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The Pedestrian
A short story by Ray Bradbury, the prequel to "Fahrenheit 451".
First published in The Reporter, August 7 1951.
First published in The Reporter, August 7 1951.
4 pages, ebook
First published August 7, 1951
23 people are currently reading
2162 people want to read
About the author
Ray Bradbury
2,559 books25.3k 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 298 reviews
November 12, 2025
3.5 stars
This little tale, written in the 1950s, cautions the reader against the dangers of conformity and adhering uncritically to the 'norm.' The Pedestrian presents us with a snapshot of a dystopian world that may seem too simple and monochrome to the modern reader accustomed to more sophisticated and stereoscopic portrayals of this theme in literature and film.
However, it still delivered, despite or perhaps because of the simplicity and clarity of its message.
Leonard Mead is a writer, or rather, he used to be, as today, in the year 2053, hardly anyone reads books. People sit at home watching TV. Mead is an outcast in this new 'dull' world. He loves taking lonely nocturnal walks. The little story culminates when he gets arrested for walking the empty city streets.
Bradbury plays with the notions of "normal" and "acceptable." If the majority considers walking as an abomination, then Mead is a criminal, whether we like it or not. The simple act of walking can get you into trouble when society, for some reason, ostracizes pedestrians and praises the isolation of people.
Likewise, if violence against a certain group or certain individuals is normalized and justified, then a murderer can escape punishment for what they have done.
After reading Bradbury's vision of the future, we can try to imagine what life will be like in 2053. It seems to me that, at its core, this vision won't be much different from the one presented in this short text.
This little tale, written in the 1950s, cautions the reader against the dangers of conformity and adhering uncritically to the 'norm.' The Pedestrian presents us with a snapshot of a dystopian world that may seem too simple and monochrome to the modern reader accustomed to more sophisticated and stereoscopic portrayals of this theme in literature and film.
However, it still delivered, despite or perhaps because of the simplicity and clarity of its message.
Leonard Mead is a writer, or rather, he used to be, as today, in the year 2053, hardly anyone reads books. People sit at home watching TV. Mead is an outcast in this new 'dull' world. He loves taking lonely nocturnal walks. The little story culminates when he gets arrested for walking the empty city streets.
Bradbury plays with the notions of "normal" and "acceptable." If the majority considers walking as an abomination, then Mead is a criminal, whether we like it or not. The simple act of walking can get you into trouble when society, for some reason, ostracizes pedestrians and praises the isolation of people.
Likewise, if violence against a certain group or certain individuals is normalized and justified, then a murderer can escape punishment for what they have done.
After reading Bradbury's vision of the future, we can try to imagine what life will be like in 2053. It seems to me that, at its core, this vision won't be much different from the one presented in this short text.
June 23, 2018
Ray Bradbury wrote a story about being picked up by the cops for walking. Just walking. I had a not-dissimilar experience, I was also picked up for just walking. He wrote about it much better than me. Free to read here. My story in comment 4 Behind Bars: Surviving Prison.
The police sometimes pick on people for no reason whatsoever but paranoia on their part, society, people who don't want to see anyone who doesn't look like them or act like them and want the police to 'clean them away'.
In the next comment, msg 5 Laura saw the synchronicity and gave me a link to the story. That's how I like recommendations. Ones that really relate. Thanks Laura.
The police sometimes pick on people for no reason whatsoever but paranoia on their part, society, people who don't want to see anyone who doesn't look like them or act like them and want the police to 'clean them away'.
In the next comment, msg 5 Laura saw the synchronicity and gave me a link to the story. That's how I like recommendations. Ones that really relate. Thanks Laura.
December 20, 2012
We had to read The Pedestrian in English class a couple of weeks back. Since normally the teacher prints out a few passages of long books, what I didn't expect was to come home and google this name, only to find out that those small two pages he gave us was the entire novella!
Despite being incredibly short, The Pedestrian definitely stirred something in me. Imagine this - someone fifty years prior to today describing what the world would be like in a hundred years time. The most ironic part? Sometimes it feels as though it's exactly like that. Walking down the empty streets at nighttime, staring at the flickering illuminations as they dance on the pulled over curtains, wondering what people are doing. Not only being alone, but feeling lonely in a world where nobody seems to share your values.
I've аlso got to mention that one of my favourite quotes is from this short story.
"... the multicolored or grey lights touching their faces, but never really touching them .."
Overall, this was a quite enjoyable and thought-provoking read, if I do say so myself.
Despite being incredibly short, The Pedestrian definitely stirred something in me. Imagine this - someone fifty years prior to today describing what the world would be like in a hundred years time. The most ironic part? Sometimes it feels as though it's exactly like that. Walking down the empty streets at nighttime, staring at the flickering illuminations as they dance on the pulled over curtains, wondering what people are doing. Not only being alone, but feeling lonely in a world where nobody seems to share your values.
I've аlso got to mention that one of my favourite quotes is from this short story.
"... the multicolored or grey lights touching their faces, but never really touching them .."
Overall, this was a quite enjoyable and thought-provoking read, if I do say so myself.
November 15, 2020
A short snippet, peering into A.D. 2052, mid twenty first century. A dystopian future world where there are no writers, taking a walk at night is considered insane and the people are confined to their houses, staring at screens....
August 21, 2018
Bir Ray Bradbury uzmanı olduğumu söyleyemem. Onun dünyasına sadece bir roman (Fahrenheit 451) ve bir öykü kitabı ile girdim (Son Yaya). Çıkarımlarım yanlı ve yanlış olabilir ama bu okumalar, bana Ray Bradbury’nin bilim kurgu veya fantastik hikâyeler yazarken işin insan tarafına daha çok eğildiğini gösterdi. Bradbury bize olağandışı bir hikâye anlatırken insanı insan kılan temel hislerin yok oluşundan doğan dehşeti daha iyi aktarabilmek için bu yolu kullanıyor bana göre.
Son Yaya adlı öykü kitabında da durum böyle. Kitabı oluşturan beş öykü, bilim kurgu öyküsünden çok korku öykülerine benziyor. Uzunlukları 10-20 sayfa arasında değişen bu kısa öykülerin hepsi de çok etkileyici. Her öykünün son sözcüğüne geldiğinizde gözlerinizi tavana dikip, aldığınız derin nefesi yavaş yavaş vererek derin düşüncelere dalıyorsunuz.
Öykülerin diline gelirsek: Çok güzel benzetmelerle etkileyici bir dil kuruyor Bradbury. Hassas, duygulara yönelik bir dil bu. Korku öykülerinde alışık olmadığımız nitelikte edebi bir dil. Bu dil hikâye bakımından etkileyici olan öyküleri bir kat daha etkileyici kılıyor.
Bu güzel kitabın çevirisinin de harika olduğunu, kitabın edebi üslubunun layıkıyla Türkçe’ye aktarıldığını belirtmeliyim. Birçok bilim kurgu eseri çeviren İrma Dolanoğlu bu türe hâkim belli ki. Kendisine bin minnet buradan.
Öyküleri teker teker ele almak istiyorum. Okuyacakların keyfini kaçırmamak için mümkün olduğu kadar az bilgi verip öykülerin bana düşündürdüklerine yoğunlaşacağım:
Sis Düdüğü: Bir deniz fenerinde çalışan McDunn ile devasa bir deniz yaratığı arasında geçiyor bu öykü. Yoğun bir yalnızlığı anlatan bu güzel öykü, kocaman bir yaratıkla insanın yalnızlıkla baş edemediği anlardaki çaresizliğini vurguluyor.
Küçük Katil: Bir annenin bebeğine karşı duyduğu yoğun korkuyu anlatıyor bu irkiltici öykü. Bu korkuların temeli kadının kafasında yarattığı kuruntular mı yoksa şeytani bir gücün eline geçen küçük bir bebeğin yaptığı şeyler mi? Öykünün sonuna kadar bunu öğrenemiyorsunuz. Annenin hislerini çok iyi anlatıyor Bradbury. Büyük bir merakla ve diken üstünde okuyorsunuz öyküyü.
Tırpan: Yoksul bir aile güzel bir çiftlik evini şans eseri buluyor ve oraya yerleştikten sonra aile reisi Drew Erickson’ın başına korkunç bir olay geliyor. Drew Erickson, evin önceki sahibinden acı bir miras alıyor. Tanrı inancına ve kadere dair derin bir öykü. İnsanı dehşet içinde bırakıyor.
Uzun Yağmur: Venüs’e iniş yapan dört kişilik bir ekip yoğun ve bezdirici bir yağmur altında yürüyorlar. Amaçları Venüs’te bazı bölgelere inşa edilmiş Güneş Tapınaklarından birine ulaşıp dinlenmek. Ama yağmur o kadar şiddetli ki mürettebat aklını yitirmek üzere. Sonuna Güneş Tapınağı’na ulaşıyorlar mı söyleyemem ama Bradbury’nin insanın en güçlü duygusu olan umuda olan yaklaşımına hayran kaldım. Adamlarının her birinin yağmura karşı gösterdikleri tavrı derin bir biçimde aktarmış Bradbury, kendinizi o ormanda, çamurun içinde bitkin ve bıkkın hissediyorsunuz. Bu öykü ayrıca Resimli Adam adlı derlemede de yer almaktadır.
Son Yaya: Kimsenin sokaklarda yürümediği bir gelecekte (M. S. 2052) akşamları yürüyüşe çıkıp düşüncelere dalan Bay Leonard Mead’in başından geçenler anlatılıyor bu öyküde. Onun tek isteği yürümek ve düşünmek; ama 2052’de herkes dev ekranlı televizyonları başında diziler, filmler, yarışma programları izleyerek hiçbir konuda düşünmeden yaşarken Bay Leonard Mead’in yaptığı bu masum edim, devlet için çok tehlikeli. Fahrenheit 451’in dünyasına benzer bir dünya sunuyor bu öykü. Ülkemizinin içinde bulunduğu yasaklar ortamında bu öykünün çağrıştırdıkları beni çok düşündürüyor.
Son Yaya adlı öykü kitabında da durum böyle. Kitabı oluşturan beş öykü, bilim kurgu öyküsünden çok korku öykülerine benziyor. Uzunlukları 10-20 sayfa arasında değişen bu kısa öykülerin hepsi de çok etkileyici. Her öykünün son sözcüğüne geldiğinizde gözlerinizi tavana dikip, aldığınız derin nefesi yavaş yavaş vererek derin düşüncelere dalıyorsunuz.
Öykülerin diline gelirsek: Çok güzel benzetmelerle etkileyici bir dil kuruyor Bradbury. Hassas, duygulara yönelik bir dil bu. Korku öykülerinde alışık olmadığımız nitelikte edebi bir dil. Bu dil hikâye bakımından etkileyici olan öyküleri bir kat daha etkileyici kılıyor.
Bu güzel kitabın çevirisinin de harika olduğunu, kitabın edebi üslubunun layıkıyla Türkçe’ye aktarıldığını belirtmeliyim. Birçok bilim kurgu eseri çeviren İrma Dolanoğlu bu türe hâkim belli ki. Kendisine bin minnet buradan.
Öyküleri teker teker ele almak istiyorum. Okuyacakların keyfini kaçırmamak için mümkün olduğu kadar az bilgi verip öykülerin bana düşündürdüklerine yoğunlaşacağım:
Sis Düdüğü: Bir deniz fenerinde çalışan McDunn ile devasa bir deniz yaratığı arasında geçiyor bu öykü. Yoğun bir yalnızlığı anlatan bu güzel öykü, kocaman bir yaratıkla insanın yalnızlıkla baş edemediği anlardaki çaresizliğini vurguluyor.
Küçük Katil: Bir annenin bebeğine karşı duyduğu yoğun korkuyu anlatıyor bu irkiltici öykü. Bu korkuların temeli kadının kafasında yarattığı kuruntular mı yoksa şeytani bir gücün eline geçen küçük bir bebeğin yaptığı şeyler mi? Öykünün sonuna kadar bunu öğrenemiyorsunuz. Annenin hislerini çok iyi anlatıyor Bradbury. Büyük bir merakla ve diken üstünde okuyorsunuz öyküyü.
Tırpan: Yoksul bir aile güzel bir çiftlik evini şans eseri buluyor ve oraya yerleştikten sonra aile reisi Drew Erickson’ın başına korkunç bir olay geliyor. Drew Erickson, evin önceki sahibinden acı bir miras alıyor. Tanrı inancına ve kadere dair derin bir öykü. İnsanı dehşet içinde bırakıyor.
Uzun Yağmur: Venüs’e iniş yapan dört kişilik bir ekip yoğun ve bezdirici bir yağmur altında yürüyorlar. Amaçları Venüs’te bazı bölgelere inşa edilmiş Güneş Tapınaklarından birine ulaşıp dinlenmek. Ama yağmur o kadar şiddetli ki mürettebat aklını yitirmek üzere. Sonuna Güneş Tapınağı’na ulaşıyorlar mı söyleyemem ama Bradbury’nin insanın en güçlü duygusu olan umuda olan yaklaşımına hayran kaldım. Adamlarının her birinin yağmura karşı gösterdikleri tavrı derin bir biçimde aktarmış Bradbury, kendinizi o ormanda, çamurun içinde bitkin ve bıkkın hissediyorsunuz. Bu öykü ayrıca Resimli Adam adlı derlemede de yer almaktadır.
Son Yaya: Kimsenin sokaklarda yürümediği bir gelecekte (M. S. 2052) akşamları yürüyüşe çıkıp düşüncelere dalan Bay Leonard Mead’in başından geçenler anlatılıyor bu öyküde. Onun tek isteği yürümek ve düşünmek; ama 2052’de herkes dev ekranlı televizyonları başında diziler, filmler, yarışma programları izleyerek hiçbir konuda düşünmeden yaşarken Bay Leonard Mead’in yaptığı bu masum edim, devlet için çok tehlikeli. Fahrenheit 451’in dünyasına benzer bir dünya sunuyor bu öykü. Ülkemizinin içinde bulunduğu yasaklar ortamında bu öykünün çağrıştırdıkları beni çok düşündürüyor.
December 13, 2022
Here's a cool story that shows you everything without telling you anything.
I love it. Super short, with nothing strange in its appearance. Hell, nothing truly even happens except a complete divorce from nature and reality.
What?
It's just a nighttime stroll. Nothing strange at all. Except, this culture, now so very much like our own, where we fear everything right outside our doors, is now entirely locked within. A nighttime stroll is easily a punishable offense.
Well, it already is if you have darker skin.
Come to think about it, we're almost already here in Bradbury's dystopia. Or perhaps, we were always just one step away...
I love it. Super short, with nothing strange in its appearance. Hell, nothing truly even happens except a complete divorce from nature and reality.
What?
It's just a nighttime stroll. Nothing strange at all. Except, this culture, now so very much like our own, where we fear everything right outside our doors, is now entirely locked within. A nighttime stroll is easily a punishable offense.
Well, it already is if you have darker skin.
Come to think about it, we're almost already here in Bradbury's dystopia. Or perhaps, we were always just one step away...
January 9, 2017
Published in 1951, two years before his most-famed work, 'Fahrenheit 451,' the themes here will be very familiar to anyone who's read that book. The short story also makes very clear what Bradbury meant when he made his controversial statement that his novel was not about the dangers of censorship but about the evils of television. The content of this story is simple: a solitary man takes his habitual evening walk through his neighborhood, passing house after dark house full of people sitting and watching TV. No one else is on the streets - and the man is stopped and arrested by an unmanned police vehicle for his suspicious and deviant behavior.
The message is precisely the same as that of 'Fahrenheit 451' and it's stated even more clearly here. Yes, the faceless government forces are cracking down on "regressive" and anti-social behavior. But the reason is because that is what the masses want. The man we see here - an unemployed writer - has cultivated skills that are undesired by his society. He is single; no one even wants him as a partner. Every single other person in his neighborhood is happy to eschew personal contact. As in the novel, the oppressive dystopian government that we glimpse here is actually doing exactly what the majority of the people wants - and that is the truly frightening aspect of the prediction. The danger is not necessarily that a future society will be crushed by forces from above - but that a future society will no longer see value in intellectual freedom and the diversity of complex and dissenting expression of opinions.
Personally, I don't think that TV is all that bad. It certainly CAN be bad, but it doesn't have to be. It's just another media format, and is perfectly able to convey worthwhile content. I would be more in agreement with the noted TV journalist Edward R. Murrow, who, not long after this story (and Fahrenheit 451) was published, in 1957, said: "It might be helpful if those who control television and radio would sit still for a bit and attempt to discover what it is they care about. If television and radio are to be used to entertain all of the people all of the time, then we have come perilously close to discovering the real opiate of the people."
However, while I might not agree that TV is the danger, I certainly do agree with Bradbury's core idea regarding the dangers inherent in the dumbing down of society and the waning interest in intellectual pursuits in general.
The message is precisely the same as that of 'Fahrenheit 451' and it's stated even more clearly here. Yes, the faceless government forces are cracking down on "regressive" and anti-social behavior. But the reason is because that is what the masses want. The man we see here - an unemployed writer - has cultivated skills that are undesired by his society. He is single; no one even wants him as a partner. Every single other person in his neighborhood is happy to eschew personal contact. As in the novel, the oppressive dystopian government that we glimpse here is actually doing exactly what the majority of the people wants - and that is the truly frightening aspect of the prediction. The danger is not necessarily that a future society will be crushed by forces from above - but that a future society will no longer see value in intellectual freedom and the diversity of complex and dissenting expression of opinions.
Personally, I don't think that TV is all that bad. It certainly CAN be bad, but it doesn't have to be. It's just another media format, and is perfectly able to convey worthwhile content. I would be more in agreement with the noted TV journalist Edward R. Murrow, who, not long after this story (and Fahrenheit 451) was published, in 1957, said: "It might be helpful if those who control television and radio would sit still for a bit and attempt to discover what it is they care about. If television and radio are to be used to entertain all of the people all of the time, then we have come perilously close to discovering the real opiate of the people."
However, while I might not agree that TV is the danger, I certainly do agree with Bradbury's core idea regarding the dangers inherent in the dumbing down of society and the waning interest in intellectual pursuits in general.
January 7, 2026
ترجمهی جدیدم پیشدرآمد کتاب مشهور و بینظیرِ «فارنهایت 451» هست که در اون تنها مرد شهر که شبها بهجای تماشای تلویزیون قدم میزنه، بابت این حرکت عجیب و غیرعادیش دستگیر میشه.
فایل ترجمههام رو توی این کانال تلگرام میذارم:
https://t.me/TranslationZahra
«فارنهایت 451» و ارتباطش با این داستان
فارنهایت 451 مهمترین اثر ری بردبریه و جهانی رو نشون میده که در اون کتاب خوندن ممنوعه. جایی در کتاب، کلاریس میگه: «عموم یه بار دستگیر شد. بهت گفته بودم؟ چون داشت قدم میزد. وای، ما خیلی عجیبیم.»
و داستان این عمو اینجا تعریف شده.
نویسنده -ری بردبری- در تولد 80 سالگیش در مصاحبهای میگه: «پنجاه سال پیش یه شب داشتم با دوستم توی بلوار ویلشایر قدم میزدم. یه ماشین پلیس ایستاد و پلیس ازمون پرس و جو کرد که چرا داریم روی پیادهرو قدم میزنیم. گفتم داریم یه پا جلوی اون یکی پا میذاریم. خب جواب اشتباهی بود و مامور پلیس خیلی بهمون مشکوک شد که جایی که هیچ رهگذری نبود قدم میزدیم... بهمون گفت بریم خونه و دیگه قدم نزنیم. ب��د رفتم خونه و داستان «عابر پیاده» رو نوشتم که آغاز «فارنهایت 451» میشه. همهش بهخاطر این که یه مامور پلیس جلوم رو گرفت. شکر خدا بهخاطر اون مامور.»
داستانهای پادآرمانشهری و ایران
اهمیت این داستانها برای ما از این لحاظه که شرایطی رو که توش زندگی میکنیم برامون آشناییزدایی میکنه و میبینیم محدودیتهای ما چقدر در حقیقت احمقانهست. قطعاً دور از ذهن و احمقانهست که کسی بابت راه رفتن دستگیر بشه، نه؟ خب، دور از ذهن و احمقانه نیست که کسی بابت آموزش تهیهی «کتلت» دستگیر بشه و رستورانش رو پلمب کنن؟ :))) بهش فکر کن، احمقانه نیست که حقوق و آزادیهای انسانی و اولیهت – حق حیات، حق بدن، حق پوشش، حق بیان، حق کار و رفاه و.... – رو از دست بدی؟
این داستانها برای ما غریبه نیستند.
ولی این رو میگم، در جامعهی بردبری صرفاً «متفاوت بودن» عجیب و خطرناکه و به این ترتیب رفتارهای عادی بار امنیتی پیدا میکنه. پس شاید از این لحاظ داستان برای ما آشنا نباشه، چون اونجا یک نفر توی خیابونه و اینجا هزاران نفر.
فایل ترجمههام رو توی این کانال تلگرام میذارم:
https://t.me/TranslationZahra
«فارنهایت 451» و ارتباطش با این داستان
فارنهایت 451 مهمترین اثر ری بردبریه و جهانی رو نشون میده که در اون کتاب خوندن ممنوعه. جایی در کتاب، کلاریس میگه: «عموم یه بار دستگیر شد. بهت گفته بودم؟ چون داشت قدم میزد. وای، ما خیلی عجیبیم.»
و داستان این عمو اینجا تعریف شده.
نویسنده -ری بردبری- در تولد 80 سالگیش در مصاحبهای میگه: «پنجاه سال پیش یه شب داشتم با دوستم توی بلوار ویلشایر قدم میزدم. یه ماشین پلیس ایستاد و پلیس ازمون پرس و جو کرد که چرا داریم روی پیادهرو قدم میزنیم. گفتم داریم یه پا جلوی اون یکی پا میذاریم. خب جواب اشتباهی بود و مامور پلیس خیلی بهمون مشکوک شد که جایی که هیچ رهگذری نبود قدم میزدیم... بهمون گفت بریم خونه و دیگه قدم نزنیم. ب��د رفتم خونه و داستان «عابر پیاده» رو نوشتم که آغاز «فارنهایت 451» میشه. همهش بهخاطر این که یه مامور پلیس جلوم رو گرفت. شکر خدا بهخاطر اون مامور.»
داستانهای پادآرمانشهری و ایران
اهمیت این داستانها برای ما از این لحاظه که شرایطی رو که توش زندگی میکنیم برامون آشناییزدایی میکنه و میبینیم محدودیتهای ما چقدر در حقیقت احمقانهست. قطعاً دور از ذهن و احمقانهست که کسی بابت راه رفتن دستگیر بشه، نه؟ خب، دور از ذهن و احمقانه نیست که کسی بابت آموزش تهیهی «کتلت» دستگیر بشه و رستورانش رو پلمب کنن؟ :))) بهش فکر کن، احمقانه نیست که حقوق و آزادیهای انسانی و اولیهت – حق حیات، حق بدن، حق پوشش، حق بیان، حق کار و رفاه و.... – رو از دست بدی؟
این داستانها برای ما غریبه نیستند.
ولی این رو میگم، در جامعهی بردبری صرفاً «متفاوت بودن» عجیب و خطرناکه و به این ترتیب رفتارهای عادی بار امنیتی پیدا میکنه. پس شاید از این لحاظ داستان برای ما آشنا نباشه، چون اونجا یک نفر توی خیابونه و اینجا هزاران نفر.
July 7, 2018
World gone crazy. Unfortunately, all of this original dystopian novels written as a warning to the future have gone unheeded by the masses and taken as a “how to” by those in power. I love Bradbury, but this one was slightly one note to me. Not bad and a quick read. 3 stars.
July 3, 2018
Falling in love with his prose everyday.
June 12, 2025
thanks now I’ll read the actual book bc this prequel ate a little too hard
June 16, 2021
Amazing - that Ray Bradbury could say so much with so few words - the day when it becomes a crime just to take a walk: keep telling yourself 'it's just science-fiction."
March 8, 2019
Sometimes it's interesting to read old science fiction to see what the author got wrong... or right. In the case of "The Pedestrian", it's a mixed bag. Bradbury nails the social isolation and addiction factors that can go along with technology. In this story, only one man is out and about after dark taking walks; everyone else is closed up tight in their homes, watching TV. (The author probably didn't even anticipate how things like phones and other devices would isolate us from each other even more than television!) There's what appears to be a self-driving car. On the other hand, though, there are weird references to black-and-white TV, phonograph static, and punch-cards that run AI... so the story is very much a product of its time.
I'm not sure I entirely understand Leonard's motivations for his actions (or lack thereof). Was it to show how bad the dystopia has gotten that he feels resistance would be futile? Or does it just not occur to him to fight back? (I'm sure English teachers would have a field day getting students to analyze this one.) I'm reading more for enjoyment, though, and in this case, to see how the technological imagination of the author has held up over the years.
While I didn't love this story, I didn't hate it, either. It's purely average for me.
I'm not sure I entirely understand Leonard's motivations for his actions (or lack thereof). Was it to show how bad the dystopia has gotten that he feels resistance would be futile? Or does it just not occur to him to fight back? (I'm sure English teachers would have a field day getting students to analyze this one.) I'm reading more for enjoyment, though, and in this case, to see how the technological imagination of the author has held up over the years.
While I didn't love this story, I didn't hate it, either. It's purely average for me.
December 24, 2020
Well, that was boring and weird.
I read this for English class and considering it was like a five-minute read, I don't have much to say. It's supposed to be dystopian but I can see this whole thing happening this day and age...
that says something about something but I don't know what and my brain is tired.
the moral of the story is sometimes people do stuff and stuff happens the end
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I read this for English class and considering it was like a five-minute read, I don't have much to say. It's supposed to be dystopian but I can see this whole thing happening this day and age...
that says something about something but I don't know what and my brain is tired.
the moral of the story is sometimes people do stuff and stuff happens the end
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May 9, 2012
This is a ridiculously short novella, but have checked it nonetheless, as it quite simply conveys so much during its few pages - something that can be given interesting perspectives in the world of today.
Basically, it's a dystopia where everyone watches TV. With everyone at home, there's no need for police, so the state has reduced the amount of police cars from 3 to 1.
Now, our protagonist has as his favorite pastime to walk around. Just walk. He encounters the police car, and well, no surprise there as to the consequences of being a complete oddball compared to the rest of society..
I really enjoy how this explores the same areas as Fahrenheit 451. It's not per se what happens when we stop reading, but it's the same principle: what happens when we stop intellectually stimulate ourselves?
I think it's a scary thought, and although this short story doesn't really make an attempt at a "realistic" dystopia (at least in 2012), it provides great stuff for thought at just two pages.
Added to this, there are a range of other aspects that could be considered when it's about people watching television. Isolation, lack of socializing - all moving towards the machines that we could potentially become. And that sure as hell is intriguing.
Basically, it's a dystopia where everyone watches TV. With everyone at home, there's no need for police, so the state has reduced the amount of police cars from 3 to 1.
Now, our protagonist has as his favorite pastime to walk around. Just walk. He encounters the police car, and well, no surprise there as to the consequences of being a complete oddball compared to the rest of society..
I really enjoy how this explores the same areas as Fahrenheit 451. It's not per se what happens when we stop reading, but it's the same principle: what happens when we stop intellectually stimulate ourselves?
I think it's a scary thought, and although this short story doesn't really make an attempt at a "realistic" dystopia (at least in 2012), it provides great stuff for thought at just two pages.
Added to this, there are a range of other aspects that could be considered when it's about people watching television. Isolation, lack of socializing - all moving towards the machines that we could potentially become. And that sure as hell is intriguing.
April 22, 2022
this ending was bullshit stupid cop but it was written very well. i didn't like how ray was saying leonards full name like once is fine but everytime you addressed him? why? other than that i think this was written well and a quick little short story if you want to get mad at cops :) CAUSE LEONARD WAS DOING NOTHING IF HE HAD A GUN MAYBE BUT HES JUST WALKING BITCH WALKING
May 26, 2022
The Pedestrian paints a world in which all people (except for the main character, apparently) are obsessed with television and no socializing occurs. The main character is arrested for taking an evening walk because he isn't behaving as everyone else is.
January 18, 2014
Based on an actual event in Bradbury's young life in Los Angeles (the main character's address is that of Bradbury in Venice, CA), this is a very poignant short story of an all-too-real, now-present/near-future time when walking the sidewalks is nigh-illegal while people instead should be staring at their TV screens all night long in their mausoleum-like homes:
"The tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching their expressionless faces but never really touching them."
This short story was a predecessor of "The Fireman" which itself was the "draft" of "Fahrenheit 451". "The Pedestrian" has several echoes of F451 within, such as "Magazines and books didn't sell any more," leaving the writer, Leonard Mead, out of work. Also, several very similar linguistic phrases are also found in both Pedestrian & F451, such as "buckling sidewalks" and the tomb-like description of TV-worshiping homes.
A short but powerful work. Bradbury was a prophet of the media-addiction-gone-awry time that has now already come.
Very recommended.
"The tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching their expressionless faces but never really touching them."
This short story was a predecessor of "The Fireman" which itself was the "draft" of "Fahrenheit 451". "The Pedestrian" has several echoes of F451 within, such as "Magazines and books didn't sell any more," leaving the writer, Leonard Mead, out of work. Also, several very similar linguistic phrases are also found in both Pedestrian & F451, such as "buckling sidewalks" and the tomb-like description of TV-worshiping homes.
A short but powerful work. Bradbury was a prophet of the media-addiction-gone-awry time that has now already come.
Very recommended.
March 19, 2020
Ray Bradbury is one of my favourite authors and every book of his, though I haven't read many, was perfect. This one was one of the best stories I've ever read and I loved every bit of it. There is only one person in it, and he is the kind of person you want to put in your pocket and save from all the harshness of the world. The background people are flat, and the robot character is downright creepy.
The main character's name is Leonard Mead. He is adorable and very lovable. He's the kind of person who enjoys the little things, appreciates every second, and finds beauty in everything that surrounds him. This story was presented in my English Literature course, along with four others. When I read this one, I knew I would be working with it even before I read the others. It just appealed to me so strongly, even though the ending was not a happily-ever-after.
I can't say too much more about the story because it is only three pages long. Go read it, people. I'm telling you, it's totally worth it, especially in this day and age.
https://archive.org/details/Pedestria...
The main character's name is Leonard Mead. He is adorable and very lovable. He's the kind of person who enjoys the little things, appreciates every second, and finds beauty in everything that surrounds him. This story was presented in my English Literature course, along with four others. When I read this one, I knew I would be working with it even before I read the others. It just appealed to me so strongly, even though the ending was not a happily-ever-after.
I can't say too much more about the story because it is only three pages long. Go read it, people. I'm telling you, it's totally worth it, especially in this day and age.
https://archive.org/details/Pedestria...
September 19, 2019
There was absolutely nothing to this story. A guy walked around, had an odd way of thinking about and looking at the world around him. A world of which wasn't clear till near the last page. Nothing about this story worked. It read like a first draft, the seed of an idea. An idea, that admittedly could have been good if Bradbury had waited until it was finished to put it out.
October 9, 2020
A future where society has become obsessed with the media screen over living their lives.
It's a bit frightening to see how on the mark Bradbury's view of the future is.
An excellent reading by Justin Thomas James
It's a bit frightening to see how on the mark Bradbury's view of the future is.
An excellent reading by Justin Thomas James
April 8, 2019
#abrilcontosmil
May 8, 2025
yuuuuuh
January 24, 2021
Good insight and connection to Fahrenheit 451
October 1, 2018
Ray Bradbury seems to be so involved with hatred for new technology that he had to write not one but several stories about it. and they are all so wildly inaccurate as to be almost funny. literally "old man yells at cloud"
June 10, 2024
This one is definitely dated. The prose is solid and acts as a good hook, but once you get to the 'TV bad' stuff, that's like, it. That's the whole idea. Maybe this held some power back in the day, but if I wanted this story now, I could just go talk to my mother.
October 23, 2025
had to read for english class!!!!
I really loved the autumnal imagery, but that literary analysis did make me want to die, sooo 3 stars (yes i read for more than the vibes, but i am a teenage girl and this is a book review. touch grass)
I really loved the autumnal imagery, but that literary analysis did make me want to die, sooo 3 stars (yes i read for more than the vibes, but i am a teenage girl and this is a book review. touch grass)
December 22, 2024
It is 2053 and a man is taking a walk in the evening. No one else is around, since no one else walks anywhere any more. Another in the New Scientist set of sci fi short stories, and this one is a sort of prequel to Fahrenheit 451, which we read in book club.
December 18, 2025
The Pedestrian is a short story prequel to Farenheit 451. It is atmospheric and subtly tragic
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