The late Heinlein, considered the ''Father of Modern Science Fiction,'' was also a prolific letter writer. Virginia Heinlein, his wife of 40 years, has skillfully organized a selection of his voluminous correspondence. The result is a memoir that will appeal not just to fans, but to anyone interested in the creative process.
As the old guard of SF ages, we are getting more novels of nostalgia. Heinlein is less sentimental than many of his generation but his new book resembles both the latest Bradbury, in making the author the protagonist, and the latest Asimov, in returning to a popular series from early in his career (Future History). Like Heinlein, Richard Ames is an ex-military man turned writer who fancies himself a pundit.
Dan Davis, an electronics engineer, had finally made the invention of a lifetime: a household robot that could do almost anything. Wild success was within reach—and Dan’s life was ruined.
In a plot to steal his business, his greedy partner and greedier fiancée tricked him into taking the “long sleep”—suspended animation for thirty years. But when he awoke in the far different world of A.D. 2000, he made an amazing discovery. And suddenly Dan had the means to travel back in time—and get his revenge.
When two male and two female supremely sensual, unspeakably cerebral humans find themselves under attack from aliens who want their awesome quantum breakthrough, they take to the skies -- and zoom into the cosmos on a rocket roller coaster ride of adventure and danger, ecstasy and peril.
This book may state that the author is "William Atheling", a pen name for Blish. It is attractive for an incisive, cutting analysis of 1960s science fiction. Blish does not go for easy kills by skewering minor authors. Rather, he concentrates on the biggest names of the time, like Robert Heinlein, who was at the height of his fame, having recently written "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "Starship Troopers". Even if you adore Heinlein, it is worth reading Blish's critiques for a deeper view.Blish also analyses another author who was also a noted critic, Algis Budrys. Here, Budrys comes off better than Heinlein, though his books sold fewer.
