The Illustrated Man

“Everyone wants to see the pictures,” the Illustrated Man says, “yet no-one wants to see them.” What do you think are the draws—and repulsions—of speculative fiction? What is its value? What are its drawbacks?

Dysfunctional relationships between parents and children are common in The Illustrated Man. What sort of person do you think Bradbury would consider to be the ideal parent? What would their qualities be? Use examples from the text.

Manned space exploration was just beginning to be explored in the early 1950s, when Bradbury wrote The Illustrated Man. What role do rocket ships play in the collection? Consider cultural, technological, and military angles.