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Ray Bradbury is one of the most iconic and prolific writers of American speculative fiction. His works are thought-provoking and filled with social commentary. Bradbury began writing after the Second World War, and his works sometimes allude to the threats of that time, including moments at which society succumbs to totalitarianism and how wrong uses of technology can be overwhelmingly destructive.
His science fiction works generally are less concerned with technology than with the societal implications of that technology. This same concern can be seen in “A Sound of Thunder,” where technicalities involved in the structure and function of the time machine have little importance relative to the ethical implications involved in making choices.
Bradbury has written both novels and short stories. His most famous work is Fahrenheit 451, which has been adapted many times. It explores the threats of censorship and is now considered a classic work of literature. Along with science fiction, Bradbury was also a fan of horror, and he published several works of short fiction that combined fantasy and horror.
Bradbury has also written screenplays for movies. His first screenplay was for Moby Dick (1956). After that, his demand increased, and he worked on several other productions, including The Twilight Zone.
Bradbury’s style of writing is defined by a rich use of symbols. He also uses vivid descriptions of the settings that bring the stories to life. Another feature of his writing is the use of contrasting images in his stories to drive the point across. Sometimes, these contrasts act as foreshadowing. At other times, they show the stark differences between two characters or situations. The short story “A Sound of Thunder” includes many examples of symbolism, imagery, and contrast. The sound of thunder works as a powerful symbol of impending doom, the vivid descriptions of the jungle transport readers to the prehistoric era, and the use of contrasting situations and dialogue often foreshadow events from the rising action through the climax and end of the story.
