Heinlein novel imagines a future America patterned on Alberta

CBC News ^ | 12/9/03 | Robin Rowland

[jalisco555]

Dude, Heinlein motivated thousands of his readers towards conservatism and rationality. I should know, because I'm one of them.

I've long thought that Heinlein's importance has been underappreciated by the mainstream. He was one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century.

[Dan Evans]

Didn't Heinlein toy with the social credit idea in "Beyond This Horizon"? Something about a computer system that hands out money based on production of goods?

I think there was discussion back then that advances in automation would cause economic problems as fewer workers were needed to produce the same number of goods -- solution being, hand out free money. But the solution, as it turns out, is that people find things to do that can't be done by machines.

[jalisco555]

...(along with Chad Oliver)...

Thanks for your post. I've been trying for months to recall this name so I can look for some of his stuff. I remember reading his books years ago and had a yen to reread them.

[jalisco555]

I loved both Asimov the man and Asimov the writer, but his politics were unfortunately the worst sort of knee-jerk, thoughtless left-liberalism. It's a shame that such a brilliant mind was so simplistic in some areas.

I once attended a lecture Asimov gave and during the Q&A he was confronted by an enviro-radical who said that technology was destroying nature, the earth etc. Asimove totally demolished the guy. I know he was a leftist but not in everything.

[dts32041]

bfl

[PatrickHenry]

I once read an article by Jerry Pournelle where Jerry asked him how he could repay Heinlein's kindness and was told "by doing the same for others".

Close. I recall reading that he had been asked (by someone other than Pournelle): "How can I ever pay you back for what your books have meant to me?" and his response was: "You can't that sort of thing back. You pay forward."

[dts32041]

Heinlein's long-lost first novel, For Us, the Living: A Comedy of Customs, is scheduled for publication in January

Funny it is sitting on my desk at home waiting for the first 2 days off when I can read it.

[jalisco555]

Thanks for the correction. I probably shouldn't use quote marks when I'm paraphrasing.

[handk]

Arthur C. Clarke?

Lucifer Rising
Part 1: "Light of the World"
By Carl Teichrib

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!—Isaiah 14:12

LUCIFER, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light…Doubt it not!—Albert Pike, preeminent Masonic authority, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, p. 321

"A generation would soon be born that had never known a world without Lucifer." Best selling author and world renowned scientist, Arthur C. Clarke, penned these words in his science fiction masterpiece, 2010: Odyssey Two–a book/movie sequel to his ground breaking 1968 work, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Unknown to those who only watched 2010, there was a major difference between the motion picture and the novel. Eerily, the book contained a section titled "Lucifer Rising."

In Clarke’s Lucifer Rising story line, the hydrogen atmosphere on the planet Jupiter is ignited. The ensuing new "little" sun is dubbed "Lucifer" and illuminates the earth with its light. The result: darkness no longer existed. Fear, suspicion, and crimes of the night disappear. Mankind has become illuminated through the light of Lucifer.

To occultists and New Agers, the symbology of Arthur C. Clarke’s writing was unmistakable. Lucifer, the "light bearer" shines his knowledge (occult "truth") upon all humanity, chasing away fear and ignorance, and providing mankind with the opportunity to discover his own intellect.

While Arthur C. Clarke helped to perpetuate the occult view of Lucifer, the source authority on the subject of the fallen angel is the Bible. According to Ezekiel, Lucifer was an anointed cherub created by God, he was gifted with wonderful musical abilities, and was adorned with beautiful gemstones. He was also a creature of intelligence, possessing memory and a will–and pride. Scripture makes it clear that he led an angelic rebellion against God, attempting to become "like the Most High" (Isaiah 14). In response God condemned Lucifer, along with those angels who had chosen to follow him in disobedience, and removed them from their exulted heavenly positions. Lucifer–an eternal being–is now named Satan, the devil, the king of death, and the god of this world. Scripture warns us about Lucifer’s current obsession: to twist God’s word, to lead souls to spiritual death, and to assail his wrath against earth’s inhabitants–those whom Christ died for.

While Christianity views Lucifer as the personification of evil, the esoteric teachings of the occult and the New Age movement embrace him as an agent of intellectual and spiritual freedom. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the "mother" of the New Age movement and modern occultism, taught in her Secret Doctrine that Lucifer was "higher and older than Jehovah, and had to be sacrificed to the new dogma" of the Church. She further expressed in her "great work" that Satan, under different god-names, is really an allegory of "Good, and Sacrifice, a God of Wisdom." Blavatsky believed that Satan was the only god of earth, "is one with the Logos," and is the "cosmic reflection of God."

[dts32041]

I am surprised no one has mention SM Stirling and his Drakas Series, now that is bone chilling Science Fiction.

[Hacksaw]

I will concede that his last couple of books were a bit odd, but I found (in Friday) his vision of a Europe-ized America fascinating.

I tried reading one of his later books where a geezer had his brain transplanted into a woman's body. It started off okay, but became so rambling that I chucked it before I was halfway through.

[razorback-bert]

marking to read later

[EveningStar]

Chad Oliver - one of my favorite authors: Mists of Dawn, The Winds of Time, Shadows in the Sun...

[Old Professer]

I once read where Asimov wrote one draft only, in longhand, and a secretary typed it for publication.

[Moose4]

Now, if Steve Stirling could just write a book where at least one of the heroines wasn't a homicidal nymphomaniac bisexual... :) (For reference, see Sh'kaira from the Fifth Millenium series.)

The Draka books are interesting alternate history, though. And I'll agree with others on the thread that Bujold's Vor series is excellent stuff.

}:-)4

[Oztrich Boy]

This was a great short story but it was not SF.

Neither was Larry Niven's Inconstant Moon, yet fans gave it the Hugo.

In the final analysis: "Science Fiction stories are stories that Science Fiction editors [and fans] buy" John W Campbell.

[Oztrich Boy]

Frank Herbert plagiarized 80% of the ideas in Dune from a little-known author with the pen-name of "Cordwainer Smith."

"Cordwainer Smith" fan for 35 years here, striking forehead: "D'oh!"