Happy 91st birthday, Ray Bradbury!

[n2doc]

August 22, 2011 | 12:30 pm

Ray Bradbury celebrates his 91st birthday today. The author of "The Martian Chronicles," "Dandelion Wine," "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Fahrenheit 451," who makes his home in Los Angeles, has had a wide cultural influence, consulting with the likes of both Disney and NASA.

Bradbury is the author of more than 30 books, hundreds of short stories, plus poetry, plays and books for children. He is credited as a writer on dozens of movie and television projects; he worked with John Huston on the screenplay of the 1956 film version of "Moby-Dick." He has recieved a National Medal of Arts, a special citation from the Pulitzer board, a medal for distinguished contribution to American letters from the National Book Foundation. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an asteroid named in his honor.

Ray Bradbury has frequently made appearances at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and other literary events around the Southland. Last year, his 90th birthday was celebrated during the officially declared Ray Bradbury Week.

This year, he's taking it easy, but there is equal cause to celebrate the visionary science-fiction writer and his work. Happy birthday, Ray Bradbury!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/happy-91st-birthday-ray-bradbury.html

[hifiguy]

1. One of the true greats.

He changed my world forever when I discovered his works in my teenage years.

[Octafish]

2. Happy Birthday, Ray!

For as long as I can remember, you've made my life more full and our world a better place.

[dtexdem]

3. I honor him for his earlier science fiction.

Including "The Illustrated Man."

I loathe his later horror/fantasy crap. A good writer who went seriously bad.

[Recursion]

4. His early stuff is pretty much the only sci fi I can read

I love Medicine for Melancholy and Golden Apples of the Sun. But yeah his later stuff left me kind of high and dry. Also he has some weird cranky "get off my lawn" conservative views, but I suppose at 91 people are entitled to that.

[Frank Cannon]

15. He's become a real wingnut in recent years.

I suspect there's more than a little dementia involved. His later writings bear no resemblance whatsoever to immortal classics like "The Martian Chronicles" or "R is for Rocket". You can't believe it's the same guy.

[RebelOne]

5. He is my favorite of all the sci-fi writers.

I have been reading his books since I was a teenager. Happy Birthday, Ray!!!

[Lorien]

13. .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1IxOS4VzKM&feature=share
:P

[progressoid]

18. Aaaaahahahaha!

:thumbsup:

[MilesColtrane]

6. How'd that man-crush on George W. Bush work out for you, Ray?

I thought people generally got wiser the longer they lived.

[Ian David]

7. I spoke to him on the phone once when I was a teen. He was pretty cool at the time. n/t

[johnaries]

8. Happy Birthday, Ray!

[Scurrilous]

9. K & R

:thumbsup:

[BlueIris]

10. Now that's what I'm talking about.

I have been on a huge Bradbury kick lately, and it's great. Really looking forward to that film of Dandelion Wine.

[TheKentuckian]

11. and many more!

[Lorien]

12. Great guy. I had lunch with him years ago on a studio lot

he was just as great a story teller in person as he is on the page!

[GiveMeFreedom]

17. Man,

bet that left you a bunch of cool memories. I am jealous.

[Lorien]

19. Yep, I remember some of his stories pretty well, but others I only wish

I could recall. He was very animated and I didn't get many words in edgewise except to say things like "Really?" "What happened then?" "No way, you're kidding!" "Amazing!" but that was cool. It was one of the more entertaining two hour lunches that I've had!

[Supply Side Jesus]

14. First sbook I ever read was Martian Chronicles

alot of it went over my little brain, but it definitely influences me to this day

[shanti]

16. happy birthday, mr. bradbury!

live long and prosper!