Pulp Fiction Masters - Ten Early Stories

These Ten Early Stories by Ray Bradbury were written between 1942 and 1944, during the height of World War II. Mostly from Weird Tales, they show Bradbury’s early interests in questions of coming of age, the power of childhood innocence, and death. Bradbury was excused from military service in the war because of his poor eyesight. King of the Gray Spaces is an early version of the classic story R is For Rocket. The Wind (1943) – He was tracked across the world by the damnedest, biggest prehistoric killer that ever hunted prey. The Crowd (1943) – They’re always there . . . these people who use up the valuable air a dying man’s lungs need The Candle (1942) – The proprietor pronounced the candle an implement of destruction. The Sea Shell (1944) – Yesterday is nothing and tomorrow’s so far away, said the little boy; now is the only time we can ever have King of the Gray Spaces (1943) – Chosen. . . one out of a million. . . for only the best could be trusted with the lives of travelers in the space lanes between the planets. . . . This is the story of how one boy received the summons—and how he answered it. The Scythe (1943) – Somewhere there is a field, and a farmer there who unendingly cuts the wheat, his blade moving on day and night—forever! Promotion To Satellite (1943) – Obscure Pietro Becomes a Space Ship Hero The Monster Maker (1944) – A camera is one devil of a poor weapon with which to capture a pirate’s fortress. The Ducker (1943) – If you shoot those guys over there, he wondered, then they got to play right and fall down, don’t they? Bang! You’re Dead (1944) – The kid thought that war was a game and that death and bullets were only make believe