Ray Bradbury Forums
Research Paper help.

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16 October 2005, 06:56 PM
Mainvillage
Research Paper help.
I'm writing a paper on Bradbury and am wondering wether there is anything I would need to know that could help me. Like did he believe in life on other planets when he wrote "The Martian Chronicles"
16 October 2005, 08:25 PM
Robert M Blevins
Well, he believed a few Martians still hung around the neighborhood...
And generally they were a lot nicer than the Earthlings who came to call... Smiler
17 October 2005, 03:00 AM
Mainvillage
Thanks! No offence meant but if you could give me the source thats from(if possible) that be great.
17 October 2005, 08:13 AM
Mr. Dark
Mr. Blevens response was a light-hearted joke (as evidenced by the smiley face).

The best source for this kind of answer is probably in "Conversations with Ray Bradbury"--a series of interviews with him over the years. I don't recall him speaking about life on other planets very much. But his view on Martians is that when we get there, we'll be the Martians. Bradbury is definitely an idealist, but that doesn't make him disengaged with reality.

I'm not sure what his view is of life on other planets in general, but don't think he thinks there is currently life on Mars in the sense of intelligent life.

I would keep my focus on Martian Chronicles more intrinsic to the book itself.
17 October 2005, 08:34 AM
Nard Kordell
Mr. Dark:

I recall something a while back where Ray mentioned his disbelief of other planets being inhabited by intelligent creatures. This would go along the line of his own general philosophy of man's need to conquer space and thus extend the arm of God.
17 October 2005, 08:47 AM
Mr. Dark
Nard:

That sounds characteristic of him.
18 October 2005, 05:59 AM
Mainvillage
Thanks all for you ideas and help. I do own Conversations With Ray Bradbury and didnt find anything other than him saying we are the martians. Ah! I see! duh...
thanks
18 October 2005, 03:33 PM
dandelion
I'll be contradictory here (not as if Ray never is!) and say I am SURE I saw a TV interview with Ray saying, "I believe we will touch strange flesh," which seemed to be expressing a direct belief in extraterrestrial life.
20 October 2005, 02:58 AM
Mainvillage
Well dandelion, other than the fact I've read in two or three interviews VERY recently that he doesn't belive in life on other planets other than humans. Although that could be if the TV interview was before the interviews I have.
Thanks for all the help all, almost finished with my paper.