Ray Bradbury dead at 91

(CBS/AP) Ray Bradbury, the writer best known for his dystopian novel "Fahrenheit 451," died Tuesday night in Los Angeles. He was 91.

Pictures: Ray Bradbury: 1920-2012

Reached at Bradbury's home, his daughter, Alexandra Bradbury, says her father died Tuesday night in Southern California. She did not have additional details.

Bradbury had a lengthy career of writing everything from science-fiction and mystery to humor. He transformed his childhood dreams and Cold War fears into telepathic Martians, lovesick sea monsters, and a high-tech, book-burning future in "Fahrenheit 451."

He also scripted the 1956 film version of "Moby Dick'' and wrote for "The Twilight Zone.''

Bradbury's series of stories in "The Martian Chronicles'' was a Cold War morality tale in which events on another planet served as a commentary on life on this planet. It has been published in more than 30 languages.

"If I had to make any statement, it would be how much I love and miss him, and I look forward to hearing everyone's memories about him," Danny Karapetian, Bradbury's grandson, told science website io9. "He influenced so many artists, writers, teachers, scientists, and it's always really touching and comforting to hear their stories."

12 Photos

Ray Bradbury: 1920-2012

[cntrygirl3]

No one who ever wrote could make you feel things as real as he could. His stories are timeless and he will live on for eternity as long as humans read and remember.

[omnibus66]

His living body may be gone, but as long as humans (or their robot successors) are able to read, he will not be dead.

[Valhalla0907]

I used to hide Bradbury novels in my textbooks, got busted "reading in class" a couple of times! He was the writer that started my love of reading. His stories and any anthology with his name on it have always been sure buys. Hollywood is sure to roll out remakes of "Fahrenheit451" and "The Martian Chronicles". Should have been done a long time ago.

[MagnaCartaUK]

Sad day for literature. I remember the Martian Chronicles being televised here - starring Rock Hudson I think - and it was well received. A friend of mine's a big fan of his works, and though I haven't read anything he wrote, I know of his prowess as a writer. A good a time as any to rectify that.

[crotusia]

He was a legend -- The Martian Chronicles was my all-time favorite... I also loved the TV version from the 70s, although he himself didn't like it because they changed some stuff...

[speechrock]

It was my first crush on a schoolteacher.
I had moved from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts just in time for eighth grade. Mrs. Bernstein read a Bradbury short story to the class. I was bitten by the way he takes you to the exact place and time of the story; stepping you through the smells, the sights and the feelings of the protagonist. Then, of course, the way he slams you with his signature twist at the end.
Before leaving school I checked out "The October Country" from the library.
The next day Mrs. Bernstein remarked, "I see that you have a Ray Bradbury book." "Yes." "Have you found any stories that you enjoy?" "Yes" "Would you like to read one to the class?"
Brain: "No", Stomach: Butterflies, Mouth: "Sure"
I read "The Emissary". The ending still sends chills down the back of my neck.
There were giggles from the students as I read. I had learned that water fountains were "bubblers", rubber bands were "elastics" and milkshakes were "frappes" but I did not sound anything close to a Kennedy.
It didn't matter. I was reading to Mrs. Bernstein.
I remained a Bradbury fan throughout my adult life and as the father of quadruplets I would read Ray Bradbury stories to them. Just having celebrated their 26th birthday I bought Michael "Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales," over 900 pages of his best.
In contrast, the poetic prose of "The Martian Chronicles," with its descriptive passages of far-off visions, colors, soils, seasons and sands; the mixture of adventure and loneliness in space has led me to authors such as William Faulkner, Salman Rushdie and Cormac McCarthy.
But there is nothing like trying to anticipate what's around the corner in those last few paragraphs of a Bradbury short story. They provide a terrific way to introduce your children to reading.
Oh, and thank you Mrs. Bernstein.

[nazcap]

Ray Bradbury was and will remain a legend. I'll never forget the time our paths crossed, literally. At an American Booksellers Association convention in Los Angeles in the early eighties, I was late for an event and was running across a crowded mezzanine. I crashed right into him, sending us both sprawling. He was really nice about it! RIP Ray!

[cbsnews_viewer]

Ah, The twilight zone writing guy..lots of interesting morality twists.

[kbbpll]

Possibly one of the lamest obituaries ever, for someone who had such an impact.

Dandelion Wine was a masterpiece, and it wasn't really "science fiction".

RIP

[fuzzywzhe]

Journalists don't do any research, how do you think we ended up in Iraq over weapons of mass destruction or that the idea that binLaden worked with Hussein was passed on? Hussein killed religious leaders who got involved in politics being keenly aware of what happened in Iran - you know, where religious leaders kicked out the despot of the country?

Do you think journalists actually read these comments? Correct them all you like, it's talking to a wall.

[Bojax39]

I read somewhere that Ray Bradbury never considered himself a science fiction author. Whatever his genre, he was such a wonderful writer that he could make you nostalgic for HIS childhood and not your own. :-)

The ability to do that is rare and few authors ever attain it. There are two undisputed masters of that element though. One is Mark Twain and the other is Ray Bradbury.

Rest in peace, sir. And thank you for the many decades of joy and thought provoking entertainment you bestowed on millions of readers the world over.