Ray Bradbury dies; sci-fi master authored ‘Fahrenheit 451,’ ‘Martian Chronicles’

The imaginative and prolific author wrote some of the most popular science-fiction books of all time, including "The Martian Chronicles" and "Fahrenheit 451."

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Bradbury, shown in 2000, received a special Pulitzer Prize citation in 2007 "for his distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy." He penned more than 500 titles, including novels, plays and children's books.

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Born Ray Douglas Bradbury in Waukegan, Ill., the young bibliophile lived with his parents after being rejected from the Army because of poor eyesight. He made money by selling stories to pulp magazines.

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Bradbury worked on what would become a bestseller using a typewriter he rented for 10 cents per half-hour in a basement room at UCLA.

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Although "Fahrenheit 451" — about a fireman charged with burning books — raised controversy, it remains a popular selection for assigned reading in schools.

In this 1966 photo, Bradbury is seen with a school project illustrating one of his characters.

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Bradbury, shown in 1982, frequently eschewed his label as a science-fiction writer. "People say, 'Are you a fantasy writer?' No," he told the Charlotte Observer in 1997. " 'Are you a science fiction writer?' No. I'm a magician."

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Through such works as "The Martian Chronicles," Bradbury is credited for giving the science-fiction standbys of robots and outer space greater appeal by invoking larger themes like colonialism and war.

His popularity led to the mid-'80s HBO TV show "Ray Bradbury Theater," which filmed scenes at his office in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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Bradbury, shown in 1997, has been recognized for his work since 1947 — the year he first received the prestigious O. Henry Award for his short stories.

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Author Ray Bradbury smiles as he signs his book "Quicker Than The Eye" in January 1997 at the Clean Well Lighted Place for Books bookstore in Cupertino, Calif.

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Aside from his literary work, Bradbury helped host his own science-fiction anthology program, "The Ray Bradbury Theater," from 1985 to 1992.

Jonathan Alcorn / For The Washington Post

In 2002, Bradbury — a longtime Southern California resident — was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Bradbury suffered a stroke in 1999, yet continued to write by dictating to his daughter.

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Bradbury, shown in 2002, met fans at conventions and book signings.

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Louis Friedman, executive director of the Planetary Society, presents Bradbury with a Mars-shaped cake at Bradbury's 83rd birthday party.

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Bradbury, right, celebrates his 83rd birthday with actresses Angie Dickinson, right, and "Star Trek's" Nichelle Nichols, along with science-fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson.

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Bradbury's breakthrough into popular literature was "The Martian Chronicles," which took him to the bestseller lists once it was published in paperback.

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President George W. Bush and Laura Bush honored Bradbury, seated, in 2004 with a National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists by the government.

Read more about Bradbury and the other recipients from that year here.

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Bradbury, left, testified via satellite in 2004 on the importance of space exploration to the members of the President's Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond.

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"Bradbury Speaks: Too Soon From the Cave, Too Far From the Stars" was among the works Bradbury wrote outside the science fiction and fantasy genres.

/ William Morrow

Bradbury was a popular panelist at events like the annual ComicCon in San Diego and the Festival of Books in Los Angeles.

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Bradbury speaks in 2008 at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.<br>
<br>In 1983, he told the New York Times: 'I can't name a writer who's had a more perfect life. ... My books are all in print, I'm in all the school libraries and when I go places I get the applause at the start of my speech.'

Bradbury speaks in 2008 at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

In 1983, he told the New York Times: "I can't name a writer who's had a more perfect life. ... My books are all in print, I'm in all the school libraries and when I go places I get the applause at the start of my speech."

David Livingston / Getty Images

Bradbury poses with his book “We’ll Always Have Paris” at a January 2009 luncheon celebrating the Golden Globe-nominated Best Foreign Language Film (France) "I've Loved You So Long" at the residence of the Consul General of France in Los Angeles.

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