Book Report: Variable Star, the Controversial New "Heinlein" Novel

The Interocitor ^ | Robert A. Heinlein

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I grew up reading Heinlein. His future history series no doubt had am impact on my world view...back in the late 60s...

[Spktyr]

I'm much younger, but I grew up in a public library. Heinlein was one of many favorite writers.

Like many others, I found that 9/11 focused my worldview - and that it was very Heinleinian in outlook.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

The sad thing is, Spider Robinson wrote the following in an essay entitled "Rah, Rah, R.A.H.!": "Can there really be people so naive as to think that their way of life would survive the magic disappearance of their armed forces by as much as a month? Evidently; I meet 'em all over." And this: "...Unlike Lazarus, Heinlein loves the United States of America. He'll tell you why, quite specifically, in this book. Logical, pragmatic reasons why. He will tell you, for instance, of his travels in the Soviet Union, and what he saw and heard there. If, after you've heard him out, you still don't think that for all its warts (hell, running sores), the United States is the planet's best hope for an enlightened future, there's no sense in us talking further; you'll be wanting to pack. (Hey, have you heard? The current government of the People's republic of China [half-life unknown] has allowed as to how limited freedom of thought will be permitted this year? Provisionally.)" And this, when listing the most popular charges against Heinlein's politics, on him being right wing: "And even if there were anything to the allegation, when exactly was it that the conservaive viewpoint was proven unfit for literary consumption? I missed it."

Spider apparenty doesn't remember his own words.

[Socratic]

This reminds me of "Black Coffee," an Agatha Christie stage play which was turned into a novel by Charles Osborne. It features Hercule Poriot and Hastings but is so lacking in the original Christie style that it seemed a terrible waste of time to read it. I understand that it was almost slavishly devoted to the play's original dialogue and stage direction. What was missing was the Christie flair. What I so like about Christie are the laugh-out-loud moments. She could take an observation of human behavior or foible and craft a sentence which so piqantly described it, that one could not help but audibly laugh.

[Grut]

I hate this recent practice of resurrecting dead novelists anyway.

Thrones, Dominations, Jill Paton Walsh's finishing up of Dorothy L. Sayers last Peter Wimsey novel, is an exception, except for two unfortunate word choices. But basically you're right: resurrecting dead novelists' dead novels doesn't work.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Spider IMO jumped the shark a long time ago.

[usmcobra]

I refuse to read anything but the genuine author.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I of course will read it, The Lazarus Long quote is one I have used many times.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Glory Road was the worst novel Robert A. Heinlein wrote as he skipped from writing SF into writing Fantasy.

[Fire_on_High]

A writer with a distinct, individual style wouldn't be spending his time mimicking someone else.

I dunno...Todd McCaffrey seems to pull off Anne McCaffrey's _Pern_ very well, at least from the two stories I've seen so far.

Some of the best of MZB's _Darkover_ books were the ones released a few years after she died, co-written by Deborah Ross from MZB's notes and outlines. The style is like the best of MZB. I've even seen a fanfic written by a random nobody who likewise picked up her style perfectly.

Really, for me a co-author or fanfic author is judged on how closely they can pull off the original author's style...it really becomes a part of the way the world itself is presented, at least for the worlds I know best.

Roleplays are another extension of this. Bending canon a little is one thing...female blueriders in Pern, for example...but when roleplayers "rush" the story or completely trash any feel of it being canon Pern, that ruins it for me.

[9999lakes]

I'm always amazed when I discover how many Heinlien fans there really are. I think I've read everything he ever wrote, but I have never met a single person who even heard of him.

Yet every time his name is mentioned in a site like this, lots of people know even more about the writer than I do.

Incidentally, "Starship Troopers" was filmed in Wyoming, not far from where I lived -- A friend of mine was one of the extras behind the white masks.

Also incidental -- if the heinlien family was willing to sign off on the movie, I'm guessing they won't mind a ghost writer doing a work-up on some old notes.

[narses]

Thanks for the link, good read.

[narses]

I might but Spider's bull will have to be skipped so that I can try to enjoy it.

[dsc]

"They did a fairly good job with Puppet Masters - but it got crushed by the premiere of Stargate at the box office."

It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but a couple of minor, no-cost tweaks could have made it much better.

[Phsstpok]

"Starship Troopers" was filmed in Wyoming, not far from where I lived

You lived near Hell's Half Acre?  Cool. 

I visited there as a child several times.  I have family still in Riverton, where my Grandparents homesteaded, as well as family in Dubois. 

I love Wyoming.  I've always said I would love to live there... as long as I knew I didn't have to live there.  I'd probably never want to leave, but the idea of not being able to if I wanted to might drive me a bit nuts. <g>

[Phsstpok]

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Robert A Heinlein

I would say that, based on this example of his talent, Spider Robinson is appropriately named (arachnids are close enough to insects to make the point).

[narses]

Any Catholic Heinlein fans? Any thoughts on his books, his life and how they relate to our current culture?

[SunkenCiv]

Because of a long ago reply to me, I thought you might want to see this topic. :')

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/653287/posts?page=88#88

[DarkSavant]

Great reference. If Heinlein "abandoned it", hre did so because he didn't like it. I hate this recent practice of resurrecting dead novelists anyway.

That's why I refuse to read the new Dune books written by Frank Herbert's son. The original Dune blew my impressionable young mind out of the water, but I admit many of the later original ones sucked. I know the new ones would probably just annoy me at best.

[SunkenCiv]

see message 38 in this thread.