From a first reading of "Something Wicked This Way Comes," many readers (such as our editorial director) were hooked by Ray's superb powers of description and a deep appreciation of his sense of humor and the macabre. From penning "Fahrenheit 451" to the movie script of "Moby Dick," Ray was a writer's writer.

The Space Foundation issued a statement expressing sadness at the death of writer Ray Bradbury, who often wrote about space themes and was author of such science fiction works as The Martian Chronicles. "Ray Bradbury's creativity was legendary. Many of his works showed a remarkable ability to imagine the possibilities, outcomes and consequences of space exploration," said Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham. "For many in the space industry, Bradbury was an inspiration to think differently."

Mr. Bradbury appreciated the importance of space exploration. He did attend a number of JPL/Caltech events over the years and participated with Arthur C. Clarke, Walter Sullivan, Carl Sagan and Bruce Murray in a symposium on the eve of the Mariner 9's Mars orbit in 1972. His "The Martian Chronicles," in digital format, became part of the Phoenix spacecraft mission to the arctic plains of Mars in 2007. The former head of the Planetary Society, Lou Friedman, has requested the landing site for the one ton Curiosity rover be renamed the Ray Bradbury Memorial Station. How fitting, and Ray would probably be highly appreciative of such an honor.