I am a big fan of the Addams family, but was unaware that Ray Bradbury's writing was the basis for the show. I saw the new book that has been published starring the Elliot family, and was wondering which books and/or stories prior to this book included these characters? I would like to also know if they should be read in a sequence, since some of them will probably be hard to find. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

The book you saw, "From the Dust Returned" is much like "Dandelion Wine" and "The Martian Chronicles" in that it is a collection of short stories that have been given a chronology and a story arc that brings them all together. Accidental Novels Mr. Bradbury calls them. A collection of short stories disguised as a novel. So in answer to your question, all of the Elliot Family stories are in "The Dust Returned." They previously appeared scattered throughout "Dark Carnival", "The October Country" "The Stories Of Ray Bradbury" and other short story collections and in magazines.
Andy Burnside-Weaver

Thank you so much!!!! That's what I was hoping to hear, but it was a little confusing on Amazon, where I read this. Could you tell me if this is a good series? I am going to request it from a bookstore or library, but want to make sure it's worth the trouble.

Try reading "The October country"
Mr. Bradbury also loved his novel "The Halloween Tree". "Long After Midnight" is also a good collection, happy hunting!

I really like "From The Dust Returned" alot. My wife read it too and compared it to reading Shakespeare. She's right.

So too, search for a copy of the novel Green Shadows, White Whale! It is an image filled narration of Mr. Bradbury's trip to Ireland as an up and coming young author. He is confronted by the massive ego of the famous movie director John Huston as the script of Moby Dick is being rewritten. Hilarious, haunting, and humbling (for the young Mr. Bradbury taking on his first "big break"!) I found it to be a cover to cover read that seemed to end too soon.

[This message has been edited by fjpalumbo (edited 12-17-2001).]