The Illustrated Man
by Ray Bradbury · first published 1951
75% recommend25% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A short story collection of vivid, often twist-laden science fiction tales. It serves as a good starting point for Bradbury's short fiction and is noted for its literary quality.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Illustrated Man is a 1951 collection of eighteen science fiction short stories by American writer Ray Bradbury. A recurring theme throughout the eighteen stories is the conflict of the cold mechanics of technology and the psychology of people. It was nominated for the International Fantasy Award in 1952.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2009–2026The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury
Recommended by 27 · mentioned by 4527 recommend · 45 mention27 recommend · 4527 recommend
2012–2026Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
2010–2026Gateway
Frederik Pohl
Recommended by 22 · mentioned by 3422 recommend · 34 mention22 recommend · 3422 recommend
2009–2026Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury
Recommended by 63 · mentioned by 26563 recommend · 265 mention63 recommend · 26563 recommend
2013–2026Ancillary Justice
Ann Leckie
Recommended by 45 · mentioned by 6645 recommend · 66 mention45 recommend · 6645 recommend
2008–2026Burning Chrome
William Gibson
Recommended by 25 · mentioned by 6225 recommend · 62 mention25 recommend · 6225 recommend
2007–2026Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
Recommended by 169 · mentioned by 436169 recommend · 436 mention169 recommend · 436169 recommend
2007–2026Speaker for the Dead
Orson Scott Card
Recommended by 44 · mentioned by 12744 recommend · 127 mention44 recommend · 12744 recommend
RIP, one of my favourite authors. Martian Chronicles and Illustrated Man were story collections on par with the likes of Hemingway IMO. The last collection I bought, One for the Road, wasn't more than ten years ago. I think he had a few more since then too.
on “R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles ” ↗One of my favorite Bradbury stories: "The Rocket", in The Illustrated Man. A junkyard owner tries to save money to send his family to space, but can't afford it, so he builds a replica rocket with some kind of 3D windshield display to convince his kids that they are flying…
on “R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles ” ↗If you like short stories I recommend Nine Tomorrows by Issac Asimov & The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
on “What are your favorite sci-fi and fantasy books?” ↗Check out "The Other Foot" [0] by Ray Bradbury. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illustrated_Man
on “Why Futurism Has a Cultural Blindspot” ↗I'd recommend something by Ray Bradbury -- one of my favorite short story collections of all time is his "The Illustrated Man". Also a big fan of Asimov's "Robot Dreams".
on “Ask HN: You've got $300 to fill an empty library. What do you choose?” ↗…said the same about On The Road, that it belonged to a generation. I don’t think Stranger holds up, probably for the same reason. I’m not much of a science fiction fan but I remember Dune and Bradbury’s Illustrated Man fondly. I can’t say that about Asimov or Heinlein or Fahrenheit 451. (Well the first chapter is pretty good.) But Rachel Carson was great writer; she should be studied and remembered for her craft as…
on “Vonnegut Reviews Heinlein's “Stranger in a Strange Land”” ↗I think all the short stories in Ray Bradbury's collection "The Illustrated Man" have twists. Strong recommend, if you've never read it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illustrated_Man The Sentinel, by Arthur C. Clarke, certainly has a twist. But it doesn't come as a surprise…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite (sort) sci-fi stories with twists?” ↗…more for the thought exercise than anything else: - Exhalation by Ted Chiang. A collection of scifi short stories that are quite thought provoking. Some sprinklings of religion in some of them. - The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. A classic, also a short story collection. Golden age scifi. - Project Hieroglyph. A collection of authors that partnered with Phd students to write short stories based on their research…
on “The Egg (2009)” ↗…similar lines in Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the Aral Sea read with: Carlos Castaneda - The Teachings of Don Juan - A Yaqui Way of Knowledge - Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition (1998) Ray Bradbury - The illustrated man (1967, Bantam Books)
on “How airports could help aliens spot Earth” ↗Short stories are, IMO, where he really shines. The Illustrated Man is a good collection to start with, as is The Golden Apples of the Sun. But read them slowly, and (this may be a controversial statement) in a physical paper book.
on “There Will Come Soft Rains (1950) [pdf]” ↗Try "The Illustrated Man" by Ray Bradbury, but skip the terrible frame story. The actual short stories are beautiful literature and canonical sci-fi.
on “Isaac Asimov: The Last Question” ↗Really just about anything by Bradbury is a good read. We read that one in high school, Fahrenheit 451. I liked it so much that my mother also bought me The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man, both of which are collections of related short stories and are very good.
on “What Would You Recommend to a Bright 14 Year Old?” ↗That reminds me of a story which I read in Ray Bradbury's collection, _The Illustrated Man_. The captain of a rocketship (that's the word used) is obsessed with finding a supposed miracle-worker. They land on a planet where the locals tell them of a man who healed a child's broken arm with…
on “Forgotten Greats of Science Fiction” ↗Well, Ray Bradbury would like to have a word with you about your dream: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illustrated_Man :)
on “Fish can become invisible to predators” ↗Note that the title is probably an allusion to Ray Bradbury’s collection “The Illustrated Man”.
on “The Illuminated Man: an unconventional portrait of JG Ballard” ↗