From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week, we focus on US-science fiction author Ray Bradbury.
Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois and died on June 5, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
In particular, he is “best known for his highly imaginative short stories and novels that blend a poetic style, nostalgia for childhood, social criticism, and an awareness of the hazards of runaway technology.”
What
Some of Bradbury’s well-known works include Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and Something Wicked this Way Comes.
Other notable texts include The Sound of Thunder, The Pedestrian, and The Smile.
Where
Many of Bradbury’s novels and short stories take place in or near Illinois, but they also take place in various galaxies and planets.
When
These works are set mainly in the 20th century, but many are also set in the distant future.
Why
These works may be of interest to students who enjoy diverse genres of fiction, such as dystopian, fantasy, science fiction, and horror, as well as those who enjoy themes related to technology, censorship, and space travel.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to the works of Ray Bradbury are available in a variety of disciplines, including those that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 387: Writing Speculative Fiction, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “develops speculative fiction (SF) writing skills through a combination of strategic study and writing activity.” (Please note that this course requires the completion of ENGL 381: Creative Writing in Prose and professor approval.)
In addition, students may be interested in ASTR 205: Universe – The Ultimate Frontier, a junior-level, three-credit course, which “describe[s] the Universe as we now understand it, explain[s] how our current understanding came about, and show[s] how the scientific method forms the basis for both the tools and the theories of astronomy.” (No prerequisites are required for this course.) Happy reading!
