In the world of science fiction, Ray Bradbury has sparked the imaginations of millions through stories that combine the familiar with the fantastic.
The 89-year-old author has published hundreds of short stories, scripts, novels, plays and screenplays including "The Martian Chronicles," "The Illustrated Man" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes."
His collective body of work is held in such high esteem, Bradbury earned a special Lifetime Achievement Pulitzer Prize in 2007.
His "Fahrenheit 451" has sold more than 5 million copies since first published in 1953, and this cautionary tale of a future world where all books are burned is considered by most critics to be one of the top 10 science-fiction books of all time.
In a rare opportunity, local fans of Bradbury's work will be able to ask him questions during a two-day celebration of his work. Its part of the Fresno County Public Librarys "Big Read" program, which is sponsored by the National Endowment of the Arts, that puts the spotlight on a book. This year's selection was Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451."
Jeanne Johnson, manager of Adult Service for the Fresno County Public Library, says Bradbury's book was selected because of its potential to appeal to both teens and adults.
She never expected Bradbury would agree to be part of the event but the author will field questions in a special live video conference to end the two-day celebration.
When Bradbury agreed to participate, he sent a letter to Johnson with a self-portrait drawn on the
envelope and the quotation "Surrealism is super zowie."
The examination of Bradbury's work starts at 7 p.m. March 19 at the Woodward Park Regional Library with a talk by Tim Hamilton, who illustrated a graphic novel version of Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451."
That event is co-sponsored by California State University, Fresnos Arne Nixon Center for Study of Childrens Literature and will be moderated by the centers curator Angelina Carpenter.
That will be followed March 20 with the "Ray Bradbury: Poet of the American Dreamtime" symposium at the Peters Auditorium in the Fresno State Student Recreation Center. It will feature a series of presentations, question-and-answer sessions and a few book signings.
The symposium will feature a panel discussion of Bradbury friends and fans, moderated by local author and Fresno State professor Howard Hendrix.
The panel will include: author Sam Weller, who wrote the official biography of Bradbury; author Terry Bisson; author and Bradbury friend William F. Nolan; and award-winning science-fiction writer Gregory Bear, who has known Bradbury for more than 40 years.
Hendrix says he was only 9 when he was drawn into Bradbury's world through a copy of "R is for Rocket."
"Even at 9, I was picking up on themes and ideas in his work. There was a real conscious lyricism of his prose. His writing is poetic and very vivid," Hendrix says.
"Bradbury's writings arent set 10,000 years in the future. It was as if you had an American regional writer who happens to write sci-fi. When I think of his work, I think of autumn leaves blowing under a street light."
Greg Bear, winner of two Hugos and five Nebulas for his science-fiction writing, praises Bradbury and says he has a knack for making us "nostalgic for places we have never been."
Bradbury has been personally accessible over the years. Bear was only a teenager 40 years ago when he tracked down Bradbury after a speech at a high school in San Diego in an effort to get permission to make a film of Bradburys "Sound of Thunder."
He never made the film, but Bear did make a friend in Bradbury, who has been his literary inspiration over the years.
Asked which Bradbury work is the best introduction to his style of writing, Bear suggests The Martian Chronicles.
"It is about exploration, the dark side and bright side of [the] human heart. They are short stories arranged thematically, and that book put him on map," Bear says.
Fans are bound to learn more about Bradburys influence and work during the events. Admission is free.
TV and movie critic Rick Bentley can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com.
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