Robert A. Heinlein

by Leon Stover

Book by Stover, Leon E.

147 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1987

Reviews

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on Heinlein's works I've read (of 4). In the first two thirds of this volume the author has lots of insight into Heinlein's ideas, views, methods, and even some details I did not find in the William Patterson biography (a few other details were updated by Patterson). And it is not filtered through preconceived bias and assumptions as the other 3 books were.
Unfortunately I got bogged down a little in chapters 8 and 9, in which the author somewhat pointlessly presents his own theory that many of the themes stem from a Calvinist philosophy by examining several works from that viewpoint. He makes some good points, but it's ultimately a futile attempt to pigeonhole Heinlein. I felt better again when in the following chapter the author admits, with a bit of humble humor, that Heinlein rejected his theory.
Overall there's great value for fans or students of Heinlein throughout most of the book. Because of the detour in Chapters 8 and 9 I considered giving it 4/5 stars, but reconsidering everything, including many details I haven't heard elsewhere, I think it deserves 5 stars. The author makes several connections between Heinlein's stories and some classics that probably inspired them, such as the "aliens" in "Goldfish Bowl" "...Derived from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Horror of the Heights' (1913)." Some thoughts the author gleaned from Heinlein himself are a crowning touch:

"Starship Troopers is no more than a playful variation on a kind of science fiction story done by Mark Twain, as Heinlein patiently explains (Expanded Universe, 399). He compares his work to that of Twain's 'Curious Republic of Gondour' (1875..."

So I think Stover's "Robert Heinlein" is an essential companion to Patterson's biography for serious fans and students.

[Daniel]

Heretofore, academic critics have treated Heinlein as a subject fit only for their new fringe field of sf studies, locating him in some deracinated outland beyond the pale of classical American letters. This work is the first to treat him as a...

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scholarly overview of Heinlein's works. It was generally positive, but I was struck by how some of the details from some of the books were just plain wrong. I suppose it would have been more of an annoyance if the book was a pan of Heinlein's writing. I am not impartial here.

[Francine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can understand why Virginia Heinlein decided this was not the man to write the authorized biography. A very bad book with occasional bits of information and the connections to a few other authors are useful. Some of his theories are interesting but others are simply nuts. I can't imagine why he has such an improbable devotion to D D Harriman, I can think of a dozen more interesting Heinlein characters without even trying.

[Clay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Educated fan boy nonsense. Not very many insights to the literature or the man.