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Bradbury Thirteen
Bradbury 13 is a collection of 13 radio dramas masterfully adapted from classic short stories by veteran science-fiction author Ray Bradbury. Bradbury's stories refract our own fears and foibles through otherworldly prisms. Each dramatization is approximately thirty minutes long and includes original music. This collection includes the
A Sound of Thunder Time Safari, Inc., offers hunting enthusiasts the chance of a the opportunity to travel back in time to bag the biggest trophy of all time, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the ''Thunder Lizard.''
Dark They Were and Golden Eyed Harry Bittering is resigned to the idea of living on Mars for a while with his family, until a nuclear war back on Earth strands the settlers forever. Now, will Mars devour the earthlings?
The Happiness Machine An old man builds the ultimate machine, a ''happiness machine'', which is meant to make anyone who enters it happy. But the most important person in his life is not amused!
The Fox and the Forest Escaping war in the year 2155, a couple flees back in time to twentieth-century Mexico, a paradise compared to their world of disease bombs and widespread horror. But they are being tracked by those who want them to return.
Here There Be Tygers Prospectors from Earth travel to a world that seems to know of their hearts' desires, and makes their every wish come true. But a member of the crew has darker desires, and pays the ultimate price.
Kaleidoscope A routine space flight suddenly ends in a huge explosion, throwing the crew into space with only their space suits and radios to keep them alive. Knowing rescue is impossible, they face their innermost demons.
The Man The captain and crew of a ship land on a planet to make first contact, only to discover their thunder has been stolen by a previous visitor.
Night Call, Collect The lone survivor of a rocket crew on Mars has waited his lifetime to be rescued and taken back to Earth. Then one day when he is 80 years old, his telephone rings!
The Screaming Woman Nine-year-old Margaret Leary is playing in a field by her house, when suddenly she hears a woman screaming for help from the ground! Can she get anyone to believe her?
There Was an Old Woman Old Aunt Tildy is shocked and angry to find a mortician has come to take her to the mortuary. How dare he put her body in an old wicker basket! She's still using it!
The Veldt A wealthy couple builds the ultimate virtual playroom for their spoiled children, complete with an African savanna and man-eating lions. It is so real, you can even smell the lions' last meal.
The Wind Where does the wind come from? Is it ''born'' somewhere? Is it intelligent? A terrified man seems to know all about the wind and who it seems to be after.
The Ravine A strangler has been terrifying a small town by murdering single women. Will the dark and mysterious ravine be enough to save Lavinia and her friends from the ''Lonely One''?
A Sound of Thunder Time Safari, Inc., offers hunting enthusiasts the chance of a the opportunity to travel back in time to bag the biggest trophy of all time, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the ''Thunder Lizard.''
Dark They Were and Golden Eyed Harry Bittering is resigned to the idea of living on Mars for a while with his family, until a nuclear war back on Earth strands the settlers forever. Now, will Mars devour the earthlings?
The Happiness Machine An old man builds the ultimate machine, a ''happiness machine'', which is meant to make anyone who enters it happy. But the most important person in his life is not amused!
The Fox and the Forest Escaping war in the year 2155, a couple flees back in time to twentieth-century Mexico, a paradise compared to their world of disease bombs and widespread horror. But they are being tracked by those who want them to return.
Here There Be Tygers Prospectors from Earth travel to a world that seems to know of their hearts' desires, and makes their every wish come true. But a member of the crew has darker desires, and pays the ultimate price.
Kaleidoscope A routine space flight suddenly ends in a huge explosion, throwing the crew into space with only their space suits and radios to keep them alive. Knowing rescue is impossible, they face their innermost demons.
The Man The captain and crew of a ship land on a planet to make first contact, only to discover their thunder has been stolen by a previous visitor.
Night Call, Collect The lone survivor of a rocket crew on Mars has waited his lifetime to be rescued and taken back to Earth. Then one day when he is 80 years old, his telephone rings!
The Screaming Woman Nine-year-old Margaret Leary is playing in a field by her house, when suddenly she hears a woman screaming for help from the ground! Can she get anyone to believe her?
There Was an Old Woman Old Aunt Tildy is shocked and angry to find a mortician has come to take her to the mortuary. How dare he put her body in an old wicker basket! She's still using it!
The Veldt A wealthy couple builds the ultimate virtual playroom for their spoiled children, complete with an African savanna and man-eating lions. It is so real, you can even smell the lions' last meal.
The Wind Where does the wind come from? Is it ''born'' somewhere? Is it intelligent? A terrified man seems to know all about the wind and who it seems to be after.
The Ravine A strangler has been terrifying a small town by murdering single women. Will the dark and mysterious ravine be enough to save Lavinia and her friends from the ''Lonely One''?
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Ray Bradbury
2,562 books25.4k 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 68 reviews
October 15, 2015
A series of classic Bradbury short stories, highlighted by "The Veldt" and "The Wind".
This was actually not an audiobook narration but a production, with a full cast, sound effects and music and the stories were abridged. At best, it was like a sophisticated Twilight Zone tour, but if anything, it was over produced.
Still, one cannot beat Bradbury for telling a good story. As I have grown older I have learned to appreciate him more. He does not write "Hard science fiction" but poetic and approachable, really a genre unto himself.
This was actually not an audiobook narration but a production, with a full cast, sound effects and music and the stories were abridged. At best, it was like a sophisticated Twilight Zone tour, but if anything, it was over produced.
Still, one cannot beat Bradbury for telling a good story. As I have grown older I have learned to appreciate him more. He does not write "Hard science fiction" but poetic and approachable, really a genre unto himself.
August 10, 2014
4.5 stars!
I enjoyed this collection of thirteen radio plays based on the short stories of Ray Bradbury.
Some of them were eerily prescient like The Veldt, which dealt with the difficulties of parenting in this new world of technology. Others were just plain fun, like The Wind or The Sound of Thunder.
The cast of the radio plays were all different, but all were talented and there wasn't a bad play in the bunch.
Best of all is that I was able to download this from my local library for free! If this collection sounds fun to you, maybe your local library has a copy you could check out. If so, I highly recommend you do!
I enjoyed this collection of thirteen radio plays based on the short stories of Ray Bradbury.
Some of them were eerily prescient like The Veldt, which dealt with the difficulties of parenting in this new world of technology. Others were just plain fun, like The Wind or The Sound of Thunder.
The cast of the radio plays were all different, but all were talented and there wasn't a bad play in the bunch.
Best of all is that I was able to download this from my local library for free! If this collection sounds fun to you, maybe your local library has a copy you could check out. If so, I highly recommend you do!
March 3, 2013
The only thing better than short stories by Ray Bradbury is those same stories read in convincing voices with sinister music playing in the background. Although this was produced in 1984 at Brigham Young, it was reminiscent of all those old-time radio programs I used to listen to with my grandmother. The only things missing were intermittent ads claiming that Pall Mall was preferred by nine out of ten physicians.
February 18, 2020
This collection of 13 radio adaptations of Ray Bradbury stories was entertaining to listen to on my daily commute and provided a good overview of Bradbury's style. He does a great job of establishing setting and creating suspense. However, I found myself somewhat put off by the way that most of the stories were dominated by male characters, treating women (if they appear at all) as afterthoughts, as fools, or as stereotypical wives and mothers. I also was confused by the disturbingly cheerful tone of "The Screaming Woman," which actually has a very dark, realistic storyline. And lastly, some of the plots and the characters' actions really make no sense. The voice actors, sound effects, and music are excellent, however. Each episode is about half an hour long.
June 21, 2018
I'm in love.
I didn't like "A Sound of Thunder" when we read it in middle school, so for years I thought I didn't like Ray Bradbury. Silly me.
After a strong recommendation from Neil Gaiman, I decided to give Bradbury another try. It's been ten years since I read one of his stories ("Summer in a Day" in high school), time enough for me to change.
Now I understand, and I'm blown away. Bradbury was brilliant. He was a master of the short story, and just see if I don't go and read all of the fiction he ever published.
Thirteen is a collection of fully dramatized radio plays, adapted by Bradbury himself. The quality of the production and sound design is outstanding. The audio effect of the time machine in "A Sound of Thunder" was thrilling; I've never experienced a moment like that before in an audiobook or radio drama before. Overall, a fantastic listen.
My favorite stories:
"Kaleidoscope" - I liked this story so much that I immediately went and read the text for myself. It's succinct, honest, tragic, and moving. I hung on every well-placed word. Bradbury was a master craftsman, and this story proves it in a matter of paragraphs.
"The Screaming Woman" - I have rarely been held in such suspense. I'm trying to remember books or films that trailed me along for so long, and there aren't many that qualify. Maybe it's because I knew enough about Bradbury to know that the characters were in real danger, or maybe it's because I could actually hear the woman screaming in the radio production. Added to that the constant whiplash of hope given and taken away and you have a perfect recipe for suspense. What a story!
I didn't like "A Sound of Thunder" when we read it in middle school, so for years I thought I didn't like Ray Bradbury. Silly me.
After a strong recommendation from Neil Gaiman, I decided to give Bradbury another try. It's been ten years since I read one of his stories ("Summer in a Day" in high school), time enough for me to change.
Now I understand, and I'm blown away. Bradbury was brilliant. He was a master of the short story, and just see if I don't go and read all of the fiction he ever published.
Thirteen is a collection of fully dramatized radio plays, adapted by Bradbury himself. The quality of the production and sound design is outstanding. The audio effect of the time machine in "A Sound of Thunder" was thrilling; I've never experienced a moment like that before in an audiobook or radio drama before. Overall, a fantastic listen.
My favorite stories:
"Kaleidoscope" - I liked this story so much that I immediately went and read the text for myself. It's succinct, honest, tragic, and moving. I hung on every well-placed word. Bradbury was a master craftsman, and this story proves it in a matter of paragraphs.
"The Screaming Woman" - I have rarely been held in such suspense. I'm trying to remember books or films that trailed me along for so long, and there aren't many that qualify. Maybe it's because I knew enough about Bradbury to know that the characters were in real danger, or maybe it's because I could actually hear the woman screaming in the radio production. Added to that the constant whiplash of hope given and taken away and you have a perfect recipe for suspense. What a story!
November 13, 2012
I downloaded the audiobook "Bradbury Thirteen" (adapted from short stories by Ray Bradbury), expecting the usual single narrated voice to tell me stories while I went running. Instead, it was the audio version of a technicolour cinematic experience. With over a dozen performers and gorgeous original music, each of my next 13 runs were infused with old time voices, space voyages, aliens, dinosaurs, killers, and ghosts, and all manner of 50s style characters: gee whiz kids, upright astronauts, sassy spinsters, and so on.
Since I've only just started to listen to podcasts, I have little context for this kind of (spectacular) radio art. And while on the dated (and patriarchal) side, the stories were interesting, and almost every single one had something, a hint of technology or psychology or astronomy, that was startlingly prescient, either of what has already come to pass, or what might.
Other than the generally awesome titles ("Dark They Were and Golden Eyed"), my favourites included "The Happiness Machine" - which turns the tables on the machine's inventor when his reluctant harried wife has a go at it, "The Fox and the Forest" about a couple that flees a war torn 2155 to 20th century Mexico but are tracked (with a crazy but ripped from the current headlines denouement), and "Night Call, Collect" which is a modern and psychologically twisted tale, despite its antiquated technologies.
If you're into classic scifi, delivered in high audio style, this is your bag.
Since I've only just started to listen to podcasts, I have little context for this kind of (spectacular) radio art. And while on the dated (and patriarchal) side, the stories were interesting, and almost every single one had something, a hint of technology or psychology or astronomy, that was startlingly prescient, either of what has already come to pass, or what might.
Other than the generally awesome titles ("Dark They Were and Golden Eyed"), my favourites included "The Happiness Machine" - which turns the tables on the machine's inventor when his reluctant harried wife has a go at it, "The Fox and the Forest" about a couple that flees a war torn 2155 to 20th century Mexico but are tracked (with a crazy but ripped from the current headlines denouement), and "Night Call, Collect" which is a modern and psychologically twisted tale, despite its antiquated technologies.
If you're into classic scifi, delivered in high audio style, this is your bag.
February 2, 2018
Now I understand how people could be glued to their radios every night before the takeover of the television, and actually believe the original War of the Worlds broadcast was real.
Audiobook is somewhat of a misnomer in this case--Bradbury 13 is a full-fledged "production" of Ray Bradbury's work rather than a single reader simply narrating the stories word for word. And what a gorgeous and vivid production it was! I felt like I was listening to episodes of The Twilight Zone without access to the visual. Nor did I need or miss having a visual. The music was perfect and haunting. The actors and actresses were perfectly cast. And the Bradbury stories selected lended themselves perfectly to this medium.
5 stars for the production itself, and also 5 stars for the original content they were based on. These stories were a selection of some of the cream of Bradbury's crop. There was not a bad one in the bunch. Bradbury was a genius, simple as that. He was the author who introduced me to and made me fall in love with sci-fi as a child, and talking about his work, to me, is like talking about Shakespeare. Everyone knows he's brilliant--what more can I say? His work is worthy of dissertations, not reviews. So I'll just leave at that.
I'll miss you forever, Ray.
Audiobook is somewhat of a misnomer in this case--Bradbury 13 is a full-fledged "production" of Ray Bradbury's work rather than a single reader simply narrating the stories word for word. And what a gorgeous and vivid production it was! I felt like I was listening to episodes of The Twilight Zone without access to the visual. Nor did I need or miss having a visual. The music was perfect and haunting. The actors and actresses were perfectly cast. And the Bradbury stories selected lended themselves perfectly to this medium.
5 stars for the production itself, and also 5 stars for the original content they were based on. These stories were a selection of some of the cream of Bradbury's crop. There was not a bad one in the bunch. Bradbury was a genius, simple as that. He was the author who introduced me to and made me fall in love with sci-fi as a child, and talking about his work, to me, is like talking about Shakespeare. Everyone knows he's brilliant--what more can I say? His work is worthy of dissertations, not reviews. So I'll just leave at that.
I'll miss you forever, Ray.
March 26, 2017
I loved this. 4/5 for me only because a few of the stories were odd balls and not very engaging! But I'm all for bringing back radio programs! These were excellent!! I love finishing books right before my monthly bookclub meeting.
December 28, 2017
This is a very nice collection of a baker's dozen of dramatizations of Bradbury stories. They're quite true to the originals. I believe my favorite here was The Veldt, though the stories from The Martian Chronicles are good, too. And then there's the one about hunting dinosaurs and the butterfly effect... (Apropos to nothing, while listening to Kaleidoscope it struck me that John Carpenter totally ripped-off the ending to Dark Star here.) You can never go wrong with Bradbury.
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February 27, 2017Description and Table of Contents / List of Short Stories
****
Bradbury 13 is a collection of 13 radio dramas masterfully adapted from classic short stories by veteran science-fiction author Ray Bradbury. Bradbury's stories refract our own fears and foibles through otherworldly prisms. Each dramatization is approximately thirty minutes long and includes original music. This collection includes the following:
*A Sound of Thunder*
Time Safari, Inc., offers hunting enthusiasts the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to travel back in time to bag the biggest trophy of all time, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the ''Thunder Lizard.''
*Dark They Were and Golden Eyed*
Harry Bittering is resigned to the idea of living on Mars for a while with his family, until a nuclear war back on Earth strands the settlers forever. Now, will Mars devour the earthlings?
*The Happiness Machine* An old man builds the ultimate machine, a ''happiness machine'', which is meant to make anyone who enters it happy. But the most important person in his life is not amused!
*The Fox and the Forest*
Escaping war in the year 2155, a couple flees back in time to twentieth-century Mexico, a paradise compared to their world of disease bombs and widespread horror. But they are being tracked by those who want them to return.
*Here There Be Tygers*
Prospectors from Earth travel to a world that seems to know of their hearts' desires, and makes their every wish come true. But a member of the crew has darker desires, and pays the ultimate price.
*Kaleidoscope*
A routine space flight suddenly ends in a huge explosion, throwing the crew into space with only their space suits and radios to keep them alive. Knowing rescue is impossible, they face their innermost demons.
*The Man*
The captain and crew of a ship land on a planet to make first contact, only to discover their thunder has been stolen by a previous visitor.
*Night Call, Collect*
The lone survivor of a rocket crew on Mars has waited his lifetime to be rescued and taken back to Earth. Then one day when he is 80 years old, his telephone rings!
*The Screaming Woman*
Nine-year-old Margaret Leary is playing in a field by her house, when suddenly she hears a woman screaming for help from the ground! Can she get anyone to believe her?
*There Was an Old Woman Old*
Aunt Tildy is shocked and angry to find a mortician has come to take her to the mortuary. How dare he put her body in an old wicker basket! She's still using it!
*The Veldt*
A wealthy couple builds the ultimate virtual playroom for their spoiled children, complete with an African savanna and man-eating lions. It is so real, you can even smell the lions' last meal.
The Wind Where does the wind come from? Is it ''born'' somewhere? Is it intelligent? A terrified man seems to know all about the wind and who it seems to be after.
*The Ravine*
A strangler has been terrifying a small town by murdering single women. Will the dark and mysterious ravine be enough to save Lavinia and her friends from the ''Lonely One''?
****
Bradbury 13 is a collection of 13 radio dramas masterfully adapted from classic short stories by veteran science-fiction author Ray Bradbury. Bradbury's stories refract our own fears and foibles through otherworldly prisms. Each dramatization is approximately thirty minutes long and includes original music. This collection includes the following:
*A Sound of Thunder*
Time Safari, Inc., offers hunting enthusiasts the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to travel back in time to bag the biggest trophy of all time, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the ''Thunder Lizard.''
*Dark They Were and Golden Eyed*
Harry Bittering is resigned to the idea of living on Mars for a while with his family, until a nuclear war back on Earth strands the settlers forever. Now, will Mars devour the earthlings?
*The Happiness Machine* An old man builds the ultimate machine, a ''happiness machine'', which is meant to make anyone who enters it happy. But the most important person in his life is not amused!
*The Fox and the Forest*
Escaping war in the year 2155, a couple flees back in time to twentieth-century Mexico, a paradise compared to their world of disease bombs and widespread horror. But they are being tracked by those who want them to return.
*Here There Be Tygers*
Prospectors from Earth travel to a world that seems to know of their hearts' desires, and makes their every wish come true. But a member of the crew has darker desires, and pays the ultimate price.
*Kaleidoscope*
A routine space flight suddenly ends in a huge explosion, throwing the crew into space with only their space suits and radios to keep them alive. Knowing rescue is impossible, they face their innermost demons.
*The Man*
The captain and crew of a ship land on a planet to make first contact, only to discover their thunder has been stolen by a previous visitor.
*Night Call, Collect*
The lone survivor of a rocket crew on Mars has waited his lifetime to be rescued and taken back to Earth. Then one day when he is 80 years old, his telephone rings!
*The Screaming Woman*
Nine-year-old Margaret Leary is playing in a field by her house, when suddenly she hears a woman screaming for help from the ground! Can she get anyone to believe her?
*There Was an Old Woman Old*
Aunt Tildy is shocked and angry to find a mortician has come to take her to the mortuary. How dare he put her body in an old wicker basket! She's still using it!
*The Veldt*
A wealthy couple builds the ultimate virtual playroom for their spoiled children, complete with an African savanna and man-eating lions. It is so real, you can even smell the lions' last meal.
The Wind Where does the wind come from? Is it ''born'' somewhere? Is it intelligent? A terrified man seems to know all about the wind and who it seems to be after.
*The Ravine*
A strangler has been terrifying a small town by murdering single women. Will the dark and mysterious ravine be enough to save Lavinia and her friends from the ''Lonely One''?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2012
This is an adapted collection of Ray Bradbury tales from the ‘50s and ’60s. In fact, the first Short Shorts review I ever did, for Bradbury’s “The Veldt,” is in this collection. There are time traveling hunters who have an unfortunate meeting with a T. Rex, a machine just guaranteed to make anyone happy…until it doesn’t, a team that makes supposedly first contact with a new planet one day too late, and more – thirteen stories total. NPR ended up pouring $120,000 into making this into a fully cast production, complete with sound effects and musical score. I’m too young to have enjoyed radio dramas, but that’s exactly what these are. They originally debuted on radio, with one story in every 30-minute segment. I only found one story in the set, “The Screaming Woman,” that I found disappointing. Sure, many of the stories sound quaint and archaic. Bradbury is prone to his bouts of gee-whiz, Golden Age of Sci-Fi sentimentality. You can’t survive in space with just an air helmet. There are no abandoned cities on Mars. We know all these things now. But if you can set that aside and let your imagination roll back and see such things as fantasy more than science, then the humanity and symbolism that Bradbury excels at so deeply shines through.
The CD version of Bradbury 13 sells for $16 and change on Amazon, $11.95 as an Audible download, and $13.95 from the publisher, Blackstone Audio, if you like supporting the little guy. Search YouTube for “Bradbury 13 The Ravine” for a free and probably not-so-legal preview. I could swear that at one point I found the individual stories available to download for three bucks each, but danged if I can locate the link now. No matter what, I can’t recommend this collection enough. It’s nostalgic, fun, inspiring, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll spark in you the same passion I have for reading by audiobook.
-- From my Short Shorts review on the Sci-Guys podcast
The CD version of Bradbury 13 sells for $16 and change on Amazon, $11.95 as an Audible download, and $13.95 from the publisher, Blackstone Audio, if you like supporting the little guy. Search YouTube for “Bradbury 13 The Ravine” for a free and probably not-so-legal preview. I could swear that at one point I found the individual stories available to download for three bucks each, but danged if I can locate the link now. No matter what, I can’t recommend this collection enough. It’s nostalgic, fun, inspiring, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll spark in you the same passion I have for reading by audiobook.
-- From my Short Shorts review on the Sci-Guys podcast
January 3, 2014
Although I count Bradbury as one of my favorite writers I was disappointed in this audiobook version of 13 stories. Bradbury was a master at creating a story with a strong narrative line backed by excellent descriptions that fired my imagination, memorable characters and flights of imagination that thrilled me. Most of that is missing from this version of some of Bradbury's best all of which abandon the narrative and tell the stories only by the diaglogue of the characters instead, like radio plays. Although good actors read the parts most of the stories came across flat; there were a couple of stories that did okay by this treatment but most failed to excite. Case in point, the roars of the T Rex in this audio version of "The Sound of Thunder" could not compare to the chilling way Bradbury described the beast in the story.
July 30, 2019
I didn't know much about Ray Bradbury. I had no idea he was so into space and time travel. In that respect, the stories were a little repetitive.
Even so, I thought they were well produced and acted.
However, Alfred Hitchcock had a compilation book of short stories many years ago that I still have that included Ray Bradbury's story about the ravine. It was called "The Whole Town is Sleeping". The one I read when I was young chilled me to the bone at the end, but I was shocked to hear they changed the ending on this version to be much less scary. Bad move; the original is much more memorable and chilling.
I like short stories. This one is ok if you like space and time travel stories (which I've found I don't all that much).
Even so, I thought they were well produced and acted.
However, Alfred Hitchcock had a compilation book of short stories many years ago that I still have that included Ray Bradbury's story about the ravine. It was called "The Whole Town is Sleeping". The one I read when I was young chilled me to the bone at the end, but I was shocked to hear they changed the ending on this version to be much less scary. Bad move; the original is much more memorable and chilling.
I like short stories. This one is ok if you like space and time travel stories (which I've found I don't all that much).
January 29, 2015
This is not typically Ray Bradbury and hence the marginal rating. I am reviewing the book CD which was done in old radio production fashion and while that format is fine the material is not edited in a manner I enjoyed. In some cases the basic story line is lacking which is again totally atypical of anything done by Bradbury. There are many more great CDs of his work such as The Illustrated Man or other anthologies that I have always rated 4 or 5 CD or book form. This is one that I can say surprised me in a negative manner and unfortunately must rate accordingly.
November 5, 2017
A collection of 13 radio plays based on the short stories of Ray Bradbury sponsored by NPR in the early eighties. It was fun to revisit many of these stories and while most of them seem a little hokey, some of them like "The Veldt" and "Sound of Thunder" were very influential sci fi stories. "The Veldt" was basically a "holodeck." The holodek is basically "The Matrix., "The Metaverse" or virtual reality. But Bradbury was there FIRST, in 1950.
October 31, 2017
This was the perfect book to listen to during my commute Halloween week! Not just an audio book but a full radio performance with multiple voice actors and sound effects, it brought back memories of watching those old Twilight Zone shows when I was a kid. The stories are mostly familiar man on mars 50s science fiction. The performances are all over the top, dramatic fun.
September 16, 2010
Great stories... that were "adapted" & "dramatized". Call me plain-vanilla and boring, but I like my audiobooks to sound like "books" specifically, to sound like they are being read in my head. My internal voice doesn't add music and sound effects, or change voices for each character.
Ah, well.
Ah, well.
March 28, 2019
The story, 'The Screaming Woman,' deserves 5 stars. Listened to this cd in the car and when I got to 'The Screaming Woman' got stuck in my driveway, engine running and needing to know, having to know, would she live? Would they get there on time?
November 16, 2014
Interesting fun read, but dated
January 6, 2018
I quite enjoyed these 13 short stories done as radio dramas. I'm a big fan of Bradbury, and these were well worth the listen.
October 23, 2018
ray bradury is a master of the short story. They are quick and gripping. t
March 12, 2018
Bradbury 13 (Dramatized Adaptations) — by Ray Bradbury (1986)
• The Ravine — (3/5) *
• Night Call, Collect — (3/5) [Story from The Martian Chronicles]
• The Veldt — (3/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• There Was An Old Woman — (2/5) [Story from The October Country]
• Kaleidoscope — (2/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• Dark They Were And Golden Eyed — (3/5) [Story from The Martian Chronicles]
• The Screaming Woman — (2/5) *
• A Sound Of Thunder — (3/5) [Story from The Golden Apples of the Sun]
• The Man — (5/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• The Wind — (4/5) [Story from The October Country]
• The Fox and The Forest — (5/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• Here There Be Tygers — (4/5) [Story from R is for Rocket and The Golden Apples of the Sun]
• The Happiness Machine — (3/5) [Story from Dandelion Wine (Novel)]
• The Ravine — (3/5) *
• Night Call, Collect — (3/5) [Story from The Martian Chronicles]
• The Veldt — (3/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• There Was An Old Woman — (2/5) [Story from The October Country]
• Kaleidoscope — (2/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• Dark They Were And Golden Eyed — (3/5) [Story from The Martian Chronicles]
• The Screaming Woman — (2/5) *
• A Sound Of Thunder — (3/5) [Story from The Golden Apples of the Sun]
• The Man — (5/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• The Wind — (4/5) [Story from The October Country]
• The Fox and The Forest — (5/5) [Story from The Illustrated Man]
• Here There Be Tygers — (4/5) [Story from R is for Rocket and The Golden Apples of the Sun]
• The Happiness Machine — (3/5) [Story from Dandelion Wine (Novel)]
December 11, 2017
Ray Bradbury was (is) a favorite author and I read most of his books years ago. In fact, one of my favorite books is his Dandelion Wine and just the sight of the title brings a smile.
These short stories were presented as mini dramas and were entertaining if not a bit old fashioned - or should I say "vintage" as they seemed (to me) a bit 1960s TV but may have been radio dramas. Not a criticism but observed style and were perfect bedtime listening. Anything Bradbury is entertaining and always thought-provoking.
DD@Phila
These short stories were presented as mini dramas and were entertaining if not a bit old fashioned - or should I say "vintage" as they seemed (to me) a bit 1960s TV but may have been radio dramas. Not a criticism but observed style and were perfect bedtime listening. Anything Bradbury is entertaining and always thought-provoking.
DD@Phila
April 30, 2019
Bradbury Thirteen consists of a radio adaptation of thirteen short stories by Ray Bradbury. The stories were written during Bradbury’s early years (before his writing became entirely consumed by mawkish sentimentality) and thus are some of the better ones he’s written.
Unfortunately, the producers chose to go with a Twilight Zone vibe, which wasn't a great fit with Bradbury's prose, but overall it was an enjoyable listen.
Unfortunately, the producers chose to go with a Twilight Zone vibe, which wasn't a great fit with Bradbury's prose, but overall it was an enjoyable listen.
September 27, 2023
This was incredible. Not only are the stories incredibly well done, but the way they were put together into the old fashioned "radio show" format was impeccable! My favorites of the collection were definitely A Sound of Thunder, The Veldt, Dark they Were and Golden Eyed, and The Happiness Machine.
My least favorite stories, if you are curious, were Here There Be Tygers, The Man, and Kaleidoscope.
My least favorite stories, if you are curious, were Here There Be Tygers, The Man, and Kaleidoscope.
July 20, 2017
I enjoy reading Bradbury, didn't enjoy this audio book version though. Too much old time radio drama and loud sound effects for my taste. I heard many tales I had read before, which was fine. But a few I just couldn't listen to as the voices/effects were too much for me. I was reminded of why I enjoyed his work and it's prompted me to read more of his work.
August 22, 2019
Love Bradbury but this one contains the first instance of a short story of his that I just hated. The radio style narration and acting seems a bit dated. Not dated as in the nostalgic air they were trying to breathe into it but dated to the 80s or early 90s. The current audiobook version contains all 13 stories.
February 20, 2021
Wonderful 13 stories acted out with sound effects on the radio in 1984. Just wonderful performances and stories that won a Peabody. My favorite one is The Man followed by Here There Be Tygers.
The only negative of the Audible title is that Audible does not have the correct chanters names only Chapter 1, Chapter 2...
The only negative of the Audible title is that Audible does not have the correct chanters names only Chapter 1, Chapter 2...
June 21, 2018
The production was really good, it felt like I was listening to a play or episodes of The Twilight Zone. Very enjoyable! Loved how "The Ravine" ended.
I'll mark the short stories as well so that I can more easily find what I haven't read/experienced of Ray Bradbury.
I'll mark the short stories as well so that I can more easily find what I haven't read/experienced of Ray Bradbury.
February 2, 2020
It was fun to listen to these familiar stories (I can't count how many times I've read and reread these wonderful tales), but this time adapted for audio with a full cast. This was perfect for a long plane trip,
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