Science Fiction writer, Robert A. Heinlein died on this date, May 8, 1988.
In loving memory of him, we will post the Pro-Death Penalty Quote of the week
from him.
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Robert
A. Heinlein
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QUOTE: “The idea that "violence doesn't
solve anything" is a historically untrue and immoral doctrine. Violence,
naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and
the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. People that forget this
basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms."
AUTHOR: Robert
Anson Heinlein (pron.: /ˈhaɪnlaɪn/ HYN-lyn;
July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science fiction writer. Often
called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most
influential and controversial authors of the genre in his time. He set a
standard for scientific and engineering plausibility, and helped to raise the
genre's standards of literary quality.
He was one of the first
science fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday
Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science fiction
novelists for many decades. He, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are known as
the "Big Three" of science fiction.
Heinlein, a notable writer
of science fiction short stories, was one of a group of writers who came to
prominence under the editorship of John W. Campbell, Jr. in his Astounding
Science Fiction magazine—though Heinlein denied that Campbell influenced his
writing to any great degree.
Within the framework of his
science fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes:
the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the obligation
individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture
and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought.
He also examined the relationship between physical and emotional love, explored
various unorthodox family structures, and speculated on the influence of space
travel on human cultural practices. His approach to these themes led to wildly
divergent opinions on what views were being expounded via his fiction.
Heinlein was named the
first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. He won Hugo Awards for four
of his novels; in addition, fifty years after publication, three of his works
were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for
publication years when there were no Hugo Awards. In his fiction Heinlein
coined words that have become part of the English language, including
"grok" and "waldo", and popularized the terms
"TANSTAAFL" and space marine.
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