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The Veldt
The advanced technology of a house first pleases then increasingly terrifies its occupants.
45 pages, Library Binding
First published September 23, 1950
About the author
Ray Bradbury
2,383 books23.3k followersRay Douglas Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and realistic fiction.
Bradbury is best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and his short-story collections The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), and The October Country (1955). Other notable works include the coming of age novel Dandelion Wine (1957), the dark fantasy Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962) and the fictionalized memoir Green Shadows, White Whale (1992). He also wrote and consulted on screenplays and television scripts, including Moby Dick and It Came from Outer Space. Many of his works were adapted into television and film productions as well as comic books. Bradbury also wrote poetry which has been published in several collections, such as They Have Not Seen the Stars (2001).
The New York Times called Bradbury "An author whose fanciful imagination, poetic prose, and mature understanding of human character have won him an international reputation" and "the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream".
Bradbury is best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and his short-story collections The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), and The October Country (1955). Other notable works include the coming of age novel Dandelion Wine (1957), the dark fantasy Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962) and the fictionalized memoir Green Shadows, White Whale (1992). He also wrote and consulted on screenplays and television scripts, including Moby Dick and It Came from Outer Space. Many of his works were adapted into television and film productions as well as comic books. Bradbury also wrote poetry which has been published in several collections, such as They Have Not Seen the Stars (2001).
The New York Times called Bradbury "An author whose fanciful imagination, poetic prose, and mature understanding of human character have won him an international reputation" and "the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,131 reviews
November 22, 2022
Whoopee, finally my first review of a science fiction story! 😊
This story for me was like confronting yet consorting with the EVILS of technology!
Being an electronics & telecommunication engineer myself (though I consider myself more of a literature-lover than a tech-fanatic 😊), I adored this story based on magic, technology, and the future to bits!!
During my teens, I would ponder if technology is a boon or a bane. Then I stopped ruminating any longer on the ills of technology, because of the prolific inventions being profusely lauded and inundating human lives in entirety, moreover everyone partaking in its bounteous growth!
What is the use to mull over the vile of technology when you see the costliest of iPhones being established as a status symbol in society? Isn’t so?
Reading this story was like an epiphany for me! It was like confronting all the violent and evil effects of technology like video games (PubG and many more) and sensing what the metaverse is on the verge to offer us all and foreseeing the corrupt future, yet consorting with it. After all, I am using my laptop, and the internet, to post my review and share moments of bliss with my virtual GRs friends! But again, this is an example of the positive use of technology and not the negative.
Without digressing any further and not falling victim to the flood of my emotions, let me quickly give you all an extremely abridged synopsis without any spoilers-
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Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt" is a short story in which the Hadley’s parents become concerned when their children's soundproofed HappyLife Home, costing them $30K begins to reflect their young children’s violent fantasies.
The children of George and Lydia (Wendy and Peter) are obsessed with their nursery, which is a virtual entertainment room. Wendy and Peter have recently been conjuring up the African veldt in the nursery, and George and Lydia are concerned about the veldt’s vicious and brutal character.
“The children thought lions, and there were lions. The children thought zebras, and there were zebras. Sun — sun. Giraffes — giraffes. Death and death. “
They try to turn off the nursery, but subsequently, they reluctantly give their children one more minute.
““All right — all right, if they’ll just shut up. One minute, mind you, and then off forever.” “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” sang the children, smiling with wet faces.”
The kids summon George and Lydia to the nursery, then what follows was beyond my contemplation. It was a shocker to me!
Warning - Only if you are intrepid and lionhearted, please venture into reading this story, or else drop it. It might leave you bemused and in angst!
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The nursery delineates that death has become a prominent thought in Wendy’s and Peter’s minds. George orders the nursery’s machinery to change the veldt, but due to the malfunction caused due to overuse or tampering by the children, it refuses to do so! ☹
George even discovers an old wallet of his on the nursery floor, engulfed with toothmarks, and smothered in lion’s odor, and blood. Isn’t it scary? The parents later hear humans' screams and lion’s roars coming from the nursery.
The children are adamant and outrightly deny forgoing and abandoning the nursery.
I was surprised to see Lydia falling victim to the blindness of her mother’s love and joining the children in pleading George for a minute more, for viewing the nursery, until George relented. This fatherly relenting costing them something irrevocable. (concealing spoilers)!!
The story poses many critical questions, bringing forth the future. Engendering questions worth pondering! I must say to a great extent the present is already disseminating the evil threats of over-abuse and negative-implementation of technology!
Apart from majorly portraying the evil side of technology, the story renders a twinge to many parents to reflect on the structure of boundaries they lay between children and technology-usage. Today’s generation is born with and in gadgets and withering away inside gadgets. What a plight? Alas ☹
It is horrific to see humans not being able to stay away from technology for a moment! This is referred to as SLAVERY to technology. It has dissipated the innate human innocence most ruthlessly.
The story leaves the readers mulling over 3 major issues of children-parent relationship, the docility imposed on humans by technology, and the absence of real physical relationships in our lives and basing altogether on the virtual world to whet and quench our appetite for relationships.
This is entirely my personal takeaway from the story, and it is not meant to hurt the sentiments of avid technology lovers. So, pardon me in advance! 😊
I can’t help but downpour infinite stars from the sky of technology on this brilliant, grandiose, magnificent futuristic piece of a story written in an era when the concept was totally inconceivable and incredible to digest!
Before I close, I want to give a big shout-out to my GRs friend, Jennifer, for recommending this story😊Thanks, dear Jennifer!
This story for me was like confronting yet consorting with the EVILS of technology!
Being an electronics & telecommunication engineer myself (though I consider myself more of a literature-lover than a tech-fanatic 😊), I adored this story based on magic, technology, and the future to bits!!
During my teens, I would ponder if technology is a boon or a bane. Then I stopped ruminating any longer on the ills of technology, because of the prolific inventions being profusely lauded and inundating human lives in entirety, moreover everyone partaking in its bounteous growth!
What is the use to mull over the vile of technology when you see the costliest of iPhones being established as a status symbol in society? Isn’t so?
Reading this story was like an epiphany for me! It was like confronting all the violent and evil effects of technology like video games (PubG and many more) and sensing what the metaverse is on the verge to offer us all and foreseeing the corrupt future, yet consorting with it. After all, I am using my laptop, and the internet, to post my review and share moments of bliss with my virtual GRs friends! But again, this is an example of the positive use of technology and not the negative.
Without digressing any further and not falling victim to the flood of my emotions, let me quickly give you all an extremely abridged synopsis without any spoilers-
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt" is a short story in which the Hadley’s parents become concerned when their children's soundproofed HappyLife Home, costing them $30K begins to reflect their young children’s violent fantasies.
The children of George and Lydia (Wendy and Peter) are obsessed with their nursery, which is a virtual entertainment room. Wendy and Peter have recently been conjuring up the African veldt in the nursery, and George and Lydia are concerned about the veldt’s vicious and brutal character.
“The children thought lions, and there were lions. The children thought zebras, and there were zebras. Sun — sun. Giraffes — giraffes. Death and death. “
They try to turn off the nursery, but subsequently, they reluctantly give their children one more minute.
““All right — all right, if they’ll just shut up. One minute, mind you, and then off forever.” “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” sang the children, smiling with wet faces.”
The kids summon George and Lydia to the nursery, then what follows was beyond my contemplation. It was a shocker to me!
Warning - Only if you are intrepid and lionhearted, please venture into reading this story, or else drop it. It might leave you bemused and in angst!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
The nursery delineates that death has become a prominent thought in Wendy’s and Peter’s minds. George orders the nursery’s machinery to change the veldt, but due to the malfunction caused due to overuse or tampering by the children, it refuses to do so! ☹
George even discovers an old wallet of his on the nursery floor, engulfed with toothmarks, and smothered in lion’s odor, and blood. Isn’t it scary? The parents later hear humans' screams and lion’s roars coming from the nursery.
The children are adamant and outrightly deny forgoing and abandoning the nursery.
I was surprised to see Lydia falling victim to the blindness of her mother’s love and joining the children in pleading George for a minute more, for viewing the nursery, until George relented. This fatherly relenting costing them something irrevocable. (concealing spoilers)!!
The story poses many critical questions, bringing forth the future. Engendering questions worth pondering! I must say to a great extent the present is already disseminating the evil threats of over-abuse and negative-implementation of technology!
Apart from majorly portraying the evil side of technology, the story renders a twinge to many parents to reflect on the structure of boundaries they lay between children and technology-usage. Today’s generation is born with and in gadgets and withering away inside gadgets. What a plight? Alas ☹
It is horrific to see humans not being able to stay away from technology for a moment! This is referred to as SLAVERY to technology. It has dissipated the innate human innocence most ruthlessly.
The story leaves the readers mulling over 3 major issues of children-parent relationship, the docility imposed on humans by technology, and the absence of real physical relationships in our lives and basing altogether on the virtual world to whet and quench our appetite for relationships.
This is entirely my personal takeaway from the story, and it is not meant to hurt the sentiments of avid technology lovers. So, pardon me in advance! 😊
I can’t help but downpour infinite stars from the sky of technology on this brilliant, grandiose, magnificent futuristic piece of a story written in an era when the concept was totally inconceivable and incredible to digest!
Before I close, I want to give a big shout-out to my GRs friend, Jennifer, for recommending this story😊Thanks, dear Jennifer!
September 14, 2021
I am constantly amazed at the predictive capacity of Golden Age science fiction writers. In the early 1950’s, Ray Bradbury wrote this story on the dangers of immersive entertainment and technology advancements could have on children. He aptly describes a smart home and a lifelike (too lifelike) virtual reality room (sort of a Star Trek holodeck). This story must be more impactful in today’s world of ubiquitous screens, immersive video games, and augmented reality. In the early 1950’s the transistor was only recently invented, televisions were not common, and radios were not yet portable.
I first ran into this story decades ago when I read, “The Illustrated Man”. I just reread it, as part of a Science Fiction Facebook group I belong to. I love the little tie into Peter Pan and Neverland by naming the kids Peter and Wendy. It struck me as an ‘evil twin’ of Moore and Kuttner’s “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” which was written earlier.
Bradbury's prose is pedestrian in this piece, compared to some of his more flowery and near poetic work, but it’s more effectively written as a straight cautionary tale.
I first ran into this story decades ago when I read, “The Illustrated Man”. I just reread it, as part of a Science Fiction Facebook group I belong to. I love the little tie into Peter Pan and Neverland by naming the kids Peter and Wendy. It struck me as an ‘evil twin’ of Moore and Kuttner’s “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” which was written earlier.
Bradbury's prose is pedestrian in this piece, compared to some of his more flowery and near poetic work, but it’s more effectively written as a straight cautionary tale.
September 17, 2023
You know, there is something wild about this short story. It follows a family of four, a couple with two children. They live a comfortable life in a sophisticated house in which they literally do not have to do anything. They do not even have to brush their teeth thanks to the advanced technology of the house. Everything is done for them without any effort on their part.
The house offers a special treat for the kids. They can spend time in a room where dreams, fantasies, pent-up emotions, and hidden thoughts literally materialize and become a reality. However, this reality is virtual or artificial. Its artificial character implies the house is safe for all its occupants. At least, this is what parents believe or want to believe.A big surprise awaits them in the end.
In conclusion, I will limit myself to a few points.
We find authentic wildlife in the house (see the title).
The ending is wild.
The level of hate that people living under one roof can display towards one another is terrifying.
Mutual understanding between family members is indeed priceless.
The narration implicitly explores the association between fantasies and reality or their manifestations in reality. This association is vague yet impactful, at least in some cases.
The house offers a special treat for the kids. They can spend time in a room where dreams, fantasies, pent-up emotions, and hidden thoughts literally materialize and become a reality. However, this reality is virtual or artificial. Its artificial character implies the house is safe for all its occupants. At least, this is what parents believe or want to believe.A big surprise awaits them in the end.
In conclusion, I will limit myself to a few points.
We find authentic wildlife in the house (see the title).
The ending is wild.
The level of hate that people living under one roof can display towards one another is terrifying.
Mutual understanding between family members is indeed priceless.
The narration implicitly explores the association between fantasies and reality or their manifestations in reality. This association is vague yet impactful, at least in some cases.
April 30, 2019
Certainly one of Bradbury’s best short works and maybe his most recognized.
The Veldt was first published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1950, and this has been a ubiquitous entry into many collections of his work and has been published on its own in countless anthologies.
A family has a smart house (a recurring theme in his work) where machines and robots do virtually all of the work. Most notably, the children’s nursery can create a virtual scene from the imagination of the two kids – Peter and Wendy, in a choice of names that cannot be coincidence. Juvenile images of fairy tales and innocent make believe has tuned into an unsettlingly realistic scene from the African veldt. When the parents go into the room, the temperature increases and they can even smell the blood of the lions’ latest kill.
A psychologist suggests that all the automation has been bad for children and he recommends cutting them off from the disturbing scene. Peter and Wendy (and perhaps the room as well) are none too pleased.
Emotionally chilling and allegorically prophetic Bradbury has in The Veldt anticipated in Peter and Wendy the Millennials fifty years before the first one was born.
A must read for Bradbury and SF fans.
The Veldt was first published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1950, and this has been a ubiquitous entry into many collections of his work and has been published on its own in countless anthologies.
A family has a smart house (a recurring theme in his work) where machines and robots do virtually all of the work. Most notably, the children’s nursery can create a virtual scene from the imagination of the two kids – Peter and Wendy, in a choice of names that cannot be coincidence. Juvenile images of fairy tales and innocent make believe has tuned into an unsettlingly realistic scene from the African veldt. When the parents go into the room, the temperature increases and they can even smell the blood of the lions’ latest kill.
A psychologist suggests that all the automation has been bad for children and he recommends cutting them off from the disturbing scene. Peter and Wendy (and perhaps the room as well) are none too pleased.
Emotionally chilling and allegorically prophetic Bradbury has in The Veldt anticipated in Peter and Wendy the Millennials fifty years before the first one was born.
A must read for Bradbury and SF fans.
October 10, 2017
Virtual Reality قصة خيال علمي من الخمسينات عن الواقع الافتراضي
بشكل موسع ، مثير للرجفة والعرق...فالأحراش "السافانا" حارة جدا، اقل من 451 فهرنهايت بقليل
من مؤلف الرائعة الاخيرة، تأتي تلك القصة القصيرة الخيالية كخيال الاطفال...مرعبة كمؤلفات آر إل ستاين، صرخة الرعب
الحكاية عن عقل الاطفال العجيب...وتأثير أحراش التكنولوجيا علي تصرفاتهم وسلوكياتهم
هل تتذكر اول مرة لعبت بالاتاري؟ جيل اواخر السبعينات وحتي اواخر الثمانينات سيتذكر جيدا ذلك التأثير
هل تتذكر عندما لعبت بالمعجزة الجديدة البلاي ستيشن؟ وكرة القدم اليابانية إن كنت جيل التسعينات؟
يمكنك أن تفقد نفسك لأيام باللعبة....تتخطي دروسك ومذاكرتك لانهاء دوري اخر
ثم هل تتذكر الكونتر سترايك وميديل اوف هونور...تلك الالعاب الجماعية المقتدة بالخيال والحرب... كم تود أن تقتل هذا الغشاش الذي يفتح السلاح النووي او يدمر الباقي بالبازوكا
هل تري أبنك أو أبن احد اقاربك من مواليد بعد 2010 كيف أن ألعاب الموبايل او التابلت ذو الشاشة الكبيرة يفقد الساعات ممسكا بها وإن حرمته منها سيصير الامر جحيما؟
حسنا اذا مررت بأحد تلك المراحل، لك أن تتخيل في المستقبل الذي يرسمه راي برادبري حجرة تتغير حسب مزاج الاطفال كليا لتصير وكأنها عالم أخر
هكذا تخيل راي برادبري كيف الواقع الافتراضي في المستقبل، بالاضافة لبعض الاشياء المثيرة للضحك الان
لكنها التكنولوجيا، لربما اذا تنبأ احدهم قديما بماكينة صنع الاسبريسو الايطالي لضحك عليه ابناء جيله
ولكن الابوين قلقين علي ما شاهدوه في الأحراش...وسعة خيال أطفالهم
قلقين من الاستخدام الخاطئ للتكنولوجي ويشعرون بحنين لوقت مستقطع....أجازة من كل هذا الجنون الرقمي والعودة قليلا للطبيعة
والان لنعود للواقع....هل تستطيع ألاستغناء عن حاسوبك وتلفازك وكل الهواتف الذكية لشهر؟
وأن كنت انت عزيزي قارئ المراجعة تستطيع...علي الاقل أن كنت مواليد التسعينات قبل كل هذا الجنون الرقمي
قل لي هل جيل العقد الاول من الالفية الجديدة يستطيع؟ الاطفال الذين ترعرعوا علي تلك التكنولوجي؟
لتقرأ القصة القصيرة التي رابطها في صفحة الجودريدز...لتعرف ماهو رأي الطفلين...هل سيتشبثا بأحراش أفريقيا الرقمية..ام الامور ستأخذ منحن أخر
اتفقت او اختلفت مع القصة ، فالنجوم الاربع للفكرة العجيبة للتكنولوجيا السابقة عصرها...والصرخة التحذيرية من توحش الأحراش التكنولوجية
---------------
يمكنك ايضا البحث في يوتيوب علي اسم القصة الاصلي
The Veldt
لتشاهد أغنية لكريس جيمس وفيديو الخاص بها عن فيلم كارتوني قصير ظريف مبني علي القصة
وايضا حلقة أجنبية مقتبسة القصة كاملة من مسلسل عرض باواخر الثمانينات بعنوان
Ray Bradbury Theater
ويمكنك الاستماع للقصة بالانجليزية ايضا بنفس البحث
أما الترجمة العربية ، هي اول قراءة لي للمؤلف رغم اني كنت اتمني البدء بفهرنهايت 451 ولكن اكتشفت الان ان احد الاصدقاء الاعزاء بالجودريدز مترجمة تلك القصة .. رؤيا شعبان... ربما ستعرف مراجعاتها الجميلة بالاخص للادب العالمي
الترجمة سلسة جدا ، مسلية وبسيطة ... ومنتظر ترجمات اكثر لها قريبا ان شاء الله
فقط قليل من الاخطاء اللغوية البسيطة لكنها لم تمنعني عن الاستمتاع بالحكاية لكنه بالتأكيد تقصير المراجع اللغوي
لكن بوجه عام اعجبني تصميم الغلاف والكتاب الالكتروني ككل للناشر الالكتروني
Www.Escatopia.com
عمل جيد والي الامام دوما
فقط سطور النهاية (لم يكن هناك فاصلا)فقد اربكتني لانها يبدو انها جزء من المجموعة القصصية الرجل المرسوم
The Illustrated Man..
وهي المجموعة التي نشرت القصة ضمنها... وبالمناسبة عنوانها القديم كان "العالم الذي صنعه الاطفال"، وهو اقوي نوعا ما
محمد العربي
في 9 أكتوبر 2017
بشكل موسع ، مثير للرجفة والعرق...فالأحراش "السافانا" حارة جدا، اقل من 451 فهرنهايت بقليل
من مؤلف الرائعة الاخيرة، تأتي تلك القصة القصيرة الخيالية كخيال الاطفال...مرعبة كمؤلفات آر إل ستاين، صرخة الرعب
الحكاية عن عقل الاطفال العجيب...وتأثير أحراش التكنولوجيا علي تصرفاتهم وسلوكياتهم
هل تتذكر اول مرة لعبت بالاتاري؟ جيل اواخر السبعينات وحتي اواخر الثمانينات سيتذكر جيدا ذلك التأثير
هل تتذكر عندما لعبت بالمعجزة الجديدة البلاي ستيشن؟ وكرة القدم اليابانية إن كنت جيل التسعينات؟
يمكنك أن تفقد نفسك لأيام باللعبة....تتخطي دروسك ومذاكرتك لانهاء دوري اخر
ثم هل تتذكر الكونتر سترايك وميديل اوف هونور...تلك الالعاب الجماعية المقتدة بالخيال والحرب... كم تود أن تقتل هذا الغشاش الذي يفتح السلاح النووي او يدمر الباقي بالبازوكا
هل تري أبنك أو أبن احد اقاربك من مواليد بعد 2010 كيف أن ألعاب الموبايل او التابلت ذو الشاشة الكبيرة يفقد الساعات ممسكا بها وإن حرمته منها سيصير الامر جحيما؟
حسنا اذا مررت بأحد تلك المراحل، لك أن تتخيل في المستقبل الذي يرسمه راي برادبري حجرة تتغير حسب مزاج الاطفال كليا لتصير وكأنها عالم أخر
"إنها جدران كريستالية، أعلم أنهم يبدون واقعيين..عليا الاعتراف، أفريقيا في ردهة المنزل. لكنكلها مجرد أبعاد رقمية، ألوان أفلام مفرطة الحساسية وأشرطة فيديو خلف الشاشات الزجاحية"
هكذا تخيل راي برادبري كيف الواقع الافتراضي في المستقبل، بالاضافة لبعض الاشياء المثيرة للضحك الان
لكنها التكنولوجيا، لربما اذا تنبأ احدهم قديما بماكينة صنع الاسبريسو الايطالي لضحك عليه ابناء جيله
ولكن الابوين قلقين علي ما شاهدوه في الأحراش...وسعة خيال أطفالهم
قلقين من الاستخدام الخاطئ للتكنولوجي ويشعرون بحنين لوقت مستقطع....أجازة من كل هذا الجنون الرقمي والعودة قليلا للطبيعة
والان لنعود للواقع....هل تستطيع ألاستغناء عن حاسوبك وتلفازك وكل الهواتف الذكية لشهر؟
وأن كنت انت عزيزي قارئ المراجعة تستطيع...علي الاقل أن كنت مواليد التسعينات قبل كل هذا الجنون الرقمي
قل لي هل جيل العقد الاول من الالفية الجديدة يستطيع؟ الاطفال الذين ترعرعوا علي تلك التكنولوجي؟
لتقرأ القصة القصيرة التي رابطها في صفحة الجودريدز...لتعرف ماهو رأي الطفلين...هل سيتشبثا بأحراش أفريقيا الرقمية..ام الامور ستأخذ منحن أخر
اتفقت او اختلفت مع القصة ، فالنجوم الاربع للفكرة العجيبة للتكنولوجيا السابقة عصرها...والصرخة التحذيرية من توحش الأحراش التكنولوجية
---------------
يمكنك ايضا البحث في يوتيوب علي اسم القصة الاصلي
The Veldt
لتشاهد أغنية لكريس جيمس وفيديو الخاص بها عن فيلم كارتوني قصير ظريف مبني علي القصة
وايضا حلقة أجنبية مقتبسة القصة كاملة من مسلسل عرض باواخر الثمانينات بعنوان
Ray Bradbury Theater
ويمكنك الاستماع للقصة بالانجليزية ايضا بنفس البحث
أما الترجمة العربية ، هي اول قراءة لي للمؤلف رغم اني كنت اتمني البدء بفهرنهايت 451 ولكن اكتشفت الان ان احد الاصدقاء الاعزاء بالجودريدز مترجمة تلك القصة .. رؤيا شعبان... ربما ستعرف مراجعاتها الجميلة بالاخص للادب العالمي
الترجمة سلسة جدا ، مسلية وبسيطة ... ومنتظر ترجمات اكثر لها قريبا ان شاء الله
فقط قليل من الاخطاء اللغوية البسيطة لكنها لم تمنعني عن الاستمتاع بالحكاية لكنه بالتأكيد تقصير المراجع اللغوي
لكن بوجه عام اعجبني تصميم الغلاف والكتاب الالكتروني ككل للناشر الالكتروني
Www.Escatopia.com
عمل جيد والي الامام دوما
فقط سطور النهاية (لم يكن هناك فاصلا)فقد اربكتني لانها يبدو انها جزء من المجموعة القصصية الرجل المرسوم
The Illustrated Man..
وهي المجموعة التي نشرت القصة ضمنها... وبالمناسبة عنوانها القديم كان "العالم الذي صنعه الاطفال"، وهو اقوي نوعا ما
محمد العربي
في 9 أكتوبر 2017
December 12, 2022
Ray Bradbury demonstrates in this very short story his brilliant writing skills. It is not easy to put so much suspense and tension on so few pages, but Ray Bradbury succeeds here masterfully.
January 25, 2024
What a fascinating story! Ray Bradbury was way ahead of his time.
This story is a poignant exploration of the intersection between technology, familial relationships, and the psychological impact of unchecked automation. Set in a futuristic world, the narrative delves into the Hadley family's home, equipped with an advanced virtual nursery that caters to the whims of their children. Bradbury skillfully weaves a narrative that scrutinizes the consequences of overreliance on technology, particularly the estrangement it may breed within families.
The theme of parental anxiety takes center stage as George and Lydia Hadley grapple with the virtual reality manifestations their children, Wendy and Peter, create within the nursery. Moreover, the story touches on psychological themes, such as the dark impulses harbored by children and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.
You’ll feel the unease as the story unfolds, making you question the consequences of unchecked tech obsession. Spoiler alert: lions are involved, and not the cuddly kind. It’s a cautionary tale wrapped in a sci-fi package about the unanticipated consequences of embracing technology without a nuanced understanding of its implications on interpersonal relationships and the human psyche, making you rethink that next smart gadget purchase.
Bradbury’s narrative prowess and prescient vision create a thought-provoking exploration of a future that may be uncomfortably closer than we realize.
This story is a poignant exploration of the intersection between technology, familial relationships, and the psychological impact of unchecked automation. Set in a futuristic world, the narrative delves into the Hadley family's home, equipped with an advanced virtual nursery that caters to the whims of their children. Bradbury skillfully weaves a narrative that scrutinizes the consequences of overreliance on technology, particularly the estrangement it may breed within families.
The theme of parental anxiety takes center stage as George and Lydia Hadley grapple with the virtual reality manifestations their children, Wendy and Peter, create within the nursery. Moreover, the story touches on psychological themes, such as the dark impulses harbored by children and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.
You’ll feel the unease as the story unfolds, making you question the consequences of unchecked tech obsession. Spoiler alert: lions are involved, and not the cuddly kind. It’s a cautionary tale wrapped in a sci-fi package about the unanticipated consequences of embracing technology without a nuanced understanding of its implications on interpersonal relationships and the human psyche, making you rethink that next smart gadget purchase.
Bradbury’s narrative prowess and prescient vision create a thought-provoking exploration of a future that may be uncomfortably closer than we realize.
November 24, 2022
Because I'm obsessive compulsive, I decided to write reviews for the stories in the anthologies I read, and include them on my 2017 bookshelf. I started with Poe, and Lovecraft. but I will include Bradbury, also. The Veldt is the first story in The Illustrated Man anthology. It's about a family living in a "smart" home, where the children's bedroom is essentially a holodeck like in Star Trek: TNG. The children, Peter and Wendy (yes, this is an homage to Peter Pan), are enamored by Africa and so their bedroom looks out on an African veldt, complete with a pride of lions, essentially hunting yards away from their walls. I believe most people could predict where this one goes, but I found the story fascinating for the fact that it was written in 1951 and accurately descriptive of some of the technological advancements made in the name of efficiency, but amounts to laziness. (The house ties your shoelaces for you.) I really enjoyed this story, and how it ties into the overall wraparound story of The Illustrated Man. I categorize it as a classic because it meets all three of my criteria: longevity, constructing a new paradigm, and exceptional elements.
August 13, 2022
A chilling and unsettling futuristic short story about the dangers of becoming over-dependent on technology.
November 24, 2022
Suddenly remembered having read this a few years back in the process of recovering vivid imagery that made a particularly strong impression on me, and leaving a belated review. My memory is quite faint, as I have not returned to this in a while, but very much due for a reread. The story, like all other Bradbury novels, has a very Ray Bradbury sense about the text. Eccentric, with a touch of odd and exotic imagery here and there, and with a stubborn man who, against others' objection, makes a foolish mistake.
February 11, 2018
4.25*
There's this magical house with a magical nursery that changes into "The Veldt" which is the grassland of Africa.
There's this magical house with a magical nursery that changes into "The Veldt" which is the grassland of Africa.
August 4, 2019
Prophetic in its depiction and, emotionally, quite unsettling; in which children are ready to kill their parents.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2011
When you read a short story like this one, there's no mistaking the reasons Bradbury is regarded as a master storyteller. His stories are at their most powerful when he's writing of children, as here, and such as Dandelion Wine, or All Summer In a Day. He creates a sense of inevitability, even resignation. You can see the ending coming, you even know why it's coming, and which turn you took to get you there. Still it drags you along to the end, and the story lingers, long after you've read the last word.
This theme turns up repeatedly in Bradbury's shorter works, this idea of mind numbing and load lightening technologies destroying our connection as families, in society. As our external lives become more automated, our selves begin to disintegrate, and our natural attachments can become lost. In this story, children use technology to satisfy their every whim. What makes it so chilling is that one can see elements of our current reality in the fantasy. Maybe what makes him the master is his ability to frame our faults as "developed" people into a story that we must hope could never come true.
This theme turns up repeatedly in Bradbury's shorter works, this idea of mind numbing and load lightening technologies destroying our connection as families, in society. As our external lives become more automated, our selves begin to disintegrate, and our natural attachments can become lost. In this story, children use technology to satisfy their every whim. What makes it so chilling is that one can see elements of our current reality in the fantasy. Maybe what makes him the master is his ability to frame our faults as "developed" people into a story that we must hope could never come true.
January 1, 2019
Easily the best of my short story binge. Ray Bradbury never disappoints.
July 17, 2018
This is a creepy little short story. It also asks a question that some might feel is appropriate in today’s world…
In The Veldt (first published in the Saturday Evening Post under a different title, and published under this title in Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man), we are in the far future. Peter and Wendy (the children) live with their parents in an ultra-modern, do-it-all-for-you home. The home cooks, cleans, bathes, nurtures, entertains, etc., all the occupants. The nursery, to which Peter and Wendy appear to be addicted, is a virtual reality room which creates whatever the children chose to imagine. Pretty cool stuff!
Unfortunately, parents George and Lydia find themselves asking what use they are to the children, since the house can do everything better for the children than they can… with one exception: the house never disciplines the children or requires anything of them. Of course, George and Lydia might do so, but – in the spirit of the times/house/technology – don’t feel they can or should. After a time, they begin to worry about the children and the complete lack of relationship between parent and child. Or, more accurately, the subtle animosity displayed by the children toward their parents…
I’ll say no more as I don’t want to spoil the ending, but – suffice it to say – it’s creepy. It is insinuated as only Bradbury can do, but that is where Bradbury excels: Allowing your own mind to fill in the details.
An enjoyable quick read that I recommend to any Bradbury lover!
In The Veldt (first published in the Saturday Evening Post under a different title, and published under this title in Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man), we are in the far future. Peter and Wendy (the children) live with their parents in an ultra-modern, do-it-all-for-you home. The home cooks, cleans, bathes, nurtures, entertains, etc., all the occupants. The nursery, to which Peter and Wendy appear to be addicted, is a virtual reality room which creates whatever the children chose to imagine. Pretty cool stuff!
Unfortunately, parents George and Lydia find themselves asking what use they are to the children, since the house can do everything better for the children than they can… with one exception: the house never disciplines the children or requires anything of them. Of course, George and Lydia might do so, but – in the spirit of the times/house/technology – don’t feel they can or should. After a time, they begin to worry about the children and the complete lack of relationship between parent and child. Or, more accurately, the subtle animosity displayed by the children toward their parents…
I’ll say no more as I don’t want to spoil the ending, but – suffice it to say – it’s creepy. It is insinuated as only Bradbury can do, but that is where Bradbury excels: Allowing your own mind to fill in the details.
An enjoyable quick read that I recommend to any Bradbury lover!
November 22, 2021
Disturbometer : 5 out of 10.
I often find writers from the early previous century's take on what the future would look like humorous. It's almost as if they don't take into account what things actually cost and the economics of scale. Nor do they seem to take into account what lies beyond the realms of possibility from a scientific point of view, which often gives the so-called science fiction from the early and mid - 20th century a magicky, fantastical feel.
The story is fun as a window to the past, even though predictable. Too predictable unfortunately to be as scary as it's reputation claims it to be. Read this as part of a "most disturbing stories ever" list that I discovered during Halloween.
I often find writers from the early previous century's take on what the future would look like humorous. It's almost as if they don't take into account what things actually cost and the economics of scale. Nor do they seem to take into account what lies beyond the realms of possibility from a scientific point of view, which often gives the so-called science fiction from the early and mid - 20th century a magicky, fantastical feel.
The story is fun as a window to the past, even though predictable. Too predictable unfortunately to be as scary as it's reputation claims it to be. Read this as part of a "most disturbing stories ever" list that I discovered during Halloween.
February 24, 2021
This was super creepy from start to finish. It's always fun to see what kind of futuristic technological advances authors come up with in older publications. I think authors love to showcase wonders then immediately warn the reader of it's hidden dangers (I, Robot anyone?). I don't remember reading this before, but upon completion it all sounded way too familiar for it to be my first read of it. This story obviously has a way to stay hidden in your subconscious. If you look up the word "foreshadowing" in the dictionary this story can be found directly underneath.
October 4, 2018
Super classic super sci-fi from the master, Ray Bradbury.
November 22, 2010
4.0 stars. A superb short story from Ray Bradbury and one that is quite a bit "darker" than much of his short fiction. It originally appeared in the Saturday Evening Post in 1950 under the title, "The World the Children Made" and was than included in the anthology
The story is dark, cynical look at the dangers of allowing technology (like TV) raise our children. In the story, two parents install a machine called the “Happylife Home”(think early computer with A.I.) that allows the house to be run by itself. It cooks, cleans and even piuts the children to sleep. As part of the upgrade, the children's nursery becomes a virtual reality room, able to become any setting the children desire.
I won't go any further so as not to disclose any spoilers, except to say that the parents become concerned about the effect of the technology on themselves and their children and trouble follows. A very strong Bradbury story.
The story is dark, cynical look at the dangers of allowing technology (like TV) raise our children. In the story, two parents install a machine called the “Happylife Home”(think early computer with A.I.) that allows the house to be run by itself. It cooks, cleans and even piuts the children to sleep. As part of the upgrade, the children's nursery becomes a virtual reality room, able to become any setting the children desire.
I won't go any further so as not to disclose any spoilers, except to say that the parents become concerned about the effect of the technology on themselves and their children and trouble follows. A very strong Bradbury story.
October 19, 2017
I just read this for my creative writing class. I was very well-written, suspenseful, and included some classic Ray Bradbury themes I've enjoyed in Fahrenheit 451. It was on the other hand rather dark but also sobering when the natural conclusion of letting technology take over your life was portrayed. Just a note that there are some brief descriptions of death, one blasphemy, and two instances of swear words.
September 22, 2021
I want more of horror sci-fi if it's anything like this.
November 20, 2021
When your parents ask what your school is making you read 😳
June 13, 2023
"It's just that the nursery is different now than it was."
Read
April 23, 2008I cannot give this book any stars because I really hated reading it. As a work of literature it was beautiful. I saw everything perfectly drawn up in front of my eyes as if the Story were a picture rather than just words on a page. As I read The Veldt I was horrified. I had to stop reading at times because I was sobbing. When I got to the end I was so sick I ran crying to my dad.
I would never recommend this book to be read, but I cannot honestly say that I regret reading it.
If you are looking for a story that makes you think, that is so beautifully written everything appears in front of your eyes, and if you like Bradbury's works: this is a book for you.
As for how "good" I thought the book was, I am inclined to give it close to 5 stars.
As to how much I liked reading it, I cannot bear to give it one star.
I would never recommend this book to be read, but I cannot honestly say that I regret reading it.
If you are looking for a story that makes you think, that is so beautifully written everything appears in front of your eyes, and if you like Bradbury's works: this is a book for you.
As for how "good" I thought the book was, I am inclined to give it close to 5 stars.
As to how much I liked reading it, I cannot bear to give it one star.
September 9, 2019
read this for english class! it was pretty interesting.
Read
January 10, 2020Creepy and eye-opening. Makes you shudder.
October 17, 2015
I'm in the middle of reading a long book and wanted a break with something Halloween S and creepy and this was short and disturbing. I really like it and think after this book I'm reading I will turn to a couple of really good scary books because that was creepy and it is the season for being disturbd
September 17, 2020
“I wish you were dead!”
“We were, for a long while. Now we’re going to really start living. Instead of being handled and massaged, we’re going to live.”
Well, that was... something--a brilliantly sickening reflective something.
(read for school)
“We were, for a long while. Now we’re going to really start living. Instead of being handled and massaged, we’re going to live.”
Well, that was... something--a brilliantly sickening reflective something.
(read for school)
October 8, 2016
And if you yearn for an exceptionally strange tale...
December 21, 2018
This was the second time I’ve read this - I loved it the first time, and I loved it the second.
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