There will come soft rains...

[neevebrody]

...And Spring herself when she woke at dawn
Would scarcely know that we were gone.
(from There Will Come Soft Rains, story by Bradbury, poem by Sara Teasdale)

Ray Bradbury dies at 91

From the article: His legacy lives on in his monumental body of books, film, television and theater, but more importantly, in the minds and hearts of anyone who read

Comments

[sgamadison]

I *inhaled* Bradbury when I was in high school. The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Bradbury is the author who cemented my love for science fiction and taught me the joy and beauty of a finely crafted short story (not that I can write one myself worth a damn--I lack the gift for clarity, brevity, and the sort of magic that comes with a truly magnificent short story).

He lived long and prospered. Spock would be proud.

[neevebrody]

...and taught me the joy and beauty of a finely crafted short story...

THIS so much! I have a set of cassette tapes of Bradbury reading his own stories and giving a little insight into the writing or what the story meant to him. I'm always amazed to hear him say, "...and three hours later..." the story was finished. He must have had some childhood, because he writes the experiences of young boys so clear and poignantly it hurts.

Oh yes, what a life he lived!

[sgamadison]

Well, I consider you one of the people I know who have the gift for the powerful, lyrical short story. The Last Word remains in my mind one of the definitive examples of that. You, lavvyan, starry_diadem, lantean_drift, Lacey McBain... those are the names that come to mind when I think of a killer short story with phrases that make me weep with their beauty (and envy at knowing I'll never produce anything like that). :-)

[melagan]

I find it no odd coincidence that his passing took place sometime during the Venus Transit.

An event that won't take place again for over 100 years.

That's one hell of a tribute from the universe.

[neevebrody]

What a lovely observation! One hell of a tribute indeed.

[stella_pegasi]

Perhaps the author who influenced my love of science fiction more than any other. "The Martian Chronicles" changed the way I viewed the night sky. His work was extraordinary and he will be missed.

[neevebrody]

Bradbury was/is such a part of my life. I believe he changed countless lives for the better with his ability to make us feel his words and dream his ideas.

[taste_is_sweet]

Beautifully said, and so true. He defined sci-fi for me when I was a child. I still hope to be able to write like him, with such gorgeously sparse language.

[neevebrody]

...with such gorgeously sparse language.

That's it exactly. Whether he was describing the smell of grass or the intricacies of a tattoo, it was beautiful language.

[spikespet7]

He lived a long and respected life. May his family find peace at that thought.

Peace

Kimber