Heinlein Fans: Assistance requested.

Vanity | 11/13/2004 | Self

[Kozak]

Any of you guys ever play "Starship Troopeers" From Avalon Hill.

Yeah. always thought that would be a great computer war game.

[Salgak]

Yep. . .and STILL have it on the bookshelf. . .

[Gaffer]

Great Writer! Unfortunately, I think he started going looney at the end of his life. He also developed a penchant for flirting with incest in his books (Lazarus Long, 'Time Enough for Love' and other references). His books suffered at the end and were somewhat disjointed and he had a quixotic view of religion.

I started reading him in the 70's when I got drafted and eagerly awaited every new novel. My most favorite memories are "Glory Road," "Time Enough for Love," and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," (which I consider the best). 'Troopers' is one of his earliest works and wholly not representative of the best of which he was capable.

Take some time (perhaps more than that) and read the rest.....

[Wneighbor]

Would you believe I actually got all 4 of the ones you names plus Starship Troopers a replacement of my Citizen fo the Galaxy and 5 more adult Heinlein's for me to keep on ebay for $2.50 + reasonable shipping!!! It had to be God!!! Total for all 11 old paperbacks was $5.50!!! Heck, you just can't beat that!!!

[Kozak]

And you have to wonder how many people became liberals after reading "Stranger in a Strange Land" too.

Liberal? With that total personal responsibility for everything you do? Libertarian sure, but not Liberal.

[Salgak]

I work on another Army program, one that could lead to the in-helmet displays from the Mobile Infantry. And John Ringo has updated the Mobile Infantry idea with his "Armored Combat Suits" in his "Legacy of the Aldenata" books. . . the first one is online and free to read at the Baen Free Library, "A Hymn Before Battle"

[weaponeer]

... but I am forever unable to consider myself a Heinlein fan after having read the godawful, brain-numbing "Number of the Beast".

I am a Heinlein fan, and I have read just about everything he has ever written. But, I have to admit, he lost me somewhere in "Number of the Beast." One too many reality hops for my poor, feeble brain. LOL.

[razorback-bert]

Bottle of sea water to the moon bump.

[Wneighbor]

Stranger in a Strange Land is one of Heinlein's adult books. I agree, it's not my favorite. You would probably enjoy the "juvenile" books more. I don't like it that they are referred to as his "juvenile books" because they are full of wonderful ideas. Citizen of the Galaxy is my favorite of his books but he does have many great ones.

[Glenn]

an excerpt from Starship Troopers in which the political philosophy of earning the franchise through a term of service is most concisely described.

Hmmmm. Is there a reality show in there somewhere? You could become mega-rich.

[roaddog727]

Heinlein is the best. Starship Troopers, in fact, is the book that got me interested in eading SciFi. I've read ALL of his works.

[StoneFury]

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to check ebay for the other sequels now, too.

[Qwinn]

Heheheh. Alright, I'm going to say it, after which I'm sure I'll be stoned as a heretic (on this thread, anyway).

Heinlein occassionally produced a novel worth reading, and while I haven't read Troopers yet, I have seen and enjoyed the movie and the animated series and from what I've heard of some of the sociological ideas expressed in it, it sounds like a worthwhile read. I'll get to it one of these days.

But as a consistently good sci-fi writer, Larry Niven runs circles around him. I'd even put Orson Scott Card higher on my list.

And as for fantasy? Roger Zelazny.

Okay. Let the stoning begin.

Qwinn

[magslinger]

Please add me to your Heinlein ping list. Hint, hint.

[Qwinn]

No problem. Just checked my bookshelf for ya, and I can confirm the titles I gave earlier: "Endymion" and "Rise of Endymion". Both by Dan Simmons.

Qwinn

[VermiciousKnid]

I was slightly younger than your niece when I picked up my first Heinlein book ("Space Cadet").

I am over 40 now, and have never stopped reading him. If pushed, I would have to say that RAH has been the author who has affected me the most.

Regards,

[VermiciousKnid]

The book is required reading for all Marines,by the order of Commandant. [ranks E1-E5,Pvt through Sgt.]

Is this true?

Regards,

[Poohbah]

In the absence of that, can you specify for me the place in the novel which has the clearest and most concise reference to the ideas (I'm thinking of a passage in which Rico remembers a class in which his instructor described the reasoning behind the service for franchise system).

It comes up when Rico goes to Officer Candidate School. Unlike his time in high school, he must actually PASS History & Moral Philosophy.

I would also recommend his anthology Expanded Universe, where he makes an interesting string of recommendations for who should actually get the franchise.

[VermiciousKnid]

If there is, I'd like to be added to it, please.

Regards,

[macbee]

I am giving a 12 year old niece Heinlein for Christmas this year. She's something of a mis-fit. Has trouble in school. Doesn't seem to be able to find her nitch in life yet. Gave her Citizen of the Galaxy last summer and last time I saw her she was awestruck.

My son (now 18) had many of the same issues when he was much younger and Heinlain had much the same effect on him. We started with the "juveniles" (inc. Citizen of the Galaxy) and worked our way up to Starship Troopers and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I only wish that Hollyweird hadn't made such a hash of the former. Ah well, at least it got people reading the novel.