Villavic
06-06-2012, 05:24 PM
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ray Bradbury, a giant of American literature who helped popularize science fiction with works such as 'The Martian Chronicles,' died on Tuesday at age 91, his publisher said on Wednesday. Bradbury published more than 500 works including 'Fahrenheit 451,' a classic novel about book censorship in a future society, and other favorites such as 'The Illustrated Man' and 'Something Wicked This Way Comes.
' 'Mr. Bradbury died peacefully, last night, in Los Angeles, after a long illness,' said a spokesman for his publisher, HarperCollins. As a science fiction writer, Bradbury said he did not want to predict the future -- but sometimes wanted to prevent it.
Such was the case with 'Fahrenheit 451,' a book published in 1953 about a totalitarian, anti-intellectual society where banned books are burned by 'firemen.' The title refers to the temperature at which paper ignites.
'In science fiction, we dream,' he told The New York Times. 'In order to colonize in space, to rebuild our cities ... to tackle any number of problems, we must imagine the future, including the new technologies that are required ... 'Science fiction is also a great way to pretend you are writing about the future when in reality you are attacking the recent past and the present.'
In 1950 Bradbury published 'The Martian Chronicles' -- a tale of Earthlings fleeing a troubled planet and their conflicts with residents on Mars. It was given a glowing review by influential critic Christopher Isherwood, which Bradbury credited with launching his career.
' 'Mr. Bradbury died peacefully, last night, in Los Angeles, after a long illness,' said a spokesman for his publisher, HarperCollins. As a science fiction writer, Bradbury said he did not want to predict the future -- but sometimes wanted to prevent it.
Such was the case with 'Fahrenheit 451,' a book published in 1953 about a totalitarian, anti-intellectual society where banned books are burned by 'firemen.' The title refers to the temperature at which paper ignites.
'In science fiction, we dream,' he told The New York Times. 'In order to colonize in space, to rebuild our cities ... to tackle any number of problems, we must imagine the future, including the new technologies that are required ... 'Science fiction is also a great way to pretend you are writing about the future when in reality you are attacking the recent past and the present.'
In 1950 Bradbury published 'The Martian Chronicles' -- a tale of Earthlings fleeing a troubled planet and their conflicts with residents on Mars. It was given a glowing review by influential critic Christopher Isherwood, which Bradbury credited with launching his career.