jazzy_dave (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jazzy_dave) wrote2012-02-21 08:29 am
jazzy_dave) wrote2012-02-21 08:29 am
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Book 8 - Ray Bradbury "Fahrenheit 451"
Just finished reading this classic SF novel, which became a really good film version directed by Francois Truffaut
Ray Bradbury writes in his introduction that it took him just nine days to complete this book in the basement of the U.C.L.A. library, on a rented typewriter. "Fahrenheit 451" was first published in 1953 as featured in Hugh Hefner’s "Playboy" magazine after being rejected by every book publisher Bradbury approached. It later became a best selling novel and now carries the reputation of being a classic.
"Fahrenheit 451" is a futuristic dystopia novel. In some unnamed city during an undisclosed time, life as we know it no longer exists. The government uses mind control to insure everyone is always in a happy peaceful frame of mind. Guy Montag is a fireman, though his job is not to put out fires. Like every other fireman in the country, his job is to start fires. Reading is prohibited and every time a citizen is suspected of concealing books, the fire alarm blares and the firemen rush to the site and burn the house down. The resident family is then imprisoned. Bradbury originally titled the book "The Fireman" but changed the title to "Fahrenheit 451" because that is the temperature at which paper catches fire.
The opening line of the book is “It was a pleasure to burn.” Guy loves his job, and while he is busy putting out fires every day, his wife Mildred is at home, pacified by government provided entertainment. The government brainwashing tactics are clever and the futuristic life style Bradbury imagines is astonishingly intuitive considering home computers did not become available until the 1970’s and the idea of virtual reality was generally unheard of until much later. Entire walls in the Montag house were constructed of computerized screens where Mildred interacted with televised characters. And when she wasn’t tuned in to her “computer family” she wore a headset that provided background music to prevent her from thinking. Thinking was considered to be a very dangerous pastime.
Everything was going just fine until Guy has a chance encounter with a very unusual little girl who has some strange ideas. As a result, Guy begins having an occasional thought or two of his own.
This is a very entertaining book, that simply ended too soon. A sweet 158 page novel with a story that may not be far-fetched from the life our planet’s increasing population and simultaneous shrinking resources could lead us to in the future.
Ray Bradbury writes in his introduction that it took him just nine days to complete this book in the basement of the U.C.L.A. library, on a rented typewriter. "Fahrenheit 451" was first published in 1953 as featured in Hugh Hefner’s "Playboy" magazine after being rejected by every book publisher Bradbury approached. It later became a best selling novel and now carries the reputation of being a classic.
"Fahrenheit 451" is a futuristic dystopia novel. In some unnamed city during an undisclosed time, life as we know it no longer exists. The government uses mind control to insure everyone is always in a happy peaceful frame of mind. Guy Montag is a fireman, though his job is not to put out fires. Like every other fireman in the country, his job is to start fires. Reading is prohibited and every time a citizen is suspected of concealing books, the fire alarm blares and the firemen rush to the site and burn the house down. The resident family is then imprisoned. Bradbury originally titled the book "The Fireman" but changed the title to "Fahrenheit 451" because that is the temperature at which paper catches fire.
The opening line of the book is “It was a pleasure to burn.” Guy loves his job, and while he is busy putting out fires every day, his wife Mildred is at home, pacified by government provided entertainment. The government brainwashing tactics are clever and the futuristic life style Bradbury imagines is astonishingly intuitive considering home computers did not become available until the 1970’s and the idea of virtual reality was generally unheard of until much later. Entire walls in the Montag house were constructed of computerized screens where Mildred interacted with televised characters. And when she wasn’t tuned in to her “computer family” she wore a headset that provided background music to prevent her from thinking. Thinking was considered to be a very dangerous pastime.
Everything was going just fine until Guy has a chance encounter with a very unusual little girl who has some strange ideas. As a result, Guy begins having an occasional thought or two of his own.
This is a very entertaining book, that simply ended too soon. A sweet 158 page novel with a story that may not be far-fetched from the life our planet’s increasing population and simultaneous shrinking resources could lead us to in the future.