Ray Bradbury Dies

[Andy Chalk]

Ray Bradbury Dies

Science fiction Grand Master Ray Bradbury has died.

Born in 1920, the great Ray Bradbury was one of the most widely admired, respected and celebrated authors of the 20th century. Although best known for the novel Fahrenheit 451, he was also a prolific author of short stories and saw a significant portion of his work translated to television and film, and actually won an Emmy Award in 1993 for The Halloween Tree. From 1985 to 1992, he hosted his own television series, The Ray Bradbury Theater, which aired 65 episodes based on his work.

Other accolades awarded to Bradbury include the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Grand Master Award in 1989, the National Medal of Arts in 2004, an induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and a special Pulitzer citation "for his distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy." In 2010 he was the subject of a different sort of tribute: "Ray Bradbury Theater [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1IxOS4VzKM]" by the Dead Alewives. (Ignore the tacked-on video; just listen and enjoy.)

I didn't know Ray so I can't really comment on what a great guy he was, nor am I a serious aficionado of his work; I read The Golden Apples of the Sun [http://www.amazon.com/Fahrenheit-451-Ray-Bradbury/dp/1607511665/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1338999728&sr=8-15] - and for reasons I can't really explain, is perhaps my favorite of his stories. But he was truly one of the greats, an incredibly talented and influential figure, and he will be missed.

Source: io9 [http://io9.com/5916175/rip-ray-bradbury-author-of-fahrenheit-451-and-the-martian-chronicles]

(photo [http://www.flickr.com/photos/40884578@N00/4321230525])


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[ShinobiJedi42]

Bradbury has been hugely influential in my own science fiction writing. A lot of the short stories I have written were modelled after his style and I looked to the imagintive nature of his stories to create my own. I tend to enjoy his short stories more than his novels, though, mainly because I think his writing style lends itself to short narratives that investigate a heavy, but simple idea. For some reason, The Long Rain is my favorite short story of his. I'm not quite sure why. There is just something about the imaginitive nature of how he represented Venus that was intriguing to me. Bradbury will definetely be missed.

 

[IndianaJonny]

One of the brightest stars in science-fiction writing has gone out. Rest in Peace, Mr Bradbury.

 

[lacktheknack]

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I have, on my desk beside me, "The October Country", one of the best and creepiest collections of short stories I have ever read. Ray Bradbury, you are awesome. RIP.

No other writer could make me root for the death of a baby, you sick genius.

 

[DoPo]

RIP sweet prince of science fiction. May your soul visit Mars. You would be missed I loved Ray Bradbury's work - one of the sci fi authors I grew up with. He almost feels like family.

 

[Andy Chalk]

You like donuts?

 

[Quiet Stranger]

I've heard his name before but can't remember where (and I mean recently) but I DID read "A sound of thunder" back in I think Grade 9 English class, pretty good story

 

[Jaeke]

Not particularily a fan of his work (especially after being forced to read Something Wicked This Way Comes) but nonetheless, rest in peace sir.

 

[TheTygre]

I try to read Halloween Tree every year. I've loved Something Wicked This Way Comes since I was just a kid, or at least it scared me since I was little. It's hard for me to pick a single story of his that I like more than the others. His writing was so diverse; some of his best work was non-sci fi. The world seems a little dimmer now. I can't really think of anyone who comes close to filling his shoes. One of the last Golden Age writers has moved on, the last great story. RIP, sir.

 

[Saviordd1]

This is truly sad, a great artist is gone from our world.

RIP

 

[Steve the Pocket]

(Ignore the tacked-on video; just listen and enjoy.)

This is way off-topic, but is anyone else annoyed that the only place to listen to stuff on the Internet anymore is in some copy on YouTube with "tacked-on video"? I mean, I realize that the Dead Alewives disbanded ages ago so there's not going to be a legitimate copy of anything they did online, but still.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

The man was a true visionary. It'll be no easy thing to match him, let alone supercede him.

 

[TIMESWORDSMAN]

"The star that burns twice as bright burns half as long" But aparrently the star that burns thrice as bright lives to be ninety-one.

S' a pity people die.

 

[Andy Chalk]

Ray had a good run. 91 years is better than most of us get, and the career he forged was second to none. He made an indelible mark upon the world, and we are all better for it.

 

[Surpheal]

And as he dies, the world is becoming more and more like the one in Fahrenheit 451.

May whom ever succeed him exceed him, and may his memory live on through his writing.
rest in peace

 

[Imthatguy]

Sad to see him go... I'm kinda weird-ed out about his comments on nonliterary medium however. Literature can cause the same alienation as the less artistic forms of all other media.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

It's going to be weird now, you know...with super fast cars and firemen starting fires.

 

[Iron Criterion]

A true visionary, and an inspiration to generations. R.I.P.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

One of my favorite authors. R.I.P.

 

[Iron Criterion]

Not particularily a fan of his work (especially after being forced to read Something Wicked This Way Comes) but nonetheless, rest in peace sir.

Not sure if you have read it, but I'd recommend Fahrenheit 451. It's a sci-fi master piece and accurately(ish) predicted the kind of world we are living in now, and will slip further into in the coming years.