A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury

[Jim]

A Sound of Thunder (1952) by Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite short stories. I first read it as a young teen & didn't see the end coming at all. It's a time travel story of the finest kind. Most of the links I found for it were hosted by schools.

Just the story can be found here:
http://www.rosaryhs.com/s/1514/images...

The next 2 links have the story, but are preceded by questions & comments about it for students:
http://www.whsd.net/userfiles/1570/Su...
http://mrjost.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/...

Yes, I originally wrote something about 1 short story per month, but they're short & good.

[Buck]

I've read this before, and I think not too long ago. I recognized it from the description. I read it again. Then I tried to figure out where I'd read it before. It had to have been in one of Bradbury's collections. I've read several in the last couple of years. Alas, I can't find it. Oh, well.

It's a good story; enjoyed it.

[Jim]

Bradbury's work has been anthologized so often, it's tough to remember where specific stories are. I could have sworn I'd listened to it as an OTR episode not terribly long ago, but can't seem to find it.

[Cheryl]

I'm sure I've read it from a few different sources myself, but I'm glad of this excuse to read it again. So wonderful & full of wonder....

So, do we believe that small of a change would make that kind of a difference?

I think it's a 'poetic license' example of the possible consequences...

[Jim]

I never thought the specific changes made all that much sense, but they stuck in my head over the years very well, so there has to be something about them that works. Poetic license is a good way to view them, I think. It's more the feel.

I remember the first time I read it & the meaning of the story finally came clear. That was quite a long time ago, too. It was one of those times when I put the book down & just had to take a walk to take it in.

[Cheryl]

The 'what if' of this story is common, of course, in SF, especially in Time Travel. As it happens, I've been listening to some librivox collections lately, and last night stumbled on Crossroads of Destiny by H. Beam Piper. The consequences in that work are more carefully worked out and more plausible, but the story doesn't have the same power that Bradbury's does. Piper wasn't a bad author, but he wasn't a Master, either.

[Jim]

I just finished In Pursuit of Elegance: Why the Best Ideas Have Something Missing & I think Bradbury's writing has that quality. It's simple, doesn't answer all our questions or even ask them. It leaves a lot hanging that engages my mind.

[Cheryl]

Ah, yes, that's a fruitful way of thinking about his writing. (And, of course, about anything, if one is so inclined.)

[Suki]

Buck wrote: "I've read this before, and I think not too long ago. I recognized it from the description. I read it again. Then I tried to figure out where I'd read it before. It had to have been in one of Bradbu..."

I don't know if this helps, but I found it in my copy of Classic Stories 1: The Golden Apples of the Sun/R Is for Rocket. It is from the 'R is for Rocket' portion of the book.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Perfectly sums up the difference between Wells and Bradbury, who happen to be the authors of our first two short story group reads. Both authors write a story about time travel (note: Wells' time travel story is not the one we read); Wells writes a story narrated by a guy who tells a story about another guy who claims to have traveled in time; Bradbury writes about a rich guy who uses a time machine to hunt dinosaurs. Give me Bradbury any day.

Also, and I think this is because of watching movies with my daughter, I kept picturing the dinosaur as Rex from the Toy Story movies.

[Radiantflux]

I am definitely in the Wells camp. :) Baxter's The Time Ships is definitely worth a read. He beautifully captures Wells style, while creating a hard scifi sequel - and has a nice dig at the inherent racism of the original

I'd like to read JG Ballard's take on time travel.

[Buck]

Wells is known for his stories. Bradbury is known for his writing.

[Radiantflux]

But I like Wells' writing. :) Even if that makes me a pleb in some people's eyes...

[Cheryl]

Radiantflux wrote: "But I like Wells' writing. :) Even if that makes me a pleb in some people's eyes..."

Your opinion is entirely justified. Wells certainly can write, even if his style seems dated or awkward or whatever to some ppl. I like it. Now, Bradbury, well, yeah, so rich, so gorgeous... sometimes, though, *too much*, imo.

[Cheryl]

Radiantflux:

I keep considering reading The Time Ships. Is this group likely to do so (or has it)?

Do you have a title in mind for J.G. Ballard?

[Jim]

Cheryl, check out our bookshelves for what we have read. Jo does a fantastic job of keeping them up to date & squared away. As for what we will read... who knows? We generally read books based on 20 year time periods, but have side reads for those that don't win. Anyone is welcome to read a book & discuss it. There are topics for authors or other ones. If you can't find one, let me or Jo know & if we can't suggest a good one, we'll start one.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Buck wrote: "Wells is known for his stories. Bradbury is known for his writing."

I kind of thought Wells was known for his influence on the genre in its infancy. Maybe we mean the same thing? His stories certainly have endured.

But no question I enjoy Bradbury's stories more than Wells; to me they feel more modern and accessible.

Radiantflux wrote: "But I like Wells' writing. :) Even if that makes me a pleb in some people's eyes..."

Not to me. I'm glad you like his stuff. It's not my cuppa tea though. I tried to like him but it's beyond my control, like broccoli.

[Oleksandr]

I’ve read this story in translation like 25 years ago and re-reading showed that my memory of it wasn’t perfect. I liked it, but I liked Time Patrol series of Poul Anderson much more.
For years I assumed that Butterfly effect was named after this story and not due to the entirely different phrase.

[Rosemarie]

I found this story interesting and to the point. Even now, we do not know the result of our smallest thoughtless actions in the present. As for the hunters, didn't they know just how big a T-rex was?

[Ed]

It's a classic, I guess. It's even been parodied by The Simpsons. I had read it before and my opinion hasn't changed: I don't much like it. If I ignore the plot holes, I can enjoy the concept. But, still, it doesn't feel as "poetic" as some of Bradbury's stories. And the way the characters behave makes no sense.

If they really believe (view spoiler)[that accidentally killing one insect could drastically alter the future (which is reasonable) then why would it be ok to kill a T-Rex. Even if it was moments before that animal was going to die anyway, surely that action changes something about which insects are affected. Not to mention the microbes introduced by the travelers themselves.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jim]

I thought the T-Rex was covered by the tree falling on it once it fell, but it's definitely one of those stories where the general feel is the important part & analyzing the details too much can get in the way. A lot of Bradbury's stories are like that. It's one of the reasons The Martian Chronicles never worked well for me.

[Phil]

Bradbury vs. Wells? I guess I'd say I love Bradbury and appreciate Wells. That being said, the last chapter of The Island of Dr. Moreau is evocative and haunting, and The Invisible Man is a thrilling read. It's not as if Bradbury has a monopoly on strong prose.

Maybe a better comparison would be Bradbury's contemporaries like Heinlein, Sturgeon, and the aforementioned Piper.

[John]

From the mechanics of writing view point, Bradbury's A Sound of Thunder is a great example of show vs. tell.

All showing!

Brisk pace, but with plenty of impact, all in 4,000 words.