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Thursday, June 07 2012 - 08:41 PM
Ray Bradbury R.I.P.
At the suggestion of another blogger, I’m posting an exchange yesterday between myself and Lee Pfeiffer, editor of Cinema Retro concerning the death at 91 of Ray Bradbury:
6/6/12 11:55 am
Lee,
Ray Bradbury was a very kind and generous man, generous with him time, generous with his advice. We met several times at various Writers Guild functions over the years, particularly during the 1988 strike for which I was co-chair of the Strike Committee.
He was especially helpful to other writers who, like myself, explored the ‘science fiction’ genre. He always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye, never took himself too seriously and had little patience with those who fawned over him. And was generous in his praise for others who followed similar paths.
All said, another great creative mind we’ve lost.
Ray
6/6/12 8:49 pm
Ray,
It’s sad news, indeed…he was a giant. At least he had a long, productive life and lived to see his work reach a new generation of fans.
Lee
Here’s an excerpt from an excellent Associated Press obit by John Rogers:
Ray Bradbury imagined the future, and didn’t always like what he saw.
In his books, the science fiction-fantasy master conjured a dark, depressing future where the government used fire departments to burn books (“Fahrenheit 451”) in order to hold its people in ignorance and where racial hatred was so pervasive that some people left Earth for other planets.
At the same time, his work, just like the author himself, could also be joyful, whimsical and nostalgic, as when he was describing the magic of a Midwestern summer or the innocence and fearlessness of a boy who befriends a houseful of ghosts.
Bradbury died Tuesday at age 91. He said often that all of his stories, no matter how fantastic or frightening they might be, were metaphors for everyday life and everything it entailed. And they all came from his childhood.
“The great thing about my life is that everything I’ve done is a result of what I was when I was 12 or 13,” he said in 1982.
For more than 70 years, Bradbury spun tales that appeared in books and magazines, in the movie theater and on the television screen, firing the imaginations of generations of children, college kids and grown-ups across the world. Years later, the sheer volume and quality of his work would surprise even him.
“I sometimes get up at night when I can’t sleep and walk down into my library and open one of my books and read a paragraph and say: ‘My God, did I write that? Did I write that?’ Because it’s still a surprise,” he said in 2000.
In many ways, he was always that 12-year-old boy who was inspired to become a writer after a chance meeting with a carnival magician called Mr. Electrico who, to Bradbury’s delight, tapped him with his sword and said: “Live forever!”
“I decided that was the greatest idea I had ever heard,” Bradbury said later. “I started writing every day. I never stopped.”
Cagy Wolf says...
One of my all time favorite sci fi writers and a few of his stories have been made into movies.
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Ray Cunneff says...
Little known Ray Bradbury fact: He wrote the screenplay for John Huston’s film version of “Moby Dick” (1956).
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Ray Cunneff says...
Few of his books made it to the big screen, most notably “Fahrenheit 451”, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and “The Illustrated Man”.
He also wrote a couple of highly-regarded 1950’s sci-fi B-movies, “It Came From Outer Space” and “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms”.
One of his most famous works, “The Martian Chronicles” was only made as a TV-movie.
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roxi says...
Thank you Ray for sharing your thoughts about Ray Bradbury, I am sure this is a difficult time for you, and your industry. From reading the 3 articles in the LATimes this morning, one on the front page, and 2 in the Calender section, it gives those who were not that familiar with who he was enormous regret that they never got the chance to meet him, but loved his work from afar.
As written in the Times front page today:
Champion of fantasy
“As a child, Ray Bradbury was romanced by fantasy in its many forms — Grimms’ fairy tales and “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Lon Chaney Sr. and Buck Rogers.
But with the magic came nightmares that kept him sweating and sleepless.
(snip)
“….He often told, and elaborately embroidered, the story of the epiphany that led him to become a writer. A visit to the carnival at 12 brought him face to face with Mr. Electrico, a magician who awakened Bradbury to the notions of reincarnation and immortality….”
Bradbury:
“He was a miracle of magic, seated at the electric chair, swathed in black velvet robes, his face burning like white phosphor, blue sparks hissing from his fingertips,” he recalled in interviews. “He touched me with his electric sword — my hair stood on end — and said, ‘Live forever.’”
Transfixed, Brandbury returned day after day. “he said we met before,” ….."’You were my best friend. You died in my arms in 1918, in France.’
Bradbury:
“I knew something special had happened in my life.”
—Lynell George; Copyright 2012 Los Angeles Times
Every artist, writer and creative person searches and sometimes finds their muse. It’s the one ‘earthly being’ that touches them in such a way that not only seems to seek them out, but also encourages knowledge, in some magical way that leads them to their craft.
After reading these articles published in the Times, I highly recommend everyone to do so. Such positive energy transforms when one is touched by spirits such as these — and how rare and important it is for all of us to recognize them when they ‘appear’.
Rest in Peace Mr. Bradbury, and thank you for your incredible gift you shared with the world.
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Ray Cunneff says...
As a kid, he would talk his way onto the studio lots to meet the filmmakers and movie stars. He once talked Jean Harlow into an on-camera kiss.
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roxi says...
The moon was HUGE Tuesday night – just amazing.
The heavens left the largest light on for an awsum flight.
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roxi says...
Dandelion Wine
“The sidewalks were haunted by dust ghosts all night as the furnace wind summoned the up, swung them about and gentled them down in a warm spice on the lawns. Trees, shaken by the footsteps of late-night strollers, sifted avalanches of dust. From midnight on, it seemed a volcano beyond the town was showering red-hot ashes everywhere, crusting slumberless night watchmen and irritable dogs. Each house was a yellow attic smoldering with spontaneous combustion at three in the morning.”
-—Ray Bradbury, “Dandelion Wine”
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Atticus says...
In the early 70’s I attended a conference for the California Association of Teachers of English. Ray Bradbury was there to introduce his first book of poetry. I don’t think he wrote another. It was pretty mediocre. I had loved his ever since I had picked up a copy of The Martian Chronicles at my home as a little boy. I was honored to be invited to his hotel room in the LA Airport Marriott because the publisher of his book was a friend of mine. What a wonderful afternoon. And what a kind and gentle man. I was embarrassed to ask, after we had become so “friendly” but he was kind enough to autograph one of my business cards. Over the years I taught Farenheit 451, and with what’s happening with our Marxist president and his compliant left wing press, it’s not that incomprehensible anymore. Ask Bob Woodward.
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Ray Cunneff says...
“He was my muse for the better part of my sci-fi career. He lives on through his legion of fans. In the world of science fiction and fantasy and imagination, he is immortal.”
Steven Spielberg
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