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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For the ninth year in a row, the Society will raffle off a complete set of the Virginia Edition in September, 2025. All you have to do is join or stay a member! A $45 Regular membership is all it takes to enter. The rules follow: Eligibility: “Regular” members who join or renew their…
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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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Balticon 59 took place May 23-26, 2025 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. The Society had its “usual” presence with a fan table and stalwarts Betsey Wilcox, Will Hamilton, and Ty Arnold travelling in. We had local members Beatrice & Ursula Kondo, Herb Gilliland, and John Tilden to complete the “staffing” of the fan table.…
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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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by the Board & Chairs Peanut Gallery Balticon 58 was held over Memorial Day weekend May 24-27, 2024. Secretary Betsey Wilcox and Elections Chair Will Hamilton travelled along with Director Jim Dutton to join up with locals Director Beatrice Kondo, Heinlein Journal Editor Herb Gilliland, and Operations Chair John Tilden. We met up with several…
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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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It was worth the wait! follow the link for Issue #31 of The Heinlein Journal to purchase outright or download with a coupon code as a regular or Lifetime member. Check your email by 16 Feb 2024 for the particular code you should use.
The Board of the Society voted tonight for its new leadership & Executive Committee effective immediately: President & Chairman: Ken Walters Vice President: Walt Boyes Treasurer: Geo Rule Secretary: Betsey Wilcox Congratulations to all of them! Note: The website contact addresses will be updated over a short period of time; you may continue to use…
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Thanks to all who voted in the Society’s recent election for the Board of Directors. There were 4 open slots voted upon due to Herb Gilliland resigning from the Board. •The 3-year terms will be filled by Geo Rule, Jim Dutton, and John Seltzer (reelected) •Walt Boyes (reelected) will fill the remainder of Herb Gilliland’s…
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Our 2023 Annual Meeting was held on 10 September 2023 starting at 4:00 pm Eastern. The 2022 Annual Meeting Minutes were reviewed and accepted as a part of business. You can read a copy of the 2023 Annual Meeting Presentation with housekeeping information deleted. At the link, there is a reading copy of FY 2023…
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The following email went out on 9 July 2023 to our longest PayPal subscribers. Rest assured you are still members with an active subscription. This cancellation on PayPal was necessary to have users do renewals through our website. Dear Member: Thank you for being a member of The Heinlein Society with a recurring PayPal…
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This email was sent out on 12 July 2023 but some PayPal subscription cancellations took place on 8 July 2023. Dear Member: Firstly, thank you for being a member of The Heinlein Society. Recently, we have made some changes you should know about. Since our inception we have been keeping manual records via an…
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Balticon 57 May 26-29, 2023 The Society had a wonderful time at 2023’s Balticon, held again at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel. Balticon, run by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and many volunteers, is a very reader/writer/artist-centric convention. The Heinlein Society has maintained a presence at Balticon for almost its entire existence. Since THS has a…
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What I am Reading 12.0 By Betsey Wilcox Heads up: The next “The Thursday Murder Club” book from Richard Osman, and “Starter Villain” by John Scalzi, are scheduled for publication Sep 19, 2023. John Scalzi – “The Android’s Dream”; Narrated by Wil Wheaton, Audible, HC, PB, Kindle Yes, I have read…
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Society Vice President Ken Walters was recently featured on episode 81 of Since The World’s Been Turning. The podcast that discusses the points mentioned in Billy Joel’s song, We Didn’t Start The Fire. While the topic of discussion was nominally the book Stranger in a Strange Land, the podcast touches on most of Heinlein’s biography. …
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Update 2/20/23: The email was an mistake by our website support company. I can also verify that member information was NOT compromised with the email being sent out. Those that responded to the email, it sets passwords etc. within a testing instance of our website, so it is safe to ignore. ——————————————————- Original Post: An…
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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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The Society is proud to announce our scholarship fund drive! We are raising money to fully-fund an investment account to take care of scholarship giving going forward at our 2022 levels. Find out how you could own a book from Heinlein’s library as a thank-you for donating to this drive. Full information here.
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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