It is not clear how Heinlein got from this germ to the story he eventually did write up as his first story, “LifeLine.” Switching it from pure fantasy to science fiction may have suggested the pulp gadget-story format, which is typically about the inventor and his invention. Heinlein began in a way that would become…
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The casual Saturday “at homes” Robert and Leslyn had started for political purposes gradually changed over the course of 1939 into a writers’ group for the local science-fiction professionals. If anything, the changeover of personalities could only have sharpened the sense of being involved in something purposivful and progressive: socializing with writers instead of politicians…
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Since late in 1944, Nelson Eddy’s recording of “The Ballad of Rodger Young” had been playing on the radio, and that song became intensely meaningful to Heinlein. Young, an infantry private, had been killed on July 31, 1943, in the campaign for the Solomon Islands. He had been a runt—five feet two inches—and so nearly…
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By the end of January (1956) he (Heinlein) was generating a new “adult” book. He had an engineer/inventor on a bender because his wife dumped him to marry a rich man. But the elements weren’t coming together quite right, and he kept turning them over in his mind, changing a bit here and a bit…
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Sharon Lee, novelist, is the 2025 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. This award is in recognition of Ms. Lee’s body of work of over thirty-eight novels and short stories. A majority of…
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Recently, a member of The Heinlein Society board of directors received the following email. Since THS has a scholarship program, it only seems logical to share information about internship programs. I can’t imagine a more fitting internship for a Heinlein fan! We have launched our application for the National Air and Space Museum’s 2025 Summer…
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William Shatner (Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore) to Appear at the National Space Society’s Annual International Space Development Convention Famed Star Trek actor, celebrity, and private astronaut William Shatner will appear at the National Space Society’s 2024 International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in May. Mr. Shatner will be accepting the Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award, which…
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Tom Doherty, founder of TOR Books and Chair of Tom Doherty Associates, publishing under the Tor, Forge, Tordotcom, Starscape, Tor Teen, and Nightfire imprints, is the 2024 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space.…
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Early in 1924 Robert Heinlein was notified by the Senate Judiciary Committee that Senator James A. Reed had nominated him to Annapolis, but there was no guarantee when the actual appointment would come through. In January of 1924 Robert lied about his age and joined the Missouri National Guard when he was only sixteen and…
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John Scalzi, novelist and internet personality, is the 2023 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. This award is in recognition of Mr. Scalzi’s body of work of 16 novels and numerous short stories.…
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I received the sad news today that David Crosby had passed away. It will be easy to find out about his musical career culminating with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the first “super group.” What most people don’t know is that David Crosby was a lifelong fan of Robert A. Heinlein. He commented in an…
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December 1947 was a tough time for Robert and Ginny. Robert’s divorce from Leslyn was not final, so the only way they could be together was on the road. He invested some of his dwindling cash in a tiny house trailer he nicknamed the Gopher Hole, which he joked was formerly a piano box! They…
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WorldCon chose not to sponsor a blood drive this year. For the convenience of those expecting to Pay It Forward by donating blood The Heinlein Society and Virgin Hotels, a block away from the Hyatt, will have a blood drive on Sunday. Schedule your appointment early as the drive is open to the public before…
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Our own Mike Sheffield was featured on Live From The Bunker. Mike discusses Heinlein Society history and programs in this fascinating interview. Follow the below link to view the entire interview.
Citizen Of The Galaxy, a Robert Heinlein novel, has won the 2022 Best Classic Fiction award and will be inducted into the Prometheus Hall of Fame (https://www.lfs.org/). Arguably the best of his “juveniles,” Heinlein’s 1957 novel strongly dramatizes an anti-slavery theme while exploring the meaning of freedom and defending the right to use force in…
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Robert Heinlein was born on 7/7/1907. For a man that has been dead for for over thirty years, he is still having an impact on Science Fiction. The above photo of Robert and Ginny was taken on the front porch of their Bonny Doon home. Please leave us a message with how Robert has impacted…
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The nominating period for Board members for the 2022 election will begin 1 May 2022 and close 22 May 2022. The Board has three (3) seats up for election with three sitting Board members, Beatrice Kondo, Joel S. Davis, and Ken Walters agreeing to be nominated for re-election. You may nominate any THS member in…
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David Gerrold Wins 2022 Robert A. Heinlein Award and will attend Balticon 56. David Gerrold, novelist and screenwriter, is the 2022 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award and will attend Balticon 56, May 27-30, 2022. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration…
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January 1, 2022 Announcing our eleventh annual scholarship essay contest for the 2022 – 2023 academic year. This year we will be awarding four $4,000 scholarships to undergraduate students of accredited 4-year colleges and universities. The “Virginia Heinlein Memorial Scholarship” is dedicated to a female candidate majoring in engineering, math, or biological or physical sciences. The…
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The recent redesign of The Heinlein Journal was chosen as one of 6 winners in the Editorial category of Communication Arts’ 62nd annual design competition, the most exclusive major design competition in the world. “This redesign matches the quality of the publication with the stature of its authors and their scholarship,” said Managing Editor and Designer Mark Bult. “We’ve…
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The below link is to the You Tube video of the 2020 Balticon virtual book discussion of The Pursuit of The Pankera and how it differs from The Number of The Beast. Panelists include John Tilden – President of The Heinlein Society, Steve Wilson – Author and Don Sakers – Author. https://youtu.be/bZtPu_6LrGY
Dr. Beatrice Kondo of Johns Hopkins University was recently interviewed for a Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast discussing Biotechnology and Science Fiction. What you may not know is that Beatrice met Robert Heinlein at a young age through her father, noted astrophysicist and science fiction author, Dr. Yoji Kondo. Beatrice has been a…
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Recently a friend asked me to explain the difference between The Heinlein Society (THS) and The Heinlein Prize Trust (HPT). That’s really an interesting question. Both were founded by Virginia Heinlein, but that’s where the similarities end. The Heinlein Society is a charity, and our only source of income is through memberships and donations. We…
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On August 1st, 2020, The Heinlein Society celebrates our 20th anniversary. Our founding members; Virginia Heinlein, Bill Patterson, Art Dula and three others started our long journey on that date. So far, we have shipped almost 30,000 Heinlein / SF books to active military personnel and veterans around the world. We have sponsored blood drives…
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Scholarship Winners by Mike Sheffield This year, as expected, we received a record number of scholarship applications – 365. Among these we had 20 international applicants, more than in any previous year. They came from all around the globe: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Greece, Ghana, Haiti, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Morocco and India. We also…
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