pre-space flight: the first four stories
interplanetary period: The Green Hills of Earth
colonization of Venus: "Logic of Empire"
revolution on Earth: Revolt in 2100
longevity: Methuselah's Children
generation ship: Orphans of the Sky
FTL interstellar period: Time Enough For Love (but I discount it)
In Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History:
pre-space flight: "Marius"
interplanetary period: "Un-Man," "Holmgang," "Brake"
colonization of Venus: "The Big Rain"
robots: "Quixote and the Windmill"
counterrevolution on Earth: "Cold Victory"
longevity: "What Shall It Profit?"
generation ship: "The Troublemakers"
FTL interstellar period: "Gypsy" etc
11 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
It's been so long since I last read any of Heinlein's stories. And I know I should reread some of them. I think the dissatisfaction I have for STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, etc., has soured me on him. Excessively so!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
We just have to think that there are two Heinleins. His earlier works are just as good as they ever were.
Paul.
Sean & Paul: one of the main differences between early and late Heinlein is that the earlier stuff was heavily blue-penciled by his editors. I've seen the first drafts of some and they read much more like 'later Heinlein", when he was too big to edit.
(He hated it from the beginning.)
And in his later phase, he could write whatever he wanted, rather than having an editor direct him to what the editor thought would sell.
Mr Stirling,
I remember you have said that before. Repetition is helpful. I learn something the SECOND time I hear or read it. Or maybe the third. And it is very illuminating about Heinlein. Maybe we would not have had the early Heinlein that we know and love if not for all that editing? We thank the muse of editing. (I think we need to recruit such a muse to the Greek pantheon.) James Blish received a lot of editorial help on DOCTOR MIRABILIS and welcomed it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Both: I agree, Heinlein's best works were those where he accepted criticism and editing from those editors he so resented. Some writers NEED editors more than others. Heinlein belonged to the former group. Works of RAH like DOUBLE STAR are far more pleasing than I WILL FEAR NO EVIL. Which I read twice before giving up on it.
Ad astra! Sean
Some of his later stuff is very good of its kind -- JOB, for example. Some displays self-indulgence and crotchet-riding.
Sometimes you're just too close to your work to see it objectively. That's when a good editor -- or just readers -- can really help.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I never read Heinlein's JOB. But if you think so well of it, then I should give it a shot.
Yes, I can see some writers treating their books almost like their children, and becoming less objective about them. Good editors or beta readers can force writers to pay attention to mistakes and flaws.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Let us know what you think of JOB.
Paul.
Mind you, JOB is an allegory, not mimetic.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: I will, when I finally read it.
Mr. Stirling: MIMETIC, another word to look up!
Ad astra! Sean
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