Fantasy Fiction - The Fox and The Forest RB

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Review: “The Fox and The Forest” – A Time-Twisting Escape from Tyranny
Originally aired in 1984 as part of the Bradbury Thirteen series on NPR,
The Fox and The Forest is a suspenseful and emotionally charged adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s short story from The Illustrated Man.

Produced by Michael McDonough and narrated by the iconic Paul Frees, this episode explores the desperate flight of two fugitives from a dystopian future, blending noir tension with philosophical depth.

Cast & Characters
While full cast credits for Bradbury Thirteen are not widely published,
the central characters include:

Character Description

William Travis - (Roger Kristen) A bomb technician from the year 2155, fleeing forced wartime labor
Susan Travis - (Ann Kristen) His wife, a biological warfare scientist,
equally desperate for freedom

Mr. Simms - A Searcher from the future tasked with retrieving the couple
Joe Melton - A film director who is actually a part of the Searcher network
The Movie Crew Posing as filmmakers, they are agents sent to capture the fugitives

Character Motivations

• William Travis: Motivated by love and moral resistance, he seeks to escape a future where science is weaponized.
• Susan Travis: Motivated by fear and longing for peace, she supports William’s plan to remain in the past.
• Mr. Simms: Motivated by duty and control, he aims to return the couple to the future for military use.
• Joe Melton & Crew: Motivated by deception and loyalty to the regime, they lure the couple into a trap.

Plot Sequence

1. Exposition: William and Susan Travis, fugitives from the year 2155, hide in 1938 Mexico under assumed identities.
2. Rising Action: They encounter Mr. Simms, a Searcher who recognizes them and begins surveillance.
3. Crisis: Simms offers a deal—William returns if Susan can stay.
William pretends to agree, then kills Simms in a staged accident.
4. Climax: The couple joins a film crew, only to realize the crew are Searchers in disguise. A violent confrontation ensues.
5. Resolution: Despite William’s attempt to fight back, the couple is captured and returned to the future. Their escape ends in silence.

⚖️ Moral of the Story

The Fox and The Forest warns that freedom from tyranny may be fleeting, but the fight for it is deeply human. Bradbury critiques authoritarianism, the exploitation of science for war, and the illusion of safety
in nostalgia. The story suggests that even in the past, the future may find you—and that resistance, though noble, may not always succeed.

Final Thoughts

This Bradbury Thirteen episode is a standout for its noir pacing, emotional stakes, and philosophical undertones. With immersive sound design and Bradbury’s timeless prose, The Fox and The Forest is a haunting meditation on escape, love, and the cost of defiance.

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