Bibliographic Guide to

Robert Anson Heinlein

Juvenile Novels

Citizen of the Galaxy. New York: Ballantine Book, 1986, © 1957.

In this rags to riches story, a young slave boy is bought by a beggar at auction. From this low station, he gradually moves up in society, and is adopted into a trader family.

Farmer in the Sky. New York: Ballantine Books, 1985, © 1950.

Bill Lermer and his father George emigrate to a colony on Ganymede, the third moon of Jupiter. Bill uses his scouting experience in learning to cope with the harsh environment, and disasters that befall the colony.

Have Space Suit--Will Travel. New York: Ballantine Books, 1985, © 1958.

Clifford Russell enters a contest, hoping to win a trip to the moon. Instead, all he wins is an old space suit. After reconditioning it, he picks up a distress call on the suit radio, is taken prisoner, and transported out of the solar system.

Orphans of the Sky. New York: Ace Books, 1987, ©1963.

In this story, Hugh explores the world of the Ship, all the way to the top, in the region of no-weight. But what if the Ship is not the entire world? What are the "stars" that he sees in the windows of the Control Room? Hugh dares to suggest that the Ship moves through a bigger world.

Red Planet. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986, © 1949.

Jim Marlow, a young colonist on Mars, and his pet bouncer Willis, inadvertently uncover a plot against the colony by the Company that oversees it.

Rocketship Galileo. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986, © 1947.

This was the first book which Heinlein wrote as a full length novel, and it began his juvenile series. It tells the story of scientists who launch the first trip to the moon, though they had little help from the government, and were opposed by the Nazis. (Annotation based on Slusser, George Edgar. "Heinlein, Robert." Contemporary Literary Criticism, vol. 14. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1980. p.249)

Starman Jones. New York: Ballantine Books, 1985, © 1953.

Max Jones' dream is to follow his Uncle's steps into a career as an astrogator. Denied admission to the Astrogator's Guild, he joins the Asgard as a steward, and gradually works his way up in the ranks, until disaster strikes and the ship is lost.

Time for the Stars. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1990 (first published 1956).

Because of their ability to communicate telepathically, twin brothers Tom and Pat Bartlett are recruited as special communicators for a torch ship searching nearby star systems for habitable planets. But only one can go on the ship, while the other stays on Earth to relay his messages.

General Science Fiction Books

Assignment in Eternity. Riverdale : Baen-Books, 1987, © 1953.

In "Gulf" an intelligence agent, "Captain Gilead," becomes involved with a group of superior New Men, headed by Kettle Belly Baldwin. This collection also includes: "Gulf," "Elsewhen," "Lost Legacy," and "Jerry was a Man."

Beyond this Horizon. Hastings on Hudson: Ultramarine Publishing Company, 1981, © 1942.

Hamilton Felix is the culmination of a careful line of genetic selection. His genes are needed to continue the line, but he is not willing to have children, unless someone can convince him that the human race is worth preserving.

The Cat who Walks Through Walls: a Comedy of Manners. New York: Ace Books, 1988, © 1985.

Dr. Richard Ames is accosted during a dinner date by a man who wants him to kill someone; "Tolliver must die by noon Sunday, or we'll all be dead!" (p.5). Before he can explain, the unwelcome guest is himself killed, and Dr. Ames becomes a fugitive.

Double Star. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986, © 1956.

An out of work actor takes a "short-term" job standing in for a kidnaped politician. But after the politician is rescued, the job is extended during recuperation. And then it is extended again.

Hugo Award, 1956

Farnham's Freehold. Riverdale: Baen Books, 1994, © 1964.

During an atomic war, Hugh Farnham, his family, and a few others are transported far into the future. In this future, the racial history of North America has been reversed; wealthy black landowners run plantations with white slaves.

Glory Road. Riverdale: Baen Books, 1993, ©1963.

After "Scar" Gordon is released from the military, he answers a personal ad for a "brave man." A mysterious, beautiful woman whisks him to another world, and sets him on the road to adventure.

I Will Fear No Evil. New York: Ace Books, 1987, © 1970.

What can you get for the man who has everything, except the right to die? Johan Sebastian Bach Smith is an elderly businessman trapped in a body that is prevented from dying by advanced medical technology. He devises the perfect plan, he arranges to have his brain transplanted into a new body. The only glitch is, the operation is a success, and the donor was a close female friend.

Job: a Comedy of Justice. New York: Ballantine Books, 1985, © 1984.

In Heinlein's retelling of the classic story of Job, Alexander Hergensheimer walks through a Polynesian fire pit, and is thrust from world to world in a test of his faith. In this version, the dispute in not between God and Satan, but between God and Loki.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. New York : Saint-Martin's-Press, 1996, © 1965.

In this story, Luna City has been established as a penal colony for the Earth, with the colonist mining for ice, growing wheat, and shipping it back to Earth for the starving masses. In an effort to prevent collapse when the ice runs out, Manual Garcia O'Kelly, Wyoming Knott, Professor Bernardo de la Paz, and the computer Mike (MYCROFT Holmes IV) plot the Lunar Revolution.

Hugo Award, 1967

The Number of the Beast. New York: Fawcett Book Group, 1986, ©1980.

Zebadiah Carter, Jacob Burroughs, Hilda Corners and Deety Burroughs. Jacob has developed a device that allows them to travel through the universes in Zeb's car, the Gay Deceiver. Fleeing through the universes, they discover that they are traveling through worlds from their favorite works of fiction. Explores a concept of multiple fictional universes also found in The Cat Who Walks Through Walls.

The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967.

This collection includes most of the stories from Heinlein's Future History series. While these stories feature a variety of characters and themes, they are set in a consistent historical structure, from the twentieth to the twenty-second centuries.

The Puppet Masters. New York, Ballantine Books, 1986, © 1951.

What if the Earth were invaded, and no one knew? "Sam Cavanaugh" is a government intelligence agent, trying to repel an invasion of the Earth by a parasite that can hide on people's backs and control their actions.

Starship Troopers. New York: Ace Books, 1987, © 1959.

Starship Troopers describes a future in which a world government is run by veterans. Anyone can be a citizen and vote, as long as they have served a military term. Just out of high school, John Ricco joins the mobile infantry to impress his girl friend, shortly before the earth is attacked by classic "bug-eyed monsters." This novel also introduces the "suit," which influenced powered armor in later science fiction.

Hugo Award, 1960

Stranger in a Strange Land. New York: Ace Books, 1987, ©1961.

"Once upon a time, there was a Martian named Valentine Michael Smith" (p. 9). Mike was human, but had been raised by Martians before being found and returned to Earth by the Second Mars Expedition. Attempting to reconcile Martian philosophy with his new human experience, Mike eventually founds a new religion, drawing the ire of all "right thinking" people.

Hugo Award, 1962

Time enough for love: the lives of Lazarus Long. New York: Ace Books, 1987 (first published 1973).

This book comprises the memoirs of The Senior (also known as Woodrow Wilson Smith, Lazarus Long, as well as many other names). This novel traces the lives of the oldest member of the Howard Families, who appeared earlier in Methuselah's Children.

To Sail Beyond the Sunset. New York: Ace Books, 1988, © 1987.

Published on his 80^th birthday, this book was Heinlein's last novel (Grumbles, p. xvii). It contains the memoirs of Maureen Smith, the Senior's mother. This novel brings together several characters from Heinlein's earlier novels.

The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag. New York: Ace Books, 1987, © 1959.

Just what does Jonathan Hoag do for a living? Although he goes to work every morning, and returns home promptly at 6:00 p.m., he has absolutely no idea what he does. This collection also includes: "The Man who Traveled in Elephants," "All you Zombies," "They," "Our Fair City," and "And he Built a Crooked House."

Future History Stories

"Life Line" in Astounding Science Fiction. August 1939, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 15-33.

This is the first story that Robert Heinlein wrote, published in Astounding Science Fiction, 1939. In it, Dr. Pinero has developed a machine with which he can predict the day and hour of a person's death. This throws him into a legal battle with the insurance companies, which seek an injunction against his device.

"The Roads Must Roll" in Astounding Science Fiction. June, 1940, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 35-72.

Cheap, reliable and safe transportation is provided by the moving roads in this story. But when society becomes too dependent on them, some of the operators decide they should run the country.

"Blowups Happen" in Astounding Science Fiction. September, 1940, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 73-120.

In this story, atomic power has met the energy needs of the world. But any slip by the engineers who operate could spell disaster, and occupational insanity is becoming rapidly more common.

"The Man Who Sold the Moon" title story in The Man Who Sold the Moon. Riverdale : Baen-Books, 1987, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 121-212.

Tycoon D. D. Harriman puts his personal fortune and his business savvy behind launching the first flight to the moon.

"Delilah & the Space Rigger" in Blue Book. December 1949, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 213-25.

Building a space station is a difficult engineering job, but managing the crew that builds it is even more difficult. "Tiny" Larsen finds his problems compounded when a female radio operator is sent to work with the all male crew.

"Space Jockey" in Saturday Evening Post. April 26, 1947, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 227-43.

A rocket pilot finds that his irregular schedule and dangerous job is causing problems for his marriage.

"Requiem" in Astounding Science Fiction. January 1940, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 245-62.

Although he owns the Company, D. D. Harriman is prevented by his partners, his family and his health from traveling to the moon. Unable to get past the legal regulations, he conspires with two out of work pilots to fly a derelict space ship to Luna City.

"The Long Watch" in American Legion Magazine. December 1949, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 263-76.

In this story, Moonbase, equipped with atomic bombs, is charged with preventing war on Earth. When the base is taken over, bomb officer Johnny Dahlquist sacrifices his own life to prevent the use of the bombs.

"Gentlemen, Be Seated" in Argosy. May 1948, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 277-86

A journalist visits tunnels under construction for the moon colony. During his visit, an explosion traps him with two other men, while the air begins to leak out.

"The Black Pits of Luna" in Saturday Evening Post. January 10, 1948, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p.287-300.

Dick Latham's little brother gets lost on the surface of the moon during a tourist excursion.

"It's Great to Be Back" in Saturday Evening Post. July 26, 1947, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p.301-18.

After three years on the moon, Allan and Jo MacRae are excited to go home to Earth.

"-We Also Walk Dogs" in Astounding Science Fiction, July 1941, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p 319-46.

General Services will take on any job, from walking dogs to hosting gala social events, provided it is legal. But the Earth's Chief of Protocol Pierre Beaumont wants a job that is impossible.

"Ordeal in Space" in Town and Country. May 1948, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 347-61.

After an accident in space, "Saunders" is not able to tolerate heights or open spaces, and returns to Earth.

"The Green Hills of Earth" in Saturday Evening Post. February 8, 1947, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 363-73.

This story is the unofficial biography of"Noisy" Rhysling, the famous blind singer. Rhysling was a jetman, until he lost his sight in an atomic accident. Afterwards he wandered the solar system, composing and singing the songs that made him famous.

"Logic of Empire" in Astounding Science Fiction. March 1941, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 375-421.

Humphrey Wingate did not believe that there was human slavery in the Venus colony until he emigrated there for a bet. When he arrived, he found himself trapped in the system that he did not believe existed, and unable to return home.

"The Menace from Earth" in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. August 1957, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 423-47.

Fifteen year old Holly Jones works as guide for tourists in Luna City. But she has a future as space-ship designers planned for herself and her best friend Jeff Hardesty, until Jeff is distracted by an actress visiting from Earth.

"If This Goes On- " in Astounding Science Fiction. February-March, 1940, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow . New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 449-584.

In this story, the American government has been taken over by the Prophet, a religious dictator. John Lyle, a guardsman in the Angels of the Lord joins the underground resistance.

"Coventry" in Astounding Science Fiction. June 1940, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 585-632.

Following the Interregnum of the Prophet, the Covenant was established to insure the maxim possible liberty for all individuals. After violating the Covenant by causing physical damage to another individual, David MacKinnon is sentenced to the two alternatives: either undergo psychiatric treatment, or accept exile to Coventry.

"Misfit" in Astounding Science Fiction. January 1940, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 633-53.

As an uneducated, shy young man "Pinkie" Libby could not fit in on Earth. He joins the Cosmic Construction Corps, and learns that his sense of "how things are," is in fact an invaluable mathematical talent.

"Methuselah's Children" in Astounding Science Fiction. July-August 1941, collected in The Past Through Tomorrow. New York: Berkley Books, 1986, © 1967. p. 655-830.

This novella introduces the Howard Families and the Senior, Lazarus Long. In an attempt to defeat old age, the Howard Families Foundation endowed couples where both individuals had long-lived grandparents. Over time, they bred a large group with life expectancies well beyond 100 years. When the Families began to reveal their existence to the public, they found themselves persecuted.

Movies

Destination Moon. Dir. Irving Pichel. Prod. George Pal. Screenplay. Rip Van Ronkel, Robert Heinlein and James O'Hanlon. Perf. John Archer, Warner Anderson, Tom Powers, and Dick Wesson. Universal, 1950. Video. Baker City, OR.: Nostalgia Family Video, 1995.

Heinlein helped to write the screenplay for this adaptation of his book Rocket Ship Galileo. The movie is a fictional documentary of the first trip to the moon, produced nineteen years before the actual first landing. (Annotation based on Magill's Survey of Cinema, 1981, 2^nd series, vol. 2, p. 623-624.)

The Puppet Masters. Dir. Stuart Orme, Prod. Ralph Winters. Perf. Donald Sutherland, Eric Thal, Julie Warner, Keith David, Will Patton, Richard Belzer and Yaphet Kotto. Hollywood Pictures, 1994. Video. Burbank, Calif: Hollywood Pictures Home Video, 1995

This movie is a loose adaptation of Heinlein's novel, The Puppet Masters. The Office of Scientific Intelligence sends agents to investigate an alien invasion centered in Ambrose, Iowa.

Starship Troopers. Dir. Paul Verhoeven. Prod. Jon Davison and Alan Marshall. Perf. Casper Van Diem, Dina Meyers, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey, Clancy Brown, Patrick Muldoon, Seth Gilliam, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell. TriStar and Touchstone Pictures, 1997. Video. Culver City, Calif: Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1998

This movie is based on Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Four friends from Buenos Aires join the military to earn their citizenship. Shortly afterwards, an army of giant bugs firebomb Buenos Aires, throwing the Earth into war with the Klendathu system.

Works about Heinlein

Heinlein, Virginia, ed. Grumbles from the Grave. New York: Ballantine Books, 1989.

This book is mainly a collection of Heinlein's letters, with some additional biographical and bibliographic material.

Kondo, Yoji, ed. Requiem : New Collected Works by Robert A. Heinlein and Tributes to the Grand Master. New York: Tor Books, 1994, © 1992.

This post-mortem collection contains several of Heinlein's stories and four of his speeches. It also contains the panelists speeches from the National Air and Space Museum Heinlein Retrospective, 6 October 1988, and tributes from fourteen authors.

Patrouch, Joseph P. "Robert A. Heinlein." Dictionary of Literary Biography. Volume Eight. Twentieth-Century Science-Fiction Writers. Detroit; Gale Research, 1981, pt. 1, p. 208-28.

This essay includes information on Heinlein's life and career, and an extensive section reviewing many of his works.

Stephens, Christopher, P. A Checklist of Robert A. Heinlein. Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y.: Ultramarine Publishing Company, 1994.

A listing of publications by Heinlein, including publishing history and multiple editions for many titles. The list includes three sections: Books by Heinlein, Books edited by Heinlein, and Stories by Heinlein.

Stover, Leon. Robert A Heinlein. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1987.

A survey of Heinlein's works, published shortly before he died. This book emphasizes themes and interpretations of Heinlein's writings. It also includes information on critics and fans' reactions to them.

"Heinlein, Robert A(nson)." Current Biography Yearbook 1988, New York: The H. W. Wilson Company, 1988, p. 644.

This is a short obituary, giving an overview of Heinlein's career and a listing of a few of his early novels.

"Heinlein, Robert A(nson)." Current Biography Yearbook 1955. New York: The H. W. Wilson Company, 1955, p. 275-77.

This is an early biography of Heinlein, including highlights of his career, and reviews of his books.

"Heinlein, Robert A(nson) 1907-1988." Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, vol. 53. Detroit: Gale, 1997, p. 235-43.

This is an extensive biography of Heinlein, published after his death. It includes a list of the awards he received, chronological lists of his works (novels, juvenile novels, story collections, screenplays and other). It also includes an overview of his life, and reviews of selected works. At the end, there is a list of biographical and critical sources.

Internet Resources

Ager, Lizbeth, and Carlos Angelo. "Robert A. Heinlein, Dean of Science Fiction Writers." Internet. November 1998. Available: http://www.wegrokit.com/

This website includes a Heinlein biography by Carlos Angelo, a collection of book covers, reviews, essays, news, archives and links.

"Robert A. Heinlein Reading Group Page." Internet. November 1998. Available: http://members.aol.com/rahweb/

This website includes discussions and reviews of Heinlein's works, and information on their (online) meeting schedule.

Gifford, James. "The Robert A. Heinlein Home Page." Internet. November 1998. Available: http://www.ns.net/~gifford/

This website includes a number of text and audio documents in its "archives" page. The site also includes information on a forthcoming book about Heinlein, and links to other websites.