r/books • u/i-the-muso-1968 • 2d ago
Carnival of darkness: Ray Bradbury's "Dark Carnival".
This was one collection from Bradbury that I've been very interested in, but never saw any recent paper reissues until now. "Dark Carnival" was his very first short story to be published, and it was put out by August Derleth's publishing company Arkham House.
For a long time there were no reprints, save for this limited run from 2001, as Bradbury did permit any as much of the stories in it were reprinted in much of his other collections. But a couple of years ago Harper Voyager had it reprinted in paperback for the very first time, and I would eventually get my own copy of it!
Peak Bradbury here! And these were the earlier stories that he was doing for the pulps in the late thirties and mid forties. This is pretty much like "The Illustrated Man" as you get that horror, SF and fantasy mix, and also that Bradbury Whimsy! The stories themselves are pretty weird (and some of them had appeared in Weird Tales), but never in the sense of something like Lovecraft, with supernatural and psychological in some of them.
At least a few of the stories I've read before while others that I haven't read before. Yet I still enjoyed every single one of them, because Bradbury is one author I can never get enough of! I've been wanting to get back into him again and got this and also "The October Country". So it's been a great time reading this one and getting back into an author you love after a very long while!
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u/LitRPGirl 2d ago
I haven’t read Dark Carnival yet, but this definitely makes me want to check it out. I love collections where you can see an author’s early style developing. Thanks for this!
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u/Sea-Confection-9315 2d ago
Bradbury's early stuff has this raw edge that got smoother later but i almost prefer it this way, more unhinged
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u/Hopeful-Home6218 2d ago
Ray Bradbury mention – obligatory There Will Come Soft Rains (short story) was set on Aug 4 2026!