June is Ray Bradbury Month

June is Ray Bradbury Month (in my world anyway). Last year, June 5th, Ray Bradbury died. Bradbury wrote some of the greatest science fiction novels (Fahrenheit 451, Martian Chronicles) and is my personal favorite author. Since his death I decided that each June I would read new (to me) book of his.

Last year I read 'R is for Rocket' which are a collection of Twilight Zone-esque short stories on space travel. Highly recommended.


This year I picked up a used copy of 'Dandelion Wine' from Twice Told Books in Guernville, CA (great little book store if you're ever in that neighborhood). The description sounds a lot like "Something Wicked This Way Comes'. Can't wait to get started!


For other Bradbury fans, I encourage you to do the same. For others who may not be Bradbury fans, I suggest you find another author who is special to you and honor them in a similar way.

Below is a great tribute to Bradbury written by Neil Gaiman. I posted this link last June, definitely worth a listen if you haven't heard this before (Bradbury fan or not).
soundcloud.com/neilgaiman/the-man-who-forgot-ray-bradbury

Dear Internet...

Dear Internet,

I don't understand you. I don't post anything in a month in a half and my view average doesn't drop one bit. I come back to the blog with two new posts and the view average dropped 75% in the days since.

Weird.

Some Redshirt Funnies

June Book of the Month: Redshirts by John Scalzi

via goodreads.com:

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory.

Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.