Cosmonaut

Summary

«Cosmonaut» is a short story by Ray Bradbury, included in the collection «The Martian Chronicles». The story explores the conflict between dreams, duty, and family. The father of the main character, a boy named Doug, is a cosmonaut who spends most of his life in space, returning home only for brief periods. Doug's mother tries not to think about space, avoiding looking at the sky to spare herself the pain of separation. The father confesses to his son that he loves his family but cannot resist the pull of the stars. He warns Doug never to become a cosmonaut. Soon, the father embarks on his final flight—his ship falls into the Sun. The mother completely rejects the reality of space, while Doug, despite everything, begins to feel the same attraction to the stars as his father. The story conveys the tragedy of a dream that demands sacrifices and the inevitability of choosing between passion and loved ones.