramatic whim.
This is the old story of an author bending everything to his will. He has an idea, he has a plot, and everything else be damned.
This is a story where you can skimm and not lose much.
A funny coincidence since the characters themselves are running fast to get to the end.
The Heroic protagonist doesn’t even give those that he is leaving behind to suffer and die another thought.
Typical 1946 Adventure problems.
February 8, 2014
Ray Bradbury's short story "Frost and Fire" is one of my all-time favorites - one that I first read as a young adult and really stimulated my imagination. I recently listened to an old audio performance of this story, but nothing beats the written version in my view!
April 20, 2024
Pretty shit ending, but aside from that it was a strong read.
Interesting concept - a hot/cold planet where the people's life span is 8 days. They spend 1 hour of that day outside, and the rest of their time in caves. They eat ALL the time. They choose their lovers based on eye contact/short glimpses that are seconds long. Enemies are made through nicking each other's food.
The implied explanation for the 8 day lifespan is the power of the sunrays. These sunrays also cause the people's heart rates to sky rockets. The people have to be eating constantly for nutrition. Perhaps the only good thing about their short lives is that wounds/injuries heal fast.
The ideas are fascinating, and the story is told pretty well. There's some predictive elements - the protagonist being the mary sue who finds the hidden ship and leads his people to it in order to save their lifespans. They then go on to fix the ship to leave their nightmarish planet.
man that ending was pure horror..'it was all a dream' - Bradbury's taking the absolute piss
despite it and because im feeling generous, this gets an honourable 4 stars.
Interesting concept - a hot/cold planet where the people's life span is 8 days. They spend 1 hour of that day outside, and the rest of their time in caves. They eat ALL the time. They choose their lovers based on eye contact/short glimpses that are seconds long. Enemies are made through nicking each other's food.
The implied explanation for the 8 day lifespan is the power of the sunrays. These sunrays also cause the people's heart rates to sky rockets. The people have to be eating constantly for nutrition. Perhaps the only good thing about their short lives is that wounds/injuries heal fast.
The ideas are fascinating, and the story is told pretty well. There's some predictive elements - the protagonist being the mary sue who finds the hidden ship and leads his people to it in order to save their lifespans. They then go on to fix the ship to leave their nightmarish planet.
man that ending was pure horror..'it was all a dream' - Bradbury's taking the absolute piss
despite it and because im feeling generous, this gets an honourable 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2025
#My journey with Sci-fi Shorts (1996-2024)
This riveting short story blends science fiction with deep philosophy. The plot follows Sim, a boy born on a dying planet where people live for only eight days due to intense radiation from a nearby sun. In this brief lifespan, Sim experiences an accelerated version of childhood, adulthood, and old age, all while seeking a way to escape the planet’s harsh and punishing cycle. Bradbury’s storytelling is both poetic and lingering, generating a domain that feels both alien and disconcertingly familiar. The difference between unbearable heat during the day and freezing cold at night serves as an allegory for the human struggle against time and fate. Sim’s anxious quest for survival and knowledge is both tragic and inspiring, making readers reflect on the value of life and the relentless passage of time. With its rich imagery, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes, Frost and Fire is a must-read for aficionadas of classic science fiction. Bradbury crafts a tale that loiters in the cognizance long after the last page is turned. Try it out.
This riveting short story blends science fiction with deep philosophy. The plot follows Sim, a boy born on a dying planet where people live for only eight days due to intense radiation from a nearby sun. In this brief lifespan, Sim experiences an accelerated version of childhood, adulthood, and old age, all while seeking a way to escape the planet’s harsh and punishing cycle. Bradbury’s storytelling is both poetic and lingering, generating a domain that feels both alien and disconcertingly familiar. The difference between unbearable heat during the day and freezing cold at night serves as an allegory for the human struggle against time and fate. Sim’s anxious quest for survival and knowledge is both tragic and inspiring, making readers reflect on the value of life and the relentless passage of time. With its rich imagery, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes, Frost and Fire is a must-read for aficionadas of classic science fiction. Bradbury crafts a tale that loiters in the cognizance long after the last page is turned. Try it out.
March 18, 2024
it surprised me how average the writing was. i can understand the hype behind it and why people enjoy it so much, but i personally don't consume enough scifi to find the writing style enjoyable. like, you can't tell me that i'm supposed to take "his eyes, squeezed tight, were pushing tears out from the hot, quivering lids" or "lyte fell and did not rise, sucking her breath, her breasts quivering" seriously.
overall, the plot was kinda cool and i liked the vibe, although everything felt very generic and very much as if ray bradbury was just following an outline on how to write a story. obviously, the hero's journey and characters who are against the hero's ultimate motive to break free from long-time forced tradition are going to be a common motif, but bradbury really didn't try to make anything feel unique.
guess he must've been able to write as much as he did for a reason, and that's that this is a very obviously "+1 to the collection" type story without its independent identity.
overall, the plot was kinda cool and i liked the vibe, although everything felt very generic and very much as if ray bradbury was just following an outline on how to write a story. obviously, the hero's journey and characters who are against the hero's ultimate motive to break free from long-time forced tradition are going to be a common motif, but bradbury really didn't try to make anything feel unique.
guess he must've been able to write as much as he did for a reason, and that's that this is a very obviously "+1 to the collection" type story without its independent identity.
October 9, 2022
I read this book quite some time ago, but it was an experience I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
This story is simply about the time we have to live, and the lengths we’ll go to have more time, as it explores a group of people abandoned on an alien planet that are doomed to live an entire lifespan in just a few days. It’s immersive and actively compelling to read because you know in this short story that life itself is short and at any moment the main character (sim) might falter or give up, and die from hesitating for only a few short days.
The immersion works to make the ending far more effective, as you start to accept the idea of living for 5 days as normal, so that at the end when sim proclaims “imagine that we could live for 10 days! 30 days! Maybe 50!” (Or something like that), it makes you realize how precious each one of your days are.
This story is simply about the time we have to live, and the lengths we’ll go to have more time, as it explores a group of people abandoned on an alien planet that are doomed to live an entire lifespan in just a few days. It’s immersive and actively compelling to read because you know in this short story that life itself is short and at any moment the main character (sim) might falter or give up, and die from hesitating for only a few short days.
The immersion works to make the ending far more effective, as you start to accept the idea of living for 5 days as normal, so that at the end when sim proclaims “imagine that we could live for 10 days! 30 days! Maybe 50!” (Or something like that), it makes you realize how precious each one of your days are.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
I agree with many here that this story is wonderful in conception, flawed in execution...it's very early Bradbury, written before his style and thought had matured a bit, and marred by many of the tropes especially common in science fiction of its era. Parts are downright embarrassing, reminiscent of the worst of Edgar Rice Burroughs in its shallowness of personality, and (mercifully brief and large inessential) references to sex, gender, and appearance. The ending is a disappointing deus ex machina--too easy and complete in contrast to the grim struggle preceding it. Still, it's highly worth reading for the idea alone. I would encourage anyone who finds this intriguing to also look at Nick Bostrum's "The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant," which is a similar mythical allegory about mortality. (https://nickbostrom.com/fable/dragon), or Thornton Wilder's play "The Long Christmas Dinner."
January 28, 2025
дуже незвичайно. я читала це оповідання у збірці інших його оповідань о навколокосмічних темах це було незабутньо. проте коли читаєш його сайфай твори після першого і єдиного романа який прочитала, яким був "Кульбабове вино" дуже сильно дивуєшся. можу сказати що я була навіть в шоці. дуже гарно легко та доступно написано. таке відчуття що у Рея є можливість писати про дуже складні і не дуже але точно важкі речі максимально просто та легко. звичайно через те, що це не роман а тільки маленьке оповідання, очікувати дуже великого розкриття персонажів, складного сюжету і закінчення просто не варто ( через це мабуть для мене легше оцінювати оповідання, бо планка падає). ціле оповідання переслідували думки про те, як можна було щось такого придумати і що це максимально геніально
November 10, 2018
Ateş ve buz kurgusu o kadar güzel bir hikayeydi ki okurken sürekli, filmi olsa da izlesek, dedim. Verilen her bir ayrıntı zihnimde canlandırdığım dünyaya ayrı bir katman ekledi ve sonuçta hayal ettiğim insan tipi inanılmaz bir varlıktı. Yeri geldi şaşırdım yeri geldi korktum bu gerçekten de mümkün olabilir mi, diye.
Ancak tüylerimi diken diken eden kısım, kitabın içindeki göl isimli hikayenin son sahnesiydi. Boğulan kızın yıllar sonra bulunması ve kumdan kaleyi tamamlamak üzere adamın gitmesi beni çok etkiledi.
Her bir hikayesi ayrı bir tat, ayrı bir duygu veren ateş ve buz mutlaka okunması gereken bir kitap.
Ancak tüylerimi diken diken eden kısım, kitabın içindeki göl isimli hikayenin son sahnesiydi. Boğulan kızın yıllar sonra bulunması ve kumdan kaleyi tamamlamak üzere adamın gitmesi beni çok etkiledi.
Her bir hikayesi ayrı bir tat, ayrı bir duygu veren ateş ve buz mutlaka okunması gereken bir kitap.
December 14, 2019
We recently watched the short film Quest, which was (very loosely) based on this short story, so I wanted to read the original. Much better than Quest, I have to say, and more of a psychological exploration of what people would be like if our lifespans were only eight days, as opposed to the, um, quest of the movie. As usual, Ray Bradbury does it best.
September 27, 2022
How short is our life, how we chose to live through it is what determines if we lived a good life or we wasted our short time.
In this story, humans live in a planet where their full life cycle is one day.
Our main protagonist once wanders off and finds a spaceship, on death's door he decides to sleep in the ship only to find out that he's still alive by the net morning.
He must then fight the odds and others in a crusade to save humans from their once day life cycle.
In this story, humans live in a planet where their full life cycle is one day.
Our main protagonist once wanders off and finds a spaceship, on death's door he decides to sleep in the ship only to find out that he's still alive by the net morning.
He must then fight the odds and others in a crusade to save humans from their once day life cycle.
August 25, 2018
Bradbury wrote an excellent short story. It's an intriguing tale, in which people mature rapidly and live only 8 days, due to radiation and extreme weather conditions. The protagonist is a brave and hopeful young man who embarks on a means to improve quality of life for all. I dare not give any more away.
February 23, 2019
Thought-provoking read! I am new to Bradbury's writing and was not sure I would enjoy this selection. I am glad I found and read it in its entirety. It was an engaging read from start to finish. Once I started to read about the situation, I wanted to know how the characters would react and problem solve.
April 16, 2019
Science-light science-fiction about living and struggling in particular circumstances rather than the mechanics of those circumstances. It's timeless in a way, and also strange and dreamlike. The story contains the classic scifi optimism about struggling against nature (and other people) to understand one's circumstances and uplift everyone.
May 15, 2025
"What can one man do in one day?"
Finally, a Ray Bradbury book I can get behind. I've suspected, after The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451, that I would like Bradbury's stories as audiobooks much better and that seems to be true. Also, just a dang good tale that doesn't feel the need to overstay it's welcome.
Finally, a Ray Bradbury book I can get behind. I've suspected, after The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451, that I would like Bradbury's stories as audiobooks much better and that seems to be true. Also, just a dang good tale that doesn't feel the need to overstay it's welcome.
September 5, 2017
An outstanding short story about life on a planet where lifespans last only 8-11 days, due to the harsh extremes in temperatures and climate. It details the life of Sim as he seeks a chance at a longer and better life.
January 30, 2018
Sim is born with eight days to live, it is the lifespan of his people. This is his story.
Totally unexpected find short story. Whatever I say will be a spoiler. I recommend you spend an hour and enjoy this tale.
Totally unexpected find short story. Whatever I say will be a spoiler. I recommend you spend an hour and enjoy this tale.
May 18, 2018
Classic from the master. Second time reading this
Ray Bradbury had such a wide range of subjects and styles of writing. This simple short story was one I had enjoyed in high school, but as I grew older I see far more depth to the story and the characters in it.
Ray Bradbury had such a wide range of subjects and styles of writing. This simple short story was one I had enjoyed in high school, but as I grew older I see far more depth to the story and the characters in it.
April 5, 2020
The world is cruel and is written in a way that pulls you into this planet and situation. The story itself is so moving and well written, the writing style is just beautiful in my opinion while still easy to follow and get immersed in the story itself. I found it very moving and would definitely recommend.
December 29, 2021
I’m a huge Ray Bradbury fan so this was right up my alley. In fact, my only embarrassment is that I never found it sooner. I agree with other reviewers that the illustrations could have been cleaner and sharper. Still, a phenomenal story.
February 5, 2024
at first i was groaning because i felt this story was far too bloody long, but i can't deny i quite got into it as it moved along, & i'd now say it's one of the best stories i've read in the collection so far.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews