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111th out of 278 books
—
83 voters
Grumbles from the Grave
Hardcover, Del Rey, 281 pages
Published
1990
by Ballantine Books
(first published November 18th 1989)
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I don't search out author biographies but happened to pick this one up at a library sale. Heinlein has been my favorite author forever but this book was a big disappointment. It was edited by his wife after he was dead so I must assume that she is the one who messed it up. It is like he left a box of letters (mostly to his agent) that he was saving for his memoirs, his wife tripped and scattered them all over the place and then published them in the order that she picked them up off the floor.
I...more
I...more
Feb 16, 2009
Mary JL
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Heinlein fans also sf fans
Shelves:
non-fiction,
main-sf-fantasy
This book I enjoyed because I find Heinlein a fascinating individual. Whether you AGREE with Heinlein or not--I often do not--he does offer thught provoking ideas.
Also, never having written a book, I found it interesting to see the process as it were from concept to publication. The discussions and problems with various publishers was also interesting.
A must for any Heinlein fan, but I would also recommend it to any curious about the process of dealing with publishers, agents, etc.
Also, never having written a book, I found it interesting to see the process as it were from concept to publication. The discussions and problems with various publishers was also interesting.
A must for any Heinlein fan, but I would also recommend it to any curious about the process of dealing with publishers, agents, etc.
This book contains numerous letters by Heinlein, or at least substantial excerpts from his letters. What struck me as very interesting, however, is the letters it did not include. Nine out of every ten letters seemed to be from Heinlein to his agent or editor. There were very few letters to him (by said agents or editors), and very few letters by his third wife Virginia. All letters were in some way on the subject of writing, with brief forays into the subjects of cats, housebuilding, travel, an...more
By no means is this an exhaustive undertaking, in fact in many places it is disappointingly spare. It frankly seems a lot like Virginia had a specific picture she was intending to paint, and only included letters that worked to that end.
Still if you are a fan, this is an interesting collection, and has a few belly laugh moments - for example, while writing his agent about a person at Playboy who is trying to get him to write something for them with only an agreement over the phone, he says:
"Appa...more
Still if you are a fan, this is an interesting collection, and has a few belly laugh moments - for example, while writing his agent about a person at Playboy who is trying to get him to write something for them with only an agreement over the phone, he says:
"Appa...more
Reading books like these are almost like being a peeping tom... sometimes you get insights into their thinking process and sometimes you see things you wish you hadn't because it alters your perception of the writer.
I always figured Heinlein to be somewhat curmudgeony and this book confirms that. It shows that he was confident of his work almost to the point of arrogance and that Ginny probably tempered that quite a bit.
But RAH surrounded himself with competent people. He also never promised any...more
I always figured Heinlein to be somewhat curmudgeony and this book confirms that. It shows that he was confident of his work almost to the point of arrogance and that Ginny probably tempered that quite a bit.
But RAH surrounded himself with competent people. He also never promised any...more
This book contains correspondence between Heinlein and his literary agent, mostly, plus a few assorted letters to and from other people. Also has photographs of Heinlein during several periods of his life, along with his wife, Ginny, and the tribe of cats they kept.
It provides valuable insight into RAH's way of thinking, his life in general, and the things that troubled and worried him. I can sympathize with one of his recurring concerns, that the USA is in a tailspin due to the increasing ignor...more
It provides valuable insight into RAH's way of thinking, his life in general, and the things that troubled and worried him. I can sympathize with one of his recurring concerns, that the USA is in a tailspin due to the increasing ignor...more
Some dated (and kinda sexist) stuff, but a great little book for aspiring writers in terms of dealing with editors, agents, contracts--and, most importantly, writing. Not a How-To, like On Writing or Bird by Bird, nor a memoir, but a collection of letters between Heinlen and others, published by his widow. Best piece of advice: produce copy, produce copy, produce copy.
This is a semi-autobiographical work for Heinlein. He didn't write it as an autobiography, but it includes a lot of letters and similar pictures that provide a lot of insight about his thoughts on his work and its impact on his life. While I'm glad that I read it, I doubt anyone except a die-hard Heinlein fan would enjoy this book.
I have never come to understand and feel sorry for my author friends than I have after reading this book. The chapters about dealing with fans and interruptions are fascinating.
Fans will also appreciate Mr. Heinlein's views on the writing profession, as well as what he thought of his stories.
Fans will also appreciate Mr. Heinlein's views on the writing profession, as well as what he thought of his stories.
Gave this a high rating because it was intriguing to read his letters, but I don't think publishing them has done his reputation any good. After reading them, especially his correspondence with Campbell, Heinlein comes off sounding like a bit of an A-hole. This book changed my view of him.
If you're a Heinlein fan and are interested in the behind the scenes life of a writer you will like reading all of the correspondence that goes on.
Meh. Just use wiki.
If you're a devoted Heinlein fan, invaluable insights, such as why "Glory Road" seems to trail on past the adventure stage and why "I Will Fear No Evil" doesn't quite live up to itself.
Almost anyone else would be bored out of their minds.
Almost anyone else would be bored out of their minds.
A biting and entertaining look at Heinlein's life as a writer and of the publishing industry. Recommended for fans of his work and for those who want to become writers.
Letters showing what the dean of science fiction really thought, edited by the fabulous Ginny - what could be better?
The lawyers must still be sitting on Heinlein's portfolio. Much less than I had hoped for from this book.
Probably only interesting if you're a Heinlein fan, but quite interesting if you are one.
This is for the hard core Heinlein fan ;)
A hard book to stay with
Jun 17, 2013
William England
marked it as to-read
Jun 13, 2013
Tony Yates
marked it as to-read
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Robert Anson Heinlein was an American novelist and science fiction writer. Often called "the dean of science fiction writers", he is one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of "hard science fiction".
He set a high standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality. He was the first SF writer to break into mainstre...more
More about Robert A. Heinlein...
He set a high standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality. He was the first SF writer to break into mainstre...more
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