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Product Identifiers
PublisherUniversity of Illinois Press
ISBN-100252079051
ISBN-139780252079054
eBay Product ID (ePID)164700979
Product Key Features
Number of Pages360 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication NameBecoming Ray Bradbury
SubjectScience Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction / Collections & Anthologies, Literary, American / General
Publication Year2013
TypeTextbook
Subject AreaLiterary Criticism, Fiction, Biography & Autobiography
AuthorJonathan R. Eller
FormatTrade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height0.8 in
Item Weight21.5 Oz
Item Length9.2 in
Item Width6.6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional
Dewey Edition22
Reviews "Eller shows how Bradbury found his vocation in a private world of mimeographed fanzines and couch-surfing, of transcontinental trips to the very first SF conventions, of the intense rivalries and controversies of a small enclosed world. . . . Eller's excellent account makes clear that one of the reasons why Bradbury came to seem an important new voice is that he was never as naive a writer as literary patrons such as Christopher Isherwood and Aldous Huxley may have assumed." Times Literary Supplement "Every page is packed with fascinating material about one of this country's most beloved writers."-- The Washington Post , Michael Dirda, "Every page is packed with fascinating material about one of this country's most beloved writers."-- The Washington Post , Michael Dirda, "A very Bradburyian biography."-- SFRA Review "In great and always fascinating detail, Eller chronicles the journey Bradbury took from his youth to his early middle years. . . . [A] fine and important book."-- Neworld Review, "Particularly strong in detailing Bradbury's friendships, influences, and professional relationships and endeavors." -- Orbit, "Eller shows how Bradbury found his vocation in a private world of mimeographed fanzines and couch-surfing, of transcontinental trips to the very first SF conventions, of the intense rivalries and controversies of a small enclosed world. . . . Eller's excellent account makes clear that one of the reasons why Bradbury came to seem an important new voice is that he was never as naive a writer as literary patrons such as Christopher Isherwood and Aldous Huxley may have assumed." Times Literary Supplement "Every page is packed with fascinating material about one of this country's most beloved writers."-- The Washington Post , Michael Dirda, "Jonathan R. Eller traces a wide variety of influences on Ray Bradbury's work, offering a detailed literary and cultural genealogy. Utterly compelling, this book contains a substantial amount of new material that will be invaluable for future scholars of Bradbury's work." --Gary K. Wolfe, author ofEvaporating Genres: Essays on Fantastic Literature, "Eller's work is thorough and enlightening on the subject of one of science fiction's greatest minds. Highly recommended not just for Bradbury fans but for all students of science fiction."-- Library Journal "A richly contextualized interpretation of Ray Bradbury's personal experience, his intellectual and artistic life, and the cultural milieu in which his gifts developed.Becoming Ray Bradburywill be the definitive account of Bradbury's development as a writer."--David Mogen, author ofWilderness Visions: The Western Theme in Science Fiction Literature, "Eller's work is thorough and enlightening on the subject of one of science fiction's greatest minds. Highly recommended not just for Bradbury fans but for all students of science fiction."-- Library Journal "A treasury of otherwise unavailable information. . . . Fans of Bradbury will find this book a fascinating and revealing look into his life and work."-- Science Fiction Studies , "Jonathan R. Eller traces a wide variety of influences on Ray Bradbury's work, offering a detailed literary and cultural genealogy. Utterly compelling, this book contains a substantial amount of new material that will be invaluable for future scholars of Bradbury's work."--Gary K. Wolfe, author ofEvaporating Genres: Essays on Fantastic Literature, "A stunningly good examination of what in Ray's life turned him into the unique, individual writer he became."-- Huffington Post "A very Bradburyian biography."-- SFRA Review , "Eller shows how Bradbury found his vocation in a private world of mimeographed fanzines and couch-surfing, of transcontinental trips to the very first SF conventions, of the intense rivalries and controversies of a small enclosed world. . . . Eller's excellent account makes clear that one of the reasons why Bradbury came to seem an important new voice is that he was never as naive a writer as literary patrons such as Christopher Isherwood and Aldous Huxley may have assumed."--Times Literary Supplement "Every page is packed with fascinating material about one of this country's most beloved writers."--The Washington Post, Michael Dirda "A very Bradburyian biography."--SFRA Review "In great and always fascinating detail, Eller chronicles the journey Bradbury took from his youth to his early middle years. . . . [A] fine and important book."--Neworld Review "Eller's work is thorough and enlightening on the subject of one of science fiction's greatest minds. Highly recommended not just for Bradbury fans but for all students of science fiction."--Library Journal "A richly contextualized interpretation of Ray Bradbury's personal experience, his intellectual and artistic life, and the cultural milieu in which his gifts developed. Becoming Ray Bradbury will be the definitive account of Bradbury's development as a writer."--David Mogen, author of Wilderness Visions: The Western Theme in Science Fiction Literature "Jonathan R. Eller traces a wide variety of influences on Ray Bradbury's work, offering a detailed literary and cultural genealogy. Utterly compelling, this book contains a substantial amount of new material that will be invaluable for future scholars of Bradbury's work."--Gary K. Wolfe, author of Evaporating Genres: Essays on Fantastic Literature, "Every page is packed with fascinating material about one of this country's most beloved writers."-- The Washington Post , Michael Dirda "A stunningly good examination of what in Ray's life turned him into the unique, individual writer he became."-- Huffington Post, Beginning with his childhood in Waukegan, Illinois, and Los Angeles, this biography follows Bradbury's development from avid reader to maturing author, making a living writing for pulp magazines. Eller illuminates the sources of Bradbury's growing interest in the human mind, the human condition, and the ambiguities of life and death--themes that became increasingly apparent in his early fiction. Bradbury's correspondence documents his frustrating encounters with the major trade publishing houses and his earliest unpublished reflections on the nature of authorship. Eller traces the sources of Bradbury's very conscious decisions, following the sudden success of The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man, to voice controversial political statements in his fiction, and he highlights the private motivations behind the burst of creative energy that transformed his novella ''The Fireman'' into the classic novel Fahrenheit 451.Becoming Ray Bradbury reveals Bradbury's emotional world as it matured through his explorations of cinema and art, his interactions with agents and editors, his reading discoveries, and the invaluable reading suggestions of older writers. These largely unexplored elements of his life pave the way to a deeper understanding of his more public achievements, providing a biography of the mind, the story of Bradbury's self-education and the emerging sense of authorship at the heart of his boundless creativity., "Eller's work is thorough and enlightening on the subject of one of science fiction's greatest minds. Highly recommended not just for Bradbury fans but for all students of science fiction."-- Library Journal "A treasury of otherwise unavailable information. . . . Fans of Bradbury will find this book a fascinating and revealing look into his life and work."-- Science Fiction Studies , "Particularly strong in detailing Bradbury's friendships, influences, and professional relationships and endeavors." -- Orbit "Eller shows how Bradbury found his vocation in a private world of mimeographed fanzines and couch-surfing, of transcontinental trips to the very first SF conventions, of the intense rivalries and controversies of a small enclosed world. . . . Eller's excellent account makes clear that one of the reasons why Bradbury came to seem an important new voice is that he was never as naive a writer as literary patrons such as Christopher Isherwood and Aldous Huxley may have assumed." Times Literary Supplement, "In great and always fascinating detail, Eller chronicles the journey Bradbury took from his youth to his early middle years. . . . [A] fine and important book."-- Neworld Review "Eller shows how Bradbury found his vocation in a private world of mimeographed fanzines and couch-surfing, of transcontinental trips to the very first SF conventions, of the intense rivalries and controversies of a small enclosed world. . . . Eller's excellent account makes clear that one of the reasons why Bradbury came to seem an important new voice is that he was never as naive a writer as literary patrons such as Christopher Isherwood and Aldous Huxley may have assumed." Times Literary Supplement "A stunningly good examination of what in Ray's life turned him into the unique, individual writer he became."-- Huffington Post "Eller must surely be the preeminent biographer of Ray Bradbury."-- Choice "As perhaps the most knowledgeable scholar of Bradbury's body of work, Eller offers an in-depth study of his subject's early life, laying out his development from pulp publications toward The Martian Chronicles (1950) and Fahrenheit 451 (1953). . . . A fitting tribute to the impact that Ray Bradbury has had for his readers. Becoming Ray Bradbury reminds fans and scholars alike of the need to revisit our well-worn copies of The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451 and the countless short stores that introduced so many of us to the realm of the fantastic."-- Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts "Articulate and engaging, astonishingly rich in detail, and demonstrating exemplary research and scholarship, Becoming Ray Bradbury will be regarded as the most authoritative biography of Bradbury's life and work for many years."--Peter Stockwell, author of Texture: A Cognitive Aesthetics of Reading, "Jonathan R. Eller traces a wide variety of influences on Ray Bradbury's work, offering a detailed literary and cultural genealogy. Utterly compelling, this book contains a substantial amount of new material that will be invaluable for future scholars of Bradbury's work." --Gary K. Wolfe, author of Evaporating Genres: Essays on Fantastic Literature
IllustratedYes
Dewey Decimal813/.54 B
Table Of ContentCover Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part I 1. From the Nursery to the Library 2. L.A. High and the Science Fiction League 3. Hannes Bok and the Lorelei 4. NYCon 1939 5. Futuria Fantasia 6. From the Fanzines to the Prozines 7. Early Disappointments: The Science Fiction Pulps Part II 8. Living in Two Worlds 9. Reading about Writing 10. Early Mentors: Hamilton, Williamson, and Brackett 11. "Chrysalis": Bradbury and Henry Kuttner 12. A New World of Reading 13. An Emerging Sense of Critical Judgment 14. On the Shoulders of Giants 15. The Road to Autumn's House Illustrations follow pages 96 and 210 Part III 16. Exploring the Human Mind 17. Exploring the Human Condition 18. With the Blessings of His Mentors 19. New Stories and New Opportunities 20. Life and Death in Mexico 21. Transitions: Bradbury and Don Congdon 22. The Power of Love 23. From Arkham to New York 24. Obsessed with Perfection 25. Dark Carnival Part IV 26. Lifetime Partnerships 27. The Illinois Novel 28. Bradbury and Modernity 29. Modernist Alternatives 30. Finding His Own Way 31. The Anthology Game 32. Paradise Postponed 33. Broadening Horizons 34. The Miracle Year: Winter and Spring Illustrations follow pages 96 and 210 35. The Miracle Year: Summer and Fall Part V 36. Critical Praise, Private Worries 37. New York, 1951 38. Controversial Fictions 39. New Worlds: Graphic and Television Adaptations 40. The Wheel of Fortune 41. Joe Mugnaini and The Golden Apples of the Sun 42. Bantam and Ballantine 43. Hollywood at Last 44. Political Controversy 45. Fahrenheit 451 46. The Last Night of the World Notes Index
SynopsisBecoming Ray Bradbury chronicles the making of an iconic American writer by exploring Ray Bradbury's childhood and early years of his long life in fiction, film, television, radio, and theater. Jonathan R. Eller measures the impact of the authors, artists, illustrators, and filmmakers who stimulated Bradbury's imagination throughout his first three decades. Unprecedented access to Bradbury's personal papers and other private collections provides insight into his emerging talent through his unpublished correspondence, his rare but often insightful notes on writing, and his interactions with those who mentored him during those early years. Beginning with his childhood in Waukegan, Illinois, and Los Angeles, this biography follows Bradbury's development from avid reader to maturing author, making a living writing for the genre pulps and mainstream magazines. Eller illuminates the sources of Bradbury's growing interest in the human mind, the human condition, and the ambiguities of life and death--themes that became increasingly apparent in his early fiction. Bradbury's correspondence documents his frustrating encounters with the major trade publishing houses and his earliest unpublished reflections on the nature of authorship. Eller traces the sources of Bradbury's very conscious decisions, following the sudden success of The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man, to voice controversial political statements in his fiction. Eller also elucidates the complex creative motivations that yielded Fahrenheit 451. Becoming Ray Bradbury reveals Bradbury's emotional world as it matured through his explorations of cinema and art, his interactions with agents and editors, his reading discoveries, and the invaluable reading suggestions of older writers. These largely unexplored elements of his life pave the way to a deeper understanding of his more public achievements, providing a biography of the mind, the story of Bradbury's self-education and the emerging sense of authorship at the heart of his boundless creativity., Becoming Ray Bradbury chronicles the making of an iconic American writer by exploring Ray Bradbury's childhood and early years of his long life in fiction, film, television, radio, and theater. Jonathan R. Eller measures the impact of the authors, artists, illustrators, and filmmakers who stimulated Bradbury's imagination throughout his first three decades. Unprecedented access to Bradbury's personal papers and other private collections provides insight into his emerging talent through his unpublished correspondence, his rare but often insightful notes on writing, and his interactions with those who mentored him during those early years., Becoming Ray Bradbury chronicles the making of an iconic American writer by exploring Ray Bradbury's childhood and early years of his long life in fiction, film, television, radio, and theater. Jonathan R. Eller measures the impact of the authors, artists, illustrators, and filmmakers who stimulated Bradbury's imagination throughout his first three decades. Unprecedented access to Bradbury's personal papers and other private collections provides insight into his emerging talent through his unpublished correspondence, his rare but often insightful notes on writing, and his interactions with those who mentored him during those early years. Beginning with his childhood in Waukegan, Illinois, and Los Angeles, this biography follows Bradbury's development from avid reader tomaturing author, making a living writing for pulp magazines. Eller illuminates the sources of Bradbury's growing interest in the human mind, the human condition, and the ambiguities of life and death--themes that became increasingly apparent in his early fiction. Bradbury's correspondence documents his frustrating encounters with the major trade publishing houses and his earliest unpublished reflections on the nature of authorship. Eller traces the sources of Bradbury's very conscious decisions, following the sudden success of The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man, to voice controversial political statements in his fiction, and he highlights the private motivations behind the burst of creative energy that transformed his novella "The Fireman" into the classic novel Fahrenheit 451. Becoming Ray Bradbury reveals Bradbury's emotional world as it matured through his explorations of cinema and art, his interactions with agents and editors, his reading discoveries, and the invaluable reading suggestions of older writers. These largely unexplored elements of his life pave the way to a deeper understanding of his more public achievements, providing a biography of the mind, the story of Bradbury's self-education and the emerging sense of authorship at the heart of his boundless creativity.", Becoming Ray Bradbury chronicles the making of an iconic American writer by exploring Ray Bradbury's childhood and early years of his long life in fiction, film, television, radio, and theater. Jonathan R. Eller measures the impact of the authors, artists, illustrators, and filmmakers who stimulated Bradbury's imagination throughout his first ......
LC Classification NumberPS3503
