Ray Bradbury in L.A.: Snapshots

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Ray Bradbury, who will be 90 on Aug. 22, appeared at the Mystery and Imagination Bookstore in Glendale on Saturday to help launch “Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews,” a new book by Sam Weller. Weller, center, was on hand for the signing, as was Frank Black (aka the Pixies’ Black Francis, aka Charles Thompson, at left, wearing sunglasses), who wrote the book’s foreword. When asked how Weller recruited him, Black pointed out that his third solo album, “The Cult of Ray,” was about Bradbury.

People began gathering around the cash register at the front of the store about 40 minutes before Bradbury was scheduled to arrive. Bradbury, who has had a fairly public presence in southern California, has been notably absent since he was injured in a fall a few months ago. Fans were anxious to see him and to buy signed copies of “Listen to the Echoes,” a follow-up to Weller’s authorized Bradbury biography, “The Bradbury Chronicles.”

Bradbury, above, as his wheelchair was rolled into place at the front of the store. In the foreground, a sample of the stock at the Mystery and Imagination bookstore, which specializes in collectible books, mostly from the science fiction and mystery genres, but with lots of historical fiction and entertainment titles too. Campy vintage paperbacks are sold for just a few dollars.

An upstairs lounge provided the long view, above, of the bookstore, its wares and the waiting crowds. The long line to the left couldn’t catch any glimpses of Bradbury at all, but those people would be able to once they’d purchased the book and moved closer to him.

Everyone who got close to Bradbury was eager to capture the moment. Above, a child meets the master, who, though losing his eyesight and his hearing, seemed to be entirely enjoying the attention.

-- Carolyn Kellogg
twitter.com/paperhaus

All photos: credit Carolyn Kellogg

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