Mastodawn

WORLDS BEYOND TIME ist wirklich ein Schmuckstück. Und Adam Rowe schreibt auch schön pointiert. Hier, im Zusammenhang mit den "psychedelia and pop art collages of '60s culture", eine sehr hübsche Charakterisierung von Robert A Heinlein:

"one of the least tie-dyed sci-fi authors imaginable"

So macht das Spaß.

(page 14)

https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/worlds-beyond-time_9781419748691/

#AdamRowe #RobertAHeinlein #ScienceFiction

Worlds Beyond Time Sci-Fi Art of the 1970s

In the 1970s, mass-produced, cheaply printed science-fiction novels were thriving. The paper was rough, the titles outrageous, and the cover art astounding. Over the course of the decade, a stable of talented painters, comic book artists, and designers pr

ABRAMS

WIST Quotations Mar 7

A quotation from Robert Heinlein

Could it be otherwise here? Could any one sect obtain a working majority at the polls and take over the country? Perhaps not — but a combination of a dynamic evangelist, television, enough money, and modern techniques of advertising and propaganda might make Billy Sunday’s efforts look like a corner store compared to Sears Roebuck. Throw in a depression for good measure, promise a material heaven here on earth, add a dash of anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, anti-Negroism, and a good large dose of anti-“furriners” in general and anti-intellectuals here at home and the result might be something quite frightening — particularly when one recalls that our voting system is such that a minority distributed as pluralities in enough states can constitute a working majority in Washington.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Essay (1952-10), “Concerning Stories Never Written,” Revolt in 2100, Postscript (1953)

More about this quote: wist.info/heinlein-robert-a/82…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #heinlein #robertheinlein #robertaheinlein #extremism #America #antiintellectualism #cult #government #politicalsystem #prejudice #sect #theocracy #tyranny #xenophobia

Heinlein, Robert A. - Essay (1952-10), "Concerning Stories Never Written," Revolt in 2100, Postscript (1953) | WIST Quotations

Could it be otherwise here? Could any one sect obtain a working majority at the polls and take over the country? Perhaps not -- but a combination of a dynamic evangelist, television, enough money, and modern techniques of advertising and propaganda might make Billy Sunday’s efforts look like a corner…

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Mar 1

A quotation from Robert Heinlein

The capacity of the human mind for swallowing nonsense and spewing it forth in violent and repressive action has never yet been plumbed.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Essay (1952-10), “Concerning Stories Never Written,” Revolt in 2100, Postscript (1953)

More about this quote: wist.info/heinlein-robert-a/64…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertheinlein #heinlein #robertaheinlein #humancondition #humannature #ideology #nonsense #propaganda #repression #violence

Heinlein, Robert A. - Essay (1952-10), "Concerning Stories Never Written," Revolt in 2100, Postscript (1953) | WIST Quotations

The capacity of the human mind for swallowing nonsense and spewing it forth in violent and repressive action has never yet been plumbed.

WIST Quotations

Vincent Waciuk Mar 2

‘Starman Jones’ Embarks On High Adventure For Young Readers

Starman Jones (1953) by Robert A. Heinlein is an uncomplicated space adventure aimed at young readers. Regardless of who the target audience is Heinlein provides enough action and drama to satisfy most readers. Despite its outdated attitudes Starman Jones remains a space fantasy most fans will identify with.

I first read Starman Jones almost fifty years ago. It was the second science fiction novel I ever read following on the heals of Heinlein’s Space Cadet. To a seven year old Starman Jones has everything a budding SF fan could want. However, as an adult the story’s deficiencies are clear.

Starman Jones follows the life of Max Jones as he runs away from his family farm to the city. His only dream is to join the astrogator guild and go into space. However, like most youthful dreams the path is never straightforward.

Max’s first encounter is with the morally ambiguous Sam. At first Sam seems a likely friend but it soon becomes apparent that Sam’s ultimate concern is his own well being. Sam aids Max as long as it suits his purposes. Max mistakenly accepts this as friendship of a sort. Sam continues to use and cajole Max throughout the story.

The dynamic between Max and Sam is not entirely negative. Sam does offer good advice when it’s appropriate and does aid Max when possible. And in the end, Sam does prove himself to be worthy of Max’s friendship despite their beginnings.

Most characters in young adult stories are fairly unambiguous. Their actions reflect their characters and there isn’t much depth to them. However, Sam is a character that breaks this stereotype. He is at times a villain and a hero. This is something young readers may not have encountered before. It also elevates Starman Jones from plain juvenile fiction.

The plot of Starman Jones revolves around Max and his becoming an astrogator. Heinlein sets Max on a winding journey that threatens to come apart several times. For readers both young and old it is this journey that keeps the pages turning. Max’s growth as an astrogator and a person is what makes Starman Jones so readable.

Heinlein also surprises readers with an alien society that is very interesting and unique. By using human biases Heinlein confounds the expectations of the characters and readers alike. Heinlein doesn’t usually create great alien species but these ones are special.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988)

For modern readers Starman Jones will no doubt seem chauvainistic. There are female characters but none among the crew of the spaceship. Remember, though, that science fiction is a reflection of society at the time. So while Heinlein might not be forgiven he can be understood.

Like much classic and Golden Age SF Starman Jones is a very caucasian story. There is little to no diversity in the story to reflect reality. It is a charge often laid at Heinlein’s feet and he is mostly guilty here as well. However, this is a complaint for mature readers. I don’t think a young SF fan would be overly concerned with this as it the adventure they will concentrate on.

I doubt there are too many SF fans that have not dreamed of being on a spaceship travelling between stars. For this reason alone Starman Jones recommends itself. For pure spacefaring adventure Starman Jones is one of the best. However, if you are looking for a socially aware story there are better choices available.

#BookReview #RobertAHeinlein #scienceFiction #SF #StarmanJones

Court Cantrell does not comply Jan 4

I'd just like to say that on behalf of Robert A. Heinlein, for whom I have wildly contradictory feelings, I am offended by Elon Musk's theft of the word "grok."

#RobertAHeinlein
#StrangerInAStrangeLand
#RAHRAHRAH

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MathiasTCK.bsky.social Jan 2

"You can make LLMs say almost anything" is not how Grok is marketed. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grok_(c... "named after the verb grok, coined by American author #RobertAHeinlein in his 1961 science fiction novel #StrangerInAStrangeLand to describe a deeper than human form of understanding. "

Grok (chatbot) - Wikipedia