Ray Bradbury Dies: Celebrating the Life of Literary Pioneer

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Discussion Overview

The thread reflects on the life and works of Ray Bradbury following his passing, with participants sharing their personal experiences with his literature, particularly his short stories and novels. The discussion encompasses reminiscences, expressions of grief, and reflections on his impact on readers and the literary world.

Discussion Character

  • Meta-discussion
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Several participants express their admiration for Bradbury's works, mentioning titles like "The Martian Chronicles," "Fahrenheit 451," and "The Illustrated Man" as significant to their youth.
  • Some contributors highlight the importance of his short stories, particularly those published in pulp magazines, suggesting they are among his best works.
  • One participant recalls the influence of a friend's father, who was a fan of the pulps, allowing them access to many of Bradbury's stories.
  • Another participant appreciates Bradbury's ability to convey complex situations succinctly, noting his unique style and poetic qualities.
  • There is a sentiment expressed that Bradbury's writing transcends traditional science fiction, with an emphasis on his imaginative and fantastical elements rather than scientific accuracy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the impact and significance of Bradbury's works, particularly his short stories. However, there are differing views on the categorization of his writing, with some emphasizing his poetic nature over his role as a science fiction writer.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reflect personal interpretations of Bradbury's writing style and thematic focus, which may vary among participants.

lisab
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When I was a youngster, "The Martian Chronicles", "The Illustrated Man", and "Fahrenheit 451" were all required reading for us nerdy types.

RIP, Mr Bradbury!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/06/entertainment-us-usa-bradbury-idUSBRE8550UC20120606
 
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lisab said:
When I was a youngster, "The Martian Chronicles", "The Illustrated Man", and "Fahrenheit 451" were all required reading for us nerdy types.

RIP, Mr Bradbury!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/06/entertainment-us-usa-bradbury-idUSBRE8550UC20120606
I read the Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451 in high school.

RIP, RB!
 
I think I read almost everything he wrote. R.I.P.
 
RIP Ray, you were read even here.
 
RIP Ray Bradbury.

Thanks for making things like this possible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEMWtyAKRhQ
 
What a great author. He'll be missed.
 
I've got everything he ever wrote, although most of it isn't the first copy I read 'cause I got those from a library in my teens but I love his stuff so much I bought everything later. My kids have also read some of his best.

RIP
 
Some of his best works (IMO) were not the novels and novellas that got so much attention, but the short stories that turned up in the pulps.

I was quite lucky that my friend's father was a fan of the pulps and he subscribed to quite a few of them. I was careful with his books, and always returned them in good order, so I got to read a lot of stories that I could not have afforded otherwise. Very nice guy. MIT prof with national security experience from the beginnings of the cold war. AND a fan of science fiction. His library was incredible. Still, I loved those pulps.
 
  • #10
I absolutely loved the short stories in "The Illustrated Man". "The veldt", and "Last night of the World" are two of my favorites, although all are excellent. I still periodically remember that scene from "The long rain" in the movie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illustrated_Man
 
  • #11
Bradbury's short stories were among the best in the pulps. He had a way of expressing complex situations with minimal words, and still made the stories enjoyable and readable. The editors of those pulps had a way of coaxing cogent and compact stories out of their contributors, as explained in many fan-mags. I doubt that Bradbury needed such guidance.
 
  • #12
turbo said:
He had a way of expressing complex situations with minimal words, and still made the stories enjoyable and readable.

That actually explains, as well as I could, my opinion of him. He was not a Science Fiction writer, in that he had no regard for scientific accuracy. He was a brilliant poet and fantasist, whose vision frequently tended toward the future. Normally, I detest poetry, but his was in a class by itself. I'm sorry that he is no longer here.
 

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