The Day of Soft Rains

‍In its most widely reprinted form, Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains"—you'll find it in THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES and probably at least two retrospective collections and inevitably somewhere on line—takes place on August 4, 2026. (It appeared in Collier's prior to inclusion in THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES; at that point, the story took place on April 28, 1985, but that was transitory. Apparently it’s since been updated and set in 2057. If we’re all still here then, I’ll update it. Bygones.) If you’ve ever read it, it’s still inside somewhere: an automated house lives its final day. If not? Here’s a treat to celebrate the day the story takes place. 

‍"Rains" is quintessential Bradbury, which is why it’s been recorded multiple times, by the author and others.

‍Last year, as an editing exercise, I took Bradbury's own reading as the base, and I merged in elements of readings by two well-known names in the fantasy and sci-fi realm to provide some of the voices for the house. It's been sitting on my drive since, and if there's a better time to post it, I don't know when that is.

Sit back and spend about fifteen minutes with Unca Ray (and a couple other guest voices) as they present one of his best…