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The Cat's Pajamas
From the winner of the National Book Foundation's 2000 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters comes a "sweet, funny, thought-provoking" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) collection of short stories. As in his most recent major fiction collections, One More for the Road (1999) and Driving Blind (1997), Ray Bradbury has once again pulled together a stellar group of stories sure to delight readers of all ages. In The Cat's Pajamas we are treated to a treasure trove of Bradbury gems, old and new-eerie and strange, nostalgic and bittersweet, searching and speculative-all but two of which have never been published before. The Cat's Pajamas is a joyous celebration of the lifelong work of a literary legend.
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First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Ray Bradbury
2,560 books25.3k 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 237 reviews
May 8, 2019
For the many fans of Ray Bradbury, you already know what to expect, and this book surely will not disappoint. Bradbury mixes fantasy with whimsy, softcore sci-fi with hard edged emotion. You never know exactly where he is headed, but you always count on a fantastic ride. What is most amazing about Ray Bradbury is his use of words. He creates scenes and worlds with his descriptive passages, at times so subtly you will miss it if you aren’t paying close attention.
All of the stories are short, and many of them have a moral contained within. Fortunately, the author doesn’t focus on the moral, as that’s not his point. He is more concerned with examining the people affected by the circumstances. Even in the most futuristic science fiction tale he is painting his characters with a heavy dose of everyday life. It’s normalcy even in the craziest of moments.
There is no continuing story here, nor a theme that is woven throughout as Mr. Bradbury has done in other books like The Martian Chronicles. What he does offer are the humanistic stories we know we will be gifted with whenever we read one of his books. Five stars.
All of the stories are short, and many of them have a moral contained within. Fortunately, the author doesn’t focus on the moral, as that’s not his point. He is more concerned with examining the people affected by the circumstances. Even in the most futuristic science fiction tale he is painting his characters with a heavy dose of everyday life. It’s normalcy even in the craziest of moments.
There is no continuing story here, nor a theme that is woven throughout as Mr. Bradbury has done in other books like The Martian Chronicles. What he does offer are the humanistic stories we know we will be gifted with whenever we read one of his books. Five stars.
August 13, 2015
A bunch of previously un-published short stories written anywhere from 1940 to 2010. And, for the most part, there was a reason why others were published and these weren't.
They're not bad, but they're not nearly as good as the ones that were published years ago.
Also, having stories written in the '40s and '50s right next to those written in the '00 really highlights how little his writing style has changed over the decades. Which, I suppose is a good thing considering that he's all about mid-century, small town, childhood nostalgia, and that's really not something that you'd want to update...
But it seems jarring when you realize that he still writes exactly as if he were a mid-century, small town writer - even half a century later!
They're not bad, but they're not nearly as good as the ones that were published years ago.
Also, having stories written in the '40s and '50s right next to those written in the '00 really highlights how little his writing style has changed over the decades. Which, I suppose is a good thing considering that he's all about mid-century, small town, childhood nostalgia, and that's really not something that you'd want to update...
But it seems jarring when you realize that he still writes exactly as if he were a mid-century, small town writer - even half a century later!
August 22, 2018
Collection of Bradbury's later odds and ends. Some of them feel like retreads of stories he would have written years ago, like pieces of Dandelion Wine or bits that would fit into From the Dust Returned. A few of them are standouts, a few are sort of yes, yes, classic Bradbury, one or two are . . . just not great.
August 14, 2016
Oh, thank God for Ray Bradbury. Though I consummated my love for his work far too late, better late than never, and I have so much to look forward to, like this small but superlative collection of short stories.
Bradbury defies categorization. Is he SciFi? Horror? Straight fiction? Romance? Yes. And more. and there is so much of all the above to enjoy in this book that it's over all too soon, and it's next to impossible to pick one story than stands out from the rest. Now, admittedly, I did read the title story to my wife because it affected me so, and the closing love sonnet (well, kinda) will be the next monologue I do on stage. It makes you shiver, it's that good. Ray obviously loved his books, and that's what it's all about. I do too.
But I suppose I should at least tease you a bit. Additionally there's a cement mixer that will send you back in time--with a specific purpose, of course. A pair of sisters and their encounter with a singular man. A hemophiliac who trusts the wrong person. A rapist who gets what's coming to him. A house that needs renovation and a wife that doesn't care...until...
All this, and several autobiographical tales that will have tears welling in your eyes if you're at all human. And of course, it will also leave you hungering for more from this genuine American Treasure. Yes, I discovered his wonders late in life, but not too late to be able to enjoy them. You should too.
Absolutely a must-read.
Bradbury defies categorization. Is he SciFi? Horror? Straight fiction? Romance? Yes. And more. and there is so much of all the above to enjoy in this book that it's over all too soon, and it's next to impossible to pick one story than stands out from the rest. Now, admittedly, I did read the title story to my wife because it affected me so, and the closing love sonnet (well, kinda) will be the next monologue I do on stage. It makes you shiver, it's that good. Ray obviously loved his books, and that's what it's all about. I do too.
But I suppose I should at least tease you a bit. Additionally there's a cement mixer that will send you back in time--with a specific purpose, of course. A pair of sisters and their encounter with a singular man. A hemophiliac who trusts the wrong person. A rapist who gets what's coming to him. A house that needs renovation and a wife that doesn't care...until...
All this, and several autobiographical tales that will have tears welling in your eyes if you're at all human. And of course, it will also leave you hungering for more from this genuine American Treasure. Yes, I discovered his wonders late in life, but not too late to be able to enjoy them. You should too.
Absolutely a must-read.
June 22, 2019
This was going to be a four star review because, it is Ray Bradbury. What ended the debate for me was that I finished The Cat’s Pajamas a few weeks back and remember almost nothing. Bradbury at his best builds moods that have stories. His stories that lack mood can be fun reads, but rarely demanding, insightful or as I have said memorable.
The best of these short stories and unexpectedly the earliest are those wherein he addresses what we would now call the politics of race. These stories were written in the late 1940’s. Well before the Civil Rights Movement forced its way into the national news cycle.
The title story, The Cat’s Pajama is a nice little romance. A pleasant, happy enough story. In so titling the book I was expecting 20 lite fun stories. Such is not the case. A Careful Man Dies is too contrived and immediately given away. Gruesome to little or no purpose.
Bradbury has latched onto the idea of trains as magical places. Itself a worthy conceit, but the stories where he tries to apply the notion are muddled.
As a lifelong fan of Bradbury it was interesting to read some of his lessor know short stories. Taken together the result is uneven, but I liked more than I disliked.
The best of these short stories and unexpectedly the earliest are those wherein he addresses what we would now call the politics of race. These stories were written in the late 1940’s. Well before the Civil Rights Movement forced its way into the national news cycle.
The title story, The Cat’s Pajama is a nice little romance. A pleasant, happy enough story. In so titling the book I was expecting 20 lite fun stories. Such is not the case. A Careful Man Dies is too contrived and immediately given away. Gruesome to little or no purpose.
Bradbury has latched onto the idea of trains as magical places. Itself a worthy conceit, but the stories where he tries to apply the notion are muddled.
As a lifelong fan of Bradbury it was interesting to read some of his lessor know short stories. Taken together the result is uneven, but I liked more than I disliked.
October 25, 2022
Okay for a plane ride.
August 19, 2015
In reviews I've read of The Cat's Pajamas, many critics seem to be of the opinion that this is one of Bradbury's weaker collections. This was my first time reading any of his work (aside from a halfhearted foray into Fahrenheit 451 when I was in junior high school) and I have to say that if this is Bradbury's weak link, I can't wait to read his other works.
That being said, I can understand where the criticism comes from. I felt like both the quality of the stories and their enjoyability varied, sometimes significantly, from one to the other. Even so, there were several stories that really stood out to me. "The Island" is a fantastic piece of short, suspenseful horror, made even creepier by the number of questions it leaves unanswered. "Hail to the Chief," while not a favorite of mine, contained a line that made me laugh so hard I had to put the book down for a minute. "Sometime Before Dawn" was a mini-mystery with a conclusion that is somehow both satisfying and unsettlingly vague. "The Transformation" made me feel almost physically ill. And "A Matter of Taste" was a beautifully simple piece science fiction with an ending that, for all its inevitability, still comes as a shock to the reader.
Definitely worth a read, and I can't wait to check out more of Bradbury's writing!
That being said, I can understand where the criticism comes from. I felt like both the quality of the stories and their enjoyability varied, sometimes significantly, from one to the other. Even so, there were several stories that really stood out to me. "The Island" is a fantastic piece of short, suspenseful horror, made even creepier by the number of questions it leaves unanswered. "Hail to the Chief," while not a favorite of mine, contained a line that made me laugh so hard I had to put the book down for a minute. "Sometime Before Dawn" was a mini-mystery with a conclusion that is somehow both satisfying and unsettlingly vague. "The Transformation" made me feel almost physically ill. And "A Matter of Taste" was a beautifully simple piece science fiction with an ending that, for all its inevitability, still comes as a shock to the reader.
Definitely worth a read, and I can't wait to check out more of Bradbury's writing!
July 23, 2017
The Cat's Pajamas by Ray Bradbury is a short story collection with a mixture of stories from the post-WWII decade mixed with stories from the first years of the 21st century. In his introduction, Bradbury discusses his short stories as metaphors. The core of each story is a metaphor. For example, The House (1947) compares marriage with a home improvement project.
“All married life you build – build egos, build houses, build children.”
The twenty short stories vary between surprise endings reminiscent of O’Henry and enigmatic ones reminiscent of The Tiger, or The Lady? An enjoyable read in all cases.
For some notes on individual short stories: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2017/0...
“All married life you build – build egos, build houses, build children.”
The twenty short stories vary between surprise endings reminiscent of O’Henry and enigmatic ones reminiscent of The Tiger, or The Lady? An enjoyable read in all cases.
For some notes on individual short stories: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2017/0...
October 7, 2014
Bradbury mi amor. MUA MUA MUA
January 14, 2026
Algunos relatos me han encantado: 5 estrellas.
Algún otro: meh.
En general: relatos cortos variados, con un mensaje claro, como es típico en las historias de Bradbury, y que se resisten a dejarte.
Recomendado.
Algún otro: meh.
En general: relatos cortos variados, con un mensaje claro, como es típico en las historias de Bradbury, y que se resisten a dejarte.
Recomendado.
May 28, 2021
Trying to get more into short stories. While I found Bradbury's writing to be great, I thought some of the stories were lacking. I enjoyed most of them, my favorites were The Cat's Pajamas, Hail to the Chief, and The Transformation. A couple of them didn't really make sense or draw me in but for the most part this was a solid short story collection with work that ranged from the 40's to the early 2000's and shows the wide range of genres that Bradbury could write about.
September 27, 2023
Otro libro tardío de Bradbury, con historias de distintos momentos de su vida creativa.
Repito que siempre es un agrado leerlo. No todos los cuentos/poema son igual de sobresaliente, pero es un libro que fluye con tranquilidad, con tranquilidad rural, con tranquilidad espacial. Fluye sonoramente.
Siempre es bueno leer a uncle Ray.
Repito que siempre es un agrado leerlo. No todos los cuentos/poema son igual de sobresaliente, pero es un libro que fluye con tranquilidad, con tranquilidad rural, con tranquilidad espacial. Fluye sonoramente.
Siempre es bueno leer a uncle Ray.
February 25, 2023
Very little cats. Not nearly enough pyjamas.
Some of these short stories were kind of okay, but most were either aggressively boring or they were so disturbing it made me physically ill. Better luck next time, Ray ♥️
Some of these short stories were kind of okay, but most were either aggressively boring or they were so disturbing it made me physically ill. Better luck next time, Ray ♥️
October 7, 2018
Why am I just now getting into reading Bradbury! Love all of it!!!
March 20, 2023
I’ve never read any of Ray Bradbury’s non-sci-fi works and it’s been a fun change of pace! Similar subtle comedic lilt with less subtle meanings and perfectly timed endings for each short story.
September 22, 2025
So much variety of topics. Bradbury really knew how to write.
November 9, 2024
Utter brilliance, especially the last piece.
September 9, 2025
Fun stories
June 19, 2017
Un libro molto semplice e leggero. Non un capolavoro, ma bisogna considerare anche che è una raccolta di svariati racconti. Alla fine però lo consiglio a chi cerca una lettura poco impegnativa.
September 23, 2022
What an eclectic collection of short stories by genius Ray Bradbury. I am glad I did not skip the Introduction where the author explains the background for some of these stories. In a way, we travel through Bradbury's career starting in the 40s and going towards the early 2000s.
I really enjoyed Chrysalis written in 1946. I could really feel the era through the eyes of a black boy and his white friend. The author was fascinated with his characters, and with the child's naivety, he discovered that black people tan.
There are a couple of stories about writers and their muses. A Careful Man Dies is a bit dark, but beautifully done. The House has a lighter ending.
You would not be able to read Hail to the Chief without a smile on your face. It is a story about the US Senators gambling away... well, the United States.
The Cat's Pajamas is a very kind-hearted story about 2 people fighting over a stray cat. If you enjoy O'Henry's stories, this tale will similarly warm your heart.
I am having a hard time with the rating of this book. On one hand, it is great Ray Bradbury, on the other, I had to go back and re-read a couple of stories to get their meaning. Bradbury may have written them like this on purpose, but I would prefer less ambiguity. That is why I am only able to give it four stars.
I really enjoyed Chrysalis written in 1946. I could really feel the era through the eyes of a black boy and his white friend. The author was fascinated with his characters, and with the child's naivety, he discovered that black people tan.
There are a couple of stories about writers and their muses. A Careful Man Dies is a bit dark, but beautifully done. The House has a lighter ending.
You would not be able to read Hail to the Chief without a smile on your face. It is a story about the US Senators gambling away... well, the United States.
The Cat's Pajamas is a very kind-hearted story about 2 people fighting over a stray cat. If you enjoy O'Henry's stories, this tale will similarly warm your heart.
I am having a hard time with the rating of this book. On one hand, it is great Ray Bradbury, on the other, I had to go back and re-read a couple of stories to get their meaning. Bradbury may have written them like this on purpose, but I would prefer less ambiguity. That is why I am only able to give it four stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2009
This is a compilation of some of Bradbury's other short stories, many of which were previously unpublished. As much love as I have for Bradbury, I kept thinking throughout reading this why many of them were not published before this collection came out. Harsh perhaps, but I have high expectations for him. Especially when in the introduction he comments on how he always wanted to be on the same level as Fitzgerald, Melville, Twain, etc.
The stories themselves were - for lack of a better word - quaint. They were short (duh, short stories), but in my opinion too shot. I didn't feel there was enough substance in any of the stories, yet too much to pass as mere vignettes. Normally I can pick out a favorite short story in a collection but I can not with this one. I would not recommend this to someone unfamiliar with Bradbury as there are much better short story collections that show his true ability. This one, however, felt more like Bradbury needed some extra cash and thought he would make some money on some old stories.
The stories themselves were - for lack of a better word - quaint. They were short (duh, short stories), but in my opinion too shot. I didn't feel there was enough substance in any of the stories, yet too much to pass as mere vignettes. Normally I can pick out a favorite short story in a collection but I can not with this one. I would not recommend this to someone unfamiliar with Bradbury as there are much better short story collections that show his true ability. This one, however, felt more like Bradbury needed some extra cash and thought he would make some money on some old stories.
May 4, 2019
Es tercera vez que leo este libro, y dentro de él hay cuentos que pareciera que cobran otro sentido dependiendo del contexto actual de tu vida o bien, después de leerlos, disfrutarlos y entenderlos, encuentras tú propio sentido. Tal como la vida misma.
"Crisálida" te aprieta el corazón porque en el fondo sabes que de alguna manera, lo que ocurre en el cuento, sigue pasando, en diferentes contextos.
"El Completista" te hace explotar la cabeza con una dosis extremadamente corrosiva de realidad.
"¿Dónde está mi sombrero? ¿Por qué tanta prisa?" Te provoca una angustiante pregunta cuya respuesta nos dolerá asumir y quizá, con el.tiempo podremos revertir, si es que aún queda tiempo.
Finalmente, "El signo del Gato", tal como el cuento que lleva su nombre lo indica, es una invitación a seguir esas pistas que aparecen en nuestra vida.
Si bien esta compilación trae más cuentos igual de importantes, mi reseña apunta a los que más me marcaron.
"Crisálida" te aprieta el corazón porque en el fondo sabes que de alguna manera, lo que ocurre en el cuento, sigue pasando, en diferentes contextos.
"El Completista" te hace explotar la cabeza con una dosis extremadamente corrosiva de realidad.
"¿Dónde está mi sombrero? ¿Por qué tanta prisa?" Te provoca una angustiante pregunta cuya respuesta nos dolerá asumir y quizá, con el.tiempo podremos revertir, si es que aún queda tiempo.
Finalmente, "El signo del Gato", tal como el cuento que lleva su nombre lo indica, es una invitación a seguir esas pistas que aparecen en nuestra vida.
Si bien esta compilación trae más cuentos igual de importantes, mi reseña apunta a los que más me marcaron.
December 31, 2008
Well-written, though the distance between Bradbury and the characters or lesson of the stories isn't much. More than a few read as if Ray had a bone to pick with someone or something and wrote a story to air it out. Still, after a few years of not reading Ray, it's pleasant water to dip your toes into, with his talent for finding magic in the mundane.
My favorite of the stories, "The House", sees a marriage tested by the husband purchasing a once grand, now decrepit, L.A. house. He's elated by the possibilities he sees, while she sees only the decay. Realizing that her husband is willing to sell his dream home to please her, she understands his love for her. The gulf between them is narrowed as she begins to clean the house with him, accepting it.
I'd still recommend The October Country or I Sing the Body Electric! if you're new to Ray.
My favorite of the stories, "The House", sees a marriage tested by the husband purchasing a once grand, now decrepit, L.A. house. He's elated by the possibilities he sees, while she sees only the decay. Realizing that her husband is willing to sell his dream home to please her, she understands his love for her. The gulf between them is narrowed as she begins to clean the house with him, accepting it.
I'd still recommend The October Country or I Sing the Body Electric! if you're new to Ray.
June 20, 2012
This collection of short stories didn't have such a heavy sci-fi bent as The Illustrated Man, but the ambiguous endings still remained. He was a master at posing questions about the human condition. One of the stories was about a black boy obsessed with becoming white, until he meets a white boy obsessed with become black (by tanning) to put things into perspective.
He also included a story about a group of senators losing the United States to an Native America Tribe's casino.
Then there was one of his forays into Sci-fi with the story about the race of highly evolved aliens that humans encounter and are scared witless by the pacifists because they're giants spiders.
If you like Bradbury, this isn't his best but even a mediocre Bradbury story is damned decent.
He also included a story about a group of senators losing the United States to an Native America Tribe's casino.
Then there was one of his forays into Sci-fi with the story about the race of highly evolved aliens that humans encounter and are scared witless by the pacifists because they're giants spiders.
If you like Bradbury, this isn't his best but even a mediocre Bradbury story is damned decent.
December 12, 2012
Откровенно говоря, я не люблю короткие рассказы. Да и вообще считаю, что кроме Сомерсета Моэма, О.Генри и Эдгара Алана По они редко кому удаются не скучными огрызками прозы. Словом, выбрала я эту книгу не из-за рассказов, а из-за названия, в силу своей великой любви к семейству кошачих.
Но после этой книги Рей Бредбери пополнил мой маленький список мастеров коротокого жанра. Каждый рассказ - отдельный целый мир на разные темы - от любви к кошкам до ненависти к политикам, от странностей мужской дружбы до рецептов семейного счастья. Но всех их объединяет великолепная откровенность о человеческой природе, в самых низменных и в самых возвышенных ее проявлениях.
Рекомендую читать всем, каждый найдет что-то для себя.
Но после этой книги Рей Бредбери пополнил мой маленький список мастеров коротокого жанра. Каждый рассказ - отдельный целый мир на разные темы - от любви к кошкам до ненависти к политикам, от странностей мужской дружбы до рецептов семейного счастья. Но всех их объединяет великолепная откровенность о человеческой природе, в самых низменных и в самых возвышенных ее проявлениях.
Рекомендую читать всем, каждый найдет что-то для себя.
February 7, 2008
This is a great collection to have around when you just want a quick story. All but two of these stories were previously unpublished, and are from different times in Bradbury's writing career. Some from the 1940's and 50's, some as recent as 2004.
I'm always amazed at the boundlessness of Bradbury's imagination! He is truly a national treasure.
I'm always amazed at the boundlessness of Bradbury's imagination! He is truly a national treasure.
June 17, 2016
The thing I appreciate most about Ray Bradbury is his ability to make an interesting story out of any topic in the universe. This is a good, if a bit uneven, collection of his short stories, written from the 40's to the 2000's. Even in the stories that weren't my favorites, I can still see the unique and brilliant mind of this prolific author.
June 22, 2015
I enjoyed this collection of short stories as I was reading it, but when I was done, I couldn't remember much of what I'd read. I had the most fun with "Hail to the Chief," in which a group of U.S. Senators gambles away the nation at a Native American tribe's casino.
July 22, 2020
Extrañaba a Ray Bradbury. Encontré este libro que compré hace quince años en la biblioteca. Él está en cada uno de los cuentos. Hay varias joyitas y una reflexión de su trabajo creativo en sus setenta años de escritor.
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