Finally! I’ve been looking for this recording for years — not an exaggeration — I even asked Stephen about it at a taping of The Colbert Report I attended in early 2007. Until now, it did not seem to be available, but Symphony Space has released a new collection of its Selected Shorts series (“A Touch of Magic“), and it features Stephen Colbert reading “The Veldt”, a short story by Ray Bradbury originally entitled “The World the Children Made” (in 1950).

Some of you may recall Selected Shorts from Stephen’s reading of T.C. Boyle’s “The Lie” earlier this year; the series features notable actors from the stage and screen lending their talents to present short stories to the listening public weekly on PRI. I was never able to find their recording of “The Veldt” before now, as Stephen recorded it several years ago (in 2006, I think), but it didn’t disappoint. If you’re not familiar with Ray Bradbury’s menacingly creepy short story, you’re in for a treat. (In fact, it might even be best if those of you planning on listening to Stephen’s reading refrain from looking up any story synopses, as they’d almost certainly spoil the ending.)

So far as I can tell, the story is not available in any (free) streaming version* on the Symphony Space site; we will, of course, post a link to the audio if the theater provides one. In the meantime, you can purchase “A Touch of Magic” on CD for $28 or download the MP3 for $18. The collection includes stories by W.W. Jacobs, Saki, Jonathan Safran Foer and many more and features performances by the likes of John Lithgow and Anthony Rapp. I can absolutely assure you that it’s worth the price tag. I just listened to “The Veldt”, and I unconditionally loved it; I’m listening to the other selections even now.

Click here or on the image above to go to the Symphony Space eStore for your copy. You’ll really love it, I’m sure!

*Before anyone requests that “someone put this online”, I’d like to ask people to strongly consider purchasing the collection over at Symphony Space. I know it’s probably a lot of money for some of our readers, but theaters and Public Radio International are in the business of bringing art to the public, and they are both hurting for funds. It would be great if we could support them, even in this small way, by purchasing some of their products. — Ms I

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