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Robert A. Heinlein's Legacy
The Wall Street Journal ^ | July 26, 2007 | Taylor Dinerman

Posted on 07/26/2007 9:43:31 PM PDT by B-Chan

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To: B-Chan

I always thought RAH jumped the shark with STRANGER, but his “juveniles” shaped my political thinking, and will be strewn temptingly around our house when my children are of an age to read and get hooked on them!


41 posted on 07/27/2007 12:33:56 AM PDT by Hetty_Fauxvert (Kelo must GO!! ..... http://sonoma-moderate.blogspot.com/)
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To: WireAndWood
It seems obvious to me that Heinlein’s Flatcats became Tribbles.

Yes, and if you compare Heinlein's ROLLING STONES with the Star Trek TRIBBLES episode, you will see that it even contains "The bombastic Harcourt Fenton Mudd" in the form of an asteroid miner.

42 posted on 07/27/2007 12:35:12 AM PDT by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew

I own every book he wrote, had the honor of a brief e-mail exchange with Virginia before she died (I had some questions about his archives at the college), and reread his books frequently. I see his influence everywhere.

The best thing anyone ever wrote about him, is along the lines of “He did’nt bother you with paragraphs of how stuff worked, it was just there. Another writer would describe an automatic door in glorious description, RAH would simply write “the door irised behind him.” It may have been Niven who said that, and it’s too true - while I’d kill to get a better idea of what his armored suits in Starship Trooper looked like in his mind, he only teased us with vague descriptions, mostly as they were used.

I agree his later stuff is talky, but there’s some incredible stuff - The Number Of The Beast, Friday, Tha Cat Who Could Walk Through Walls - I dare anyone to pick up Cat, read the first paragraph, and not be hooked on the story.

He did have some stinkers, like I Will Fear No Evil, but when you consider his output, he had nothing to be ashamed of.

And of course, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. I envy those who havent read it, because of the fun you’ll have the first time. The truths he wrote about in that book are so relevant now, and I’d love to start “delivering” some rocks to a few particular people and institutions.

RIP, RAH. I never knew you, but you’ll be remembered in another 100 years, and I’ll never forget you.


43 posted on 07/27/2007 12:58:36 AM PDT by ByDesign
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To: B-Chan

I’ve found Heinlein’s “juveniles” to be better than most of the “adult” SF being published now. I hated Stranger in a Strange Land, though.

His short stories were also marvelous reading—lots of great exploration of ideas, where the juvies were great explorations of character.


44 posted on 07/27/2007 2:47:43 AM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life, Pro-Legal Immigration, Pro-Victory Bostonian atheist)
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To: B-Chan

Odd how his biggest defender is ultra-liberal Spider RObinson. I believe he reworked a Heinlein novel published this year, which includes an explicit anti-WOT paragraph.


45 posted on 07/27/2007 2:48:30 AM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life, Pro-Legal Immigration, Pro-Victory Bostonian atheist)
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To: higgmeister

“Star Beast” bump!


46 posted on 07/27/2007 3:14:28 AM PDT by 6SJ7
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To: ByDesign

Thoughts for the ‘08 election:

“Any man who asks for greater authority
does not deserve to have it”
- Xavier Harkonnen


47 posted on 07/27/2007 4:02:29 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: higgmeister

That’s a great story. I read it in 7th grade.


48 posted on 07/27/2007 4:25:29 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: B-Chan

Heinlein ping.....

He could stare outward and actually see the future.

Great mind.


49 posted on 07/27/2007 4:29:53 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Happiness is a down sleeping bag)
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To: Company Man

“Have Space Suit Will Travel” wow! just hearing that made me have goosebumps! That was the first science fiction book I ever read (4th grade), been hooked ever since. It was so good I was sad when the book was over. I didnt know there were books like that.

I have “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” sitting on my bookcase at work. I think one of my all time favorite books. Ive read it probably 10 times.


50 posted on 07/27/2007 5:21:14 AM PDT by Harry Pothead (One issue voter, who wil kill islamofacists?)
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To: dr_lew
I can't go there with you on Sinead O'Connor. I think he meant someone more along the lines of Persis Khambatta (who played Lt. Ilia in the original Star Trek movie).

O'Connor is too much of a bowser for my tastes.

51 posted on 07/27/2007 5:28:16 AM PDT by Pablo64 (Ask me about my alpacas!)
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To: B-Chan

Love him. Great writer.


52 posted on 07/27/2007 5:30:21 AM PDT by Tolkien (There are things more important than Peace. Freedom being one of those.)
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To: higgmeister

That was the first science fiction novel I ever read, at 11. And then I read the rest of the juveniles and I’ve had my head all messed up ever since.


53 posted on 07/27/2007 5:35:49 AM PDT by JenB
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To: ByDesign
And of course, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. I envy those who havent read it, because of the fun you’ll have the first time. The truths he wrote about in that book are so relevant now, and I’d love to start “delivering” some rocks to a few particular people and institutions.

I agree 100%. My all time favorite book.

54 posted on 07/27/2007 5:37:27 AM PDT by justaguy
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To: irv; B-Chan
I have introduced each and every one of my children and grandchildren to the joys of reading science fiction by letting them read my Heinlein books.

I started the boys with Have Space Suit -- Will Travel. And I started the girls on The Star Beast. Those who are old enough to read are now voracious recreational readers -- especially of science fiction.

I read and enjoyed almost everything Heinlein wrote, but, in his latter years he "ran off the rails" toward free sex and pedophilia with his last few novels...

55 posted on 07/27/2007 6:52:16 AM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias...)
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To: philman_36; B-Chan
Lazarus Long BUMP

"In a mature society the term 'civil servant' is semantically equal to the term 'civil master'." - Lazarus Long

56 posted on 07/27/2007 6:53:10 AM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Does anyone remember the one about the “Pan-Asian” conquest of America? I think “Revolt in 2010” was the title I read it under in the 8th grade, for a book report. I had a teacher criticize it as “racist”.
The lady didn’t know what to say when I pointed out that one of the heroes was black and another was Japanese-American, and that the writer’s enmity was directed at the invaders, traitors and collaboraters, one of whom very satisfyingly gets his throat cut after a sort of drum head trial conducted with scopalomine, “It’s war, he just confessed”, or words to that effect.
Heinlein, aside from his own merits, got me interested in all sorts of other literature as well. I’m glad I discovered him first in sf though, he was a gateway to all the Golden Age sf I subsequently read.
I think if I had started with the “New Wave” sf I would have been turned off and never discovered people like Sturgeon, Kornbluth, Asimov, Bester, van Vogt, Laumer, Anderson....Thanks RAH.


57 posted on 07/27/2007 7:09:34 AM PDT by skepsel
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To: skepsel
Sixth Column
58 posted on 07/27/2007 7:16:18 AM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: Darkwolf377

I saw that one, “Variable Star” its called. Got it from the library. I really like Spider Robinson for his “Callaghan’s” stories, but I didn’t care that much for this one, part of the reason is the anti-WOT paragraph you cite. That and the book just didn’t feel like Heinlein. The intro and end notes are interesting tho, glad I borrowed instead of buying.


59 posted on 07/27/2007 7:16:42 AM PDT by skepsel
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To: skepsel
Sixth column is the name of the pan Asian defeat of America and their final loss by a secret ray which killed only the pan Asians!
60 posted on 07/27/2007 7:18:30 AM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto)
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