Match to Flame: The Fictional Paths to Fahrenheit 451

B radbury devotees will welcome this collection of letters, short stories and rough drafts, all of which the great fantasy and SF author now views as antecedents to his classic 1953 novel, Fahrenheit 451 , about a future where books are systematically destroyed. Since Bradbury admits in the preface that some of the selections are “close to primitive,” readers who enjoyed such landmarks as The Martian Chronicles should be prepared for work that's less than his best. Many of the tales involve book burning, and that shared theme is a little repetitive. The high point for the casual fan is the novella “The Fireman” (1951), which was expanded into Fahrenheit 451 . Those who don't want the plots spoiled should read the illuminating scholarly introduction and textual essay after the stories. (July)