Remembering Ray Bradbury

"I don't try to describethe future. I try to prevent it."--Ray Bradbury.  

Today, the future caught up with Ray Douglas Bradbury.  I'm saddened by his loss, because he and C.S. Lewis are the authors that introduced me to liteary Science Fiction and Fantasy, respectively.

I was very lucky to have a 10th grade teacher, Mrs. Roth, who not only had us read Fahrenheit 451, but The Martian Chronicles, as well.  She was an awesome teacher and Mr. Bradbury helped learn to love reading literature.

Sure, I'd been reading collecting comics since I'd been 11, but I didn't consider myself a reader.  And I'm not dismissing the foundation that comics gave me in both writing and art, I just didn't acknowledge them, yet.

Ray's work helped Mrs. Roth reach my inner reader.  Until I heard of Ray's passing, I hadn't really thought of her, but she was one of those teachers that really makes a difference in your life.

And Ray was one of those writers, the kind that shows you just how powerful words can be, how they can frolic in your mind and open up untold vistas, to your senses.

"Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories."--Ray Bradbury

We should all do our best to heed his words.  Good night, Ray.  You will be missed.