Long After Midnight

This quirky collection of short stories by master storyteller Bradbury provides a fascinating kaleidoscope of his work up to the 1970s. While it inevitably includes tales of science fiction and fantasy including Martians transmuting into Christ figures, deserted worlds, and witches in New York, readers will also be surprised to find a mixture of mainstream fiction. Bradbury includes stories paying homage to Ernest Hemingway ("The Parrot Who Met Papa") and George Bernard Shaw ("G.B.S.-Mark V"). Michael Prichard performs many of the stories well, with competent pacing, tone, and distinct voices. However, throughout a good deal of Prichard's readings, there's an underlying restraint—at times, it even sounds if he's clenching his jaw. Still, the collection will provide fans with some great stories from several different genres. (Aug.)