Per IO9, Ray Bradbury died this morning.

 Ray Bradbury — author of The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and many more literary classics — died this morning in Los Angeles, at the age of 91.

We've got confirmation from the family as well as his biographer, Sam Weller.

His grandson, Danny Karapetian, shared these words with io9 about his grandfather's passing: "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."

 I should remember his "classics."  Fahrenheit 451, Martian Chronicles, etc.  But when I remember Bradbury, I always think of that little story in the Illustrated Man where it's the last night of the world, and a man gets out of bed to turn off a dripping faucet.  Very simple but so wonderful.  

The Martian Chronicles, Dandelon Wine, Fahrenheit 451 are all well worth reading.

Any writer that donates so much time and books to a public library is a hero in my eyes. 

Farenheit 451 is my very favorite Bradbury book.  I read it when I was younger (and  I still have the same copy) and couldn't fathom a world in which reading/owing books was a bad thing.    Rest in peace, Mr. Bradbury!

In the middle of the bookray journal below, you will find some homage I recently paid to Ray Bradbury, in his hometown of Waukegan Illinois.  I am "TomHl" on bookcrossing as well as here at paperbackswap.  "RayBradburyProj" on bookcrossing is also me.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/9756681

Click on the thumbnail photos to see them full sized.

-Tom Hl.