"The Rocket" is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

(initially published under the name "Outcast of the Stars") by American writer

Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury (; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of modes, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and r ...

, published in 1950. It is also included in '' The Illustrated Man'', a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury.

Plot

The story begins with Fiorello Bodoni, a poor junkyard owner, who spends his nights admiring nearby rocket launches bound for the Moon, Venus, and Mars. After six years, he has finally saved enough money to send one of his family members to Mars. However, when he presents the opportunity to his wife and children, they quickly realize that none could bear the guilt of experiencing such a wonderful journey while the rest stay behind. Bodoni dejectedly returns to his business, but after a stroke of luck, is offered the chance to purchase a mock-up rocket. He decides to spend his savings on the mock-up and secretly spends the night building a replica rocket with a theater in the cabin using color film, mirrors, and screens. He then excitedly tells his family that they will all be able to make the journey to Mars and back. Despite his wife's hesitations, he takes his children on a convincing trip to outer-space, one that they say they will "remember... for always." In the end, his wife realizes what a wonderful memory he has given their children, even though the rocket never left the ground, and agrees to share a short trip in the rocket with him in the future.

Adaptations

"The Rocket" was adapted as a radio drama by

Ernest Kinoy Ernest Kinoy (April 1, 1925 – November 10, 2014) was an American writer, screenwriter and playwright. Early life Kinoy was born in New York City on April 1, 1925; his parents, Albert and Sarah Kinoy (formerly Forstadt), were both high-school ...

in 1952 as a part of the '' NBC Presents: Short Story'' series. On March 16, 1952, ''

CBS Television Workshop ''CBS Television Workshop'' is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from January to April 1952. The series is noted for featuring early television appearances of several well known actors, including Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, Sidne ...

'' aired a television adaptation of "The Rocket" starring Martin Ritt. Additionally, a comic adaptation by

Joe Orlando Joseph Orlando (April 4, 1927 – December 23, 1998) was an Italian American illustrator, writer, editor and cartoonist during a lengthy career spanning six decades. He was the associate publisher of '' Mad'' and the vice president of DC Comics, ...

and Al Feldstein appeared in ''

Weird Science Weird Science is the name of: * ''Weird Science'' (film), a 1985 film directed by John Hughes ** ''Weird Science'' (TV series), a television series based on the film ** "Weird Science" (song), the theme song to the film and the TV series by Oing ...

'' (EC Publications, November-December 1953) under its original title "Outcast of the Stars," and later in Bradbury's collection of comic adaptations, ''

Tomorrow Midnight ''Tomorrow Midnight'' is a mass-market paperback collection of comic adaptations of eight short science fiction stories by Ray Bradbury, gathered from the pages of the EC Comics comic books of the 1950s. It is one of five EC collections published ...

'' (Ballantine, 1966). The 2006 film ''

The Astronaut Farmer ''The Astronaut Farmer'' is a 2006 American drama film directed by Michael Polish, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Mark. The film stars Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Bruce Dern and Max Thieriot. The plot is about a Texas rancher ...

'' (with Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Willis) is loosely based on "The Rocket" and shared a very similar theme and moral.

Publication history

* '' Super Science Stories'' (March 1950, ed. Ejler Jakobsson) - published under the name "Outcast of the Stars." * '' The Illustrated Man'' (1951, Ray Bradbury) * ''

R Is for Rocket ''R Is for Rocket'' (1962) is a short story collection by American writer Ray Bradbury, compiled for Young Adult library sections. It contains fifteen stories from earlier Bradbury collections, and two previously uncollected stories. Contents ...

'' (1962, Ray Bradbury) * ''Tomorrow: Science Fiction and the Future'' (1973, ed. Alan L. Madsen) * '' Classic Stories 1: From The Golden Apples of the Sun and R is for Rocket'' (1990, Ray Bradbury) * '' Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales'' (2003, Ray Bradbury)

References

External links

*
Internet Archive: ''NBC Short Story''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rocket, The 1950 short stories Science fiction short stories Short stories by Ray Bradbury Works originally published in Super Science Stories