Heinlein publishing history was made on March 26, 2013 when the Kickstarter project to fund a graphic novel version of Robert A. Heinlein’s Citizen of the Galaxy achieved its funding goal!
With several days yet before the funding date of March 31st, pledges continue to come in from over 260 backers pledging amounts of up to $3000.00 each in support of this publishing project.
Citizen of the Galaxy will be the first graphic novel adapted from Robert Heinlein’s Virginia Edition, which is the complete and definitive 46 volume collector’s set of all of Heinlein’s works. This project is approved by the copyright owner, the Heinlein Prize Trust, and will be produced with the support of the Virginia Edition Publishing Company.
The spirit of TANSTAAFL was at work among fans and supporters to develop this Heinlein classic into a graphic novel. Heinlein supporters from around the world stepped up to indicate they believe adapting Heinlein’s works into high-quality, true-to-the-story graphic novels will help introduce a new generation of readers to the works of Robert A. Heinlein.
Citizen of the Galaxy is an important Heinlein tale to pass on to future generations for many reasons, chief among them the story is Heinlein’s anthem against slavery, its continuing existence and its spread. The message of freedom and equality is told through the eyes of young Thorby, a battered slave boy with no idea of his history or origins. Throughout the story, Thorby finds both the good and bad in his fellow humans, and experiences a number of different – yet each valid – ways people may live. His own mission becomes spreading freedom, and fighting slavery, throughout humankind and the galaxy.
Citizen of the Galaxy is one of Heinlein’s most highly regarded YA science fiction novels. A Lesson Plan for Citizen of the Galaxy was funded by the Heinlein Prize Trust as part of its extensive educational programs. The Citizen of the Galaxy Lesson Plan, designed and written by Robert James, Ph.D., himself an educator and published author, is available to teachers and educators on the Heinlein Society’s Educators CD.
Lesson Plans for other Heinlein stories and novels are available on the Heinlein Society’s Educators CD, with some available directly on the Heinlein Prize Trust website.
If the Citizen of the Galaxy graphic novel proves to be a success, adaptations of other novels by Robert A. Heinlein™ will follow.
