RIP Ray Bradbury

News just broke on the passing of Ray Bradbury. Perhaps one of the greatest Writers out there.

I had the honor to first meet Ray Bradbury at LOSCON 1985. Equine The Uncivilized was just recently published and I headed out to Pasadena to sell at the con.

There was a huge crowd around a table as I was waiting for business, and sorta pushed my way through the crowd, seeing this gentleman signing books.

I thrust my hand before his face, Ray at first looked stunned, then reached up and shook my hand where I then said...

"Michael Jackson, I loved the Thriller Album!!!"

Ray looked completely shocked as I grinned and walked off, amid a confused band of Bradbury fans equally puzzled at what I said.

A couple hours later I am at my table, drawing a commission when a meaty hand got thrust in my face, I looked up, it was Ray Bradbury.

Ray said "Huey Lewis!! Loved the Sports Album!!

We both laughed at our silliness. Then I mentioned that I wish I known he'd be at the con, I have him sign my copy of Fahrenheit 451. Ray then suggested I look in the dealersroom for a copy.

No luck, not a single Bradbury book anywhere. I told this to Ray, then he said "I know a small bookshop nearby, lets go look for a copy!!"

Ray Bradbury and I then walked out and to this small used book shop, and found exactly one Bradbury book for sale, "The Illustrated Man".

Ray then signed it "To Huey Lewis, From Michael Jackson...aka Ray Bradbury". I laughed at this and we both had lunch at a Subway sandwich shop together. Then back to the con.

For years, everytime I saw Ray I would greet him "Michael Jackson, hows it going?" And Ray would greet back "Doing Great Huey Lewis!!"

And anybody around us would look confused and bewildered. But we didn't care, it was our private joke.

I haven't seen Ray in well over a decade, but will always remember that day at LOSCON 85.