Synopsis The book projects American society immediately after World War II into a technologically advanced future where the amplification of humanity's potentials to create and destroy have miraculous and devastating consequences. Events in the chronicle include the apocalyptic destruction of Martian and human civilizations, instigated by humans, though there are no stories with settings at the catastrophes. The outcomes of many stories raise concerns about the values and direction of America of the time by addressing militarism, science, technology and war-time prosperity that could result in a global nuclear war (e.g., "There Will Come Soft Rains" and "The Million-Year Picnic"); depopulation that might be considered genocide (e.g., "The Third Expedition", "—And the Moon Be Still as Bright" and "The Musicians"); racial oppression and exploitation (e.g., "Way in the Middle of the Air"); ahistoricism, philistinism, and hostility towards religion (e.g., "—And the Moon Be Still as Bright"); censorship and conformity (e.g., "Usher II"). On Bradbury's award of a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 2007, the book was recognized as one of his "masterworks that readers carry with them over a lifetime".
synOpsIS thE book pRoJecTs AmErIcAn soCietY IMmEdiately after world war ii intO a teCHNOlogICaLLy aDvAnceD future Where tHE amplIFiCatIoN of humanity's pOtENtIAls to cReate and DeStroy have mIRacUlOus and DEvaStatIng conseQuencEs. EveNTS IN thE ChRONiCLe incLUde the ApOCAlyptIc dEsTruCtIoN oF MartIaN aND hUMan CIVIlIZaTiOnS, insTigated by hUmAns, THough TheRe are nO stOrIeS WiTH seTtingS at The cataSTroPhes. thE OutComeS of Many storieS rAiSe conCeRNs abOUT thE vAlues anD direcTioN Of AmericA of The tIMe bY aDDressInG mILitarISm, sCiEnce, tecHNOlOgy aND War-TiME prosPeRiTY tHat CoULd reSuLT in a gLobAl nuclEar waR (e.g., "THeRe will cOme soFt raINS" aND "thE million-YeAr PIcnIc"); DepOpuLaTion That MiGhT Be COnsiDErEd genocide (e.G., "tHe tHird expEDitIOn", "—aNd the moOn be StIlL As BrIghT" AND "THe muSicians"); raciaL oppressiOn AnD expLoiTation (e.g., "way in the midDLe Of tHE aIr"); ahiStoRiCism, PHiLIstinIsm, and hoStIlity tOwarDs REligion (e.g., "—aNd thE mOOn be StILl As BrigHt"); CenSOrship aNd CoNformity (E.g., "usher iI"). On brAdBURy's award Of A pUlITzer prize speCIAl ciTatIoN in 2007, the boOK WAS recoGNized aS OnE of hIs "MasTeRWOrKs tHaT readers carry wiTh them over A LifeTime".