Ray Bradbury

Today’s passing of Ray Bradbury, surprisingly, makes me remember my youth. Although I constantly give out library copies of The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451 to reluctant summer readers, I vividly remember being entranced by Dandelion Wine, The Illustrated Man, and the wonderfully titled Something Wicked This Way Comes.

I remember summer days reading and nights lying in bed, warm under the covers, reading and not wanting to put down Ray Bradbury. I think as a kid, I read everything he had written. As I look at his bibliography, The Golden Apples of the Sun strikes a vague memory chord. And then somewhere along the way, I grew up and veered off the science fiction/fantasy course. What a mistake. Look at all that I’ve missed.

So, I’ve chosen to reread a few titles and read some new ones in order to remind myself what a great, innovative, ground-breaking writer Bradbury was. I suggest you do the same.