Ray Bradbury
From BookJive
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| Born: | August 22, 1920 |
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| School: | Los Angeles High School |
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| Website: | website |
Ray Douglas Bradbury (born August 22, 1920) is an American literary, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer best known for The Martian Chronicles, a 1950 book which has been described both as a short story collection and a novel, and his 1953 dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451.
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[edit] Beginnings
Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois, to a Swedish immigrant mother and a father who was a power and telephone lineman. His paternal grandfather and great-grandfather were newspaper publishers. Ray Bradbury was a reader and writer throughout his youth, spending much time in the Carnegie Library in Waukegan. His novels Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Farewell Summer, and many of his short stories, depict the town of Waukegan as "Green Town" and are semi-autobiographical. He attributes his lifelong daily writing habit to the day in 1932 when a carnival entertainer, Mr. Electrico, touched him with an electrified sword, made his hair stand on end, and shouted, "Live forever!"
The Bradbury family lived in Tucson, Arizona, in 1926–27 and 1932–33 as his father pursued employment, each time returning to Waukegan, and eventually settled in Los Angeles in 1934, when Ray was thirteen.
Bradbury graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1938 but chose not to attend college. Instead, he sold newspapers at the corner of South Norton Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. He continued to educate himself at the local library, and having been influenced by science fiction heroes like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, he began to publish science fiction stories in fanzines in 1938. Ray was invited by Forrest J Ackerman to attend the now legendary Clifton’s Cafeteria Science Fiction Club. Here Ray met the writers Robert A. Heinlein, Fredric Brown, Henry Kuttner, Leigh Brackett, and Jack Williamson. He launched his own fanzine in 1939, titled Futuria Fantasia, and wrote most of its four issues, each limited to under a hundred copies. His first paid piece was for the pulp magazine Super Science Stories in 1941, for which he earned $15. He became a full-time writer by the end of 1942. His first book, Dark Carnival, a collection of short works, was published in 1947 by Arkham House. He married Marguerite McClure (1922–2003) in 1947, and they had four daughters.
A chance encounter in a Los Angeles bookstore with the British expatriate writer Christopher Isherwood gave Bradbury the opportunity to put The Martian Chronicles into the hands of a respected critic. Isherwood's glowing review followed and was a substantial boost to Bradbury's career.
[edit] Biography
Often referred to as a science fiction writer, a categorization he objects to, Ray Bradbury is an eclectic and prolific author whose works have significantly influenced the viewpoints and perspectives of his readers. Bradbury has more than five hundred published works: short essays on arts and culture, short stories, novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts, and verse. Many of his works have been adapted to film, radio, television, theater, and comic books. His timeless appeal to readers of all ages places him shoulder to shoulder with the classic authors of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920 to a Swedish immigrant mother and a father who was a power and telephone lineman. His paternal grandfather and great-grandfather had been newspaper publishers. The Bradbury family lived in Tucson, Arizona during 1926 and 1927, returning in 1932 as his father pursued employment During the intervening years, the family returned to Waukegan but in 1934, they settled permanently in Los Angeles, California. Many of Bradbury's works feature 'the small-town community lifestyle' that is derived from his experiences of living in Waukegan. In 1938, Bradbury graduated from Los Angeles High School and made a decision to eschew a formal college education. His lifelong love of books and knowledge gave him a foundation to pursue higher learning within the walls of the local library.
Popular science fiction heroes like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers had a great influence on Bradbury and in 1938 he began to publish his science fiction stories in fanzines—non-professional publications produced by fans of a certain genre. In 1941, Bradbury earned his first income through writing with the publication of a short story in Super Science Stories. In 1942, Bradbury became a full time writer and in 1947 published his first book, a collection of short stories and entitled, Dark Carnival. It was in this same year that he married Marguerite McClure (1922-2003). Critical recognition of Bradbury’s work transpired in 1950 with the publication of what is probably his most popular book, The Martian Chronicles. Prompted by the glowing review written by his friend, British expatriate and writer, Christopher Isherwood, The Martian Chronicles was brought to the attention of several other respected literary critics. Bradbury had become a ‘name’ in the literary world.
During the 1950’s, 27 of Bradbury’s short stories were adapted for EC Comics and some of his works were televised on a variety of shows including Tales of Tomorrow, Lights Out, Out There, Suspense, and others. In 1980, NBC broadcasted a three-part mini-series of The Martian Chronicles that starred Rock Hudson in the leading role. From 1985 until 1992, 65 of Bradbury’s stories were adapted for a show which he personally hosted: The Ray Bradbury Theater. The first Bradbury work to hit the big screen was in 1953 with the adaptation of It Came from Outer Space. This was followed by several successful films based on his work. In 2005, however, the film version of A Sound of Thunder, produced by Peter Hyams, received a unanimous rejection from film critics. It is generally understood that it was the adaptation and not the original work that failed. (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808405973/critic)
[edit] Honors and Awards
- Bradbury was the consultant for the American Pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
- In recognition of Bradbury’s contribution to the motion picture industry, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6644 Hollywood Boulevard.
- An asteroid is named in his honor: “9766 Bradbury.”
- A crater on the moon, “Dandelion Crater,” was named for his novel Dandelion Wine.
- The National Book Foundation awarded Bradbury the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2000.
- On November 17, 2004, Bradbury received the National Medal of Arts bestowed by President and Mrs. George W. Bush.
- He has received the World Fantasy Award, Life Achievement, Stoker Award, Life Achievement, SFWA Grand Master, SF Hall of Fame Living Inductee, and First Fantom Award.
- He received an Emmy Award for his work on The Halloween Tree.
- On April 16, 2007, Bradbury received a special citation from The Pulitzer Board for his unmatched contributions in the literary world of science fiction and fantasy.
- Bradbury presents the Ray Bradbury Creativity Award each year at Woodbury University.
[edit] Selected Books
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