Ray Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an influential American author, screenwriter, and visionary storyteller whose works spanned science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery. Renowned for classics such as Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and Something Wicked This Way Comes, Bradbury combined poetic prose with powerful themes, examining technology, censorship, human curiosity, and the fragility of freedom. Over his career, he published more than 30 books and 600 short stories, inspiring generations of readers and writers. His works often blurred the line between speculative fiction and literary art, cementing his place as one of the most imaginative voices of the 20th century.