more photos (1)

Robert A. Heinlein’s Followers (10,377)

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

edit data

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 · 1,313,615 ratings · 50,433 reviews · 1,044 distinct works • Similar authors

	Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein, James Warhola (Illustrator) 3.92 avg rating — 324,658 ratings — published 1961 — 264 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 — 243,556 ratings — published 1959 — 245 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 — 137,666 ratings — published 1966 — 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
	Time Enough for Love 3.97 avg rating — 36,837 ratings — published 1973 — 48 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 Puppet Masters 3.89 avg rating — 33,953 ratings — published 1951 — 157 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 — 31,153 ratings — published 1958 — 99 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 — 30,218 ratings — published 1982 — 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 Door Into Summer 4.02 avg rating — 28,327 ratings — published 1957 — 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
	Double Star 3.91 avg rating — 24,167 ratings — published 1956 — 143 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 — 23,997 ratings — published 1985 — 58 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 — 106,836 ratings

The World As Myth (4 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

3.83 avg rating — 85,734 ratings

Friday (3 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

3.85 avg rating — 30,275 ratings

O Número do Monstro (3 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein,

Eurico da Fonseca (Translator)

3.62 avg rating — 13,317 ratings

O Mundo que Nos Espera (2 books)
by

Robert A. Heinlein,

Fernanda Pinto Rodrigues (Tradução)

3.59 avg rating — 12,834 ratings

More series by Robert A. Heinlein…

Looking for something epic, stellar, or far out? Perhaps a bit dystopian? Then these authors are your chosen ones to read next! We asked...

Polls

Which classic work would you like to read with us during May and June? Please vote here.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

50 votes, 45.9%

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

23 votes, 21.1%

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

21 votes, 19.3%

Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya

10 votes, 9.2%

Cousin Henry by Anthony Trollope

5 votes, 4.6%

109 total votes

5 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Babblers Who Read: What book have you reread several times?	22	245	Sep 07, 2007 02:02PM
SciFi and Fantasy...: Poll Results for October	15	158	Sep 26, 2008 02:05AM
SciFi and Fantasy...: What I am also reading in October	57	705	Oct 30, 2008 07:50AM
Building a SciFi/...: Team!books	9	148	Nov 12, 2008 02:52AM
SciFi and Fantasy...: Space Opera Theme Books Needed	62	855	Nov 30, 2008 06:12PM
Glens Falls (NY) ...: God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut	67	170	Dec 16, 2008 08:35AM
Goodreads Librari...: Combine Question	8	229	Jan 15, 2009 11:35AM
Pulp Magazine Aut...: Group Read or reads for March, 2009?	47	78	Mar 10, 2009 07:48AM
History is Not Bo...: We just witnessed history!	640	450	Apr 11, 2009 04:24AM

More…