Encapsulating a career that has spanned more than six decades, this retrospective compilation confirms what everyone already knows: Ray Bradbury is the master of short fiction. Included in this "collection to end collections" are classics like "The Illustrated Man," "The Toynbee Convector," and "The Pedestrian" (the precursor to Fahrenheit 451), as well as little-known literary gems like "Almost the End of the World," a story about what happens when humanity loses television reception; "The Garbage Collector," Bradbury's reaction to an ignorant politician; and a bittersweet story ("Bug") about an aging man who lets reality get between him and the thing he loves most.

Bradbury's imagination is like the earth in its orbit: It never stops spinning. Year after year he keeps on producing original, captivating works -- be it short stories, novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts, or verse. The scary thing about this collection is that several of his better-known short stories aren't included --and it doesn't even matter. He could release Bradbury Stories: The Next 100 Most Celebrated Tales and it would be just as good. A must-have for longtime Bradbury fans a the perfect gift for bibliophiles of all ages, this stylishly produced shelf-bender -- with a heartfelt introduction from Bradbury himself -- is a book to be cherished for generations. Paul Goat Allen