| Guy Montag, a fireman several centuries into the second millennium, starts fires. It's his job to burn books, which have been deemed dangerous to society, wherever they are found. But he feels a sense of unease, living in a home where the walls are constantly-blasting TV screens, and is wife heavily medicates herself. A 17-year-old neighbor named Clarisse inspires him to start questioning his job and modern society. When a book owner, an elderly lady, chooses to burn with her home and books, Montag is especially upset, and decides to find out what could be so dangerous about books. But his supervisor, Captain Beatty, is on to him, and Montag runs a serious risk of not only losing his job but becoming a criminal hunted by society. Where will he go then? Ray Bradbury's 1953 classic hardly seems dated at all: It survives not only as a brilliant cautionary tale -- with many striking forecasts (such as wall TVs, censorship by popular taste, or the wars and poverty that no one noticed "because we're having so much fun at home") -- but as a cool, spare tale related in gorgeous, evocative English. | ||
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Plot & Themes FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Repressive society story Yes Repressive because: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - society How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book. How sensitive is this character? Setting Terrain Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century) Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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