Asleep in Armageddon

"Asleep in Armageddon" by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction story that follows Leonard Sale, a space traveler who finds himself stranded on a silent planetoid after his ship crashes. The story looks at loneliness, how aware we really are, and the lasting effects of war, which haunt Sale as he waits to be saved and struggles with the mental problems caused by being trapped with ancient warrior ghosts. The story shows Sale's fight against going crazy due to not sleeping and the disturbing voices of Iorr and Tylle, two ancient warriors who want to use his mind to keep fighting their endless war. As Sale fights to stay awake, the story shows him slowly losing his mind, highlighted by his talks with the voices that represent the violent history of humanity, leading to a sad ending when he finally falls asleep just as help arrives. In the end, the story's cruel twist shows the deep mental horror that reflects the larger themes of war and human pain that run through Bradbury's work.