“A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury

by kattomic

“A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury

06.07.12

Story 158/366

“You must write every single day of your life… You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads… may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.”–Ray Bradbury

When I first moved to Los Angeles, I thought the Bradbury Building (a lovely piece ofdowntown  architecture you’ve seen in a ton of movies) was named for Ray Bradbury and I thought that was fitting.

I am violating my one story per author policy today in honor of Ray Bradbury, who has died at the age of 91. Heath Lowrance has published a lovely tribute to Bradbury on his blog, and there’s not really much more I can say except that Bradbury’s writing is woven deeply into my consciousness.  I once got his autograph at a conference. I boldly told him I was a writer (lower-case w, knowing that he was a WRITER in all caps) and he signed his name after writing WRITE,WRITE, WRITE on the back of the conference flyer. That autograph was made in felt tip colored pen on paper now yellowed and brittle. It is one of my most cherished possessions.

This story is one of the most famous science fiction stories of all time, a seminal time travel tale that I first read in grade school though it had been written decades before, in 1952, the very middle of the mid-century, and published in Collier’s magazine. It is a cautionary tale with a resonant message. It is a story that will still be read when time travel is a reality.  Here’s a link to the story that’s been illustrated, with a bit of analysis at the end.

Ray Bradbury has died but his writing will live on. Mourn the man but celebrate the work!

See you tomorrow!