Your Uncle Dave can’t even begin to imagine what his life would have been like without having read, starting at age 8, science fiction written by Bradbury and his contemporaries.

Ray Bradbury, whose books took readers on imaginary journeys to the outermost edges of the galaxy without leaving their own back yards, has died at age 91, according to published reports. The author of classic books such as “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Martian Chronicles” was born in Waukegan, Ill, on Aug. 22, 1920, the son of a utility lineman. He was living in Los Angeles at the time of his death, his home for the past several decades.