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Ray Bradbury

            Science Fiction: The Second Love of Ray Bradbury's Life.
             Ray Bradbury is an author consumed by science fiction. In fact, his name is likely the first mentioned when anyone speaks of science fiction writing in this century. This may be because of the many highly entertaining works he has authored. It may be more attributable to the meaningful themes he weaves into his writings. Bradbury himself once said he used science fiction as "aiming to narrow the focus, not to widen it; to shrink all the big frightening things to the compass of the familiar" (Bloom 5). Regardless, Ray Bradbury's passion for science fiction is undeniable.
             Ray Bradbury's early childhood was very crucial in the development of his infatuation with science fiction. His childhood was a constant source of intense sensations, feelings, and images that help generate ideas for stories later in life. His father was an electrical lineman, and the family went through many hard times. One of his twin brothers died two years before Ray's birth, and his younger sister Elizabeth died at the age of one of pneumonia (Litz 104). This created a gloomy and morose environment for the Bradbury family during much of his childhood. The deaths of his siblings began to interest him in the science of life and our being. His first exposure with fiction occurred while watching his dad perform numerous magic tricks and being read books, particularly the book of Oz (Jespen). It was during this time in his life when he read "Amazing Stories" by Hugo Gernsback, and became obsessed with science fiction literature (Litz 120).
             There are two recurring elements in Bradbury's writings. The first is a frequent fictional reference to Mexico and the second is the frequent pertinence to childhood. The reference to Mexico can be traced to a trip he took there to see the mummies in the Catacombs at Guanajuato. This trip makes him realize the science behind the mummies, but at the same time, makes him guess what these individuals did during their life span (Riley 57).


Essays Related to Ray Bradbury

1. Ray Bradbury

... "The Martian Chronicles", a collection of interrelated stories concerning colonization of the planet Mars, those attracted readers of both young and old. In it Bradbury showed the strengths and weaknesses of human beings as they encountered a new world. Ray Bradbury grew up in Waukegan and in Los Angeles, where he founded a magazine called Futuria Fantasia while in high school. He sold his first short ... as the New Yorker, Mademoiselle, and the Saturday Evening Post. His science fiction and fantasy short story collections included "The Martian Chronicles", "The Illustrated Man", and "D...

  • Word Count: 357
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Ray Bradbury

... achieved such success through his unique style that includes many literary elements and themes to give his stories depth and meaning. Ray Bradbury's sophisticated prose style, themes, and literary elements he intertwines into his stories has gained him and his field respect. Bradbury's advanced writing abilities also contribute to his success. The themes of his stories are profound and give the reader true ... multicolored window." This is a clear case of imagery and the writer seems to place a picture in the reader's head. Bradbury also uses foreshadowing frequently. As shown in "The M...

  • Word Count: 1033
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Ray Bradbury

... lifetime achiever because he has been interested in writing for many years, done many different writings, and has received many awards and honors. Ray Bradbury is an American novelist, play writer, essayist, screenwriter, short-story writer, and poet. He was born in Waukegan, Illinois on ... published. However, it was not until 1950 that he became known as a writer of vision and courage with the publication of "The Martian Chronicles". Ray Bradbury has written thousands of short stories (about 600 published), published more than thirty books and has written numerous plays, essays, and p...

  • Word Count: 475
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Ray Bradbury Writing Style

It was in 1936 when Ray Bradbury "saw the future" and began writing. Since then, Bradbury's use of figurative language has shined through his work. His intriguing beginnings, sensory details, and poetic phrases keep his readers reading. The ... part of a story is the beginning. Whether the reader continues to read on or not depends strongly on the first few lines. Writing intriguing beginnings is Bradbury's strongest writing aspect. In There Will Come Soft Rains he captures the readers" attention by describing the house's routine in the morning. Emphasizing on the ... angry at inconvenience." ...

  • Word Count: 412
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

5. There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury

... her attention. A literary device used by many authors is symbolism or, more distinctly, personification. Personification helps the author to establish mood and to build imagery in a piece of writing. In Ray Bradbury's poem, "There Will Come Soft Rains" personification is used to connect the reader with non-human or inanimate objects that are being described in the piece. As with ... lives. The dramatic story begins with no defined setting. No setup, no back drop, and no background information that shapes the preface of the piece. However, what is presented by Ray Bradbury is an extraord...

  • Word Count: 813
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Ray Bradbury:

"THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS" Ray Douglas Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois to Leonard and Esther Marie Bradbury. In 1931 he began using butcher paper to jot down a few stories. In 1934, Bradbury and his family moved to Los Angeles, where he went to Los Angeles High School. He was very active in the drama club at his high school ... everything for you with, your intelligence, but if you are still fighting against mankind, what can this house do for you when you are gone? This story is kind of Ray Bradbury's prediction of the future (which is now), and how a nuclear wa...

  • Word Count: 637
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Criticisms by Ray Bradbury

... Baldwin was heard saying, "I love America more then any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." This applied to Ray Bradbury as well, in his novel The Martian Chronicles, he criticized things about the American society. Through this somewhat outlandish science fiction novel he touched upon many sensitive subjects such as ... , racial prejudice, the threat of war, and the provincial censorship that took place. I agree with Bradbury's criticisms, and they just showed how much he loved America. In the 1940's many feared...

  • Word Count: 547
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

8. The April Witch by Ray Bradbury

... compels us to put others before ourselves or if it is actually a selfish and egotistic pretense to mask our own problems. "The April Witch" by Ray Bradbury explores a multitude of questions that pop up when it comes to the perplexing puzzle that is love and more specifically, if the act of love ... beneficial to ourselves in some way? And if we want to reap the benefits of love, wouldn't that mean that love is actually a selfish act? Bradbury's short story, "The April Witch," introduces the setting of the story as spring time in Illinois where the gentle breeze flows through the grasse...

  • Word Count: 1907
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Sound Of Thunder by Ray Bradbury

I read the story "The Sound of Thunder,"" by Ray Bradbury. This story is very interesting. It is about how we could go back in time. With one mistake we could change our future. I will be judging the authors story. Many ... really makes you think how a small think can make a big difference in our future. Well many of you can have a different opinion about being able to go back in time. Ray Bradbury wrote a good story that will make you appreciate life today or not. "The Sound of Thunder" is a very interesting story you should go and read this story. So you would ... ...

  • Word Count: 563
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

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