THE ILLUSTRATED MAN

Ray Bradbury's collection of 18 interconnected stories is a beloved classic. In "The Long Rain," Prentice Onayemi captures the brooding madness of a group of astronauts who are stranded in the terminal storms of Venus. In "The Rocket," Ari Fliakos delivers the absurd humor of a destitute father who decides that it's better for his children to watch a "simulated illusion" than to actually go to Mars. And in "Zero Hour," Marin Ireland pinpoints the horror of a child who is helping aliens to invade her home. Bradbury was celebrated for his universal themes and literary style, and the superb narrators make these works extra edgy. B.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]