Bradbury's Pulitzer

On April 16th, the Pulitzer Board announced a special citation to author Ray Bradbury for his distinguished, prolific and influential career as a science fiction and fantasy author. This special recognition is not a Pulitzer Prize, but is a recognition of life achievement. A citation was also given

posthumously to tenor saxophonist John Coltrane.

Ray Bradbury is one of the best known figures in the science fiction genre, with work is as diverse as the novel Fahrenheit 451, the novel and play Dandelion Wine, and the screenplay to the movie Moby Dick. In 1999 he was inducted into the Science Fiction and fantasy Hall of Fame and in 1989 he was recognized as a Grand Master by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Ray Bradbury when I was in grad school, and it was amazing to get a chance to listen to someone whose work I've always loved. I've mentioned before how much I love "There Will Come Soft Rains", one of the short stories from the book The Martian Chronicles. I don't think there was anyone in the room whose breath wasn't taken away just by getting a chance to hear him talk about writing.