The Great Heinlein Juveniles Plus The Other Two Reread

From 1947 to 1958, Robert Heinlein wrote a series of science fiction novels aimed at the young men of America. Aided in this effort by editor Alice Dalgliesh, whose efforts to shape Heinlein's books into something suitable for their intended market Heinlein was not entirely appreciative of, he wrote what are for many people of a certain age one of the great series in science fiction. For many writers it is a model seared into their brains, although not one many authors can successfully emulate [1]. Indeed, the reasonable reaction to the announcement by a once-favoured author that he (it's almost always a he, and almost always of a certain age) is going to try his hand at this Heinlein Juvenile thing is lamentation and despair, as the results are hardly ever any good and the effect on the author often corrosive.

I suspect part of the problem is that is not just modern would-be Heinleins are embracing a misguided nostalgia but also that they lack an Alice Dalgliesh to apply the steel-toed boot of editorial guidance to the adam's apple of authorial ambition. While Dalgliesh had her own issues [2], she seems to have been just the right editor for Heinlein. I base this on the fact that Heinlein wrote two more juveniles after he and Scribner's parted ways and they don't stand up to the Scribner's books at all.

Join me as I reread all twelve of the Scribner's books as well as the lesser Starship Troopers and Podkayne of Mars, one book each Friday.


1: And for a very reasonable sum I would be willing to follow this up with a study of the Jupiter (Young Adult Novels) Tor's failed experiment along these lines.

2: For example, her The Courage of Sarah Noble and its depiction of Native Americans has not aged well.

The Great Heinlein Juveniles Plus The Other Two Reread 1: Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein

First published in 1947.

Post-war but not too post-war America! While the UN police guarantee global peace and systems as different as the American and Russian ways of life live together amicably, three young men, products of America's impressive new school system, are focused (as so many young men of this time were) on their homemade rocket. While the rocket itself goes all kerblooie, the young men - Ross Jenkins, Art Mueller and Maurice Abrams – count the experiment as a success, at least until they find the unconscious man on the doorstep of their test facility, apparently brained by a fragment from the exploding rocket.

Luckily for the boys, this isn't a juvenile novel about three teens going on the lam for manslaughter ( Read more... )

Signal boost: The Dragon Tales needs help.

Quoting the post in full. Nothing in the blockquote is me. TDT says:

Folks,


For those of you that know me, you know whom I am speaking of.  However, for many of you, I am going to just leave this a little vague.  if you want to know details, email me.  I am going to be a little vague for the reason I worry about their safety, but you will understand in a moment.  

There are some contacts which I have in eastern Ukraine which are now under threat and need to be pulled out.  Their situation has radically changed for the worst and we need to get them out now.  If I were a rich man, I'd have no problems.  While not poor, mostly, I cannot turn on a dime.  My other sources are tapped out at the moment.  So, I turn to you, my readers for help.

If it is at all possible, send some money via paypal.  anzha lyu at gmail is my email address.  We need to raise about $5k.  I can take some cryptocurrencies, but I ask you email me before attempting to send.  

The situation has turned really ugly in the last 24 hours.  We think we know why and because of what we know, we need to get them out now.

So.  Please.  Whatever you can do.

I will close this out Monday. 

Running tally: we're at $4800 needed now.

Linked to so I remember to listen to it later

Fri, 15 August 2014
A Spell For Chameleon (w/ Jesse Dangerously


Content Warning: This book is filled with some of the most atrocious sexual ethics you will ever encounter and it needed to be discussed. So there are some sensitive issues addressed on this week's show. Please be aware.

Piers Anthony wrote "A Spell For Chameleon" as a book for adults, and was told by his publisher that it would be released as a YA novel unless he 'dressed it up' and made it more mature. The result is a book filled with busty centaurs, awkwardly employed vocabulary words, and really bad puns. It's also morally bankrupt and is probably responsible for ruining the minds of many teenagers nationwide. Listen, if you dare, as I'm joined by Official Rap Legend Jesse Dangerously to dissect this shining example of bad bad BAD fantasy.