One More for the Road

Rating:
Summary: Some Highpoints in this otherwise mediocre Book
Review: I am a big fan of Ray Bradbury. There is so much irony in his words. He is one of the last great authors of our time. This collection does not do Him Justice, however. The first story is okay. "Beasts", and "Leftovers" are lacking in most areas. The "Dragon danced at Midnight" is great , "Fore" is one of Ray's Best. If you are not familliar with Bradbury's work this is not a very good place to start. Start with "The Illustated Man". But for seasoned fans, this is not a horrible book, but not His best works. Still, not bad for His early eighties. Keep on writing, Ray!!

Rating:
Summary: A gem of a collection capturing the sheer excitement of life
Review: This collection, a treasure trove of new fiction for old and new Bradbury readers alike, is yet one more accomplishment in a roughly year-long period that has seen (and will continue to see) a truly prodigious output from Mr. Bradbury. With a new novel out last October ('From the Dust Returned'), another ('Let's All Kill Constance!') coming out in January, and his collected poems hitting shelves just last month, Ray Bradbury is clearly still living every day to the fullest, and thank God for that. 'One More for the Road,' fit snugly in between these publications, stands tall as one of Bradbury's best collections.

"The Nineteenth" recounts a moving father and son reunion with a supernatural twist. Anyone who has lost an elder loved one will doubtless remember this one to re-read again and again. "First Day" addresses the issues of boyhood friendship and the vicissitudes of time, while "With Smiles as Wide as Summer" takes us back to "Dandelion Wine" country. The subjects of the remaining stories also run the gamut, impressive in their sheer variety and subtlety.

Truly, this collection demands our attention and respect. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Better than Most
Review: This is not Ray Bradbury's best work. Yet, this is not a fair statement when he has written works such as Dandelion Wine and The Martian Chronicles. This is still very good stuff and is very enjoyable. The Enemy in the Wheat, The Dragon Danced at Midnight, and My Son Max ranks right up there some his best work. The rest of this material is still better than most of what is published by others today. I have been reading Bradbury for 30 years and have enjoyed him immensly. It is wonderful watching him look back at the twilight years of his career and write about life. He still has the magic. This book is a little more melancholy than some of his other work, but there are stories in this collection that are pure joy. He still acknoledges his childhood heros and pays them homage. The reader should be familiar with Bradbury to understand some of his stories or they will miss the point of why he wrote them. This is not the best Bradbury book to start reading him with, but do not miss this book either.