Ray Douglas Bradbury was an American science fiction, fantasy and horror writer. Now, science fiction isn't exactly top on my list of genres to savor, but out of necessity (his novel, Fahrenheit 451, was the required reading). But I fell in love with this dystopian novel and how it was something so within us. With the prominence of technology and information, it was something you could almost see happening when you look at your niece and nephew working the iPad with ease.
The book basically entails on how society is made to believe that books are the bringer of sadness. The curiosity sparked by books was seen to be 'damaging' because they made people think. Firemen were in charge of burning these books instead of putting out fires. Ironic.
I've yet to read the rest of his books, but I have read a few of his other short works. I urge everyone to give his work a try, at the very least Fahrenheit 451. It's probably one of my top books I'd recommend to read before you die.
Though none of his works won a Pulitzer Prize, Mr. Bradbury received a Pulitzer citation in 2007 “for his distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy.” - The New York Times
Cool trivia:
- Fahrenheit 451 actually got it's light of day by being featured in the adult magazine, Playboy
- The book, Fahrenheit 451, got it's name from the ignition temperature of paper (the equivalence to 233 degrees Celsius). Ignition temperature is the temperature at which something catches fire and burns on its own.
- The book was also made into a movie directed by Francois Truffaut who was so enticed by the book that it was the only English movie he directed. He mastered English specifically to be able to direct the movie.
Ray Bradbury passed away last year on the 5th of June at the ripe age of 91.
"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them."
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