Whether you had to read his works for school or you stumbled upon them by chance, Ray Bradbury was a captivating writer. His stories were thought-provoking and hooked you in from the first page. Stories like Fahrenheit 451 had us clutching our books more tightly, wondering how humans could reach such levels of cruelty. Whereas, tales like The Veldt warned us of the power of technology.
For works similar to these popular Bradbury classics, here are five stories that are just as captivating.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
For fans of Fahrenheit 451, this novel is for you. Set in England in the late 1990s, the story is told from the perspective of Kathy, a young woman who recounts her time at Hailsham, a mysterious and secluded boarding school. When two of her friends from Hailsham, Ruth and Tommy, come back into her life, the three set out to uncover the mysteries surrounding their former school and their existence.
Much like Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, this novel is an exploration into the reasoning behind the government’s actions. It also highlights the treatment of those considered minorities by objectifying the Hailsham students. Additionally, Never Let Me Go utilizes art as an expression of defiance and creativity.
The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov
For fans of R is for Rocket, Asimov’s The End of Eternity might be a good read for you. In the Future, a group of beings known as The Eternals have the power to create and erase The Past, The Present, and The Future. It’s a great honor to be an Eternal, and Andrew Harlan is one. But when he commits the sin of falling in love, he begins to plan his escape, one that threatens Eternity itself.
Much like R is for Rocket, Asimov’s The End of Eternity is a story of space exploration, colonization, and the lengths people will go to in order to fulfill their dreams.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
This adventure-filled read is perfect for fans of Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man. Told from the perspective of The Time Traveller, the man finds himself in the perfect utopian age in the year 802,700, where everyone lives in complete harmony. Hoping to study these beings and return home, the Time Traveller is horrified to find that his beloved Time Machine — his only way home — has been stolen.
Both novels center around one man. In The Illustrated Man, it is a man covered in tattoos. In The Time Machine, it is The Time Traveler. Both men have a profound impact on the worlds they inhabit, the Illustrated Man’s tattoos bringing technology and civilizations to life, and The Time Traveler serving as the outsider in an otherwise perfect society.
The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu
If you love Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, you may like The Paper Menagerie. The winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy award, this short story is about an immigrant mother who, in order to bond with her son, breathes life into paper animals to create a magical paper menagerie.
Much like The Martian Chronicles, The Paper Menagerie is a collection of short stories. It is a story of self-exploration and identity as the main character, Jack, struggles to find his place in the world.
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Fans of the gruesome and horrifying short story The Veldt also read the equally terrifying The Lottery. Shirley Jackson presents the story of a small American town that, every year on the twenty-seventh of June, every family must participate in a lottery. No one knows the history behind the tradition; all they know is that it’s a lottery you don’t want to win. This short story left readers stunned and demanding answers, even sending letters to Shirley Jackson.
The Veldt is a story that shows the influential power of technology, driving two children to murder their parents. It is gruesome and thought-provoking, making us wonder how far humans will go to get what they want. The Lottery is an exploration in free will with gruesome twists and turns, much like The Veldt.
Ray Bradbury fans, we hope you enjoy these five stories. Let us know on our socials, what is your favorite Bradbury work?
Interested in more inspired recs? For sci-fi recs based on Harrison Ford, click here.
These works can be found on our Dystopian Worlds, Technology, and the Universe in Science Fiction shelf at Bookshop.
