[freedumb2003]

>>to qoute another master of the art "He's not so big". <<

Does this "other master" have a name?

Other than redefining modern speculative fiction, Asimov was huge. He was also rather disliked by his peers -- Harlan Ellison and he had quite the rivalry going for years. Heinlien didn't really travel in the same circle since their styles were so different.

When deciding who is great in SF, The Crusades were launched for less reason. ;)

(Also, I know there are Herberters out there, but there is no way they are as slavish as the Hubbardites.)

[Sentis]

Actually it was Ellison who on his first meeting with Asimov walked up to him and said "Your not so big". In fact Asimov and Heinlein met and worked together during WW2 on a project that Heinlein described as development of a type of plexiglas. (Who knows what it actually was as he said very little else when asked about the project). Heinlein and Asimov had been close friends until sometime in the sixties (I think, I don't have the info in front of me this moment) when Heinlein abandoned the Democratic party. Asimov saw Heinlein's political change as an abandonment of the future and Heinlein saw it as the democratic party abandoning him rather he abandoning it as he saw the roots of socialism creeping in and Heinlein was a vocal foe of socialism and communism in any form.


In fact Heinlein's literary editor claims Heinlein coined the word Scifi. (I think another science fiction writer claims he did it too). But the editor said Heinlein only used it in personal correspondence and not openly in public forums.