The Illustrated Man (Grand Master Editions)

Amazon.com

That The Illustrated Man has remained in print since being published in 1951 is fair testimony to the universal appeal of Ray Bradbury's work. Only his second collection (the first was Dark Carnival, later reworked into The October Country), it is a marvelous, if mostly dark, quilt of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. In an ingenious framework to open and close the book, Bradbury presents himself as a nameless narrator who meets the Illustrated Man--a wanderer whose entire body is a living canvas of exotic tattoos. What's even more remarkable, and increasingly disturbing, is that the illustrations are themselves magically alive, and each proceeds to unfold its own story, such as "The Veldt," wherein rowdy children take a game of virtual reality way over the edge. Or "Kaleidoscope," a heartbreaking portrait of stranded astronauts about to reenter our atmosphere--without the benefit of a spaceship. Or "Zero Hour," in which invading aliens have discovered a most logical ally--our own children. Even though most were written in the 1940s and 1950s, these 18 classic stories will be just as chillingly effective 50 years from now. --Stanley Wiater

Book Description

He was a riot of rockets and fountains and people, in such intricate detail and color that you could bear the voiced murmuring, small and muted, from the crowds that inhabited his body.

The Illustrated Man

Ray Bradbury brings wonders alive. A peerless American storyteller, his oeuvre has been celebrated for decades--from The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451 to Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

The Illustrated Man is classic Bradbury --a collection of tales that breathe and move, animated by sharp, intaken breath and flexing muscle. Here are eighteen startling visions of humankind's destiny, unfolding across a canvas of decorated skin--visions as keen as the tattooist's needle and as colorful as the inks that indelibly stain the body.

Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man is a kaleidoscopic blending of magic, imagination, and truth, widely believed to be one of the Grandmaster's premier accomplishments: as exhilarating as interplanetary travel, as maddening as a walk in a million-year rain, and as comforting as simple, familiar rituals on the last night of the world.

He was a riot of rockets and fountains and people, in such intricate detail and color that you could hear the voices murmuring, small and muted, from the crowds that inhabited his body.

THE ILLUSTRATED MAN is classic Bradbury--a collection of tales that breathe and move, animated by sharp, intaken breath and flexing muscle. Here are eighteen startling visions of humankind's destiny, unfolding across a canvas of decorated skin--visions as keen as the tattooist's needle and as colorful as the inks that indelibly stain the body.

The images, ideas, sounds and scents that abound in this phantasmagoric sideshow are provocative and powerful: the mournful cries of celestial travelers cast out cruelly into a vast, empty space of stars and blackness...the sight of gray dust settling over a forgotten outpost on a road that leads nowhere...the pungent odor of Jupiter on a returning father's clothing. Here living cities take their vengeance, technology awakens the most primal natural instincts, Martian invasions are foiled by the good life and the glad hand, and dreams are carried aloft in junkyard rockets. Ray Bradbury's THE ILLUSTRATEDMAN is a kaleidoscopic blending of magic, imagination, and truth, widely believed to be one of the Grandmaster's premier accomplishments: as exhilarating as interplanetary travel, as maddening as a walk in a million-year rain, and as comforting as simple, familiar rituals on the last night of the world.

Customer Reviews:

Novel? I Think Not!.......2007-09-20

There seems to be one misconception running through a lot of these reviews. The misconception is that The Illustrated Man should be viewed as a novel. It IS NOT a novel. I repeat: NOT A NOVEL. The Illustrated Man is an excellent work of literature, but it is a collection of loose stories. Even those who say that the stories have a loose theme are not stressing the point enough, it seems. The stories are barely tied together at all.

The stories themselves are superb, and classic Bradbury. Among the best are The Veldt, about technology and what can go wrong with it; Zero Hour, about an innocent game that may not be so innocent; Marionettes, INC., a classic sci-fi story also about the misuse of technology; The Long Rain, a psychological roller coaster through the future of mankind; and No Particular Night or Morning, a wonderful philosophical story about space and what it can do to a man's mind.

Again, you should view these stories as ones in a short story collection, not a full novel. But they are essential Bradbury and essential science fiction, like most of his works of literature.

Mixed quality, including some uninspired stories but also some brilliant pieces. Recommend on the basis of the good stories.......2007-09-07

One hot summer day, our narrator meets the Illustrated Man. When the man strips off his stifling long sleeves, he reveals the Illustrations, which decorate every inch of his bare skin. But, as he warns the narrator, they are more than Illustrations: at night, they come to life, change, and spell out stories. That night, the narrator watches these stories--and each becomes a short story in Bradbury's collection. From living houses to ever-raining Venus to the Martian invasion of the commercialized Earth, these often-harrowing science fiction stories range on all topics and all skill levels. Some of the stories are incredible and haunting; others are bulky or uninspired. It is a mixed bag and not as good as some of Bradbury's other collections, but the framing of the Illustrated Man and the golden nuggets sprinkled within make it an imaginative and worthwhile read. Tentatively recommended.

It is particularly difficult to review short story collections because quality can and does vary from story to story, making it hard to summarize and judge the book as a whole. The median quality of this book is not exceptional, and it is not my favorite of Bradbury's short story collections (that would be The Machineries of Joy and The Martian Chronicles, which is not quite a short story collection but is close). The reason for this is simple: some of the stories are uninspiring--neither harrowing or scientific, they're vaguely satirical but without cutting witticism, making them instead simply bland. These uninspiring short stories drag down the overall quality of the book.

Some of the other stories, however, and the framing of the Illustrated Man, are simply brilliant. For me, these include The Veldt, The Man, The Long Rain, The Rocket Man, and Zero Hour, and make up about half of the stories in the book. They range from incredible concepts to haunting ideas to wistful, more personal stories, and are all written in Bradbury's clear, precise, honest prose.

I recommend The Illustrated Man on the basis of these outstanding stories. As a whole, the collection is a bit wanting, but taken individually, there are definitely some stories worth reading. Fans of Bradbury's writing will especially enjoy this book, and the short-story format makes it accessible to all readers. And when it is good--it is very, very good.

Hardcore Bradbury Fans Only.......2007-08-12

If you are not a die-hard Bradbury fan do not waste your time with this book. It is pretty much a campy (ie. rockets, space, mars, etc.) collection of space stories. There are a few stories here with interesting views and/or concepts, but for the most part it's a poorly written, redundant, and slow paced book.

If you are going to read Bradbury for the first time or are new to his writing I would recommend "Fahrenheit 451".

Fun reading and good story-telling.......2007-06-05

Bradbury is a good story teller, though a lot more compelling in a earlier time when one is young. Some of the stories are first rate because they deal with the timeless themes of human nature. The Veldt (the first story in the collection) is the best in the book and I was moved as well by "The Rocket Man", a story about grief and loss beautiful in its simplicity. Also, the device of the Illustrated Man still works on a second read and is a stroke of inspiration.

Some of the stories are not good literature from a writing or character development perspective, but are extremely clever and fun -- neat ideas that would make (or have made) great Twilight Zone stories. My favorite is the time traveler story.

One story (No Particular Night or Morning) is deeply philosophical in nature. The character portrayal is not convincing but the philocophical idea of space travelers who are compelled to question their own existence is about as good and interesting an exposition of a philsophical issue as you'll ever find.

Many stories are clunkers, I'm afraid -- the situations are usually interesting but the characters are wooden and not believable.

Also fascinating is how science ficition ages with time. The vision of the future tells us more about the past than anything else. No one seems to have foreseen cell phones, the internet, and the communications/information revolution (although Arthur C. Clarke in Childhood's End comes close). You can harldy fault Bradbury for this, but it's interesting how the futurists simply extrapolate their current world into the future -- i.e., brute machines are the rage in 1950, so they imagine even better, more brutish machines in the future.

For all his limitations as a writer, Bradbury has written some classic stories that I would include in a literary anthology for this period. I therefore recommend that you read or re-read this book.

solid.......2007-03-16

Very diverse feel here, some scifi, some general fiction and fantasy. The stories are evenly well done.

Man, Myth and Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion and the Unknown

Average customer rating:

A study of human belief systems
its great for people who like "strange phenomena"
Comprehensive and Profusely Illustrated
Excelent book for information about myth, religion, & magic.
The best reference available for the subjects...

Man, Myth and Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion and the Unknown
Richard Cavendish
Manufacturer: Marshall Cavendish Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Mythology & Folklore | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0863070418

Customer Reviews:

A study of human belief systems.......2005-08-27

I too will refer to the 1970 edition of the encyclopaedia set (I was lucky to be able to purchase the set recently are a relatively low price) as I have yet to see later editions. I was fortunate to have come across this set in my local library as a youth and recently purchased a set of my own after an exhaustive search. Unlike so many childhood memories who's colours fade with age and experience, the joy I have when I read from this set is as vibrant as it was in my youth, though now I can also appreciate Man, Myth and Magic from a more intellectual vantage.

Man, Myth and Magic explores the realms of religion, spirituality, psychology and the occult. Articles within the 24 volume set range from the obscure (Wandering Bishops and various manifestations of witchcraft hysterias) to the very well known (articles on major world religions). The authors tend to be experts in their respective fields of research and are, by and large, objective in the treatment of their subjects. There are, however, some writers who have a vested interest what they write about - the article on Druidism contains two articles, one written by an historian which focuses on the known history of druids through contemporary writers (such as Julius Caesar) and archaeology, the other written by a "modern" druid who speaks of the modern incarnation of druidism. In most cases this is appropriate and as the credulous is contrasted with the objective skeptic I'm okay with this treatment. Unfortunately in a few cases there is no counterbalance. For example, in the section entitled "The Frontiers of Belief" is an article written about H.P. Lovecraft. The author surmises that Lovecraft's short stories and poems must have been inspired by real, other worldly creatures, a claim that Lovecraft himself would scoff at. Still, despite rare instances of overly credulous authors, Man, Myth and Magic tends towards the objective examination of man kind's belief systems, be they mystical or based on science.

If you manage to find the complete set, no small feat I might add, you would do well to pick this set up.

its great for people who like "strange phenomena".......1998-10-11

It's great set of books, with about every strange thing you could want to read about. It's interesting, and it doesn't push it's words on you. It leaves room for you to decide how you feel about it. I really love the palmistry section. I would (and do) recommend it to anyone interested in man, myth, and magic.

Comprehensive and Profusely Illustrated.......1998-09-02

I own the 1970, 24 volume, set. I haven't seen the revised editions, but I'm sure they can only make a good set better. Although this set is comprehensive in that it covers a wide range of subjects, it is not exhaustive and is not intended to be. Only key elements or highlights of each subject are presented and a bibliography is provided for those who want to research deeper. This set is probably the definitive introduction to the field of the supernatural and related subjects and it is profusely illustrated with artwork, photographs, diagrams and charts. Some of the pictures are graphic and some contain gore and nudity, so I recommend this set only for mature readers. - Brad Clark

Excelent book for information about myth, religion, & magic........1998-09-01

Beautifully put together. Just a totallyy awesome encyclopedia for the unknown and more!

The best reference available for the subjects..........1998-07-20

This set of encyclopedias is entertaining as well as informative, with photos and illustrations of great points in religious and supernatural history. No critique could ever do this set of books justice.

-michael anthony crawford, High School Student

Average customer rating:

read it twice and decided to give it only 3 stars

Great book, thanks!

Good tips

Truly Mars and Venus

On the mark!

Truly Mars and Venus: The Illustrated Essential Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
John Gray
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex

Mars and Venus Together Forever: Relationship Skills for Lasting Love

Mars and Venus in the Bedroom

Men, Women and Relationships: Making Peace with the Opposite Sex

What You Feel, You Can Heal: A Guide for Enriching Relationships

Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0060085657
Release Date: 2003-01-07

Book Description

Truly Mars and Venus celebrates the wisdom of the number one international bestseller Men Are from Mars, Women Are From Venus.

With passages drawn from John Gray's groundbreaking classic on relationships, this beautiful book is illustrated with humorous cartoons and charming artwork by Barbara State.

The perfect gift for a loved one or for yourself, Truly Mars and Venus delivers John Gray's rich and inspiring advice for creating and sustaining healthy and loving relationships.

Customer Reviews:

read it twice and decided to give it only 3 stars.......2007-09-02

I read this book and found I got more info on men more than women. Of course, the author is from Mars. He mostly like could only describe women how moody they are than giving "solutions to men on how to fix relationship". Maybe like he said, Men don't like people telling them how to fix things. Instead, he wrote more chapters on "Versuians only". I don't see a chapter noted "Marians only". All he wrote about is how moody women are and it is not men's fault. And, when men feel like "going back into their cave, women shouldn't bother or offer talk." He wrote on what Martian and Verusians shouldn't do. But, what we should do?? Very few recommandations.

I remember I read a review from a lady who bought John Gary' another book. She totally got disappointed that John Gary believes that maybe women can gave men a head when women don't feel too well for sex. Women don't only want love and a listener after a long day, she also wants some pampers and a massage as well.

John Gary, maybe you need to put yourself into women's shoes. Think about women's PMS days and suggest men know HOW to show their love instead of telling men "show your love". But too bad, men don't take suggestions anyways...

Great book, thanks!.......2006-03-15

I received the book right away and it was in great shape.

Good tips.......2004-05-26

Its a good book overall, Although it has on both, I think its oriented more on how to please a man. It should be equally done..

Truly Mars and Venus.......2004-03-17

I'm a 17 yr. old high school student that had to do a report on love, differences, and communication. My teacher suggested the other book, and Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, but the lazy student that i am, i went for the shorter version. But wow, this book is amazing, I'm so glad I read it, I've learned many things about men that i will be able to use throughout life. It really helped me understand somethings that had been going wrong even in my own relationship. Very good book, I would suggest it to anyone!

On the mark!.......2003-04-24

I make it a point to read the popular "relationship authors" because, as an author myself, it gives me a sense of perspective.

Mr. Gray's books are by far and away the most concise and entertaining, even if he does get a bit too serious at times. Regardless, the information contained is excellent and I highly recommend it.

Butch Mazzuca, author of "From the First Date to the Bedroom, The Single Man's Official Guide to Success with Women."

Average customer rating:

One in a million

V. Campudoni

The beautiful insights of Wendal

An elegantly simple route to enlightenment.

What makes us want to read Wendel aloud?

Wendal, His Cat, and the Progress of Man: An Illustrated Novel
V. Campudoni
Manufacturer: Longstreet Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1563521288

Customer Reviews:

One in a million.......2004-03-20

A poignant and insightful look at contemporary life in America. It is the story of how easily a human being can fall into the trappings of modern living. While we can be dupped into believing the news and ignoring the plights of others, Campundoni acknowledges that we all have an urge to reconnect with nature, thought most of us don't know how. He subtly warns us not to become hardened and cynical when faced with the truth of our world, but to learn from it, and hopefully, change it.

A moving story to say the least. I was hoping to find more works by the author here, but that is apparently not possible.
Too bad. Get your hands on a copy of this while you still can!

V. Campudoni.......2002-11-27

V. Campudoni has not written any other books. He was a delivery man for a big company and had the book in his soul, wrote it -- that was it. He would not appear for book signings and the publishing company has no idea of his whereabouts. GREAT BOOK!

The beautiful insights of Wendal.......2001-01-19

Campudoni paints a stunningly blunt looks at society, its stereotypes, and man's search for depth of meaning in life. This book is a great conversation starter or coffee table book, and definitely worth getting as used copy, as the press doesn't recognize the gold mine they're sitting on and won't do another run.

An elegantly simple route to enlightenment........1998-12-11

In just a few short pages we follow Wendal's growth from a naive participant in society to an enlightened truth seeker (Gai-Pan).

What makes us want to read Wendel aloud?.......1998-04-05

Like the others, I came to find more Campudoni works. I've read Wendel to death. The pages are falling out. Does anyone know what we can do? WHO IS V. CAMPUDONI?

Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural (24-Vol. Set)

Average customer rating:

a wealth of occult and supernatural information!

Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural (24-Vol. Set)

Manufacturer: Raintree/Steck Vaughn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Mythology & Folklore | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0839360355

Customer Reviews:

a wealth of occult and supernatural information!.......2006-02-27

this is a must have for anyone interested in the supernatural. the articles and information contained in this set are highly informative, unbiased and well researched.There are many,many interesting pictures as well as paintings drawings etc which are very nicely reproduced in full color. The set came out in 1970 and was sold through the mail by subscription. there are 24 volumes including an index.I own quite a few books on the supernatural and have studied the occult for many years. This set has been a priceless source of information as well as a suppliment to most of my library because it contains information,most of which in depth, on just about every occult/supernatural topic you can think of! I highly recommend this set to people interested or studying the supernatural. i have seen smaller condensed versions of this set but never another encylopedia set such as this. It is quite hard to find especially intact and in good condition as it is now many years out of print.I have searched through endless used book stores and have come up with nothing. Amazon is the first place i have seen the set.

The fighting man;: An illustrated history of the world's greatest fighting forces through the ages

Average customer rating:

A Great Place to start ones study of mans bloody past

The fighting man;: An illustrated history of the world's greatest fighting forces through the ages
Jack Coggins
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007DY646

Customer Reviews:

A Great Place to start ones study of mans bloody past.......2005-04-30

If you are looking for a one volume book about some the great warrior outfits thru the bloody history of man,Then you are at the right place. Its got the Ancients, Greeks, Romans Byzantines, Vikings, Normans and a lot of other real ruffians/ people you don't want to meet in a dark alley.There is not a boring page in it and a lot of fascinating details. This book also has a bonus with some great ink drawings of what these men looked like done by the author.

The Illustrated Origins Answer Book: Concise, Easy-To-Understand Facts About the True Origin of Life, Man, and the Cosmos

Average customer rating:

A Creationist's Best Friend

The Illustrated Origins Answer Book: Concise, Easy-To-Understand Facts About the True Origin of Life, Man, and the Cosmos
Paul S. Taylor
Manufacturer: Films for Christ
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1877775010

Customer Reviews:

A Creationist's Best Friend.......1997-07-15

This well organized easy-to-read volume contains a massive amount of information detailing why the standard evolutionary theories simply do not fit the physical evidence in the universe in general and on earth specifically.. You do not have to be a scientist to understand the scientific principles such as biogenesis, entropy, probabilities and many more which are examined and explained in this book. Darwin believed in the years following his "Origins of Species", that evidence of his theories would be forthcoming. Almost 140 years and a quarter of billion fossils later, we still have no evidence of either macro or micro-evolution. All groups and species appear suddenly with NO transitional forms found. Taylor explains why evolution is not the answer to man's origins, and even uses quotes and information from evolutionary proponents that contradict their own conclusions! This is a masterful volume for creationists who need ready, understandable, yet scientific ammunition to prove that their ancenstors were not swinging in the trees four million years ago

SoulMates: An Illustrated Guide to Black Love, Sex, and Romance

Average customer rating:

Let's Get It On
I expected a little more...
Fun and informative
Just for Us

SoulMates: An Illustrated Guide to Black Love, Sex, and Romance
Eric V. Copage
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452281598
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Customer Reviews:

Let's Get It On.......2005-07-17

According to Eric V. Copage, SOULMATES deals with the whole range of man-woman relationships in life - from finding a mate, to developing a relationship and sustaining that relationship. As for sex, it deals with mood, grooming, seduction, sexual union, post-coital behavior and contemporary experiences as well as positions for sexual intercourse. Copage was motivated to write this guide because the representation of Black love and sex was null and void in the literary arena. He surveyed parts of the diaspora from Africa, the Caribbean and America and used the Kama Sutra as the framework to support his findings.

SOULMATES is geared toward individuals in longterm relationships, but lends a helping hand to single folks. The illustrations are also very sensual and erotic. I purchased the guide for carnal reasons, but after reading it walked away with a more cerebral understanding of lovemaking. I enjoyed sharing it with my mate and will continue to use what I have learned to enhance our passion. My only complaint is that I would like to have seen more of those sexy illustrations (wink wink).

Reviewed by Aiesha Flowers
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I expected a little more..........2001-10-05

This book was ok but I expected more. The reviews led me to believe that it was the bomb....NOT! I give it a 4 because the art work was pretty good, and the comments from the participants in the study were pretty much on target from a black perspective. The author covers a lot but not enough on exploring sexual positions and the actual "act" itself.

Fun and informative.......2001-09-26

Don't take it all too seriously! This book is a lot of fun, with some great, sexy drawings, and is all about how to have a better time in the bedroom. Just don't leave it out when your parents are coming to visit.

Just for Us.......2001-08-30

I've read a lot of books on this subject and it always seemed like something was missing. Now I realize that our cultures and traditions do affect the way we blacks look at love, sex and romance. It is a well written book.
I'd also recommend The RoMANtic's Guide. Excellent ideas for romance for both brothers and sisters.

Yun: The Illustrated Story of the Heavenly Man

Average customer rating:

Yun: The Illustrated Story of the Heavenly Man
Brother Yun , and Paul Hattaway
Manufacturer: Monarch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0825461286

Book Description

A new edition in a widely accessible format of the worldwide best-selling and astonishing story of Brother Yun, one of China's most dedicated, courageous, and intensely persecuted house church leaders.

Average customer rating:

The Illustrated Man
Ray Bradbury
Manufacturer: Doubleday & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EHMSP4

Product Description

8.4" * 5.6".

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