Ray Bradbury - Tumblr Posts
What's your current read and how is it so far?
I've just finished Ray Bradbury's short story, "The Pedestrian." It was scenic, to say the least. I probably shouldn't spoil it. While I liked the ending's impact, and would compare it to "The Slows" by Gail Hareven, I still liked "The Slows" better for its outsider narrator. Otherwise, I have a tbr stack of mostly YA novels, among other things, I've been putting off, and have read a few bits of The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim. (I could elaborate more, if anyone wants me to.)
Fahrenheit 451 AU:
Rhian is a futuristic "fireman," who unknowingly contributes to the world’s totalitarian censorship. Yet, the public has stopped reading (and believing in knowledge and the written word) of its own accord, and his job is becoming obsolete with the changing times.
Rafal on the other hand is a reader, who convinces Rhian to break the rules and read something, anything, before he burns it all away.
Rhian reads a mere a chapter of a tale, is blown away, and changes forever, his eyes opened to storytelling, and he decides to join forces with Rafal, the outlaw brother he’s never quite understood before, and they go on, preserving the tales and their lessons, each rebel on their side responsible for memorizing one volume.
12.08.21
And another one gone. Finished last night, so I’m onto the next one. I love reading science fiction, but reading about our past when it was the future is… wow. Definitely an interesting book. The pretentious side of me wants to look into the deeper meaning behind each story and educate myself so I can feel cultured and superior. The feral half wants whatever drugs Bradbury had.
Do I have eclectic taste? Perhaps. Did I actually start Crooked Kingdom before I finished this one? Yes. Did I also start 3 others, not including the one I have checked out from the library? Will I be getting up at 2am to watch the Perseids? Do I shout too many rhetorical questions into the void?
P.S. Hello void, nice to meet you :)
25.08.22
“One day you discover you are alive. / Explosion! Concussion! Illumination! Delight / You laugh, you dance around, you shout. / But, not long after, the sun goes out. Snow falls, but no one sees it, on an August noon.” —Ray Bradbury
My anxiety has begun to outweigh my excitement regarding law school, but I made lasagna today and had a not so bad breakfast, so I guess that’s good enough. I’ve finished the day and I’m done with it.
“Some people turn sad awfully young. No special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born that way. They bruise easier, tire faster, cry quicker, remember longer and, as I say, get sadder younger than anyone else in the world. I know, for I’m one of them.”
— Ray Bradbury (b. 22 August 1920)
The official Ray Bradbury facebook page doing propaganda for the new robot dogs...
I don't know what level of corporate blindness this is but I fucking hate it
Some people turn sad awfully young. No special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born that way. They bruise easier, tire faster, cry quicker, remember longer and, as I say, get sadder younger than anyone else in the world. I know, for I’m one of them.
-Ray Bradbury
Short Story Review(no spoilers)
what the fuck
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Never gotten tagged before, this seems neat though, let's see how it goes
Actually my second time attempting to write this, lost all my tabs mid process before. Second tries the charm though:
1. First of five things I like but not necessarily my favorite thing, bowling. I'm on my schools bowling team, and go a little bit in my free time, and I dunno it's just kinda fun. And its the only sport I can actually do decently, most recent high score is a 143. And yeah, that's not great, but for me it's pretty cool.
2. Sammy and Awesomesauce are my best friends so obviously they deserve a well earned spot on this list. There's not about anything I wouldn't do for them if they asked, their both the just such great people.
3. LEMON DEMON!! Look, I love Lemon Demon, I listen to him all the time, normally getting two to three albums in a day. And it's not that I don't like other music, or other artists a lot(Tally Hall, Jack Stauber, Oingo Boingo, ect), but I dunno to me Lemon Demon is just the best. You find the best burger ever, you always eat that burger. You find the best artist ever, you always listen to that artist.
4.Kinda obvious for anyone whose seen my blog, but obviously writing. I really like to write all sorts of genres, practically anything but romance(against it as genre on principle, but not against stories with romance((*Dicey and Greene*))), and one day I want to be an author. Obviously that won't pay the bills though so still need to figure out a better plan.
5. Really goes hand in hand with the last one but I quite enjoy reading. Last I checked my favorite book is And then there were None(ten people are lured to an island and killed off by U. N. Own). I'm currently reading The Illustrated Man(eighteen stories are witnessed playing out upon the skin in someone's tattoos), and House of Leaves(someone finds a book that doesn't make sense about a movie that isn't real about a house that can't exist).
Okay now it's my understanding I'm supposed to @ someone now, not really sure who, so sorry if you didn't want picked
@starisinsane , @pikalovernya , @sillylittlegirlfrommars , @dyrewrites ,
"List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! get to know your mutuals and followers (ू•‧̫•ू⑅)♡" Thanks to @daydream-dryad-13, @dorianbrightmusic, and @0rchidrose for sending me this! I'll also be tagging rather than leaving in askboxes so I can better keep track of who I've sent it to.
When someone lets me know about something they think is interesting - this can be something as small as "hey look at this cool rock I found", or it can be someone explaining a topic they're interested in in considerable depth. i LOVE it when all you amazing people share interesting things with me!
People responding to stuff i've put out in the world - whether that's a "you ok?" after a vent, or a "ooh that reminds me of this!" after a blurble, or a "but hear me out, what if this" after an idea - you're telling me that a REAL PERSON not only LISTENED but JOINED IN??!? amazing.
I have recently discovered that there's a gluten-free French bakery about 15min walk from my house, and i am DELIGHTED. you're telling me there's this dude who heard we can't eat croissants, and not only did he go "damn that sucks" he went and STARTED AN ENTIRE BAKERY ABOUT IT??!? and there's sourdough?! which i haven't got to try yet cos it's only baked a few times a week and it sells fast and i'm busy but there are also ham and cheese croissants. which are ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS??!? granted, i am still suspiciously lacking in bagels specifically but I GET TO EAT CROISSANTS AGAIN AND THEY ARE DELICIOUS. this is a VERY good thing and i am VERY happy about it!
Bob Mintzer's piece Computer. The computer-y sections pop and bounce just like the inside of my brain and it's SO fun; and the opening chords never fail to bring a smile to my face. (It's now stuck in my head, which i'm looking forward to enjoying for the rest of the day!)
Silly bad jokes/puns. When someone gets me with the 'hi X, i'm name' or similar - like, fuck you (on principle) but I love it. and when i get someone in a similar way - it's just so good! another one that always amuses me is "where's my fucking [item]?" "over there next to your regular [item]" - you understand the style? yeah.
there are many other things that make me happy (singing, in general; for one) but those are 5 specific examples that came to mind! now, for the 10 people who've reblogged me most recently that haven't sent me this yet: @atimewillcomeforsinging @musicalyikes @chilly-moss @mac-attac @verycisdragon @amastelaire @astronomical-bagel @most-definitively-a-human @thefairfeline and 1 other who I can't seem to tag, so I'll leave it in their askbox instead! And anyone else that would like to join - what makes you happy, you amazing people?!
New cover for Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. “The spine is screen-printed with a matchbook striking paper surface, so the book itself can be burned.”
“Her dress was white and it whispered. He almost thought he heard the motion of her hands as she walked […]”
— Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
“We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.”
— Ray Bradbury (via wordsnquotes)
The Times Literary Supplement.
March 29th 2024
7 FACES OF DR LAO (Dir: George Pal, 1964).
George Pal first came to prominence in the 1930s with his series of animated Puppetoons shorts. Switching to live action, first as producer and then director he was responsible for a series of special effects heavy sci-fi and fantasy films, including The War of the Worlds (Byron Haskin, 1953) and The Time Machine (Pal, 1960) which are now rightly deemed classics of their genres. His 5th and final feature as directed was 1964’s 7 Faces of Dr Lao, based upon Charles G Finney’s 1935 novel The Circus of Dr Lao.
Tony Randall stars as the titular Lao, an aged (7322 years!) Chinese gent and owner of a fantastical, magical travelling circus. When the circus stops at the dusty Arizona town of Abalone the townsfolk are taught some valuable life lessons from the highly unconventional exhibits include the mythical soothsayer Apollonius, Merlin the Magician, Pan the God of Love and the fabled Gorgon Medusa. All of whom are portrayed by Randall in a truly mesmerising performance. Aided by some outstanding make-up from William Tuttle who rightly won the Academy Award for his efforts.
Some would rightly question the casting of white American Tony Randall as the Chinese Lao. Yet while the performance does exhibit elements of racial stereotyping it is not malicious. Right or wrong, such casting was perfectly acceptable in the era the movie was made and it would be unfair to castigate it for being out of step with more enlightened viewpoints more than 50 years after release.
7 Faces of Dr Lao is an unusual movie; mixing elements of the western genre with gently moralistic Bradbury-esq fantasy, it is probably fair to say it is a little bit of an acquired taste. If you are a fan of Pal then this movie needs no recommendation. For others, a philosophical fantasy aimed at family audiences might be a hard sell. However, it’s status as one of Pal’s lesser known features is entirely unwarranted. The excellent performances, top quality make-up and effects and feverish, almost surrealist atmosphere of the movie make for a heady mix. In my opinion 7 Faces of Dr Lao is one of the finest fantasies ever committed to celluloid.
Visit my blog: JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below.
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (Jack Arnold, 1953).
Famous for their influential horror movies of the 1930, by the 1950s Universal Studios focus had shifted to a different kind of monster movie, informed by increasing fear of nuclear war and the threat of Communism. The template for these serious minded, paranoia soaked sci-fi features was set with the first and most influential of the series, It Came from Outer Space.
Amateur astronomer John Putnam (Richard Carlson) is the only witness to a spacecraft crash on the outskirts of the small desert town of Sand Rock, Arizona. When his fellow townsfolk start acting suspiciously he expects alien influence. Convincing his girl Ellen (Barbara Rush) and cynical local sheriff (Charles Drake), a posse is assembled to flush out the intruders. Certain that the intelligent aliens are benign and pose no threat, John must keep the angry mob at bay while essential repairs are made to the damaged craft. Failure to do so risks the life of his captured pals.
Based on an unpublished story by sci-fi maestro Ray Bradbury, It Came from Outer Space is, on the surface, a film about alien invasion. Yet, as with much of the sci-fi of its era, the movie serves as an analogy for the very real post-War fear of Communist infiltration.
Shot and originally exhibited in 3D, the movie is surprisingly light on things being lobbed at the screen, so works just fine when viewed flat. Clifford Stine's beautiful black and white cinematography perfectly captures the eerie isolation of the desert surrounds, giving the impression of a barren alien landscape.
Director Jack Arnold delivers an intelligent comment on the political and social mores of 1950's America; at its heart a plea for the acceptance of others. He elicits fine performances from a not exactly starry cast, as the drama unfolds with tension mounting pace, drenched in an innovative and influential theremin rich soundtrack.
If it seems a little cliched at time, this is only because it spawned so many imitations. In its own right It Came from Outer Space is a 50's monster masterpiece and a groundbreaking, original piece of popular cinema.
For a longer, more in-depth review of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below:
SHOCKTOBER! Day 1: THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (Dir: Eugène Lourié, 1953).
This sci-fi classic from the heyday of the monster movies marked the cinematic pairing of fantasy titans and lifelong friends, author Ray Bradbury and stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen.
Based upon Bradbury's short story The Fog Horn, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms tells of the mighty Rhedosaurus, a 200 foot, disease-ridden, carnivorous dinosaur frozen in suspended animation for millions of years and unwittingly thawed by an experimental Arctic atomic explosion, Awakened from his frosty slumber, old Rhed proceeds south to North America's east coast and the warmer waters of the Atlantic. En route to New York he overturns a fishing boat and destroys an innocent lighthouse, before rocking up in the Big Apple to wreck havoc in the city, culminating in an awesome Coney Island showdown between monster and military.
Read the full review on my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME. Link below.
Current Book, Nov. 2022
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962), Ray Bradbury.
Entry #1: I have been obsessed with any writing by Bradbury for the last few years, top favorite being The Illustrated Man, I believe it is my favorite book even. So this is me expanding even more into Bradbury. Let’s see how we enjoy it, I’ll keep this updated with my honest opinion. Maybe this will give me the push I need to read more and take an accountability to genuinely read the books I buy. Granted, my collection of books looks extremely cool. I just wish I had a story to tell for the hundreds of books I have in my collection.
Fahrenheit 451 - art by Andrey Sokolov (1950s)