# Ray Bradbury

> American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

**Wikidata**: [Q40640](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40640)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ray-bradbury

## Summary
Ray Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter (1920–2012) renowned for his contributions to science fiction, fantasy, and horror literature. He is best known for seminal works such as *Fahrenheit 451*, *The Martian Chronicles*, and *The Illustrated Man*. Throughout a career spanning from 1938 to 2012, he also worked as a poet, playwright, and novelist, receiving prestigious awards like the National Medal of Arts and induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 22, 1920
- **Nationality:** American (United States)
- **Education:** Los Angeles High School
- **Known for:** Authoring *Fahrenheit 451* and *The Martian Chronicles*; working as a screenwriter, poet, and novelist in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
- **Employer(s):** Not specified in source material
- **Field(s):** Literature, Screenwriting, Poetry, Playwriting

## Contributions
Ray Bradbury created a diverse body of literary work that has defined genres for decades. His notable contributions include:
*   **Novels:** He authored *Fahrenheit 451* (1953), a dystopian novel, and *The Martian Chronicles* (1950), a fix-up novel exploring the colonization of Mars. He also wrote *Something Wicked This Way Comes* (1962).
*   **Short Story Collections:** He published *The Illustrated Man* (1951) and *I Sing the Body Electric*.
*   **Genres:** His work spanned science fiction, fantasy, horror literature, and social science fiction.
*   **Screenwriting:** In addition to prose, Bradbury worked as a screenwriter for films and television.
*   **Poetry and Plays:** He contributed to the arts as a poet and playwright.

## FAQs
**What are Ray Bradbury's most famous works?**
Bradbury is best known for the novels *Fahrenheit 451* (1953) and *The Martian Chronicles* (1950), as well as the short story collection *The Illustrated Man* (1951).

**What awards did Ray Bradbury receive?**
He received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts, the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Daytime Emmy Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

**Where did Ray Bradbury go to school?**
Ray Bradbury attended Los Angeles High School.

**Who influenced Ray Bradbury?**
According to the provided source material, Bradbury is listed as being influenced by a wide array of figures, including Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, George Bernard Shaw, Jules Verne, John Steinbeck, H. G. Wells, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Aldous Huxley, and Stephen King.

**What were Ray Bradbury's primary occupations?**
Bradbury worked as a screenwriter, poet, writer, prose writer, novelist, science fiction writer, and playwright.

## Why They Matter
Ray Bradbury is a pivotal figure in the history of speculative fiction, bridging the gap between genre fiction and literary mainstream. His works, such as *Fahrenheit 451*, addressed profound themes like censorship, technology, and the human condition, influencing both the literary world and popular culture. His recognition with the National Medal of Arts and a Prometheus Award underscores his impact on American arts and letters. Furthermore, his legacy is cemented by entities named in his honor, such as the Bradbury Award and Bradbury Landing on Mars, as well as his induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

## Notable For
- Authoring the dystopian classic *Fahrenheit 451* (1953).
- Writing *The Martian Chronicles* (1950), a cornerstone of science fiction literature.
- Receiving the **National Medal of Arts**.
- Winning the **Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement**.
- Earning a **Daytime Emmy Award**.
- Being inducted into the **Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame**.
- Receiving a star on the **Hollywood Walk of Fame**.
- Being awarded the **Ordre des Arts et des Lettres**.
- Winning the **Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award**.
- Having a landing site on Mars named **Bradbury Landing**.
- Writing across multiple genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and social science fiction.

## Body
### Identity and Background
Ray Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, and passed away on June 5, 2012. His full name was Ray Douglas Bradbury, and he was also known by the aliases Raymond Douglas Bradbury, William Elliott, and Elliott, William. He held citizenship in the United States.

### Education
Bradbury attended Los Angeles High School, a public magnet secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

### Career and Occupations
Bradbury's professional work period spanned from 1938 to 2012. He held a diverse range of occupations within the arts:
*   **Screenwriter:** Writer for films, TV shows, comics, and games.
*   **Poet:** Person who writes poetry.
*   **Writer:** Person who uses written words to communicate ideas.
*   **Prose Writer:** Person who writes in prose.
*   **Novelist:** Writer of novels.
*   **Science Fiction Writer:** Person who writes works of science fiction.
*   **Playwright:** Person who writes plays.

### Literary Works
Bradbury's bibliography includes several landmark titles that have become classics in their respective genres:
*   **Fahrenheit 451 (1953):** A dystopian novel.
*   **The Martian Chronicles (1950):** A novel composed of interconnected stories about Mars.
*   **The Illustrated Man (1951):** A short story collection.
*   **Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962):** A novel.
*   **I Sing the Body Electric:** A short story collection.

His work often fell within the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror literature, and social science fiction.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Bradbury received extensive recognition for his contributions to literature and the arts:
*   **Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement**
*   **Valentine Davies Award**
*   **Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award**
*   **Inkpot Award**
*   **National Medal of Arts**
*   **Daytime Emmy Award**
*   **Sir Arthur Clarke Award**
*   **California Library Hall of Fame** (Inductee)
*   **Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame** (Inductee)
*   **Geffen Award**
*   **Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame**
*   **Ordre des Arts et des Lettres**
*   **The George Pal Memorial Award**

### Influences and Associations
The source material lists a broad spectrum of individuals who influenced Bradbury or are connected to his literary sphere. These include:
*   **Edgar Rice Burroughs**
*   **Karel Čapek**
*   **Edgar Allan Poe**
*   **H. P. Lovecraft**
*   **George Bernard Shaw**
*   **Yevgeny Zamyatin**
*   **Sherwood Anderson**
*   **Eudora Welty**
*   **Edith Wharton**
*   **Leigh Brackett**
*   **Thomas Wolfe**
*   **Jack Williamson**
*   **George Orwell**
*   **Jules Verne**
*   **John Steinbeck**
*   **H. G. Wells**
*   **Mary Shelley**
*   **Charles Dickens**
*   **William Shakespeare**
*   **Aldous Huxley**
*   **Stanley G. Weinbaum**
*   **Clive Barker**
*   **Shaun Tan**
*   **Stephen King**
*   **Irakli Lomouri**
*   **Joss Whedon**

### Related Entities and Legacy
Bradbury's legacy extends beyond his books to various cultural and physical entities:
*   **Bradbury Award:** An American literary award named in his honor.
*   **Bradbury Landing:** The landing site of the Curiosity rover on Mars, named after him.
*   **Spaceship Earth:** A geodesic sphere and attraction at Epcot, listed as a related entity in the source material.

## References

1. [Ray Bradbury. The Daily Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9315001/Ray-Bradbury.html)
2. [Source](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9315001/Ray-Bradbury.html)
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7. [Source](http://www.knerger.de/html/bradburyschriftsteller_104.html)
8. [Source](http://lfs.org/awards.shtml)
9. [Source](http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/winners/)
10. [Source](http://www.thebramstokerawards.com/lifetime-achievement-award/lifetime-achievement-award-2/)
11. [Source](http://www.firstfandom.org/ffhofaward.htm)
12. [Source](http://www.helmerichaward.org/winners.php)
13. [Source](https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-category/260)
14. [Source](https://awards.wga.org/awards/awards-recipients/honorary-service-awards/valentine-davies-previous-recipients)
15. [Source](http://www.worldhorrorconvention.com/past-whcs/)
16. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/SFWA_Grand_Master_Award)
17. [California Library Hall of Fame Inductees. California Library Hall of Fame](https://www.cla-net.org/page/612)
18. [Source](http://vz.ru/news/2012/6/6/582478.print.html)
19. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/Bram_Stoker_Awards_2003)
20. International Standard Name Identifier
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25. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
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27. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
28. Discogs
29. filmportal.de
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31. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
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33. Vegetti Catalog of Fantastic Literature
34. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
35. GeneaStar
36. Roglo
37. Babelio
38. Munzinger Personen
39. ProDetLit
40. [Science fiction author Ray Bradbury dies. Yahoo News](http://news.yahoo.com/ray-bradbury-dies-california-143150129.html;_ylt=A2KLOzGBa89PX2AA7tPQtDMD)
41. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
42. Czech National Authority Database
43. [Source](https://www.bing.com)
44. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/Locus_Awards_1979)
45. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/Locus_Awards_2002)
46. [Source](https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1956-hugo-awards/)
47. [Source](https://bramstokerawards.horror.org/about-the-awards/2001-bram-stoker-award-winners-nominees/)
48. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/British_Fantasy_Awards_1999)
49. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/World_Fantasy_Awards_1977)
50. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/World_Fantasy_Awards_1998)