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Future History or "Heinlein Timeline" #1
Life Line: collection of stories
CONTENTS:
Introduction by Damon Knight
Life-Line
The Roads Must Roll
Blowups Happen
The Man Who Sold the Moon
Delilah and the Space-Rigger
Space Jockey
Requiem
The Long Watch
Gentlemen, Be Seated
Introduction by Damon Knight
Life-Line
The Roads Must Roll
Blowups Happen
The Man Who Sold the Moon
Delilah and the Space-Rigger
Space Jockey
Requiem
The Long Watch
Gentlemen, Be Seated
286 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 1993
5 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Robert A. Heinlein
1,053 books10.5k followersRobert 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 18, 2020
Seer Sees Future. Life Insurers Go Broke!
If you disrupt the biz, the biz will disrupt you. There's always a vested interest that loves the status quo. Innovators beware, corporate assassins are on your six!
Recommended: 4 'I know when you'll die.' stars.
If you disrupt the biz, the biz will disrupt you. There's always a vested interest that loves the status quo. Innovators beware, corporate assassins are on your six!
Recommended: 4 'I know when you'll die.' stars.
April 4, 2016
Life-Line by Robert A. Heinlein was his first published short story and launched an illustrious career.
Heinlein is one of my favorite authors, almost everything I’ve read of his is top notch. Life-Line is the perfect example of his work. It’s only 20 pages, and yet one of the most compelling short story I’ve read. Every line is great, every page is oozing with content, and the story is just perfection.
The basis of the story is a man who claims he has discovered a way to accurately predict when a person will die. The reader is brought on not knowing anything more than the majority of people in the story. Does the technique work? How does it work? Is it accurate? Each question the reader will have gets explored in due time. In addition Heinlein takes the time to really consider what would need to happen for the predictions to exist, and what it will affect.
Overall Life-Line is a solid story, it’s excellent in every way a Heinlein story excels, and is quite worth the short time it takes to read it.
Heinlein is one of my favorite authors, almost everything I’ve read of his is top notch. Life-Line is the perfect example of his work. It’s only 20 pages, and yet one of the most compelling short story I’ve read. Every line is great, every page is oozing with content, and the story is just perfection.
The basis of the story is a man who claims he has discovered a way to accurately predict when a person will die. The reader is brought on not knowing anything more than the majority of people in the story. Does the technique work? How does it work? Is it accurate? Each question the reader will have gets explored in due time. In addition Heinlein takes the time to really consider what would need to happen for the predictions to exist, and what it will affect.
Overall Life-Line is a solid story, it’s excellent in every way a Heinlein story excels, and is quite worth the short time it takes to read it.
July 29, 2020
این داستان واقعاً خوبه
باید بارها و بارها خوندش
باید بارها و بارها خوندش
July 4, 2023
Actuarially quite amusing.
January 25, 2018
Book 1 of Robert Heinlein's Future History of the Universe series. These stories take place within the same Universe, but do not need to be read in order, nor do they need to all be read to complete the History. Some are longer than others. Enjoy them collectively or individually, but enjoy.
I rather liked this story. Something about a well written short story that leaves a lasting impression on the read. It is the start of a great Future History.
Have a GoodReads.
I rather liked this story. Something about a well written short story that leaves a lasting impression on the read. It is the start of a great Future History.
Have a GoodReads.
May 19, 2017
I can see a bright line of influence from here to the contemporary "Machine of Death" series. Marvelous.
September 25, 2018
Heinlen's first published story and his first of his "future series" does a great job at laying the groundwork for the author's fast pacing and great dialog that he later became known for.
Read
July 7, 2019Somewhat dated moral yarn based on a cool black box.
Read
December 1, 2022It goes without saying that it's excellent, even though it was his first. And the character i smentioned in Time Enough for Love, so here's the backstory.
March 25, 2023
Intersting story, recommending
January 27, 2025
#1/ La línea de la vida (1939)
Periodo en que está basada: 1951
¿qué ocurriría si un científico, mediante un aparato médico, pudiese decir con exactitud la fecha de la muerte de cualquier persona?
Sobre este ambicioso y peligroso supuesto, se centra el primer relato de la antología. El Dr. Pinero, descubridor de la muerte, lo expone enfrente de la academia de ciencias, que rechazan su invención. Vapuleado por ‘sus’ colegas, dará a conocer la veracidad de su práctica mediante el primer vaticinio de muerte con testigos.
Instalado en su consulta, la cual irá en aumento de clientes conforme va en desuso los seguros de vida, Pinero será llevado a los tribunales para que sea considerada su práctica ilegal y él inhabilitado de su práctica. Allí desafiará a los miembros de la academia de su eficacia, escribiendo las fechas de la muerte de éstos, algunas recientes y que podrán comprobarse en un futuro corto...
Éste es el RELATO DE UN NUEVO GALILEO INCOMPRENDIDO, que pone en peligro muchas cosas establecidas. HISTORIA DE DENUNCIA Y CRITICA SOCIAL de Heinlein hacia el ostracismo de los científicos, con sus conceptos obtusos:’- vosotros sois los que habéis bloqueado a todos los grandes descubridores desde el principio de los tiempos’ y a la autoridad unánime, con el desconocimiento ‘necesario’ del pueblo con todas las artimañas posibles: – ‘él busca el orden, no la verdad’, de la ambición de las personas y su capacidad de maldad para su beneficio ( en el personaje de Bidwell de la compañía nacional de seguros) y , por encima de todo, al temor de los humanos hacía su fecha final…quizá el avance más controvertido que pudiese hacerse realidad. Además, se cuestiona el doble rasero planteamiento de la práctica ilegal por ser individual (Dr. Pinero) y no la de la grupal por parte del estado.
Sin bien cierto es, que una parte del relato, con el auge de visitantes a la consulta de Pinero es cuestionable, sólo en parte (¿de verdad alguien quiere saber su fecha exacta de muerte?, aunque, por otro lado, más de uno sería llamado por el morbo del asunto), su final es el lógico en toda civilización que se digne, con sus miedos, ambiciones e incertidumbres de significado de la vida y rutina.
Avances y/ o predicciones tecnológicas:
· Máquina de línea de la vida, que puede hacer posible visionar toda nuestra energía, desde el nacimiento hasta la defunción misma, por la cual la cadena tiene una interrupción o ruptura (explicada en el relato)
Avances y/ o predicciones sociales:
· Bajada de la contratación de seguros de vida y extinción de las compañías
· Posible cambio de vida de las personas y planteamiento de éste
·Desuso de las consultas médicas
Periodo en que está basada: 1951
¿qué ocurriría si un científico, mediante un aparato médico, pudiese decir con exactitud la fecha de la muerte de cualquier persona?
Sobre este ambicioso y peligroso supuesto, se centra el primer relato de la antología. El Dr. Pinero, descubridor de la muerte, lo expone enfrente de la academia de ciencias, que rechazan su invención. Vapuleado por ‘sus’ colegas, dará a conocer la veracidad de su práctica mediante el primer vaticinio de muerte con testigos.
Instalado en su consulta, la cual irá en aumento de clientes conforme va en desuso los seguros de vida, Pinero será llevado a los tribunales para que sea considerada su práctica ilegal y él inhabilitado de su práctica. Allí desafiará a los miembros de la academia de su eficacia, escribiendo las fechas de la muerte de éstos, algunas recientes y que podrán comprobarse en un futuro corto...
Éste es el RELATO DE UN NUEVO GALILEO INCOMPRENDIDO, que pone en peligro muchas cosas establecidas. HISTORIA DE DENUNCIA Y CRITICA SOCIAL de Heinlein hacia el ostracismo de los científicos, con sus conceptos obtusos:’- vosotros sois los que habéis bloqueado a todos los grandes descubridores desde el principio de los tiempos’ y a la autoridad unánime, con el desconocimiento ‘necesario’ del pueblo con todas las artimañas posibles: – ‘él busca el orden, no la verdad’, de la ambición de las personas y su capacidad de maldad para su beneficio ( en el personaje de Bidwell de la compañía nacional de seguros) y , por encima de todo, al temor de los humanos hacía su fecha final…quizá el avance más controvertido que pudiese hacerse realidad. Además, se cuestiona el doble rasero planteamiento de la práctica ilegal por ser individual (Dr. Pinero) y no la de la grupal por parte del estado.
Sin bien cierto es, que una parte del relato, con el auge de visitantes a la consulta de Pinero es cuestionable, sólo en parte (¿de verdad alguien quiere saber su fecha exacta de muerte?, aunque, por otro lado, más de uno sería llamado por el morbo del asunto), su final es el lógico en toda civilización que se digne, con sus miedos, ambiciones e incertidumbres de significado de la vida y rutina.
Avances y/ o predicciones tecnológicas:
· Máquina de línea de la vida, que puede hacer posible visionar toda nuestra energía, desde el nacimiento hasta la defunción misma, por la cual la cadena tiene una interrupción o ruptura (explicada en el relato)
Avances y/ o predicciones sociales:
· Bajada de la contratación de seguros de vida y extinción de las compañías
· Posible cambio de vida de las personas y planteamiento de éste
·Desuso de las consultas médicas
February 5, 2017
One of Heinlein's first stories, published August 1939. It fits into the "Future History" universe, which kicked off so fast and so strong that John W. Campbell, Jr. coined the term in February 1941 and was already asking for diagrams to explain the interlinking of stories.
This first book, part #1 out of an eventual #21, is only 20 pages long and deals with the incredibly fresh clash of a death-predicting machine and life-insurance corporations.
I am reading these from the 1967 book "The Past Through Tomorrow" which has almost every single "Future History" story.
This first book, part #1 out of an eventual #21, is only 20 pages long and deals with the incredibly fresh clash of a death-predicting machine and life-insurance corporations.
I am reading these from the 1967 book "The Past Through Tomorrow" which has almost every single "Future History" story.
February 22, 2015
CONTENTS:
Introduction by Damon Knight
Life-Line
The Roads Must Roll
Blowups Happen
The Man Who Sold the Moon
Delilah and the Space-Rigger
Space Jockey
Requiem
The Long Watch
Gentlemen, Be Seated
October 24, 2015
Life Line is a interesting story about a scientist who has invented a method by which he can predict the time and date of a person's death. It is well written and an overall enjoyable read with a surprise that will certainly catch you looking the other way.
May 3, 2022
Robert A. Heinlein's first published story, Life-Line, albeit short, is intelligent and though-provoking. From the very starting point you can already catch a glimpse of Heinlein's extraordinary storytelling skills.
March 24, 2021
A average twilight zone like story. Story does however predate Twilight Zone by over a decade.
August 13, 2020
I first read this short story of the late, great Robert Anson Heinlein in the book "The Past Through Tomorrow." And I have always enjoyed it, and I am now lucky enough to have it as an eBook.
February 1, 2016
Read the anthology. The story was a bit disturbing, but thought provoking.
December 8, 2016
i always wonder if i'd want to know.
July 6, 2015
My first time reading Heinlein and it was brilliant!
Read
May 9, 2019i didnt get it but it was good
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews