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[my_window_seat]

It's the birthday of science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, born in Waukegan, Illinois (1920). He's the author of many books of science fiction, including The Martian Chronicles (1950) and Fahrenheit 451 (1953). One of his ancestors, Mary Bradbury, was burned as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts, and he said he got from her his anxiety about fear-mongering and thought control. He said, "Science fiction is a wonderful hammer; I intend to use it when and if necessary, to bark a few shins or knock a few heads, in order to make people leave people alone."

He (also) said, "I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it."

Happy Birthday, Mr. B. You are, and will always be, one of my all-time heroes.

Comments

[hillbillie.livejournal.com]

One of my all-time favorites as well.
He came to my town once, to speak...on short notice, yet the auditorium was full.
:)
I got his autograph on a book for James, who has been inspired by him.

Mr. Bradbury, for all his darkly descriptive writing, was a cheerful, super-nice fellow, seeming full of sunshine.

Somehow that makes it even better.

[my-window-seat.livejournal.com]

I never met him myself, but I did get that impression from interviews and author's comments on some of the audio books I've listened to.

I know a few amazing artists who are so cheerful IRL and yet are obssessed with horror in one aspect or another in their artwork.

Go figure...