Phil. Right on! I flashed back to my days in front of classes filled with teens. HOPE! was indeed so often at the center of Mr. Bradbury's writings: F451, Martian Chronicles, Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked, and his volumes of ss titles. I kept this as a theme of so many of the units presented.
His words warned, encouraged, challenged, entertained, mystified, and eternally brightened our thinking and thus our lives!
Nice to hear such a well-phrased review of RB's influences still being shared with the public as 2015 gets up-to-speed.
"Live Forever..." RB
Posts: 2822 | Location: Basement of a NNY Library | Registered: 07 April 2005
The article does tend to overlook the "pessimism" of many of RB's short stories,particularly the ones which are cautionary tales. The writer seems to think of "A Sound of Thunder" as just a crazy imaginative story - but it is really one big "watch out!" warning from Ray. Same with "The Veldt" and "Zero Hour" and...
Let us not forget that Ray didn't attempt to predict the future, he attempted to prevent it!
Definitely there are two sides to that RB coin, and both very distinct in their purpose. "The Rocket Man", "The City", "The Fox and the Forest", "The Happiness Machine", "The Toynbee Convector", "The Exiles" (to name just a few) each place the protagonist in the very center of technology's highly advanced sources of knowledge. Ultimately, the reader discovers the truth the characters must face in the total loss or overwhelming circumstances that arise at story's end.
I think the NPR author is appreciating what I also so enjoyed in Mr. Bradbury's style of writing. Quite apparent in the works I have mentioned above is that source of encouragement (hope) which arises from within the relationships the main characters share (Montag and Clarisse, the Book People, the Spaulding Family, Jim Nightshade, William Halloway and Mr. Halloway. Also, such shorts as "The Rocket", "The Happiness Machine".)
RB so often left a glimmer or spark in the denouement (wow!) of countless tales that unfold as total losses: "Kaleidoscope" - the small boys is told to make a wish. "The Million-Year Picnic" - the family sees Martians in their water reflected images. And how about one of our best friends in "The Murderer". Albert Brock: "Don't worry about me. I am going to sit around for a long time stuffing that nice soft bolt of quiet material into both ears. Cheers!"
No one did it better that Mr. B.
Posts: 2822 | Location: Basement of a NNY Library | Registered: 07 April 2005
How I wish I had you guys as teachers oh so long ago! On two separate occasions, recently, I encountered English teachers that had never even heard of Ray Bradbury.
Unfortunately it is true. One of my jobs is working with individual customers and when time allows I ask, or often they will tell me what they do. On both occasions I was most enthused to learn and query if they had taught any Bradbury. I was saddened somewhat, but not totally shocked. One of them did tell me they would have to "check him out."
