Requesat en Pace

[madshutterbug]

On this date in 1907 Robert Anson Heinlein was born in Butler Missouri. If you're wondering why this means anything to me, you've not read my Interests on the Profile, eh? Mr. Heinlein is sometimes called the Dean of American Science Fiction. I don't know about that. I do consider him a consumate storyteller, one who to the best of my knowledge never claimed to be anything but a storyteller. That's as opposed to, say, a literary genious.

Probably because of that honesty, as well as inate skill, he is indeed one of my favourite writers. And so I nod my head towards Missouri today, lift a glass, and say, "TANSTAAFL."

Comments

[quietdarkness.livejournal.com]

My favorite is "I Will Fear No Evil" which usually puts me in the pariah section. I also love "Time Enough for Love." My daughter Sidra's middle name is Maureen. Yes, that character from that book. Sidra, in Latin, means "starlight" or "from the stars." My husband and I got our SF geek on when we named her.

My favorite juvenile novel is Tunnel in the Sky. I've read that one so much it's falling apart.

And if you want to hear my personal tale about Robert Heinlein, go over to my Saberhagen post and read the comments.

He was a wonderful, intelligent, talented man who stood by his beliefs, even when they weren't popular. I have always admired and respected him for that.

[madshutterbug.livejournal.com]

I Will Fear No Evil may get the pan from critics as Heinlein's literary failure. I keep in mind Heinlein's comments at various places about critics. Even if it is a failure, it still exemplifies part of the man's philosophy; as you said it in your thread, eh, 'If you don't bet, you can't win.' There are things explored in this one about identity and being and existence whether or not it's a 'literary success.'

Tunnel goes the same place, of exploration if not details. What does it mean when someone proves themselves capable, and then is put 'back' into a conceptual framework which defines capability by age rather than demonstration?