Ray Bradbury

August 22, 1920 - June 5, 2012

The American author and playwright, Ray Bradbury, is known for his fantasy, horror, mystery, and Science Fiction novels in addition to his short essays on art and culture and plays.

Bradbury lived a life of the arts and began reading, drawing, acting, and writing from a young age. He also enjoyed magic and may have become a magician if his writing was not such a success. Bradbury started writing every day during his adolescent years and enjoyed reading at the library. He loved the theater and often hung out near local theaters in the Hollywood area watching the stars come and go. Bradbury was a member of the Drama and Poetry clubs in high school. He was against formal postsecondary education and instead of attending college spent his time in libraries. Bradbury was rejected from the military during World War II due to his poor eyesight, opening the way for his career as a writer and playwright.

Similar to most authors of the time, Bradbury first published his stories in magazines. While Bradbury is thought of as a Science Fiction author by many, he felt that his only true Science Fiction novel was Fahrenheit 451, because it was the only story based on reality rather than fantasy. The dystopian Fahrenheit 451 and the short story collections The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man are thought to be his most famous works.

The popularity and appeal of Bradbury's writings led to a multitude of television, movie, and comic book adaptations. Bradbury was also a successful playwright and left behind a legacy in both literature and theater, two of his loves. He received a number of awards and honors including an Emmy award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and honorary doctorates from multiple universities. Bradbury was clearly a Master of more than just Science Fiction.