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

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Honey, you know I love you, but it's TANSTAAFL.

[kenshusei.livejournal.com]

There's days when I wonder if there wasn't some strange cosmic hand in my not encountering Heinlein's stuff in earnest until the end of law school. I don't think I would have appreciated its beauty if the world hadn't already bloodied my nose a bit.

Here's to a good storyteller.

[firesmith.livejournal.com]

*groks you*

[lolleeroberts.livejournal.com]

We pray for one last landing; On the globe that gave us birth; Let us rest our eyes on the fleecy skies; And the cool, green hills of Earth

Asking how someone feels about Heinlein is a good quick way to gauge whether or not you want to get to know them further.

[jehannamama.livejournal.com]

An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl she used to be. A GREAT artist can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is, and force the viewer to se the pretty girl she used to be, more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo see that this lovely young girl is still alive, prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older that eighteen in her heart.

Jubal in Stranger In A Strange Land

Nothin' truer said.

[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.

[tmtashn.livejournal.com]

You may note that the title of my LJ is "Moderation is for monks..."

My twins were born on July 7 (1975) and I enjoyed the fact they shared Heinlein's birthday.