(RNN) – Ray Bradbury wrote fantastic tales about the future and faraway worlds, but the themes contained within them reflected the issues he saw in everyday life.
The author of Fahrenheit 451 died Wednesday morning in Los Angeles at the age of 91.
Bradbury had more than 500 of his works published, including short stories, novels, plays and screenplays. His work became engrained in American culture, inspiring many future writers of multiple genres and the imaginations of people from all walks of life.
Danny Karapetian, Bradbury's grandson, remembered his grandfather on the website io9 by recommending a line from a favorite Bradbury book, The Illustrated Man:
"My tunes and numbers are here. They have filled my years, the years when I refused to die. And in order to do that I wrote, I wrote, I wrote, at noon or 3 a.m. So as not to be dead."
Perhaps his most famous work, Fahrenheit 451, presented a dystopian future where books were outlawed. The story is centered on Guy Montag, a fireman whose job it is to start fires and burn books.
According to the Associated Press, Bradbury wrote the book on a rented typewriter - 10 cents per half hour - at the UCLA library. He completed the book after nine days and $9.80 in fees.
Other famed books of his include The Martian Chronicles and Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Much of his work lived in the categories of science fiction, fantasy and horror, but relatable themes and social commentary could be found inside the pages, as well. Bradbury took on topics ranging from racism to the Cold War to the effects of technology on society.
Among the accolades Bradbury received were the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush and a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize board. The Apollo 15 astronauts named a crater on the moon "Dandelion Crater" after Bradbury's novel, Dandelion Wine.
Other honors he received include an Emmy for The Halloween Tree and an Academy Award nomination for the animated film Icarus Montgolfier Wright.
The Ray Bradbury Award is presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to recognize excellence in screenwriting.
Shortly after news of his death, people across the world expressed their appreciation of his contributions on Twitter.
"Growing up, Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles made my imagination erupt, taught me to love writing, and to dream without bounds," tweeted Chicago Tribune writer Rex Huppke.
Writer/director Edgar Wright wrote, "A standing ovation for Mr. Ray Bradbury. Our imagination will be dimmer without him."
Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Ray Bradbury sits at a book signing in Los Angeles in the 90s. (Source: susieredshoes/Flickr)
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTVM, a Raycom Media Station.
