The Playground by Ray Bradbury

Unabridged Audio Version From Audible

I listened to the unabridged audio version of a short story titled The Playground by Ray Bradbury and read by Jonathan Davis. Playing time for this short story is approximately 44 minutes in length.

I was able to download the audio version of The Playground for free from Audible!! Below is my unbiased review of The Playground by Ray Bradbury.

Believe it or not, The Playground is the first written work of Ray Bradbury's I can recall ever reading... I'm sort of stunned myself that I've never read or listened to anything written by Ray Bradbury until now.

I really liked the storyline in The Playground!! I was hooked from the start... The suspense was really well done as well in this story too. Additionally, I also thought Jonathan Davis did an awesome job narrating this short story, which only enhanced my listening experience. I like the characters in this short story too. I also liked how this story ended... All in all, this was a really good read!

I think there were a few things that weren't perfect about this story, that you had to piece together by deduction, but all in all it was a good read.

Publisher's summary from Audible as follows:

"The Playground" was part of the first hardcover edition of Ray Bradbury's legendary work Fahrenheit 451, published in 1953. In the story, Charles Underhill is a widower who will do anything to protect his young son Jim from the horrors of the playground - a playground which he and the boy pass by daily and the tumult of which, the activity, brings back to Charles the anguish of his own childhood. The playground, like childhood itself, is a nightmare of torment and vulnerability; Charles fears his sensitive son will be destroyed there just as he almost was so many years ago.

Underhill's sister, Carol, who has moved in to help raise the young boy after his mother passed away, feels differently. The playground, she believes, is preparation for life, Jim will survive the experience she feels, and he will be the better for it and more equipped to deal with the rigor and obligation of adult existence.

Underhill is caught between his own fear and his sister's invocation of reason and feels paralyzed. A mysterious boy calls out to him from the playground, and seems to know all too well why Underhill is there and what the source of his agony really is. A mysterious Manager also lurks and to whom the strange boy directs Underhill. An agreement can be made perhaps - this is what the boy tells Underhill. Perhaps Jim can be spared the playground, but of course, a substitute must be found.

I'm giving The Playground a rating of 8 stars out of 10 stars. Until my next post, happy reading!!