Today is Ray Bradburys birthday (1920-2012). I met him in 1992 in Anaheim. He was 71, turning 72 later that summer. We shook hands, and I said that he had transformed my life when I was 12 and read The Martian Chronicles for the first time. I told him I had memorized the first chapter, Rocket Summer. He laughed and said, No, not really? That memorization is from another one of my books [Fahrenheit 451]. And I grinned like a goof and began, One minute it was Ohio winter, with doors closed, windows locked, the panes blind with frost, icicles fringing every roof, children skiing on slopes, housewives lumbering like great black bears in their furs along the icy streets. And then a long wave of warmth crossed the small town . . . . He laughed again with his big booming laugh and said, Okay, okay! I believe you. Im glad you believe in me. We talked a little more, and I thanked him again -- for what? For everything. He was a wonderful man. Not all of his writing was life-changing, but his finest writing is still the very best.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:08:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015