Now and Forever
Somewhere a Band is Playing & Leviathan '99
By Ray Bradbury
HarperLuxe Larger Print, 2007
Distributed by Thorndike Press
ISBN: 0-06-126037-1
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewed by Herbert White - November 5, 2007
Now and Forever is a compilation of two novellas by Ray Bradbury. The two stories in this large print volume are Somewhere a Band is Playing and Leviathan '99. These are two wondrous stories that are humourous, creative, and richly detailed. Bradbury's writing is spirited and witty, and it is easy to see why he has such a hardcore fan base.
Somewhere a Band is Playing is a story about Summerton, Arizona, a miraculous town whose residents seem to never age. In this tale, journalist James Cardiff sets out to examine the mysteries that surround Summerton, and the confluence of events that may well lead to its destruction. This is a laid back story that gently takes the reader on an unforgettable mystical adventure.
In Leviathan '99, Bradbury takes a totally different tack, reworking Melville's Moby Dick into a space opera about a world devouring comet. Set in the year 2099, the indomitable quester is Ishmael Hunnicut Jones, an astronaut aboard the Cetus 7. The ship is captained by a madman who was blinded by this rouge comet, and he is willing to do everything in his power to take his revenge on this planet destroying monster.
These two stories show the breadth of Bradbury's imagination and give a glimpse into his range of writing styles. This volume will delight not only Bradbury fans, but anyone looking to read thought-provoking and entertaining science fiction stories.
Related Reviews:
Let's All Kill Constance, by Ray Bradbury.
The third mystery novel by the great science fiction writer, this book follows an unnamed writer as he attempts to find out who wants to kill the aged actress Constance - and to stop them before they succeed in their mission. (Large Print)
