No name typifies science fiction to the American public more than the name Ray For over forty years, he has been writing novels, short stories, poems, plays,and movie scripts that have long since kept him in the forefront of American literature. His stories become standard reading for many high school and college students.His literary style can best be described as "enchantment;" the way he captivateshis readers with charm, bewitchment, and stunning verbal evocations. His visions of thepast, future, and the present delight his readers. His books are virtually long-timebestsellers and have been translated into over twenty languages. He is quite popular inthe former Soviet Union. However, success did not come easily for Bradbury. Heinched away at his writing career, crafting story after story, until he was selling andoccasional short story for half a cent per word. Much of his childhood, and a little of hisadulthood, inspired his writings. In this paper, these influences as well as his method ofdrawing the reader into a story will be discussed.Perhaps the most important influence in Bradbury's youth was his discovery ofmagic. The famous Blackstone the Magician once included Bradbury in his act, and itenchanted him. The most influential magician on Bradbury was Mr. Electrico. Bradburywrote about his experience with Mr. Electrico and stated that Mr. Electrico would sitevery night in his electric chair, brushing his Excalibur sword over the audience, sparkingthem with lightning, and crying, "Live forever!" A few weeks after Bradburyencountered Mr. Electrico, he began writing his first short stories. In July of 1941, Bradbury sold his first story to Super Science Stories. Althoughhe only made $13.75 on the sale, he rejoiced. Within a year from that sale, he was afull-time writer. The Martian Chronicles, his first novel, was published within a decadeand he soon found himself famous. Fahrenheit 451 marked a new point in Bra...
