AI: "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (1950)

Well, we didn’t see that coming! In this episode, the crew discusses a lesser known story by the author of Fahrenheit 451, and we end up surprised by where it takes us. Bradbury’s presentation of a post-apocalyptic world decimated by nuclear war delivers an expected elegy for lost civilization, but stops short of condemning technology in the process. In fact, AI’s role in the story invites us to a conversation about the beauty and necessity of art.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe