Bradbury 100 - Celebrating the Life and Work of American Writer Ray Bradbury

In February 2023, I gave a public talk on FAHRENHEIT 451 for Wolverhampton Literature Festival. This podcast episode is a version of that talk - minus all the visual bits and pieces, of course. (If you want to see the visuals, head over to my Youtube Channel, BRADBURY 101!)

In a 1947 issue of Planet Stories magazine, Ray Bradbury penned a humorous writer bio of himself, in which he claims that all his stories are written for him by a posse of talented professionals including Robert Heinlein.

That magazine slipped into the public domain in 1975, because the copyright wasn't renewed (following the 28-year-renewal rules in operation at that time). So, I'm bringing you the full article today!

For more on Bradbury, and for show notes - including a link to the 1947 Planet Stories issue - remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

What better way to melt away the winter blues than with Ray Bradbury's ROCKET SUMMER? But this episode of the podcast isn't about the familiar opening chapter of THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES. No, here I'm looking at Bradbury's FIRST use of the title "Rocket Summer".

It's a rare 1947 short story, published just once in PLANET STORIES, and never again reprinted. You won't find it in any of Ray's books.

It also has the odd status of being in the public domain, thanks to an oversight: it should have had its copyright renewed in 1975 (following the 28-year-renewal system in use at that time). But the renewal didn't happen. Because it's public domain, I can here present the entire story to you (if you can tolerate my storytelling voice...).

For more on Bradbury, and for show notes - including a link to the original 1947 Planet Stories issue - remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

In this episode I discuss Ray Bradbury's Christmas-themed stories - all two of them - and some lesser known Christmas things he wrote for film and TV. "The Gift" and "The Wish" are the stories, and the screen work includes a STEVE CANYON episode, and an unlikely sequel to THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL!

For more on Bradbury, and for show notes, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

In this episode I discuss Ray Bradbury's stories as adapted by EC Comics, and review the new collection of these comic strips, HOME TO STAY.

For more on Bradbury, and for show notes, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

In this episode I discuss Ray Bradbury's dinosaur stories (A Sound of Thunder, The Fog Horn and more), and the book which collects them together: Dinosaur Tales.

For more on Bradbury, and for show notes, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

Ninety years ago this month, Ray Bradbury's uncle Lester Moberg was murdered. Ray was twelve years old at the time, and the murder coincided with his meeting of "Mr Electrico" and his family's leaving Waukegan.

In this episode I tell the shocking true story of the unsolved murder, based on official inquest documents - and speculate on "whodunnit".

For more on Bradbury, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

This episode looks at the most significant month in the Bradbury calendar: October! Ray published three books related to that month, ensuring that he will always be associated with spooky season. His short story The October Country collects his scariest stories; his novel Something Wicked This Way Comes shows what happens when a dark carnival comes to town; and his short novel The Halloween Tree explores the history and meaning of Halloween.

For more on Bradbury, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

With apologies for some variation in sound quality in this recording...

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

This full-length episode looks at Ray's essay collection ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING, and features an interview with Renee and Kim, co-hosts of writing advice podcast WORDS TO WRITE BY. Renee and Kim have worked through Ray's advice to writers, and give their verdict on it. Do Ray's writing tips actually help, and how does his advice compare to that of the various writing gurus?

For more on Bradbury, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk

Bradbury 100 - celebrating the life and work of American writer Ray Bradbury, presented by Phil Nichols of Bradburymedia.co.uk.

This short episodes focuses on Ray's short story "The Exiles", also known as "The Mad Wizards of Mars". An unassuming little tale, it has clear echoes of both FAHRENHEIT 451 and THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES.

We look at the history and development of the story, which Ray re-wrote several times.

For more on Bradbury, remember to check out my website, www.bradburymedia.co.uk