Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ian David

(69,059 posts)
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 10:15 AM Jun 2012

R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles

Ray Bradbury — author of The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked this Way Comes, and many more literary classics — died this morning in Los Angeles, at the age of 91.

We've got confirmation from the family as well as his biographer, Sam Weller.

His grandson, Danny Karapetian, shared these words with io9 about his grandfather's passing: "If I had to make any statement, it would be how much I love and miss him, and I look forward to hearing everyone's memories about him. He influenced so many artists, writers, teachers, scientists, and it's always really touching and comforting to hear their stories. Your stories. His legacy lives on in his monumental body of books, film, television and theater, but more importantly, in the minds and hearts of anyone who read him, because to read him was to know him. He was the biggest kid I know."



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

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles (Original Post) Ian David Jun 2012 OP
F*ck Me Ray Bradbury Ian David Jun 2012 #1
RIP. n/t cynatnite Jun 2012 #2
I once got to speak to him on the phone when I was a kid. He was really cool. n/t Ian David Jun 2012 #3
What a loss MountainLaurel Jun 2012 #4
Wasn't he a repuke? jimlup Jun 2012 #5
He picked a fight with Michael Moore over the title Fahrenheit 9/11. Ian David Jun 2012 #6
Ray wrote a story called "Something wicked this way comes" SwissTony Jun 2012 #12
This day just keeps getting shittier... Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #7
Beat me to it. Starry Messenger Jun 2012 #19
Kick pinto Jun 2012 #8
I still remember reading The Martian Chronicles in grade school. Loved it, and read practically leveymg Jun 2012 #9
second donquijoterocket Jun 2012 #17
I loved MARTIAN CHRONICLES and some of his other stuff. nt raccoon Jun 2012 #10
*sigh* Are_grits_groceries Jun 2012 #11
Ahh, I loved that book too TuxedoKat Jun 2012 #13
I like this quote from his grandson RT Atlanta Jun 2012 #14
This makes me very sad... SidDithers Jun 2012 #15
RIP - nt Ohio Joe Jun 2012 #16
RIP Scurrilous Jun 2012 #18
He changed the world ManyShadesOf Jun 2012 #20
RIP. cordelia Jun 2012 #21
22 1000 Words Jun 2012 #22
RIP Ray. You really did one hell of a job. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #23
RIP... CherokeeDem Jun 2012 #24
All my favorite authors from my youth are going one by one. Cleita Jun 2012 #25
"He was the biggest kid I know." Ron Obvious Jun 2012 #26
... Fire Walk With Me Jun 2012 #27
Tough tough day jsmirman Jun 2012 #28
Au Revoir Ray! katty Jun 2012 #29
This was one of the first Sci Fi stories...... Amaril Jun 2012 #30
:`( daaron Jun 2012 #31
"the book-lovers rebellion is just getting started." horseshoecrab Jun 2012 #32
K&R n/t horseshoecrab Jun 2012 #33
A Sound Of Thunder is one of ther first pieces of fiction I ever read aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2012 #34

Ian David

(69,059 posts)
6. He picked a fight with Michael Moore over the title Fahrenheit 9/11.
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 10:20 AM
Jun 2012

"Fahrenheit 451" author wants title back
Ray Bradbury claims Michael Moore stole movie title

Legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury is the author of more than 500 published works, including the 1953 classic “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Martian Chronicles.” In early 2000, he was awarded the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. His novel, “Fahrenheit 451” sold over 4 million copies. It is a tale of censorship in a future world where totalitarian leaders forbid the written word. In efforts to preserve their history and culture, inhabitants of the state start memorizing all types of books.

Bradbury discussED “Fahrenheit 451” with Hardball’s guest host Andrea Mitchell, and talked about his displeasure with Michael Moore's documentary of a similar title. Bradbury says Moore mimicked the title without asking his permission.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5324876/ns/msnbc_tv-hardball_with_chris_matthews/t/fahrenheit-author-wants-title-back/



Ray Bradbury May Not Be Who You Think He Is

Jan 18, 2012

It’s probably not an exaggeration to say that Ray Bradbury is our most famous living science fiction writer, one of the last of the first wave of great masters who created the golden age of SF. Except, not only is he not really a science fiction writer, he’s apparently a world class Luddite who doesn’t want anything to do with computers or cell phones or tablets or…anything. Come to think of it, his most famous works tend not to be filled with space ships and aliens but instead dipped in nostalgia for a long-ago vision of small-town America. Dandelion Wine? Something Wicked This Way Comes? Not only that, this paradigm of liberal intellectualism, the guy who wrote Farenheit 451 and was an early vocal opponent of Joe McCarthy, turns out to have aged into a classic Reagan Republican.

In other words, Ray Bradbury is a mess of contradictions. That’s what makes him so interesting.

Daniel J. Flynn’s article on Bradbury in The American Conservative is a real eye-opener. All those contradictions, and all the ebb and flow of Bradbury’s career, are probably not what you expect, even if you’re a fan. Except, perhaps, for the author’s underlying humanity:

“Ray Bradbury loves human beings, and his hatred of the digital devices that divide us from us stems from their dehumanizing influence. Sure, they make us more passive and corrode our mental circuits. But of greatest importance, technology, amidst a million obvious benefits, has the overlooked drawback of making human life less human… Bradbury’s vision of the future germinated from what he saw in the postwar present: gadgeted distractions, screens separating humans from humans, televisions raising children, the vicarious life replacing life itself, leisure time becoming a waste of time. He sensed in which direction the world spun, and he didn’t want to go there.”

Get reacquainted with Ray Bradbury. Read Revenge of the Nerd. http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/revenge-of-the-nerd/

More:
http://www.rd.com/books-entertainment/ray-bradbury-may-not-be-who-you-think-he-is/

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)
12. Ray wrote a story called "Something wicked this way comes"
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 10:48 AM
Jun 2012

A certain Mr Shakespeare might claim Ray stole the title from him.

RIP, Ray. Many thanks for the many hours of pleasure you gave me.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
9. I still remember reading The Martian Chronicles in grade school. Loved it, and read practically
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 10:30 AM
Jun 2012

everything else by him. He also got me started on Heinlein, Clarke, Le Guin and some of the rest of the genre. I still think he's one of the best writers of the bunch.

Much appreciated, Ray. RIP.

donquijoterocket

(488 posts)
17. second
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 11:02 AM
Jun 2012

The appreciation for that and other things.One of the good things to think about is that Bradbury inspired so many people so well it's likely he created his own replacement.
I've been trying to decide if I have a favorite Bradbury, or if like most fans, I have several.Few people get to depart this world knowing they created a classic and Fahrenheit 451 is definitely that as are several other pieces of his.

RT Atlanta

(2,517 posts)
14. I like this quote from his grandson
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 10:49 AM
Jun 2012

"He was the biggest kid I know."

That's really cool and says a lot about the man and his exuberance for life - like a happy child.

Godspeed to Mr. Bradbury and positive thoughts to his family & friends.

CherokeeDem

(3,709 posts)
24. RIP...
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 11:19 AM
Jun 2012

One of the authors I read as a child, who brought me into the world of science fiction and I never left....

 

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)
26. "He was the biggest kid I know."
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 11:57 AM
Jun 2012

"He was the biggest kid I know."

Anybody who can maintain a 'childlike' enthusiasm and interest in the world at 91 was a lucky man in my book. Sounds like a life well-lived.

RIP Ray Bradbury

 

daaron

(763 posts)
31. :`(
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 01:11 PM
Jun 2012

My grandfather knew him, and Martian Chronicles was the 1st book my grandma gave me as a present when I was a kid. Fahrenheit 451 has just about come true. Prescient, no?

Rest In Peace, Ray... the book-lovers rebellion is just getting started.

aint_no_life_nowhere

(21,925 posts)
34. A Sound Of Thunder is one of ther first pieces of fiction I ever read
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 04:31 PM
Jun 2012

when I was just a little kid in the 1950s. It's a short story about a company that offers people the chance to go back in time to the age of dinosaurs for some big game hunting. But they only can shoot dinosaurs that are about to die, to make sure that history isn't changed. And they're supposed to stay on an elevated walkway that doesn't let them accidentally disturb anything in the Jurassic environment. Unfortunately, one of the tourists goes off the path and accidentally kills a butterfly. When they come back to the present, everything has changed including the English language, all because of one small butterfly.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Auth...