http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/2009/09/ray-bradbury-something-wicked-this-way-comes/ Missives on cultural detritus with a slurred punk-rock spin. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:52:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/2009/09/ray-bradbury-something-wicked-this-way-comes/comment-page-1/#comment-4683 Shaun CG Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:25:43 +0000 http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/?p=1261#comment-4683 Yes, I think that describes his approach rather well! Yes, I think that describes his approach rather well!

]]> http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/2009/09/ray-bradbury-something-wicked-this-way-comes/comment-page-1/#comment-4674 Colum Paget Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:19:05 +0000 http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/?p=1261#comment-4674 Bradbury is one of my faves, and he was always the 'odd one out' in a bookcase otherwise full of 'hard-sf'. I remember being vaguely bothered as a kid, after reading clarke describe the physics and workings of a jump-drive in such detail that you could go out into the back yard and build one (except you'd always be missing that one, vital, part), to pick up Bradbury and have him say "Look! A rocketship! And there... martians!". It wasn't that he did this that bothered me, it as that he GOT AWAY WITH IT. One felt he himself was a character from his stories, the carniaval illusionist who cannot be trusted. Indeed, Bradbury always uses childhood allusions and metaphors in his stories, and I think this was the secret ingredient in his sinster, manipulative mojo. Firstly, it flagposts that he's not going to bother with all that tiresome physics professor world-building, he's essentially writing modern fairy-tales. Secondly, it puts the reader almost into a trance-state, regressing them into a time and place where they (or most readers) felt safe and happy. Then he introduces something strange, scary, or downright horrid into the story, and in doing so injects a stain of terror into your own childhood. He presents you with all the things that should make you feel safe and warm, and then threatens you with a knife. Bradbury is one of my faves, and he was always the ‘odd one out’ in a bookcase otherwise full of ‘hard-sf’. I remember being vaguely bothered as a kid, after reading clarke describe the physics and workings of a jump-drive in such detail that you could go out into the back yard and build one (except you’d always be missing that one, vital, part), to pick up Bradbury and have him say “Look! A rocketship! And there… martians!”. It wasn’t that he did this that bothered me, it as that he GOT AWAY WITH IT. One felt he himself was a character from his stories, the carniaval illusionist who cannot be trusted.
Indeed, Bradbury always uses childhood allusions and metaphors in his stories, and I think this was the secret ingredient in his sinster, manipulative mojo. Firstly, it flagposts that he’s not going to bother with all that tiresome physics professor world-building, he’s essentially writing modern fairy-tales. Secondly, it puts the reader almost into a trance-state, regressing them into a time and place where they (or most readers) felt safe and happy. Then he introduces something strange, scary, or downright horrid into the story, and in doing so injects a stain of terror into your own childhood. He presents you with all the things that should make you feel safe and warm, and then threatens you with a knife.

]]> http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/2009/09/ray-bradbury-something-wicked-this-way-comes/comment-page-1/#comment-4584 Shaun CG Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:41 +0000 http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/?p=1261#comment-4584 My pleasure, George! My pleasure, George!

]]> http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/2009/09/ray-bradbury-something-wicked-this-way-comes/comment-page-1/#comment-4582 George Berger Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:37:28 +0000 http://www.nostalgiaforinfinity.com/?p=1261#comment-4582 Hi shaun, you will remember that I enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed writing a tribute to it when I saw that you launched that topic. I have been unable to get to your website with my computer. But now I am sitting in a Hotel restaurant with my brand new iPhone and another server. Everthing works fine. So thanks again for. Reminding me of this fine book. Hi shaun, you will remember that I enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed writing a tribute to it when I saw that you launched that topic. I have been unable to get to your website with my computer. But now I am sitting in a Hotel restaurant with my brand new iPhone and another server. Everthing works fine. So thanks again for. Reminding me of this fine book.

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