Ray Bradbury, one of the most revered science-fiction authors, has had
many things occur in his life which directly influenced his style of writing. In
addition to influencing his style, these events also affected the content and theme
of his individual works. Putting all of this aside, however, if these specific events
did not occur in Bradbury's life, he would not have become a science-fiction
writer.
Throughout his childhood, Bradbury was exposed to many types of
literature. While living in Waukegan, Illinois at the age of six, Bradbury's Aunt
read him the Oz books. Also at this early age, Bradbury was encouraged to read
the classic Norse, Roman, and Greek myths (Johnson 1). "When he grew old
enough to choose his own reading material, the boy rapidly developed a fondness
for the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the comic book heroes Flash Gordon,
Buck Rogers, and Prince Valiant."
Ray Bradbury
Photo of Ray Bradbury.
bradbury(Johnson 1). It was these comic book heroes
who fueled Bradbury's fondness for science fiction. After moving to Tucson,
Arizona Bradbury got a job a local radio station because of his experience in
Waukegan as an amateur magician. "'I was on the radio every Saturday night
reading comic book strips to the kiddies and being paid in free movie tickets, to
local cinema, where I saw 'The Mummy,' 'The Murders in the Wax Museum,'
'Dracula' ...and 'King Kong.'" (Johnson 2). In reference to his one year in Tucson
Arizona, Bradbury recalls "'It was one of the greatest years of my life because I
was acting and singing in operettas and writing, beginning to write my first short
stories.'" (Johnson 2). After graduating from high school, Bradbury bought a
typewriter and rented an office with the money saved from selling newspapers.
While in his early twenties, Bradbury sold one science-fiction short...