tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post2268452314797484566..comments2024-03-28T10:36:00.148+00:00Comments on Shadows & Light: Talking to Ray BradburySteve Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-46439766390827582552020-02-27T06:47:32.920+00:002020-02-27T06:47:32.920+00:00E: Maybe, but I still think it was the wrong decis...E: Maybe, but I still think it was the wrong decision.<br /><br />YP: I think Bradbury probably knew the decision to update a classic collection of stories could be questioned, and he was prepared to defend it. The G stands for Gager (pronounced Gayjer), which is my mom's maiden name. It's an old English surname that means "the king's measurers."<br /><br />Mitchell: Well, since he was alive at the time, it makes sense that he'd have had a hand in them. But yeah, I don't entirely agree with his reasoning.<br /><br />Ms Moon: Well, who knows -- the editors may have talked him into it. You wouldn't be aware of the changes unless you bought a new copy of the book, and knew the old version intimately!<br /><br />Ellen: That's awesome! Do you still have your Schulz thank-you note? I wrote Charles Schulz too, when he was on his deathbed. I sent HIM a thank-you note.<br /><br />Robin: Exactly. I think once a book is published, it's done. Future revisions are a bad idea.<br /><br />Edna: Well, I suppose the story is always available here in electronic form! I still haven't looked into the blog book. My blog is so big I can't imagine how it could all be published on paper.<br /><br />Sharon: "Fahrenheit 451" has a much stronger following than any of Bradbury's other books. I always thought it was the least interesting, but it's probably the most realistic, and kids still embrace the message.<br /><br />Allison: I AGREE COMPLETELY!<br /><br />Linda Sue: I was pretty shocked that he cared enough about my opinion (and our readers' opinions) that he wanted to talk to little ol' me!<br /><br />Catalyst: That WOULD have been amazing. Stars are people too, I suppose!<br /><br />Red: You should! He was a really good writer, and his writing holds up. (Without needless updating!)<br /><br />Jenny-O: I suppose the threat never goes away, though it looks at this point like we're more likely to kill ourselves slowly through environmental degradation.Steve Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-12729543660278814822020-02-26T18:26:50.967+00:002020-02-26T18:26:50.967+00:00I agree with you - I would prefer that a previousl...I agree with you - I would prefer that a previously published work stand as written, in subsequent editions. If it's updated I would like it to state that prominently, either on the cover (preferable) or in a preface, so I notice it before reading the book. Your original article is a bit of a time capsule as well. And here we are, all these years after your classroom encounter with the ideas surrounding nuclear weapons, again with the threat of dangerous fingers on those buttons. Gah.<br /><br />jenny_ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475480579733466963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-29411624300515084092020-02-26T18:10:30.135+00:002020-02-26T18:10:30.135+00:00I haven't read Ray Bradbury for a long time. I...I haven't read Ray Bradbury for a long time. It's time I picked up one of his books again.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-22041742051520846252020-02-26T17:42:40.643+00:002020-02-26T17:42:40.643+00:00No matter how jaded we journalists get it is alway...No matter how jaded we journalists get it is always a thrill to talk with a legend. I had that experience back in the 1970's when I wanted to get a comment from John Wayne about a story he figured in. I talked to a rancher who worked for him in Arizona and he gave me his California telephone number. I called it, expecting to hit a wall of secretaries and public relations people and was stunned when the actor himself answered my call. I eventually interviewed him for television and he couldn't have been nicer.Catalysthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-63536934590079173552020-02-26T16:44:00.541+00:002020-02-26T16:44:00.541+00:00Agree with Allison and your initial reaction to th...Agree with Allison and your initial reaction to the altering of his book. Should not have been done. If he wanted to update he might have written an updated OTHER tale. Sci fi is flexible. But what a thrill to be recognized and spoken with on the phone by the man! I would have had to wear Depends for a call like that.Linda Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03070050388987072100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-39072517520093961212020-02-26T16:28:21.033+00:002020-02-26T16:28:21.033+00:00I just don't know about changing published wor...I just don't know about changing published works. It feels like once they're out there, they're done. The book is finished and should stand as it is. Will they be updating the dates every thirty or so years when we still have not reached Mars or any place else?Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-19485634531351172202020-02-26T15:31:55.829+00:002020-02-26T15:31:55.829+00:00Here I am, another Bradbury fan. I read The Marti...Here I am, another Bradbury fan. I read The Martian Chonicles when I was still in school and I loved that book. And, I loved Fahrenheit 451 too. I went to see the original movie 3 times when it was playing. (Of course having a bit of crush on Oskar Werner played a role too.) It's so exciting that you actually got to talk to him. While reading your post, I was think that is was awful that the book was updated like that and hearing that it was actually Bradbury that wanted it updated sort of relieves those feelings. You've made me want to read the book again. Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645915869786296771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-74784738172434101192020-02-26T15:02:31.808+00:002020-02-26T15:02:31.808+00:00Awesome! How exciting for you. I hope someday you...Awesome! How exciting for you. I hope someday you have your blog posts printed in a hard cover book (or books). You have your own story here that your family would cherish. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.Edna Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02550994321689374875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-413685977069039242020-02-26T15:01:51.884+00:002020-02-26T15:01:51.884+00:00I love that you talked with Ray Bradbury! I find i...I love that you talked with Ray Bradbury! I find it interesting that he updated the book and changed the dates. I think, had I read the edited version years after I had read the original, I would have felt the same way you did. I'm glad you wrote the column about it. It's a shame we didn't make it to Mars by 1999, but that's no reason to change fictional history!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-16758365536852931892020-02-26T14:37:13.133+00:002020-02-26T14:37:13.133+00:00what a hoot. Bradbury was one of my early favorite...what a hoot. Bradbury was one of my early favorites too. this reminds me of the time that I made a valentine for charlie Brown of Peanuts and sent it to some address to Charles Shultz (it was a very long time ago, I was probably about 11 or 12). He eventually received it and sent me a very nice thank you note.ellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-65938586665635158422020-02-26T13:39:02.325+00:002020-02-26T13:39:02.325+00:00I had no idea you'd ever spoken to Bradbury. I...I had no idea you'd ever spoken to Bradbury. I, too, love him. What an amazing experience to have had! "The Martian Chronicles" are some of my favorite stories ever but frankly, I wasn't aware of the changes. My attitude about it all is that he was the author and could do anything he wanted. But it's good to know that HE wanted to make the changes and wasn't forced into them by editors. Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-69651493529057451002020-02-26T11:47:22.510+00:002020-02-26T11:47:22.510+00:00Wow. Very exciting. I would have assumed Bradbury ...Wow. Very exciting. I would have assumed Bradbury had nothing to do with the date changes and am disappointed to learn he wanted them. Moving with Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954028272162285597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-25278738789840429372020-02-26T10:15:48.849+00:002020-02-26T10:15:48.849+00:00How splendid that you conversed with Ray Bradbury....How splendid that you conversed with Ray Bradbury. You must have hit a tender spot with your initial article. However, my main point of interest in this blogpost is the "G" in Stephen G Reed. What on earth does that "G" stand for? My money is on Gandalf, Gawain or Godfrey. Other possibilities are Giovanni, Grimmwolf or Gerhardt.Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-60041448008564697222020-02-26T08:26:31.524+00:002020-02-26T08:26:31.524+00:00Bradbury may have done what was suggested by an ag...Bradbury may have done what was suggested by an agent or editor. I enjoyed his books as a young person.ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11376645220662546020noreply@blogger.com