The Illustrated Man

Along with THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, this is Ray Bradbury's most celebrated an-thology of short stories. Together they helped lift science fiction out of the pulps and into the mainstream of American literature. The eerie framing device sets the mood for the entire set--an unnamed narrator comes across a carnival performer whose living tattoos conjure "true" tales of future events. Paul Hecht has a rich, mature, expressive, virile instrument, while his careful articulation and Apollonian approach give the listener that warm, intimate feeling of being personally read to. In addition, he has a fine handle on Bradbury's mood, atmosphere, tone and characterizations. His classic radio sound adds an appropriate period flavor to this volume, originally published in 1951. Y.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

This is one of the classics from the golden age of sci-fi--sixteen tales of horror and terror in the tattoos on an "illustrated" man's body. The tales are from a different age, and nuclear war and racism are not as horrifying to us as they were to the liberal intelligentsia of the 1950's. Nonetheless, the tales do hold up. Production values are high, and narrator William Roberts gives each of the characters a different and distinctive voice in a fully voiced performance. His emotions create an insidious chill of terror. This is a good addition to collections. E.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Paul Michael Garcia has a knack for portraying unconventional characters listeners can relate to. In this classic story collection he creates an impressive range of vocal tones for characters as varied as frightened space travelers and bickering upper-middle-class spouses who are trying to wrest control from a fully automated household. Known for achieving both critical and public acclaim, these 18 Bradbury classics are a must for any audio library. The renowned stories include the "The Long Rain" and the titular story of the tortured, tattooed "Illustrated Man." A.M.W (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine