Heinlein: Where to start?

[Rich]

Hi,

So I've never read any Heinlein, don't know much about him, and wish to rectify the situation. I tend to prefer short (i.e. tightly written), self-contained books over meandering epics or series.

Any suggestions?

[Ben]

Given you read and enjoyed Old Mans War - Starship Troopers would be the obvious start. Its not too long and it is one of his most popular books and was a huge influence on Old Mans War as Scalzi acknowledges.

[Andreas]

I greatly enjoyed The Moon is a Harsh Mistress which has several views on society, economy etc.

[Mary JL]

I think Heinlein's juveniles have much to offer adults as well. Try Citizen of the Galaxy orBetween Planets.

[Richard]

Give these a try Tunnel In The Sky or Have Space Suit—Will Travel.

[Brenda]

It is sad to see Heinlein's name with the header 'forgotten'! If you don't want to begin with one of the juvies suggested by Mary or Richard, his best novel is probably MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. He was also a master of the short form, so any of the collections of his shorter work would be grand.

[Linoge]

Try The Door Into Summerits relatively short and self-contained.i don't know if its Heinlein's best,but its one of the ones i enjoyed the most.

[Art]

I'd agree with Door Into Summer as a good start, along with Glory Road and Stranger In A Strange Land.

[John]

I will add my vote to that of Andreas and Brenda. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of my all-time favorite SF books by ANY writer.

Beyond that, Starship Troopers is a good one (but please IGNORE the sorry mess of a movie Hollywood made of that one -- the book is FAR better). For the short stories, you might look for a little collection entitled The Green Hills of Earth.

[R.]

I suggest Double Star. It is short, fast moving, and a lot of fun to read. It is my favorite Heinlein novel.

[Hillary]

Just read & very much enjoyed The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which was my first Heinlein.

[Jen]

I'd suggest The Past Through Tomorrowas well- it's got a lot of his best short stories/novellas in it.

[Marc]

The Door Into Summer and Double Star. Friday is also pretty good, but those are the only Heinlein novels I would recommend. Not a huge fan.

[Mary]

Citizen of the Galaxy or Have Space Suit Will Travel.

My favorite is "The Man Who Sold the Moon", but that's a short story.

[Brenda]

It should be a consolation to the OP that Heinlein was from an era where multi-volumed series and long epics were not popular, and so he has none.

[Margaret]

The closest thing to a "series" that Heinlein wrote is that many of his short stories and novels can be considered as part of an ongoing "future history". One of his collections has a timeline ... it might be The Past Through Tomorrow.

[Janine]

I'll add a third vote for Double Star. It's short and tight (like many books from the period), often comedic, and focused on a more modern/mainstream than his other books (that is, learning to accept/become something OTHER).

[Rich]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, plenty to take a look at and they all sound interesting. Quite a few seem to incorporate this idea of otherness or being an outsider in one way or another - I'm looking forward to reading them :)

[stormhawk]

Stranger in a Strange Land and Expanded Universe, a short story collection.

[Andy]

I'll have to agree with those recommending Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

[Natt]

I recommend you to read short stories such as 'All You Zombies' and 'By His Bootstrap'. They are milestone for Time Paradox. Collections title 'Expand Universe' also collect his world of idea.