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Tributes are paid to the writer Ray Bradbury

Tributes are paid to the writer Ray Bradbury

TRIBUTES have been paid to the writer Ray Bradbury who has passed away aged 91.

While he will be best remembered as a science fiction writer, Mr. Bradbury preferred his work to be called ‘fantasy’. Over his long career he produced a monumental amount of work. He wrote hundreds of short stories and almost 50 books — as well as poems, operas and plays.

He had also written for Hollywood, producing the screenplay for John Huston’s Moby Dick (1956). Films based on his work included The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), which was based on his story The Fog Horn, and Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983). His animated film Icarus Montgolfier Wright (1962) was nominated for an Oscar (see below).

Among his best known books is Fahrenheit 451 which was published in 1953 and depicts a future society in which books are banned. 

Mr. Bradbury recalled that when he was 15 he heard that Hitler had ordered the burning of books in Berlin which did not correspond with Nazi ideology. 

The writer recalled (see below): “I learned then how dangerous it all was because if you didn’t have books and the ability to read you couldn’t be part of any civilisation. You couldn’t be part of a democracy.” 

His love of books led him to try and prevent Fahrenheit 451 being published as an e-book — although he finally relented and allowed the publication to go ahead last year.

Mr. Bradbury was proud of the fact that he had written every day for more than 75 years. He once wrote: “In my later years I have looked in the mirror each day and found a happy person staring back. Occasionally I wonder why I can be so happy. The answer is that every day of my life I’ve worked only for myself and for the joy that comes from writing and creating. The image in my mirror is not optimistic, but the result of optimal behaviour.”

He is survived by his four daughters. His wife passed away in 2003.

To see Icarus Montgolfier Wright, click here.

To view an interview in which Ray Bradbury discusses his life, click here.

 

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