Although primarily known for his novels and short stories, Ray Bradbury flirted with cinema throughout his career, including the 1950s classics IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE and THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (partially based on his story “The Fog Horn”), as well as numerous other adaptations of his work. His writing also inspired TV shows, including the 100th episode of “The Twilight Zone” and HBO’s “The Ray Bradbury Theater”. The writer was also a close friend of FX master Ray Harryhausen, with whom he occasionally collaborated and who became the hero of one of his short stories.
With more than two dozen novels and over 600 short stories under his belt, Bradbury is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors contributing to the mainstream acceptance and elevation of the sci-fi genre (even if he perceived himself as a fantasy writer), comparable perhaps only to other greats, such as Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke.
The author’s grandson, Danny Karapetian, issued the following statement via io9:
“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. He influenced so many artists, writers, teachers, scientists, and it’s always really touching and comforting to hear their stories. Your stories. 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 him, because to read him was to know him. He was the biggest kid I know.”
RIP Mr. Bradbury.