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From: ddern@BBN-UNIX@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: HEINLEIN
Message-ID: <3716@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 2-Aug-83 09:14:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.3716
Posted: Tue Aug  2 09:14:49 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Aug-83 04:38:55 EDT
Lines: 54

From:  Daniel Dern 

A short, incomplete but hopefully accurate bit of context re Robert
Heinlein, why we have read him, and what to read:

To understand Heinlein better, it helps to consider the context of:
	1.  The state of science fiction when he began
	2.  The times in which he wrote
	3.  How old many of us sf-lovers were

Heinlein entered the scene in what became "the golden age of science fiction"
(often known as 15) -- a time when technical versamilatude, creative projection,
and good plot were higher on the general editorial priority list than
"good" writing, 3D characters, literary value ((I generalize, and this is
not the whole truth.)) .

Working to a large extent through the medium of "juveniles", Heinlein
brought a degree of believeability, integration of real-world activities
and more science/engineering disciplines and put them all together...
this isn't coming out clearly.  I think the answer is:  look to Heinlein's
"juvenile" works -- the ones which ran in Boy's Life, etc.
        RED PLANET
	THE ROLLING STONES	
	TUNNEL IN THE SKY
	CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY.
	HAVE SPACE SUIT, WILL TRAVEL
	BETWEEN PLANETS
	FARMER IN THE SKY
	and others (I'm sure corrections/emendations will follow)

These are basically good, readable, honest books, utilizing a convincing
mix of current-to-the-time scientific knowledge (astromony, physics,
anthropology, sociology, engineering...) with projecting a future,
and a few breakthroughs or mild impossibilities.  

They are a lot of what I grew up with, and they're still pleasant.

Heinlein played a major role in the popular acceptance of sf in general
markets, the "slicks" (a certain class of magazines), and in developing
the concept of "hard" science fiction, written with slide rule in hand.

Enough already.  As a reader, I haven't enjoyed all RAH's work to the same
extent, but let's not trash to excess.  Okay?

Also recommended, by Heinlein:

	WALDO, and MAGIC, INC (two novellas)
	(Universe?) -- forget the exact title, the generation-ship
		pair of novellas
	EXPANDED UNIVERSE -- a lot of essays BY Heinlein, giving much more
		direct insight.  Also fun non-sf fiction shorts.

Daniel Dern,
BBN-UNIX