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The Man Who Traveled In Elephants
Written may 1948.
First published in Saturn, October 1957 as The Elephant Circuit.
First collected into The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, 1959.
First published in Saturn, October 1957 as The Elephant Circuit.
First collected into The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, 1959.
13 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
2 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Robert A. Heinlein
1,069 books10.7k 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2017
I think it would be safe to say that The Man Who Travelled in Elephants took a path very unusual of Heinlein. While I was waiting to be blown away by the story, it broke me, way farther than any Travelling Salesman problems did in college.
April 2, 2020
A very nice short story about love and not being able to move on. Some people just don't stop to feel their pain and move on to enjoy life. It was such a short story and I got to know about this short story most of the time from GoodReads and this time through never-ending trivia.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
July 20, 2018
A little too holds-up-spork, kind of predictable, and so many American references without quite the beauty that like, Lolita had. Still did tear up a bit with the listings of all the beauty of traditional America the story offers.
September 21, 2023
Good short story
September 17, 2016
This is one of my less favorite of Heinlein's work. It is rather fantastic and builds to a surprising conclusion, that doesn't really work as a surprise. That said, it is a touching love story and full of wonder.
2014: Sometimes the narrator can make a big difference, and when I revisited this because of the new Spider Robinson reading, I found I liked it more.
2014: Sometimes the narrator can make a big difference, and when I revisited this because of the new Spider Robinson reading, I found I liked it more.
June 5, 2014
A touching and lovely short story by Heinlein. Good delivery, a slight bit predictable, but the story is the journey, not the reveal.
Supposedly this is one of Heinlein's favorite. That's not surprising after reading much of his other work, and it certainly delivers a wonderful story.
Supposedly this is one of Heinlein's favorite. That's not surprising after reading much of his other work, and it certainly delivers a wonderful story.
November 4, 2014
Excellent and poignant story. I've read it as a short story and watched it portrayed as a performance by the Atlanta Radio Theater. Wonderful experience!
April 22, 2017
Amazingly sad. I felt a heavy dread weighing on me as I read this 18-page story.
May 6, 2017
I didn't understand it but it seemed to an allegory about the afterlife.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews