Curtis’s Reviews > The Pleasant Profession of Robert A. Heinlein > Status Update
Curtis
is on page 73 of 477
Ch. 1 is a biographical recap, based largely on William Patterson's two-volume authorized bio. Mendlesohn throws in some previews of arguments-to-come, but mostly this is a linear overview of Heinlein's political, ideological, and authorial shifts – spattered with descriptions of the many health issues he faced over his lifetime.
— Feb 28, 2019 06:34PM
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Curtis’s Previous Updates
Curtis
is on page 145 of 477
Ch. 3 "Technique" is a mixed bag. I understand the choice of looking only at Heinlein's works for her analysis, but I think Mendlesohn misses an opportunity to compare technique against other SF stories, and thus makes some hasty conclusions. E.g., the discussion of "mise en scene" description, which M. attributes to Leslyn MacDonald's influence while remaining quiet re: its use across the SF genre.
— Mar 02, 2019 07:20PM
Curtis
is on page 107 of 477
Ch. 2 is titled "Heinlein's Narrative Arc," but it's mostly a publication history. It's divided into three sections—short stories, juveniles, and "adult" novels—as typically understood of H's works, though Mendlesohn makes some interesting choices about where some stories fall (e.g., I'm not convinced "Podkayne" is best understood as a juvenile). I'll be looking to see how those choices influence her analysis.
— Mar 02, 2019 09:16AM
