The Playground

By: Ray Bradbury

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

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 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.

©1953 Ray Bradbury (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Vintage Bradbury

3.5 of 5 stars.

Bradbury's beautiful writing could reside in many genres. His ability to use words to describe a character's awareness of surroundings as he deals with personal demons is on display in this strange tale. Written in 1953, this short story (not really SciFi, but more fantasy) doesn't have the great reveal we've often come to expect from modern fiction but seems well suited for the time it was written. Great for prose but average as an overall story.

The narrator gives a solid performance.

Thought provoking into parenting styles

Haha! What a wonderful example of how not to parent and its consequences; granted, this was a more literal interpretation, and only told from the father's POV.

Something more than just a creepy short story

This is a fantastic and spooky short story. It's got the really creepy feel you'd expect in a "spooky story", but it has another poignant element and works equally on another level.

[SPOILER ALERT] This is the story of a widower trying to protect his infant son from what turn out to be monstrous children on a diabolical playground. The story paints a picture of the father's desperation which leads him to undertake a fantastic sacrifice for his little boy.

When I read this story as a boy many years ago I connected with the bullied-kid-on-the-playground angle. Reading it today, being a middle-aged father, the story now resonates even more strongly with my paternal instincts. I completely understood and empathised with the father's need to protect his son regardless of the costs. The sacrifice the father accepts is a very touching element in an otherwise satisfyingly creepy tale.

Highly recommended.

The trauma of childhood…

This story is about loss, fear, and the need to protect our children. In typical Bradbury style we see the soul of parental fears and the cruelty of childhood through the developmental lens. Written in 1953, we see the stark changes that have occurred in our society, and changes to our values and beliefs about what makes children strong and healthy. Gone are the days when children were free to learn to work out their conflicts with or without violence. Currently we believe that this is not necessary to healthy development. I’m not sure we now have it right. It seems that those before were made of stronger more resilient stuff than those we produce today. Just my thoughts. It is a thought provoking work. I enjoyed it.

Bazinga

The Playground was my first introduction to Ray Bradbury and it was an okay short story. The narration by Jonathan Davis was great. The performance held my interest and I recommend the narrator.

Disclaimer: My enjoyment of the narrator is based on my listening speed. I only leave 5 stars for books I've listened to or will listen to multiple times.