Happy 100th, Robert A. Henlein: July 7, 2007

One of the So-called "Golden Age" authors of hard science fiction, Robert A. Heinlein certainly made the field his own. Together with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, he made up part of the "Big Three" in the field, influencing several generations of readers. From the introduction of the word "waldo", to our language, to the initial descriptions of water bed (which was denied patents in the U.S. based on prior art because of his descriptions), Heinlein's influence has continued into the 21st century, with the creation of Groklaw.net, aimed at making it easier to comprehend the law as it relates to open computing.

The first science fiction novel (as opposed to short stories) I recall reading was Robert A Heinlein's "Star Beast" subtitled "Love me, love my Lummox" about assumptions and their consequences, one of a long string of juvenile novels Heinlein published through Putnam in the fifties and sixties. While the novels were designed to be rather formulaic, following the format of the, well established, boys' adventure stories but set in space, he imbued them with a great deal of originality and salted them with a healthy skepticism of authority while mostly leaving his politics at the door.

It was, however, his adult fiction, that allowed him great freedom to share is rather libertarian brand of politics. Asked about his most well known and influential novel, today's younger readers are apt to answer "Starship troopers, with it's solid right-wing, pro-military message. However, to an entire generation plus who came of age in the sixties and seventies, it was all about "Stranger in a Strange land," his story of the return of the prodigal son, a human child, thought lost with his parents, but raised by aliens then sent back to earth to comprehend it on behalf of his alien foster parents / teachers. "Stranger..." and it's hero Valentine Michael Smith, with the concept of "Grok" (an understanding of others so deeply that they can no longer be separated from self) spoke volumes to the counter culture of the day.

As with many of the authors from the Golden Age of SF, much of Heinlein's work is dated by terminology and attitudes (in the narrative of "Stranger...," homosexual men are referred to as confused or misguided), but the stories generally hold up since, at their core, they are as much about the people of his time as they were about any future.