One of them was Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," a cautionary sci-fi tale of fascism, with firemen burning books that have been outlawed in a futuristic American society. It's a scorching critique about what happens when dissent is discouraged and made illegal. The title comes from the temperature when paper combusts on its own.
Bradbury - and the other books we read in that year-of-living-insightfully - left a lasting impression on kids who would grow up and become skeptical of authority and conforming to societal norms and expectations.
So the news that he died in Los Angeles at 91 brings sadness. Not that Bradbury didn't live a big life and impact millions of people, but the loss of his unique and powerful voice is something to mourn.
And we do. I do.
Much reaction to Bradbury's death. And we're remembering him tonight, at 11.
We're also covering the Presidential race tonight, from the meaning of the failed Governor recall in Wisconsin, to the amazing number of days Pres. Obama is spending on fundraising - more, perhaps, than any other incumbent president ever.
This week's trip to California brings to 8 of the past 24 weekdays spent on the road, asking for campaign cash. His event tomorrow night is his 153rd fundraiser since he announced his re-election campaign last year - nearly double the number Pres. George W. Bush had at this point in his bid for re-election.
Democrats will argue that the President, despite his incumbency, is at a disadvantage because of the Supreme Court's ruling along super PACs to donate endless amounts of dough. And on this front, Republican Mitt Romney and his backers have raised $402 million by the end of April, compared to $340 million raised by the President and his backers.
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Meteorologist Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast, and Rob Powers with the night's sports. I hope you can join Liz Cho (in for Sade Baderinwa) and me, tonight at 11.
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