The Rocket Man

by Ray Bradbury

A short story by Ray Bradbury

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction, Classics, School, Audiobook, Speculative Fiction

24 pages, ebook

First published February 1, 1951

About the author

Ray 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".

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

In retrospect, I probably should not have undertaken reading so many classic anthology collections simultaneously. Poe alone has kept me pensive, pondering every single story, but Bradbury is not so far behind. The Rocket Man is a thought-provoking read that feels ponderously revealing about Bradbury's priorities regarding parenting and his passion for the stars. Here, we have an astronaut torn between the job that takes him to space and the months away from his wife and son that it requires. In a sparsity of language, Bradbury communicates the draw of space exploration and the embarrassment and shame at not being able to justify his passion especially in the face of his family. Written in 1951, as inspiration for Rocket Man, the song by Elton John, it strikes me as incredibly insightful that Bradbury could demonstrate such a driven single-mindedness that must be the focus of such a complicated pursuit. The lyrical prose and brevity of story intrigue in the midst of such a thematic complexity. I love this story and surely one of Bradbury's best.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad and so beautiful. An amazing short story focusing on a family and domestic struggles. Yet it also contains some existential themes and elements of the infinite. One of the best short stories I've ever read. It will punch you in the gut and make you thank it in response.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be Rocket Men

[alex (eric whitacre version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️
rtc

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, atmospheric, and hard-hitting in just a few pages. Bradbury harnesses the awe and fear humans have always had of space and brings it down to a domestic scale. I really hate writing reviews. Please release me from this self-conscious hell. However, the feeling of the majesty of space being concentrated into a domestic environment, but maintaining its sense of awe and largeness...very good

[Nguyên Trang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Đọc truyện này vì có việc liên quan thôi. Truyện ngắn, giả tưởng nhưng lại xúc động quá. Những phi lý quá đáng của cuộc đời. Một bi kịch không dứt.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! Love this short! It was the inspiration for Elton John’s song “Rocket Man.” Great song too!
Read: 3/2/23

Link:
https://metallicman.com/laoban4site/t...

[Courtney Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this short story as part of a Uni subject. My favourite Bradbury short story so far. That ending man. Wow! References to space and the galaxies are pretty too.

[Stephanie Shimerdla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome short story by Bradbury. Powerful and sad and horrific, yet touching on the wonders of space travel as a Rocket Man. Loved it!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This got me. Space is beautiful and terrible, isn’t it?

[Hanzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a mix of some childhood sci-fi fantasy with an understanding of how space travel could affect familial lives. It captures the feeling of being lost between two worlds perfectly.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it wasn't Mars, and it wasn't Venus, and it wasn't Jupiter or Saturn that killed him. We wouldn't have to think of him every time Jupiter or Saturn or Mars lit up the evening sky.

This was different.

His ship had fallen into the sun.

And the sun was big and fiery and merciless, and it was always in the sky and you couldn't get away from it.

[Shakya Vlad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main theme is the struggle between adventure and peace...between space and earth

[Ayman Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presence alone, just being there when they need him, is a great gift a father gives to his family. Nay, it is his responsibility.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 This lovely short story inspired Bernie Taupin to write the dreamy song, "Rocketman".

[Anatoly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rocket Man by Ray Bradbury — Review

The purpose of the short story “The Rocket Man” by Ray Bradbury is to show that people are always faced with a choice. What will a person choose: a family or a job?

This story will be relevant at all times. Every person asks such questions during his life and decides for himself what to do.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://royallib.com/read/bredberi_re...

[Demetrius Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Ray Bradbury's short fiction who can't believe I missed this one. Bradbury, in his wonderful prose, spins a tale from a 14 year old boy's point of view whose father is a Rocket Man. No spoilers. Will only state that the story reminds me of the song Cat's in the Cradle as I believe it has the same theme.
I can recommend this one. Ray Bradbury's short tales are much better than his novel

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am making my way through the short stories of Ray Bradbury and found many gems among them so far. This one really touched me. (And it famously inspired Elton John to write his hit with the same title.) It is set in the future (written in the 1950s) and centers around a family, the husband and father is a space pilot, often gone for months on end, he is torn between his passion and duties, feeling drawn out into space when he is with his family and missing them when he is away, also feeling guilty for leaving them alone for so long.
I love the atmosphere Bradbury creates, he focuses on the people even in futuristic settings. One of many great stories by Bradbury.

[mark propp · Rating 4 out of 5]

i actually didn't quite like this as much as the other stories i read this morning, but everyone else here thinks it's great, so i guess i'll let myself get pressured into giving it a 4. whatever. my stupid trash opinions mean nothing anyway.

[Jan Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rocket Man is more the point of the view of the family left behind than the Rocket Man dad who shows up between missions. I had to listen to Space Oddity by Daivid Bowie and Rocket Man by Elton John.

[catherine ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. Oh no. This was sad.

[Brett Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful but sad short story. It also says much about many families and how they relate to each other. I loved this.

[Harold Maduro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo había leído hace años, pero no recordaba ningún detalle. Lo volví a leer después de ver la película sobre la vida de Elton John.

Excelente cuento corto, muy sentimental, a pesar de ser sci fi, más aún, classic sci fi.

[Ardon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story which inspired the eponymous song.

[Bridget]

I may or may not be falling back into my Ray Bradbury phase from freshman year of high school. Am I complaining? No.

[pan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM HURT

[booksandbaz · Rating 1 out of 5]

had to read this for school. it’s so boring. it has no meaning to me whatsoever. the rocket man sucks.

[Dody B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a recommendation from a friend in BookClub. It was such a great book.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best enjoyed in the canyon lands, under the Milky Way.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a meaningful short for Ray but how the heck does your rocket ship fall into the Sun?