Subtle spooks

Sometimes, the best way to scare a person is to be subtle.

That is what science fiction author Ray Bradbury believes is the power of such novels as Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

"They scared me the proper way," he said.

Bradbury does not appreciate some of today's works where the violence is too graphic and exists just to generate an audience's response.

It was the subtle way authors worked that led the Waukegan son to write classic stories including "The Martian Chronicles" and "Fahrenheit 451."

Some of Bradbury's tales, as well as stories of the most famous literary monsters that inspired him, will come to life on stage at the second annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival Friday night.

Suggested for guests ages 12 and older, the program will begin 8 p.m. at the Genesee Theatre.

The festival was inspired by Bradbury, a native son of Waukegan and author of more than 500 published works.

Richard Lee, executive director of the Waukegan Public Library, said the event pays tribute to Bradbury and brings his work to life.

Bradbury, who now lives in Los Angeles, Calif., asked that the festival be held near Halloween as it remains his favorite time of year.

"It encompasses life and it encompasses death," he said.

Last year the festival featured only Bradbury's work. This year, there also will be stories and authors that inspired Bradbury, including Frankenstein, Dracula and Edgar Allen Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher," which inspired Bradbury's "Usher II".

Bradbury said it was after reading these types of stories that in his early 20s he began to write long scary novels for $15 to $20 each, "all because I wanted to scare people in my own subtle way."

Still writing novels at age 87, Bradbury says he still has the energy and excitement to write, whether it be an essay, poem or short story.

"When I get out of bed the last 70 years, an idea hits me that makes me jump and write it all down," he said. "That enjoyment of writing is still the same."

Bringing the stories to life and pulling the monsters out of the books Friday night will be three storytellers: Jon Spelman from New York, Megan Wells of LaGrange, and Jim May of Spring Grove.

After the audience listens to stories by these classic authors, Bradbury said he hopes it will make them feel alive. He says his stories are celebrations of life even if they deal with death.

"I first discovered that when I was 12 years old," he said. "Now every day I am glad I'm alive and glad to have a chance to write."

If you go

What: Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival

Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., WAukegan

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Tickets: $17

Purchase tickets: Genesee Theatre box office or Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com