I Sing the Body Electric! And Other Stories

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories, some of which were used as bases of Twilight Zone episodes. Many are fun and very uniquely and satisfyingly enjoyable, especially for the avid science fiction reader. For those who are especially partial to Ray Bradbury, these stories rank among some of his best. Very Recommended Reading!

Ray Bradbury remains one of my favorite writers. To label him a Science Fiction writer does him an injustice as he was so much more than that. His ability to spin tales was remarkable, but even more so was his ability to create images and word rhythms that dazzle and impress. You don't just read Bradbury, you luxuriate in his work, and even as you read, you find remarkable passages that describe the simplest of things. His eye saw the world differently and unlike many, he could show you what he saw. This collection of his work, much of it early in his nearly 70 years of writing, is a fine introduction. The story "I Sing the Body Electric" was one of his most delightful and thought-provoking. It was made into one of the outstanding episodes on the original Twilight Zone series. This story, while clearly a fantastic envisioning of the impact an electric grandmother would have on three kids, it also says much about life and loss and hope. I find every time I read one of his stories there are so many things to think about once I've finished. If you haven't read Bradbury before or just haven't read him lately, this is a fine reminder of a large talent who gave us so much enjoyment and wonder. I can't praise him or this introduction to his writings nearly enough.94 ReviewsRecipe courtesy of Ree DrummondShow: The Pioneer WomanEpisode: Cowboy LunchSave Recipe PrintPan-Fried Pork Chops (02:32)Total:25 minActive:25 minYield:8 servingsLevel:EasyIngredients1 teaspoon seasoned salt, plus more for seasoning1 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning8 pork breakfast chops1 cup all-purpose flourCayenne pepper1/2 cup canola oil1 tablespoon butterSmashed new potatoes, for servingAdd Checked Items to Grocery ListDirectionsWatch how to make this recipe.Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops.Combine the flour and some cayenne, salt and black pepper. Dredge each side of the pork chops in the flour mixture, and then set aside on a plate.Heat the canola oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the butter. When the butter is melted and the butter/oil mixture is hot, cook 3 pork chops at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook until the chops are golden brown on the other side, 1 to 2 minutes (make sure no pink juices remain). Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining pork chops.Delicious and simple! Serve with smashed new potatoes.

This is definitely the kind of stuff that Ray Bradbury has always written. I've been reading the stories he writes since 1962. When I dig into fiction by anyone, I always ask first: Where is the story taking place? What is the weather? What is the mood created by the author? Ray Bradbury never lets us down in those three areas. After Mr. Bradbury passed away in spring of 2012 (he was approaching his 92nd birthday at the time) I recall thinking: "Well, he's gone -- and there will be no one to replace him." Who else would create tales of such empathy for Mexican persons who have little money, or tales of emigrants to Mars who long for the mundane quirks of living on earth, or tales of elderly women and the attics in their quiet small-town homes, or -- finally -- the dreary weather patterns in urban Ireland? I once wrote Ray a letter expressing appreciation for the lonely and fearful theme he had expressed in the novel called "Dandelion Wine." I had written my bicycle all over Waukegan, Illinois, and I wanted him to know that the theme that was born inside the mind of an eight-year-old in the summer of 1928....that theme was still there as I pedaled around in the summer of 1974. I was excited when Ray wrote back. Many, many good dreams have come to me while in the depths of sleep. Ray Bradbury's stories have always helped plant those good dreams. Some tales are almost a genuine form of horror, but always there is a hint of mankind's cleanliness and perfectibility hidden away inside the tale. The stories in "I Sing the Body Electric"did not let us down.

Not all pieces of literature written by an author who is deemed as being ‘classic’ can, by themselves, also reach that high goal. No, a classic author is not measured by quantity but, rather, by quality. He/she must bring a spotlight to the genre in which they are engaged, produce a consistent and unique writing skill and, most importantly, reach a wide range of audiences who not only appreciate their writing but learn another small sliver of life to which they were not previously aware. Do they do this universally with all their writings and do so without end? Of course not. R.W. Emerson did not instil individuality in each of his essays, Charles Dickens did not have each of his social tales become acted upon by a concerned public nor did each of Shakespeare’s play contain memorable lines which we frequently quote. Yes, all classicists have feet of clay like each one of us but, likewise, each one made a memorable and time-lasting addition to their genre that few others have done. Ray Bradbury is, and will remain, a classic author of science fiction.

One of my high school English teachers gave me a paperback copy of "The Illustrated Man" 50 years ago. I re-read it a few years ago and enjoyed it as much as the first reading. When "I Sing The Body Electric: And Other Stories" popped up as a Kindle Daily Deal, I jumped at the chance to read another Ray Bradbury collection. I recognized some of the stories as stories I read in the past. Others were new to me. As is generally the case with the late Mr. Bradbury, I very much enjoyed reading the work of one of the most imaginative authors of our time. I am sorry to say, though, the Kindle edition had numerous typos in the form of glaringly incorrect words. It was easy to determine the correct word, but annoying and inexcusable to have those jarring errors regularly appear throughout the book. And a disservice to Mr. Bradbury. I hope the day will come that ebooks have qualified editors read the e-versions and correct these types of errors before ebooks are released for sale.

Great prose. Amazing imagination. Practically a pioneer in sci fi writing that combines literary form with cutting edge content

Some of the stories were a little strange and long-winded but all-in-all they were entertaining.