Description

Published 2007

Ray Bradbury didn’t sit down one day and decide to write his classic novel Fahrenheit-451. As with Something Wicked This Way Comes Bradbury’s tale of censorship had its roots years earlier in at least 9 short stories or novellas. While published in 1953 the genesis of F-451 can be traced back to 1944. Over the next several years Bradbury tinkered with the idea in a number of short stories, a few that have been collected a number of times, some that appeared just once and others that have remained unpublished . . . Until now.

Match to Flame: The Fictional Paths to Fahrenheit-451 traces the roots of F-451 in Bradbury’s earlier fiction. Edited by Donn Albright, the book is a must for those who have marveled at F-451. The centerpiece of the book, is of course, “The Fireman” a novella published in Galaxy #51 (1951). Copies of Galaxy #51 on eBay (when they appear) sell for $150 and up.

The dustjacket art and design is by Editor Donn Albright.

Signed by Bradbury, this is bound to become one of his classics both for scholars looking into the history of F-451, collectors interested in obscure and unpublished Bradbury material that will not see publication anywhere else, and readers of great fiction. The Lettered edition, as always, will contain a wealth of additional material including the previously unpublished short story “The Castle.”

Table of Contents

Foreword by Ray Bradbury

Introduction by Richard Matheson

Historical and Critical Introduction by Bill Touponce
Texts Edited and Annotated by Jon Eller

“Reincarnate”
“Pillar of Fire”
“The Library”
“Bright Phoenix”
Facsimile: “Tiger Tiger, Burning Bright” (working title for early draft of “Bright Phoenix”, with handwritten corrections)
“The Mad Wizards of Mars”
“Carnival of Madness”
“The Mechanical Hound” (facsimile fragment)
“The Bonfire”
“The Bonfire” (facsimile, first draft, with handwritten corrections)
“Cricket On the Hearth”
“Cricket On the Hearth” (facsimile)
Ray Bradbury’s 1st Published Article:  Blue and White Daily, 1938
“The Pedestrian”
“The Garbage Collector”
“The Smile”
“When Ignorant Armies Clash” (unpublished novella)
“Long After Midnight” (unpublished novella)
“The Fireman”

Lettered Edition Only

Various Letters (facsimile)
“The Castle” (facsimile)
“Search For A Stranger” (facsimile, previously unpublished)

Back Cover art for Match to Flame

Available to purchase for this title:

• 500-copy signed numbered edition
• Optional handmade wooden slipcase for the numbered edition
• 52-copy signed traycased lettered edition