In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine pointed out that the Hebrew concept of a prophet was not someone with the ability to predict the future but, rather, a poet or a musician. In both senses, Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 is a hugely prophetic work, lyrical and prescient. Those who attend the Godlight Theater Company's production of the play version (also written by Bradbury) may find themselves wondering if the author channelled some higher power to perceive such staggeringly accurate visions of America's future, or if he simply took a look at trends in his own society and followed them to their most alarming conclusions.

For example, consider that Bradbury envisioned what we call[...]