The last reason

[frualeydis]

I am reading a Heinlein novel I haven't read before. His first, which wasn't published. And for every page I am reminded of how much I love this man. Oh, I love his books, but this one isn't particularly good as a book, but it has all his ideas, ideals and dreams for the future in it and you see how they have developed in other, later books and how life's experiences and what happened in the world changed him and his ideas. For example, at this time, 1939, Heinlein apparently didn't hate communism like you can see clearly in later novels. That he didn't do until he saw what Stalinism did to people, because Heinlein didn't judge things by its cover, but passed judgment only when he knew. He also didn't suffer from the fallacy to assume that your own politics or faith is perfect and that everybody else is wrong, but was open-minded and questioned even ancient and hallowed ideas - especially those.
His ideas got more sophisticated, and less coloured by growing up in a patriarchal and sexist culture, but the seeds are there already in 1939.
And he knew very much about love.

This post of course assumes that you have read a lot by, and about, Robert Heinlein - it is sort of the end of a list of reasons for why I love Robert Heinlein so much and does not mention the wonderful books at all. The last reason. Or maybe a part of a jigsaw puzzle.

Comments

[ciorstan.livejournal.com]

As a side note, you might enjoy reading John Scalzi's "Old Man's War," and its two sequels, which take a couple of very good Heinlein themes and runs them through a very skilled new writer's hands. He is a recent winner of the John W. Campbell award for best new writer.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Which one is it? I adore Heinlein -- especially his "early" stuff. I'm not overly fond of the last 2 or 3, but ....

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

It's "For us, the living" and it really isn't a good book, but it gives the opportunity to look into his mind in 1938 and 1939 and if you're in love with him and not just his works it is lovely to do so.

/Eva

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll have to look that one up.