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Robert A. Heinlein’s Followers (10,482)

Robert A. Heinlein

Born

in Butler, Missouri, The United States

July 07, 1907

Died

May 08, 1988

Genre

Science Fiction, Children's, Fiction

Influences

H.G. Wells, James Branch Cabell, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Rudyard Kipling ...more

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Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Eveni Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York. ...more

Combine Editions
Robert A. Heinlein’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 1,323,717 ratings · 51,233 reviews · 1,055 distinct works • Similar authors

	Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein, James Warhola (Illustrator) 3.92 avg rating — 326,332 ratings — published 1961 — 259 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Starship Troopers 4.01 avg rating — 246,277 ratings — published 1959 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress 4.15 avg rating — 138,869 ratings — published 1966 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Time Enough for Love 3.97 avg rating — 37,017 ratings — published 1973	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Puppet Masters 3.89 avg rating — 34,101 ratings — published 1951 — 40 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Have Space Suit—Will Travel 3.93 avg rating — 31,314 ratings — published 1958 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Friday 3.85 avg rating — 30,361 ratings — published 1982 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Door Into Summer 4.02 avg rating — 28,641 ratings — published 1957 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Double Star 3.91 avg rating — 24,373 ratings — published 1956 — 79 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cat Who Walks Through Walls 3.71 avg rating — 24,109 ratings — published 1985 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Robert A. Heinlein…

Series by Robert A. Heinlein

Lazarus Long (5 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

3.87 avg rating — 107,407 ratings

The World As Myth (4 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

3.83 avg rating — 86,187 ratings

Friday (3 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

3.85 avg rating — 30,425 ratings

O Número do Monstro (3 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein,

Eurico da Fonseca (Translator)

3.62 avg rating — 13,410 ratings

O Mundo que Nos Espera (2 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein,

Fernanda Pinto Rodrigues (Tradução)

3.59 avg rating — 12,920 ratings

More series by Robert A. Heinlein…

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Polls

November 2024 New School Classics Poll

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein, 1966, 288 pages

57 votes, 28.2%

The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing, 1988, 133 pages

34 votes, 16.8%

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious, 1956, 384 pages

31 votes, 15.3%

The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, 1969, 470 pages

30 votes, 14.9%

Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis, 1993, 140 pages

30 votes, 14.9%

The Rector's Daughter by F.M. Mayor, 1924, 368 pages

12 votes, 5.9%

What Makes Sammy Run? by Budd Schulberg, 1941, 318 pages

8 votes, 4.0%

202 total votes

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