Robert A. Heinlein

by Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein 1982 Signet Gift Pak - 5 Paperback Titles, in Original Slipcase. Revolt in 2100; The Man Who Sold the Moon; The Menace From Earth; Double Star; The Puppet Masters. Signet # PR1253. A very rare Heinlein gift pack by Signet / New American Library, sold in 1982. Near Fine paperback books, showing only inevitable age-toning over the years, in a Very Good slipcase with corners rubbed. See scans. Five 12mo size books, with, respectively, 192 pp, 267 pp, 189 pp, 128 pp, 175 pp. See scans of books. All of these titles were first published in paperback by Signet in the 1950s, so the contents of the Gift Packs sold in1982 are later printings of the first paperback editions.Three of the five titles, on their copyright page, refer to themselves as first printings, but the number lines on those same copyright pages indicate otherwise. That, of course, had to be the case by 1982, some thirty years later. The first printings of the Signet editions were all within 1-3 years of the hardcover first editions, as applicable. An extraordinarily hard to find gift set for the Heinlein collector. Ships in stout protection, of course. See all scans. L11

Paperback

About the author

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.