Last Night’s Wrap Party the Ojai Film Festival was very nice, lots of people who support the arts, a few big name stars ( Edward James Olmos, Malcolm McDowell, John Bennett Perry, Creed from The Office http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed_Bratton_(The_Office_character), etc…) as well as America’s greatest living science fiction author.  By that, I mean Ray Bradbury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury).  Ray has been a paid author on behalf of 66 years and at the age of 88 is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.  That’s great, because of the fact that all too often people are not doted upon until at the end of they pass.
Last night’s event included a short video from Tom Hanks as well as Steven Spielberg, who gave kudos as well as thanks to the master of sci-fi.  Here are a couple of suggestions on behalf of those who’ve not had the pleasure of reading any of Bradbury’s gems:  Farenheit 451, The Illustrated Man as well as The Martian Chronicles are three highly recommended books.  Or download as well as listen to one of his stories from The Martian Chrinicles entitled Mars is Heaven here:  http://sciencefictionradiopodcast.com/2008/08/04/dimension-x-episode-33-mars-is-heaven/ .
I first heard this 1951 broadcast as a youth over 35 years ago, listening to it one dark, lonely night.  Scared me then, scares me still.