Robert A Heinlein Popular Books

Robert A Heinlein Biography & Facts

Robert Anson Heinlein (; July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally. Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday. Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices. Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon. Life Birth, childhood, and early education Heinlein, born on July 7, 1907, to Rex Ivar Heinlein (an accountant) and Bam Lyle Heinlein, in Butler, Missouri, was the third of seven children. He was a sixth-generation German-American; a family tradition had it that Heinleins fought in every American war, starting with the War of Independence.He spent his childhood in Kansas City, Missouri. The outlook and values of this time and place (in his own words, "The Bible Belt") had an influence on his fiction, especially in his later works, as he drew heavily upon his childhood in establishing the setting and cultural atmosphere in works like Time Enough for Love and To Sail Beyond the Sunset. The 1910 appearance of Halley's Comet inspired the young child's life-long interest in astronomy.In January 1924, the sixteen year old Heinlein lied about his age to enlist in Company C, 110th Engineer Regiment, of the Missouri National Guard, in Kansas City. His family could not afford to send Heinlein to college, so he sought an appointment to a military academy. When Heinlein graduated from Kansas City Central High School in 1924, he was initially prevented from attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis because his older brother Rex was a student there, and at the time, regulations discouraged multiple family members from attending the academy simultaneously. He instead matriculated at Kansas City Community College and began vigorously petitioning Missouri Senator James A. Reed for an appointment to the Naval Academy. In part due to the influence of the Pendergast machine, the Naval Academy admitted him in June 1925. Heinlein received his discharge from the Missouri National Guard as a staff sergeant. Reed later told Heinlein that he had received 100 letters of recommendation for nomination to the Naval Academy, 50 for other candidates and 50 for Heinlein. Navy Heinlein's experience in the U.S. Navy exerted a strong influence on his character and writing. In 1929, he graduated from the Naval Academy with the equivalent of a bachelor of arts in engineering. (At that time, the Academy did not confer degrees.) He ranked fifth in his class academically but with a class standing of 20th of 243 due to disciplinary demerits. The U.S. Navy commissioned him as an ensign shortly after his graduation. He advanced to lieutenant junior grade in 1931 while serving aboard the new aircraft carrier USS Lexington, where he worked in radio communications—a technology then still in its earlier stages. The captain of this carrier, Ernest J. King, later served as the Chief of Naval Operations and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet during World War II. Military historians frequently interviewed Heinlein during his later years and asked him about Captain King and his service as the commander of the U.S. Navy's first modern aircraft carrier. Heinlein also served as gunnery officer aboard the destroyer USS Roper in 1933 and 1934, reaching the rank of lieutenant. His brother, Lawrence Heinlein, served in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the Missouri National Guard, reaching the rank of major general in the National Guard. Marriages In 1929, Heinlein married Elinor Curry of Kansas City. However, their marriage lasted only about one year. His second marriage, to Leslyn MacDonald (1904–1981) in 1932, lasted 15 years. MacDonald was, according to the testimony of Heinlein's Navy friend, Rear Admiral Cal Laning, "astonishingly intelligent, widely read, and extremely liberal, though a registered Republican", while Isaac Asimov later recalled that Heinlein was, at the time, "a flaming liberal". (See section: Politics of Robert Heinlein.) At the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Heinlein met and befriended a chemical engineer named Virginia "Ginny" Gerstenfeld. After the war, her engagement having fallen through, she attended UCLA for doctoral studies in chemistry, and while there reconnected with Heinlein. As his second wife's alcoholism gradually spun out of control, Heinlein moved out and the couple filed for divorce. Heinlein's friendship with Virginia turned into a relationship and on October 21, 1948—shortly after the decree nisi came through—they married in the town of Rat.... Discover the Robert A Heinlein popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Robert A Heinlein books.

Best Seller Robert A Heinlein Books of 2024

  • Astounding synopsis, comments

    Astounding

    Alec Nevala-Lee

    Hugo and Locus Award FinalistAn Economist Best Book of the YearA Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Best Book of 2018“An amazing and engrossing history...Insightful, entertaining, and...

  • Stormblood synopsis, comments

    Stormblood

    Jeremy Szal

    Vakov Fukasawa used to be a Reaper: a bioenhanced soldier fighting for the Harmony, against a brutal invading empire. He's still fighting now, on a different battlefield: taking on...

  • Ciudadano de la galaxia synopsis, comments

    Ciudadano de la galaxia

    Robert A. Heinlein

    Un gran clásico de la ciencia ficción de todos los tiempos, ahora en edición coleccionista para el lector joven.En una galaxia lejana, donde sigue vigente la esclavitud, otro niño ...

  • Masterpieces synopsis, comments

    Masterpieces

    Orson Scott Card

    A collection of the best science fiction short stories of the 20th century as selected and evaluated by criticallyacclaimed author Orson Scott Card.Featuring stories from the genre...

  • Blindspace synopsis, comments

    Blindspace

    Jeremy Szal

    Vakov Fukasawa is a Reaper. An elite soldier injected with a dangerous drug called stormtech: the DNA of a genocidal alien race, the Shenoi. It makes him stronger, faster, more agg...

  • Methusalems Kinder synopsis, comments

    Methusalems Kinder

    Robert A. Heinlein

    Ein langes, erfülltes LebenLazarus Long ist 213 Jahre alt – und Weltraumpionier. Als eine Stiftung Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts anfängt, Menschen zusammenzubringen, die alle Vorausset...

  • Remembrance synopsis, comments

    Remembrance

    Ray Bradbury

    Iconic author of Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury believed that, someday, a collection of his letters could illuminate the ...

  • Anything You Can Do synopsis, comments

    Anything You Can Do

    Randall Garrett

    One shipwrecked alien against the power of an entire planet means a losing battle... until Earth builds superman! A fascinating, inspiring, and jawdropping tale of a science fictio...

  • Earth Strike synopsis, comments

    Earth Strike

    Ian Douglas

    In the vein of the hit television show Battlestar Galactica comes Earth Strikethe first book in the actionpacked Star Carrier science fiction series by Ian Douglas, author of the p...

  • Rewrite synopsis, comments

    Rewrite

    Gregory Benford

    In this thematic sequel to Gregory Benford’s awardwinning bestseller Timescape, a history professor finds that he is able travel back to 1968, the year he was sixteenhere, he finds...

  • Suchscheinwerfer synopsis, comments

    Suchscheinwerfer

    Robert A. Heinlein

    Verloren auf dem MondElizabeth Barnes, das blinde Wunderkind am Klavier, ist auf Tournee über den Mond. Doch das Schiff, das sie von einer Basis zur nächsten bringen soll, verschwi...

  • The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964 synopsis, comments

    The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964

    Robert Silverberg

    The definitive collection of the best in science fiction stories between 19291964.This book contains twentysix of the greatest science fiction stories ever written. They represent ...

  • Look to Windward synopsis, comments

    Look to Windward

    Iain M. Banks

    This “sophisticated space opera” (The New York Times), filled with suspense and humor, masterfully explores the horrors of warfrom the acclaimed author of The Wasp Factory.The Twin...

  • The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress synopsis, comments

    The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

    Robert A. Heinlein

    For fans of Artemisthe visionary tour de force from “one of the grand masters of science fiction” (The Wall Street Journal).Widely acknowledged as one of Robert A. Heinlein's great...

  • Galactic Patrol synopsis, comments

    Galactic Patrol

    E. E. Smith

    Galactic Patrol introduces Kimball Kinnison, who will be the hero of the next four books Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensmen and (to a lesser extent) Children of t...

  • K-Pax synopsis, comments

    K-Pax

    Dr. Gene Brewer

    Adapted into a major motion picture of the same name starring Kevin Spacey, Gene Brewer's KPAX has touched the hearts and expanded the horizons of readers around the worlda thought...

  • Going Dark synopsis, comments

    Going Dark

    Linda Nagata

    In the third book in The Red Trilogy, former Army Lt. James Shelley becomes a black ops sniper working for the Reda suspected rogue artificial intelligence that is ripped from toda...

  • Stranger in a Strange Land synopsis, comments

    Stranger in a Strange Land

    Robert A. Heinlein

    Robert Heinlein's Hugo Awardwinning alltime masterpiece, the brilliant novel that grew from a cult favorite to a bestseller to a science fiction classic.Raised by Martians on ...

  • The Pleasant Profession of Robert A. Heinlein synopsis, comments

    The Pleasant Profession of Robert A. Heinlein

    Farah Mendlesohn

    Robert A. Heinlein began publishing in the 1940s at the dawn of the Golden Age of science fiction, and today he is considered one of the genre's 'big three' alongside Arthur C. Cla...

  • Starship Troopers synopsis, comments

    Starship Troopers

    Robert A. Heinlein

    In Robert A. Heinlein’s controversial Hugo Awardwinning bestseller, a recruit of the future goes through the toughest boot camp in the Universeand into battle against mankind’s mos...

  • Transhuman synopsis, comments

    Transhuman

    Ben Bova

    Sixtime Hugo Awardwinner Ben Bova presents Transhuman. "Plausible twentyfirstcentury medical research, the bond between a grandfather and his granddaughter, and political power all...

  • For Us, The Living synopsis, comments

    For Us, The Living

    Robert A. Heinlein

    From Grandmaster Robert A. Heinlein comes a longlost first novel, written in 1939 and never before published, introducing ideas and themes that would shape his career and define th...

  • The Burning City synopsis, comments

    The Burning City

    Larry Niven

    Set in the world of Larry Niven's popular The Magic Goes Away, The Burning City transports readers to an enchanted ancient city bearing a provocative resemblance to our own modern ...

  • An Anthology in Memory of Robert A. Heinlein synopsis, comments

    An Anthology in Memory of Robert A. Heinlein

    Ellen Elizabeth Dudley

    Melody Shine, a female immortal, seeking lasting human companionship, spiritual love, wishes to give birth to a human child. In order to accomplish this she takes on the form of an...

  • City of Endless Night synopsis, comments

    City of Endless Night

    Milo Hastings

    When but a child of seven my uncle placed me in a private school in which one of the socalled redeemed subsailors was a teacher of the German language. As I look back now, in the l...

  • Die Invasion synopsis, comments

    Die Invasion

    Robert A. Heinlein

    Sie kommen!Über Iowa wird ein unbekanntes Flugobjekt gesichtet. In der Bevölkerung bricht Panik aus. Kurz darauf die Entwarnung: Das Ganze war nur eine Zeitungsente. Doch dann vers...

  • The Time Machine synopsis, comments

    The Time Machine

    H.G. Wells

    "I've had a most amazing time...." So begins the Time Traveller's astonishing firsthand account of his journey 800,000 years beyond his own era and the story that ...

  • Time Enough for Love synopsis, comments

    Time Enough for Love

    Robert A. Heinlein

    The capstone and crowning achievement of  the Future History series, from the New York Times bestselling Grand Master of Science Fiction...Time Enough for Love follows La...

  • The Berlin Project synopsis, comments

    The Berlin Project

    Gregory Benford

    New York Times bestselling author Gregory Benford creates an alternate history about the creation of the atomic bomb that explores what could have happened if the bomb was ready to...