Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!Zdybel.PA@PARC-MAXC.ARPA From: Zdybel.PA@PARC-MAXC.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Heinlein Message-ID: <3608@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Fri, 29-Jul-83 14:11:56 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.3608 Posted: Fri Jul 29 14:11:56 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 1-Aug-83 08:56:24 EDT Lines: 29 I think one of the reasons for Heinlein's broad popularity is his excellent juvenile SF books. Along with some of Andre Norton's stuff, they set the high water mark for that particular genre. Titles I remember fondly include Red Planet, Rolling Stones, Between Planets, Starman Jones, Citizen of the Galaxy and Star Beast. These were well crafted books, and popular with school librarians. In other words, a lot of current SF readers grew up with Heinlein. Whichever of his adult offerings you try, you won't escape at least of modicum of didacticism, and RAH's world view (in its various evolutions) doesn't have the broad appeal of, say, Richard Bach's. Some of the adult works that have least the character of philosophical tracts include Double Star, Puppet Masters, Podkayne of Mars (which in my view qualifies both as juvenile and adult fiction due to its unusual plot vehicle), and Moon is a Harsh Mistress. It's hard to understand Heinlein's popularity (or his place in the development of SF literature and the SF audience) without looking at his short stories, particularly those in the "Future History" Series. Anthologies of particular interest include Green Hills of Earth, The Man Who Sold the Moon, The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag (repackaged and republished under the title 6 X H, I believe) and The Menace From Earth. Cheers, Frank Zdybel P.S. Farnham's Freehold is perhaps my least favorite of Heinlein's books.