Behind the Headlines

I was one of the VIP guests when Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, was the featured speaker for the Nov. 13, 1996, program in the “Authors! Authors!” series at Stranahan Hall in Toledo, sponsored by Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and The Blade.

The invite came because my husband and I, and several of our friends, were then members of the Science Fiction Book Club sponsored by the Oregon Branch of Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. The book club, which has since disbanded, met once a month to discuss works by Isaac Asimov, Octavia Butler and other classic and current authors. The members took turns picking the books and leading the discussions. For example, one of my assignments was Robert Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers,” because I knew the story behind its references to “The Ballad of Rodger Young.”

When Ray Bradbury was announced on the lecture schedule, the sci-fi book club members quickly arranged for tickets. Then our library liaison informed us that our group had been upgraded to VIP status. We would get front-row seats in the lecture hall and tickets to the invitation-only reception before the program. How cool is that?

The reason Ray Bradbury was on the lecture circuit was to promote his new book, a collection of short stories called “Quicker than the Eye.” I purchased an autographed copy of that book and arranged for a photograph of me and my husband with Mr. Bradbury.

My friends and I don’t remember the details on what Mr. Bradbury spoke about, other than it was an entertaining program. Although I still have my pictures, program and autographed book, I didn’t save the newspaper stories. I do remember that he prepped for the lecture by sitting in a chair on stage, reading to himself while the audience settled in their seats.