Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Ray Bradbury

Sad day. Ray Bradbury, science fiction pioneer and all around good guy, has died.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jun/06/ray-bradbury-sci-fi-author-dies

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ray-bradbury-dead-91-article-1.1090795

Mr. Bradbury was one of my favorite writers growing up. He was a character in his own right, an author of future worlds who personally disliked automation and didn't even trust cars.

For me, his most quotable quote is, "If someone tells you to do something for money, tell them to go to hell." I can't imagine my teenage years without The Illustrated Man and Fahrenheit 451.

He was a man of contradictions with an arsenal of fears. In his writings he managed to make antiheroes understandable and the impossible very likely, through his ability to find the commonalities in us all. And nothing was spared from the horror or love that makes up life.

Bradbury was 91.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Writing, "so as not to be dead". Interesting man.

Lisa said...

Derek had the good fortune of being able to see Ray Bradbury and Douglas Adams many years ago. He's said that at the time he thought Bradbury wouldn't be around much longer, then Adams passed.

And... to Carrie: Derek has a degree in Broadcast Communications and many, many years of pro-videographer experience. He's done adult movie reviews and written for a couple of adult mags. There's nothing like getting a Christmas card from Larry Flynt! :D He says thank you for listening!!!

Austan said...

Lawless- He was. He'll be missed.

Austan said...

Niecely- Bradbury and Adams! Two of the Trinity of SciFi! Lucky dawg!

CarrieBoo said...

Hi Lisa... thanks! Well, it shows. He really is excellent. Interesting history! LOL.

91... wowsers. His imagination must have kept him going. Nice tribute, Laura. Remind me to read something of his! I feel I have missed out.

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Today I remember that Charles Chulz passed away after he finished his very last Peanuts comic strip for the paper. He was planning on retiring that year.

Geo. said...

A long time ago I had just enough money to buy 2 paperbacks at B. Dalton: "By the Pricking Of My Thumbs"(Agatha Christie) and Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes". I should have known something magical was brewing. The world has lost a lightning-rod salesman.

Elephant's Child said...

I found out from another blogger that we had lost Ray Bradbury and have been mourning our loss. He was certainly part of my early reading and I still reread Fahrenhite 451.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

What an interesting man he was!