Ray Bradbury Biography
Ray Bradbury will remain literature’s favorite bogeyman when all is said and done, when all the pens have run dry and all the computers are unplugged. Despite an incredibly prolific career that spans countless styles, formats, and genres, Bradbury is best known for his creepier tales. Whether chronicling the spooky carnival in Something Wicked This Way Comes or the nightmarish society of Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury had a knack for tapping into very real human fears—paranoia, solitude, abandonment, death. Surprisingly, Bradbury often shrugged off his sci-fi reputation because he believed his tales, no matter how sinister, often had some basis in reality. So, yes, the monsters under your bed just might be real after all.
Facts and Trivia
- Of the numerous adaptations of Ray Bradbury’s works into film and television, one of the earliest was It Came from Outer Space, a minor classic of the 1950s science fiction genre.
- From 1985 to 1992, Bradbury hosted The Ray Bradbury Theater, a serial television show based on his short stories.
- Although mostly associated with science fiction and the macabre, Bradbury has written family-oriented material like The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.
- Despite its box office success and the political firestorm it instigated, the film Fahrenheit 9/11 angered Bradbury because director Michael Moore appropriated the title of Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451 without asking permission.
- Bradbury became a member of the now-famous Clifton Cafeteria’s Science Fiction club, which included other notable writers such as Robert Heinlein.
Biography
Ray Bradbury, an iconic figure in American literature, was born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois. His early years in this Midwestern town would later inspire the fictional "Green Town" setting in his stories. Bradbury's journey from a small-town boy to a celebrated writer is marked by his love for storytelling and a vivid imagination.
Early Life and Family Moves
The Bradbury family relocated to Tucson, Arizona, in 1926, where Ray’s younger sister was born. Tragically, she passed away from pneumonia the following year, prompting the family to return to Waukegan. Their moves didn’t end there; in 1932, they went back to Tucson but returned to Waukegan in 1933. Finally, in 1934, the family settled in Los Angeles, a city that would become Bradbury's enduring home.
Hollywood Dreams and Early Writing Ventures
As a teenager, Bradbury was captivated by the glamour of Hollywood, often spending his time near studio lots in hopes of seeing his favorite stars. His persistence paid off when he handed a script to George Burns every week until Burns used it to conclude his show. This encounter marked the beginning of Bradbury’s lifelong relationship with show business and storytelling.
From High School to Professional Writing
Upon graduating high school, Bradbury dedicated himself to writing, supporting himself by selling newspapers on the streets until 1942. His professional debut came with the publication of “Pendulum” in Super Science Stories in 1941, coinciding with his attendance at science fiction writer Robert Heinlein’s classes. By 1945, Bradbury was writing full-time, contributing to both science fiction "pulp" magazines and mainstream publications such as McCall’s. His emerging talent was recognized with an O. Henry Award in 1947, setting the stage for his illustrious writing career.
Rise to Prominence in the 1950s
The 1950s were transformative for Bradbury, who established himself as a leading American writer. He published acclaimed short story collections, including The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), and his novel Fahrenheit 451 in 1953. Alongside his prose work, Bradbury ventured into dramatic writing, crafting radio adaptations, television dramas, and the screenplay for John Huston’s film Moby Dick. In 1957, he published Dandelion Wine, a novel deeply rooted in his youthful experiences in Waukegan, which was later adapted into a musical drama.
Expansive Career and Recognition
Bradbury's creativity flourished over the following four decades, as he produced numerous story collections, screenplays, teleplays, and voiceover narrations for documentaries and films. His work also extended to essays, nonfiction books, speeches, lyrics, and poetry. Throughout his career, Bradbury received numerous accolades, including the Aviation Space Writers Association Award (1968, 1979), the World Fantasy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (1977), the Jules Verne Award (1984), and the PEN Body of Work Award (1985). He was honored with the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2000 and the National Medal of the Arts in 2004. Acknowledging his contributions to science fiction and fantasy, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named him a Grand Master, and his legacy was cemented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Later Years and Continued Writing
Despite suffering a stroke in 1999, Bradbury’s passion for writing remained undiminished. He continued to publish new works, including the short story collection One More for the Road (2002) and several poetry collections. In 2003, he released the novel Let’s All Kill Constance, further enriching his extensive literary portfolio.
Criticism by Ray Bradbury
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