I would be very interested to learn about Ray�s influences. It seems that Farenhieght 451 was likely influenced by Yevgeny Zamyatin�s novel WE. If you have not read WE you really should. THX 1138, Brazil, 1984 all were inspired by this wonderful book written by a former Bolshevik who became disgruntled with the end result of his efforts in the 1917 Revolution. It would be interesting to know if Ray had read Zamyatin�s WE before he wrote Farenhieght 451 and what role it played in deciding to tackle the subject of book burning in a futuristic setting.

Relating to the book Farenhieght 451 - It is interesting to note that no matter what end of the political spectrum you belong to the wisest of us are continually sound alarms that the erosion of our liberties is the greatest threat our society will ever face. Often, the threat comes from within, by those who mean well, but somehow have forgotten the lessons of the past. This becomes obvious will the right wing �moral majority� decide to ban books for being �obscene� and when left wing liberals try to ban civilian ownership of handguns. After all, Hitler�s Nazi Germany did both. In every instance of oppression there is a calm before the storm. A lag time between the time the liberty is revoked, and the cruelty of oppression begins. There is a lesson there. Safeguard every liberty granted to you by the constitution, even when it seems to encourage that which you despise most. Because if those you disagree with can not exercise their beliefs and pursue their idea of happiness, eventually you will not be able to either.