Review - The Pedestrian

The Pedestrian
by Ray Bradbury
Date: 1951
Publisher: The Reporter
Reading level: A
Book type: short story
Pages: 4
Format: e-book
Source: "The Pedestrian"

A short story by Ray Bradbury, the prequel to "Fahrenheit 451".

First published in The Reporter, August 7 1951.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

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.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 ladybugs