Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!ddern@BBN-UNIX 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 DernA 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