Requesat en Pace

Jul. 7th, 2007 at 1:28 PM

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."

Current Location:teh Ranch
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music:"Noisy" Rhysling: The Green Hils of Earth

Comments

( 17 comments — Leave a comment )

tx_cronopio

Jul. 7th, 2007 05:56 pm (UTC)

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

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madshutterbug

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:00 pm (UTC)

Noted

Edited. Corrected.

::passes Cronopio a beer::

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tx_cronopio

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:04 pm (UTC)

Re: Noted

Thanks! *Quaffs and goes off to read The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress one more time*

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madshutterbug

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:09 pm (UTC)

Re: Noted

Moon is probably my most-read. Even though others are considered better or seminal or whatever. I get so sad when Mike... ah, but that's a spoiler for who ever hasn't yet read Moon. **G**

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tx_cronopio

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:13 pm (UTC)

Re: Noted

It's my fav too. I know I am supposed to prefer Stranger in a Strange Land, but I don't :)

Hey, Wye Knott?

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madshutterbug

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:18 pm (UTC)

Re: Noted

An area of great beauty and shapely landmarks. *G*

That's a funny-once.

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kenshusei

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:19 pm (UTC)

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.

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madshutterbug

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:23 pm (UTC)

Oh, perhaps. On another hand, you might of re-read it after your nose got bloodied, and nodded to yourself, and said, I shoulda seen that coming. *G* I know I have.

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firesmith

Jul. 7th, 2007 06:22 pm (UTC)

*groks you*

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lolleeroberts

Jul. 7th, 2007 08:30 pm (UTC)

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.

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madshutterbug

Jul. 8th, 2007 12:30 pm (UTC)

Indeed.

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jehannamama

Jul. 7th, 2007 09:38 pm (UTC)

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.

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madshutterbug

Jul. 8th, 2007 12:40 pm (UTC)

I liked Auguste Rodin's work from the first pieces (probably reproductions, but whatever) I saw; 'The Thinker' is outside the Detroit Metropolitan Museum. I mightn't of been able to tell you why, as described here. Still, this is one of my favorite portions of that story; as well as the close follow-up that it's time to stop looking for a while and meditate on what is observed/felt.

I don't know that I'll succeed, but this is one of my metresticks to measure my photography.

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quietdarkness

Jul. 7th, 2007 10:29 pm (UTC)

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.

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madshutterbug

Jul. 8th, 2007 12:45 pm (UTC)

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?

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tmtashn

Jul. 8th, 2007 05:02 am (UTC)

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.

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