“There Will Come Soft Rains”: Bradbury’s miniature apocalypse

Today is August 4th, 2026. Today is the original setting of Ray Bradbury’s short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” from The Martian Chronicles.1 Bradbury himself once described this story as best representing the essence of his work,2 and I know of no story more appropriate for today. It’s also only about 2,000 words, if you want to read it before we continue.3 Bradbury’s 2026 is both mundane and alien. The story’s location – and main character – is a smart home on the outer edge of the San Francisco Bay area. Writing from 1950, Bradbury imagined the home’s mechanisms controlled by a heavy electromechanical brain in the attic, but it’s easy to hear Alexa’s voice reading the morning reminders. “Today is Mr. Featherstone’s birthday. Today is the anniversary of Tilita’s marriage. Insurance is payable, as are the water, gas, and light bills.” We see the house going through its daily routine, oblivious to the absence of its McClellan family inhabitants. All we see of them are shadows – in…