Posted on 02/03/2008 10:40:59 AM PST by BenLurkin
When science fiction writer George Clayton Johnson imagined the future, he dreamt of green hills on Mars and the golden-eyed people that lived there. He envisioned the Martian cities that were built by the people and then destroyed by wars, famines and disease.
Johnson was strongly influenced by Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles," as well as stories by Theodore Sturgeon , Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson , pulp fiction writers of the twentieth century.
"If there had not been a Ray Bradbury there would not have been a George Clayton Johnson," said Johnson, who co-wrote the cult classic "Logan's Run" that was the basis for the 1976 Oscar-nominated film of the same title.
He was born July 10, 1929, in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he said he was the product of a broken home, an alcoholic mother, and stints in state orphanages, all of which moved him from place to place. When I was 16 years old I had completed my education."
Johnson escaped his dreary childhood by reading every fantasy and science fiction magazine he could find.
"I loved Edgar Rice Burroughs and Jules Verne. Dashiell Hammett was a big influence on my writing - I loved his style - all the pulp writers - I read 'em."
He also went to the movies whenever he could afford to and copied the styles and mannerisms of the only male role models he could admire.
In the late 1950s, Johnson said he wrote a short script called "All of Us Are Dying," and showed it to Jay Richards, who was then head of the television department of the Famous Artists' Agency. Richards then sent it to Rod Serling , who was working on a new television series, "The Twilight Zone."
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Sci-Fi ping
RUN!!!
It's Lo Pan, back from the grave!!!!!
Mark
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.