-- Robert A. Heinlein (on writing for the pulps)
First volume of Heinlein's "Future History" short stories
(read but not reviewed)
Second volume of Heinlein's "Future History" short stories
(read but not reviewed)
All you need to survive and prosper is courage, hard work, and a photographic memory.
Third-rate actor Lorenzo Smythe gets the part of his life.
An inventor is screwed by his wife, but discovers the perfect revenge.
Kip and Peewee are kidnapped by evil aliens. But their troubles don't really begin until they are rescued by good aliens. [Just read that early description of the space suit -- that's how seamless info-dumping should be done.]
Read the book. Don't see the film.
(read but not reviewed)
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The moon is revolting
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[written 1954]
rating : 3.5 : worth reading
review : 28 May 2000
Robert Anson Heinlein died in 1988. Those of us who grew up profoundly influenced by his work were greatly saddened by the news. This memorial volume brings together some of his famous moonflight stories, some previously unpublished works, some speeches, and many glowing testimonials from other SF luminaries. Most of the best has already appeared elsewhere, but this volume stands as a fitting tribute to arguably the most influential SF writer of all time.
[written 1946]
rating : 3.5 : worth reading
review : 16 October 2005
No-one infodumps quite like Heinlein. This was originally written in 1939, before any of Heinlein's published SF, but only discovered and published recently, after Heinlein's death. It is an utterly fascinating work for Heinlein fans and scholars, as it captures many of his ideas espoused in his later works -- free love, rolling roads, general semantics, economics, Nehemiah Scudder, and more -- in a classic "tour of Utopia" style. It's not a novel, it's an essentially plotless 300 page lecture, demonstrating that his later harangues weren't a degeneration, but a reversion to what he was really about. Since that lecture is in true Heinlein voice, it's a worthwhile read, to see the early form of some of his ideas, and to see his already masterly handling of the infodump. But don't bother if you want just a story.
rating : 3 : worth reading
review : 3 January 2008
After Robert Heinlein's death, several pages of notes that he wrote in 1955 outlining the idea for a novel were found, and Spider Robinson given the task of turning them into a novel.
It's 2286. Joel Johnstone is a poor but talented musician, who is desperately in love with Jinny Hamilton, and she with him, but they can't afford to marry. However, Joel discovers something that makes him run far far away, so far and so fast that Jinny can never catch up with him. The main story is then his "coming of age" over the next several years in a small community, finished off with a mind-blowing catastrophe, and a hastily wrapped-up ending.
Is this a Heinlein, or a Robinson? Well, it feels a lot like a Heinlein. In fact, it's a very strange experience, reading a novel that feels like an early Heinlein (early enough that it's a jolly good story, not just an interesting lecture), yet clearly, from events and technology, written in the 21st century. It's a world initially consistent with Heinlein's future history, so Neil Armstrong didn't happen, and Prophet Nehemiah Scudder and the Covenant did. But it's also a world in which 9/11 happened. And I don't remember the mind-blowing catastrophe towards the end (you'll know it when you get to it) from Future History, either.
There are clearly Robinson touches, such as the dancing, and, of course, the puns. But the number of people who die, and stay dead, definitely points to Heinlein rather than Robinson. As does the coming of age feel, and the competent-but-naive Heinlein-esque hero. The lack of major female characters is also typical of (early) Heinlein (the female characters are strong, but not major).
A good page-turner, and it's marvellous to have a new Heinlein novel to read. Well done Spider!
(read but not reviewed)
(read but not reviewed)
In Lost Legacy that is exactly what happens. Three people find they have enormous powers – a doctor can heal without the use of surgery or medicine – a lecturer can instruct without the use of words – a woman can drive without looking at the road ahead. But why have they got these powers? Can any human being be trained to develop their own ‘unknown’ abilities? Only a trip to the ancient mountain of Shasta can provide the answers.
Hypothesis: If one could change the genetic structure of any living being, then virtually any variation of life could be created in any shape, size or form.
Jerry Was a Man explores these possibilities, from a miniature elephant capable of communicating with humans to a flying horse… with all the sinister implications that such manipulation might engender.
Two powerful stories of speculative fiction from the acknowledged master, Robert A. Heinlein.
Robert A. Heinlein’s The Number of the Beast, which was published in 1980, followed the adventures of Zeb, Deety, Hilda, and Jake when they are ambushed by the alien “Black Hats” and barely escape with their lives on a specially configured vehicle (the Gay Deceiver) that can travel along various planes of existence, allowing them to visit parallel universes.
However, unknown to most fans, Heinlein had already written a “parallel” novel about the four characters and parallel universes in 1977. He effectively wrote two parallel novels about parallel universes. The novels share the same start, but as soon as the Gay Deceiver is used to transport them to a parallel universe, each book transports them to a totally different parallel world.
From that point on, the plot lines diverge completely. The Number of the Beast morphs into something very different, more representative of Heinlein’s later works, whereas The Pursuit of the Pankera remains on target with a much more traditional Heinleinesque storyline and ending, reminiscent of his earlier works.
The Pursuit of the Pankera was never published, and there have been many competing theories as to why (including significant copyright issues in 1977). Over time the manuscript was largely forgotten, although it survived in fragments. A recent re-examination of these fragments made it clear that, put together in the right order, they constituted the complete novel.
And here it finally is: Heinlein’s audacious experiment. A fitting farewell from one of the most inventive science fiction writers to have ever lived: a parallel novel about parallel universes as well as a great adventure pitting the forces of good versus evil in the way that only Heinlein could do.
Alien mind controlling slugs invade the earth; humanity's main defence is nakedness. [And the film is surprisingly good.]
The book that ushered in the sixties, and added "grok" to the English language
