Remembrance: Selected Correspondence of Ray Bradbury

In this judicious compendium, Bradbury biographer Eller (Bradbury Beyond Apollo) presents highlights from the sci-fi writer’s letters, dating from his late teens through his death in 2012. The correspondence charts the course of Bradbury’s career, tracing his development from mentee (a 1940 letter from Robert A. Heinlein, who helped Bradbury get his first stories published, promises Bradbury “another long, leisurely bull session” upon his return to California) to elder statesman of genre fiction (in 1979, Stephen King queried Bradbury about the inspiration for his 1962 novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes). A 1952 letter addressed to the Republican Party decrying its fearmongering portrayal of Democrats as communists after Eisenhower’s presidential victory that year offers insight into Bradbury’s politics, and a 1951 message to fellow sci-fi writer Richard Matheson reveals Bradbury’s apprehension about new media, suggesting that radio had “contributed to our ‘growing lack of attention.’ ” Other missives to friends, family, editors, and fans on such varied subjects as the delight Bradbury took in visiting Disneyland and his tense working relationship with John Huston while scripting the director’s adaptation of Moby Dick offer a panoramic portrait of Bradbury that’s as forthright as it is revealing. Bradbury’s fans will want to check this out. (Nov.)