Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)

[Ⓐaron]

Washington Post obituary

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

I am gutted. This man was one of the greats. "Fahrenheit 451" is a huge part of my life, and it used to make me happy just knowing that Bradbury was still knocking around in this world.
I'm disappointed to see the Washington Post perpetuating the misunderstanding that "Fahrenheit 451" is about censorship and totalitarianism.
R.I.P. Ray Bradbury. You will be sorely missed.

 

[Ⓐaron]

Yeah I'm kind of surprised they screwed that up since he was adamant that it was about how television and other new technologies could destroy people's interest in literature. And in that he seems to have been right on, unfortunately.

"There Will Come Soft Rains" is one of my favourite short stories ever written.

 

[Ryushikaze]

Yeah, it was a screed against TV mostly- and no offense, I like his other works, but 451 just never struck a chord with me. Still, sad to hear he passed.

Still, though the man has died, he leaves a legacy behind him, which is all we can ever really hope to do.

 

[Tennyo]

Ugh why no.

Martian Chronicles is one of my most fave books ever.

Fuck everything, why is everyone dieing lately?

 

[Ⓐaron]

Appreciation from Margaret Atwood. Worth reading in its entirety.

I think I need to read more of his books. Most of them aren't very long, so that shouldn't take long.

 

[Morello]

Hearing of his death made me very sad. I love his writing, especially many of the short stories. "The Pedestrian" was the first one I read, in school. His descriptions of the empty streets, with everyone but one man shut in their houses living through TV, are amazing:

The street was silent and long and empty, with only his shadow moving like the shadow of a hawk in midcountry. If he closed his eyes and stood very still, frozen, he could imagine himself upon the center of a plain, a wintry, windless Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles, and only dry river beds, the streets, for company.

"The Flying Machine" is one of my favourites - a brilliant parable about power, and fear, and the responsibility of rule. He leaves a wonderful legacy.

 

[Arianna]

Rest in peace, Mr. Ray Bradbury.

 

[Ryushikaze]

From what I remember, the man was both quite amused and flattered by this song, so I'll post it here for everyone to enjoy.