Science Fiction
writer, Robert A. Heinlein died on this date, 8 May 1988. In loving memory of
him, I will post the Pro-Death Penalty Quote of the week from him.
AUTHOR: Robert
Anson Heinlein (pron.: /ˈhaɪnlaɪn/ HYN-lyn; July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science
fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers",
he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre in
his time. He set a standard for scientific and engineering plausibility, and
helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality.
He was one of the
first 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. He, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are
known as the "Big Three" of science fiction.
Heinlein, a notable
writer of science fiction short stories, was one of a group of writers who came
to prominence under the editorship of John W. Campbell, Jr. in his Astounding
Science Fiction magazine—though Heinlein denied that Campbell influenced his
writing to any great degree.
Within the framework
of his science fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social
themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, 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 examined the relationship between physical and emotional love,
explored various unorthodox family structures, and speculated on the influence
of space travel on human cultural practices. His approach to these themes led
to wildly divergent opinions on what views were being expounded via his
fiction.
Heinlein was named
the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. He won Hugo Awards for
four of his novels; in addition, fifty years after publication, three of his
works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for
publication years when there were no Hugo Awards. In his fiction Heinlein
coined words that have become part of the English language, including "grok"
and "waldo", and popularized the terms "TANSTAAFL" and space
marine.
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