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Zero Hour
Mink and the neighborhood kids are hard at work outside all day, playing a game called Invasion. Or at least that's what her mom thinks. Throughout the day, the mother continues to have strange encounters with Mink as she talks about her friend, Drill.
Classic Short Story by Ray Bradbury, the master of science fiction whose imaginative and lyrical evocations of the future reflected both the optimism and the anxieties of his own postwar America.
Classic Short Story by Ray Bradbury, the master of science fiction whose imaginative and lyrical evocations of the future reflected both the optimism and the anxieties of his own postwar America.
First published August 1, 1947
About the author
Ray Bradbury
2,580 books25.8k 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 59 reviews
January 24, 2023
All the kids in the neighborhood are playing a strange game called invasion.
They are all enjoying playing the game. Is there anything sinister or creepy behind the game played by the kids?
Ray Bradbury discusses an important topic in this book. He tells us the importance of parents monitoring children's games. This book might be short and creepy, but it still manages to give us an exciting reading experience.
They are all enjoying playing the game. Is there anything sinister or creepy behind the game played by the kids?
“Why is it children hate water? No matter what age you live in, children hate water behind the ears."
Ray Bradbury discusses an important topic in this book. He tells us the importance of parents monitoring children's games. This book might be short and creepy, but it still manages to give us an exciting reading experience.
August 16, 2023
A delightfully creepy story, just a bit, that begins with childlike innocence and then gets less and less innocent and more and more creepy as the story goes on. A delicious little creep indulgence and it’s not even October: “Mom, is it October yet??!!”
I didn’t even know there was such a Bradbury. Ms. Perrrault does a great job reading it gratis on YouTube. A 3 or 4 depending on who you are and which planet you’re from.
[“Zero Hour" by Ray Bradbury. (This story is located in The Illustrated Man.) If you play Shannon Perreault's dramatic reading of "Zero Hour" it will take 23 minutes.]
https://youtu.be/bfZJnVoYbFQ
I didn’t even know there was such a Bradbury. Ms. Perrrault does a great job reading it gratis on YouTube. A 3 or 4 depending on who you are and which planet you’re from.
[“Zero Hour" by Ray Bradbury. (This story is located in The Illustrated Man.) If you play Shannon Perreault's dramatic reading of "Zero Hour" it will take 23 minutes.]
https://youtu.be/bfZJnVoYbFQ
March 31, 2021
"Niños, niños. Niños, y amor, y odio, todo junto. A veces los niños te quieren, a veces te odian, todo en un instante. Qué raros son. ¿Olvidarán o perdonarán los azotes, y las duras y estrictas voces de mando?
¿Cómo, se preguntó, puede uno olvidar y perdonar a esos seres de allá arriba, a esos altos y tontos dictadores?"
La escena cotidiana del estereotipo de familia de esa época. El padre en el trabajo, la madre encargándose de la casa y los niños jugando e interactuando en el parque. En ese contexto se teje lo escabroso del asunto. los niños son la herramienta de seres completamente ajenos a esa cotidianidad... Lo inocente que se vuelve inquietante... y comienza la cuenta regresiva...
Algunos lugares comunes en la obra de Bradbury, pero no por eso menos genial. La simpleza y la efectividad.
¿Cómo, se preguntó, puede uno olvidar y perdonar a esos seres de allá arriba, a esos altos y tontos dictadores?"
La escena cotidiana del estereotipo de familia de esa época. El padre en el trabajo, la madre encargándose de la casa y los niños jugando e interactuando en el parque. En ese contexto se teje lo escabroso del asunto. los niños son la herramienta de seres completamente ajenos a esa cotidianidad... Lo inocente que se vuelve inquietante... y comienza la cuenta regresiva...
Algunos lugares comunes en la obra de Bradbury, pero no por eso menos genial. La simpleza y la efectividad.
April 30, 2021
So just to make it clear, this was an audiobook dramatisation of Ray Bradbury's short story Zero Hour. The recording comes from the 1950s (and 60s) radio series X Minus One.
Children across the country are all playing a new game called Invasion, they all seemed to be very involved and as what they call Zero Hour approaches , the parents begin to get worried that something may actually be about to happen.
Given that it is only 15 minutes long, it is quite atmospheric and a great story, especially if one is a fan of Golden Age sci-fi.
Children across the country are all playing a new game called Invasion, they all seemed to be very involved and as what they call Zero Hour approaches , the parents begin to get worried that something may actually be about to happen.
Given that it is only 15 minutes long, it is quite atmospheric and a great story, especially if one is a fan of Golden Age sci-fi.
January 10, 2023
Zero Hour by Ray Bradbury has to be one of the most horrifying and chilling stories in the Illustrated Man anthology. Zero Hour is generally considered the scheduled moment, counted-down, for the beginning of a major event (like that of a military action). The children throughout the neighborhood are all playing a game called Invasion. The game seems to be practice for an actual event, but only those under 11 are allowed to play the game. When Mrs. Morris overhears her daughter's interactions with the neighborhood kids, she decides to inquire about the game that Mink is whispering about. Mink is forthright in some ways and evasive in others, and although she rightly decides to investigate further, Mrs. Morris is a typical busy Mom and children's games get forgotten until things become serious, horrific, and significant. This was an early Bradbury story, but to my mind, one of his best. Classic because it fits all three of my criteria.
June 27, 2022
Ray Bradbury has a way of creating an impact with his short stories. This one, in particular, uses sci-fi to show the stark contrast between a child's mind and an adult's—logic vs. imagination.
December 21, 2018
A bit creepy but also a bit predictable. Then again, anything with plotting children is inherently creepy.
May 22, 2024
3.25⭐
February 22, 2026
Read this immediately after binging The Whispers. I loved the uncanniness of it all and I’m glad the themes were explored further in the series. As far as the review of its source material: it’s distressing but predictable (even if you go in blind).
May 3, 2024
This short story was very odd and maybe a bit scary in a way that you do not want your children being brainwashed to kill you sort of way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2021
EERIE.
EERIE.
EERIE.
This one is eerie.
WARNING: DO NOT READ IT IF YOU’RE KIND OF EMOTIONAL OR OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT.
REALLY. IT’S DISTURBING.
IT STILL TERRIFIES ME AFTER SIX YEARS (IT WASN’T A GREAT IDEA TO READ IT IN MY EARLY TEENS)
EERIE.
EERIE.
This one is eerie.
WARNING: DO NOT READ IT IF YOU’RE KIND OF EMOTIONAL OR OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT.
REALLY. IT’S DISTURBING.
IT STILL TERRIFIES ME AFTER SIX YEARS (IT WASN’T A GREAT IDEA TO READ IT IN MY EARLY TEENS)
August 16, 2021
A creepy, Children of the Corn version of Mimsy were the Borogoves, and another fine entry from Bradbury.
October 13, 2019
I don't think I'd like to play Invasion
May 4, 2020
Triangle, Hexagonal, Logic, Impressionable.
PEEKABOO.
PEEKABOO.
August 5, 2021
Smart kids! Eliminate all the trouble makers.
September 16, 2021
A fantastic creepy short story that plays on the innocence of children and how playtime is ignored by the adults.
January 10, 2022
All I will say is Parents please be kind to your children and pay attention to the games they play. Creepy!
September 4, 2022
As always Mr. Bradbury grabs me again. I don't think he can do any wrong. His descriptions are just spot on and he always leaves you with things to ponder when you're done.
December 9, 2023
Perfect as always, but way too short, I wish this story was a full-length novel
March 21, 2025
Review in English and Portuguese. My rating is 8/10
Given that Ray Bradbury is known both for his ability to capture the spirit of youth and for writing science fiction with a sardonic and cruel sense of humor, it was only natural to expect that he would write a story combining both elements.
As soon as I began reading this short story, I quickly considered the possibility of a narrative about children aiding aliens in their invasion. Although it was somewhat predictable, this did not diminish my enjoyment of the story; in fact, I was pleased to see that Bradbury had indeed pursued this idea.
It was an excellent idea; in fact, I believe that children are as effective at starting an alien invasion as they are at preventing one, as demonstrated in Philip K. Dick's The Father-thing.
While it may not showcase Bradbury's most ornate prose, the story is effective in its simplicity, containing everything necessary to evoke the intended response from the reader.
Tendo em vista que Ray Bradbury é conhecido tanto por ser um autor verdadeiramente capaz de capturar o espírito da juventude quanto por escrever ficção científica com um certo humor sardônico e cruel, era apenas natural esperar que ele fosse escrever uma história misturando ambos os elementos.
Assim que comecei a ler esse conto, rapidamente pensei que essa possibilidade — uma história sobre crianças ajudando alienígenas em sua invasão — poderia surgir. O fato de ser algo, de certa forma, previsível não estragou a história para mim. De fato fiquei feliz ao ver que Ray Bradbury realmente tinha feito isso.
Foi uma excelente ideia; de fato, acredito que crianças são tanto ótimas para começar uma invasão alienígena quanto para impedir uma — como vemos, por exemplo, em A Coisa Pai, de Philip K. Dick.
Não é uma das histórias com a prosa mais floreada como outras dele, mas é simples em sua eficiência e entrega, contendo tudo o que é necessário para provocar a sensação esperada ao lê-la.
Given that Ray Bradbury is known both for his ability to capture the spirit of youth and for writing science fiction with a sardonic and cruel sense of humor, it was only natural to expect that he would write a story combining both elements.
As soon as I began reading this short story, I quickly considered the possibility of a narrative about children aiding aliens in their invasion. Although it was somewhat predictable, this did not diminish my enjoyment of the story; in fact, I was pleased to see that Bradbury had indeed pursued this idea.
It was an excellent idea; in fact, I believe that children are as effective at starting an alien invasion as they are at preventing one, as demonstrated in Philip K. Dick's The Father-thing.
While it may not showcase Bradbury's most ornate prose, the story is effective in its simplicity, containing everything necessary to evoke the intended response from the reader.
Tendo em vista que Ray Bradbury é conhecido tanto por ser um autor verdadeiramente capaz de capturar o espírito da juventude quanto por escrever ficção científica com um certo humor sardônico e cruel, era apenas natural esperar que ele fosse escrever uma história misturando ambos os elementos.
Assim que comecei a ler esse conto, rapidamente pensei que essa possibilidade — uma história sobre crianças ajudando alienígenas em sua invasão — poderia surgir. O fato de ser algo, de certa forma, previsível não estragou a história para mim. De fato fiquei feliz ao ver que Ray Bradbury realmente tinha feito isso.
Foi uma excelente ideia; de fato, acredito que crianças são tanto ótimas para começar uma invasão alienígena quanto para impedir uma — como vemos, por exemplo, em A Coisa Pai, de Philip K. Dick.
Não é uma das histórias com a prosa mais floreada como outras dele, mas é simples em sua eficiência e entrega, contendo tudo o que é necessário para provocar a sensação esperada ao lê-la.
December 23, 2025
A quick read just for a school assignment. 3 things:
-I’ve only read two Bradbury books/novels (whichever you want to call them), but I like how they both had a setting where everything feels so familiar but there’s a few things that are set in a sort of sci-fi world.
Zero hour: there’s cars driving down the street, children play in the yard, normal and common objects. But there’s “audio-visors” (?), this dialogue from Mrs. Morris: “”Lord, yes. Tomorrow it’ll be geometrical jacks and motorized hopscotch.” A can of hot soup immediately appearing with just the push of a button, or rockets constantly flying through the sky.
-Foreshadowing? This conversation between Helen and Mrs. Morris:
“Worse. Japs and Nazis. Don’t know how my parents put up with me. Tomboy.”
“Parents learn to shut their ears.”
…
“Eh?” She jerked. “Oh, nothing. Just thought about that. Shutting ears and such. Never mind. Where were we?”
Important to shut ears maybe? I can imagine, because this ends in a cliff hanger, that maybe the kids’ voices can influence others as some sort of way to harm the adults or to ‘mind-control them’??? Maybe a way to block this is by shutting their ears and blocking off sound. Idrk, just kind of spitballing.
-I didn’t really know where this was heading when I first started reading, I was more confused on how this could be horror. Probably about a 1/4 or 1/2 of the way through things started piecing together and I enjoyed the buildup to the climax!
Only wish it was longer😩 this was a good hook into what might’ve/could’ve become a longer thing.
-I’ve only read two Bradbury books/novels (whichever you want to call them), but I like how they both had a setting where everything feels so familiar but there’s a few things that are set in a sort of sci-fi world.
Zero hour: there’s cars driving down the street, children play in the yard, normal and common objects. But there’s “audio-visors” (?), this dialogue from Mrs. Morris: “”Lord, yes. Tomorrow it’ll be geometrical jacks and motorized hopscotch.” A can of hot soup immediately appearing with just the push of a button, or rockets constantly flying through the sky.
-Foreshadowing? This conversation between Helen and Mrs. Morris:
“Worse. Japs and Nazis. Don’t know how my parents put up with me. Tomboy.”
“Parents learn to shut their ears.”
…
“Eh?” She jerked. “Oh, nothing. Just thought about that. Shutting ears and such. Never mind. Where were we?”
Important to shut ears maybe? I can imagine, because this ends in a cliff hanger, that maybe the kids’ voices can influence others as some sort of way to harm the adults or to ‘mind-control them’??? Maybe a way to block this is by shutting their ears and blocking off sound. Idrk, just kind of spitballing.
-I didn’t really know where this was heading when I first started reading, I was more confused on how this could be horror. Probably about a 1/4 or 1/2 of the way through things started piecing together and I enjoyed the buildup to the climax!
Only wish it was longer😩 this was a good hook into what might’ve/could’ve become a longer thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2026
A curious short (horror) story that makes a person wonder if they shouldn't take some of the oddball things children say more seriously (”we’ll kill them first”). There was a passage that made me think of complacency and the dangers of mind-numbing comforts.
"All around them the city hummed. The streets were lined with good green and peaceful trees. Only the wind made a conflict across the city, across the country, across the continent. In a thousand other cities there were trees and children and avenues, business men in their quiet offices taping their voices, or watching televisors. Rockets hovered like darning needles in the blue sky. There was the universal, quiet conceit and easiness of men accustomed to peace, quite certain there would never be trouble again. Arm in arm, men all over earth were a united front. The perfect weapons were held in equal trust by all nations. A situation of incredibly beautiful balance had been brought about. There were no traitors among men, no unhappy ones, no disgruntled ones; therefore the world was based upon a stable ground. Sunlight illumined half the world and the trees drowsed in a tide of warm air."
December 9, 2025
This is a creepy, enjoyable story.
It has a real Twilight Zonesque, horror feel to it.
And a real Cold War, Red Scare feel to it also.
The "innocent" children help the Martians invade the Earth. And the parent are going to be the first to be ah....dispatched. The ending is, sort of, left open to debate.
The last line of the story, "Peek-a-boo" is a classic.
This story shows that Ray Bradbury could, when he wanted to, actually write a good story. There's none of his excess, repetitively boring streams of verbiage here. Just straightforward, fairly concise, sentences that advance the plot in a steady, efficient manner. It is, to say the least, a welcome change for him.
I must say though, that RB was quite the paranoid dude. Always worried about alien invasions, and sneak attacks on America. Guess it was a sign of the times he lived in.
It has a real Twilight Zonesque, horror feel to it.
And a real Cold War, Red Scare feel to it also.
The "innocent" children help the Martians invade the Earth. And the parent are going to be the first to be ah....dispatched. The ending is, sort of, left open to debate.
The last line of the story, "Peek-a-boo" is a classic.
This story shows that Ray Bradbury could, when he wanted to, actually write a good story. There's none of his excess, repetitively boring streams of verbiage here. Just straightforward, fairly concise, sentences that advance the plot in a steady, efficient manner. It is, to say the least, a welcome change for him.
I must say though, that RB was quite the paranoid dude. Always worried about alien invasions, and sneak attacks on America. Guess it was a sign of the times he lived in.
February 16, 2023
Did Ray Bradbury secretly want to murder his parents? And/or did he have children whom he thought wanted to secretly murder him? This isn't the first time he talked about "those tall silly dictators" and how children can both love you and hate you at the same time. He talked about it in The Veldt too except there he actually wrote a story. Here he writes the concept of a story. It's well-written just like Ray Bradbury is known to do but the substance of it is very lacking, especially from what I typically expect of Bradbury.
May 19, 2020
Not a bad story by any means, but it just paled in comparison to There Will Come Soft Rains. It felt a bit rushed/unfinished/weird, and I really wanted more of it to be fully explained.
May 10, 2022
Another Bradbury tale from the days of literary mystery. "Oh, it was to be so jolly! What a game!" And what might be the name of this game? Invasion! "The hour drowsed by. The day waned. The sun lowered in the peaceful blue sky. Shadows lengthened on the green lawns. The laughter and excitement continued." Finally, five o'clock - zero hour. But what is in store for our cast of characters?
November 15, 2023
Steven King reportedly wrote "If there were no Ray Bradbury there would be no Steven King." This might be a confusing statement if you think of Ray Bradbury as a science fiction writer only. But if you have read Zero Hour and certain other Ray Bradbury short stories, then King's statement makes a lot of sense. Recommended for Stephen King fans
March 10, 2024
Reminds me a little about Mulberry Street . Using the impressionable population against itself is insidious too... And we should all worry that Communists among US have done this in Public Schools... How close to Zero Hour are We?
November 18, 2020
The sheer narrative tension of this story had me quietly losing my mind. This is going up among my favorite short stories of all time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews