Thomcat
5/26/2025
A reread, of course, but the last time was decades ago. This time I also read the novella from Galaxy magazine, February 1951, where the protagonist's name was Leonard Montag.
The book is expanded from the original, and the order of a few events changed. This is a story of Montag caught between multiple authorities, eventually choosing his own way. The book adds more emphasis from the professor on that choice, that decision.
I prefer the original Clarisse, encountered after a crisis of conscience instead of before. Bradbury spoke of a staged version that brought her back in the later river camp. This would be interesting, but then she would be more the focus than Montag's choices. I'm sure this analysis would have made for a more interesting essay for my school teacher, and equally sure I contributed something much less as a youth.
"Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord."
I recommend finding the original story and reading it.