At the age of 17, heinlein graduated from central high school in kansas city, missouri. Robert anson heinlein was born in butler, missouri on july 7, 1907. The story begins with doctor robert corley, rear admiral red bowles, and jim barnes contemplating the success of their project to build a. After it had been filmed at its one hour broadcast length 47 minutes, seamans decided to capitalize on the sudden boom in science fiction movies started by, among others, destination moon. Heinleins story destination moon became a sensation after the movie destination moon, directed by irving pichel, produced by george pal, set designs by the great artist chesley bonestell and with heinlein as collaborator on the screenplay, was released in 1950. Bearing in mind that heinlein at this time had just had farmer in the sky published in his juvenile series and was at the same time working on the destination moon film a movie that copies this style of fasttalking entrepreneur enormously it appears at a. Naval academy in annapolis, maryland, from which he graduated as the 20th best among the 243 cadets. Four films, two tv series, several episodes of a radio series, and a board game derive more or less directly from his work. The novel expresses and discusses libertarian ideals. It was a fast, funny, exciting adventure story that had my hair standing on end more than a few times.
Tenderfoot in space written for boys life, and destination. One of his best talents was writing a scientifically accurate story in a way that is still. Heinlein, about a lunar colonys revolt against rule from earth. Heinlein was born on july 7, 1907 to rex ivar heinlein and bam lyle heinlein in butler, missouri. He spent one year at the university of missouri before he entered the u. Short stories can sometimes be done faithfully, but then there may be too little material, re. Robert anson heinlein july 7, 1907 may 8, 1988 was an american novelist and science fiction writer. The man who sold the moon is a science fiction novella by american author robert a. In this novella, heinlein writes a slightly altered version.
The movie and heinleins story inspired generations of space. I can still feel the excitement that the film generated in me on my first viewing some forty odd years ago. Moon heinleins story version that would lead to the script and movie of the same name. Im going to discuss a lot of negative features of this book, so i want to be clear at the outset.
Directed by irving pichel, walter lantz, dick lundy. However, the entire robert heinlein book list is given below for his numerous scifi works written between 19071988. Id argue that no film rendition of a fulllength book is ever faithful. It is respected for its credible presentation of a comprehensively imagined future human society on both the earth and the moon. Much of his growing up years was spent in kansas city, the place where the heinlein family shifted a few months after his birth.
The filming of destination moon sometime in the late 1950s, i sat with my mother and father in our darkened living room, my eyes focused intently on the glowing screen of our philco television set. His 1948 script for destination moon was purchased by george pal and scheduled for production in the summer of 1949. Heinlein was one of the greatest and most influential american sf writers of the 20th century. Destination moon is a 1950 american technicolor science fiction film. He set a high standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genres standards of literary quality. Special effects may have improved,but this story of the first moon landingalmost two decades before it happenedmarks a science fiction classic. Although missouri was his birthplace, his family only stayed there for a few more months after his birth, before deciding to move to kansas city where he would be spending most of his youth.
Heinleins story destination moon became a sensation after the movie destination moon, directed by irving pichel, produced by george pal, set designs by the great artist chesley bonestell and with heinlein as collaborator on the screenplay, was released in. Scientist charles cargreaves and general thayer are bound and determined to put an american rocket on the moon. See more ideas about science fiction books, sci fi books and science fiction. The moon is a harsh mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by american writer robert a. Destination moon, a movie that heinlein helped write, was a landmark film in 1950. Often called the dean of science fiction writers, 4 he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre in his time.
Thayer approaches jim barnes, the head of his own aviation construction firms to help build a rocket that will take them to the moon. Heinlein published a novellalength adaptation of his own. Slim hardcover which reprints the story destination moon from short stories magazine sept. It was in many ways transitional, converting one of his stories aimed at young boys to a story. Theres just too much that needs to be compressed to make it fit in two hours. Robert was hired to do technical direction on destination moon. He set a standard for scientific and engineering plausibility, and helped to raise the genres standards of literary quality. He was the third son of rex ivar heinlein and bam lyle heinlein. Destination moon is a novella by science fiction author robert a. The films storyline also resembles portions of heinleins novel the man who sold the moon. At the end of the film, a story of the first flight to the moon, the words this is the. Mcfadden, part one of the moon is a harsh mistress by robert heinlein, and the conclusion of retiefs war by keith laumer.
Hint of foxing to page edges and slight soiling on bottom page edges and spine. Originally serialized in worlds of if december 1965. Destination moon the gregg press science fiction series. He was born to re ivar heinlein and bam lyle heinlein. A part of his future history and prequel to requiem, it covers events around a fictional first moon landing in 1978 and the schemes of delos d. Special effects may have improved,but this story of the first moon landing.
The movie and heinlein s story inspired generations of space. Be the first to ask a question about destination moon. It includes the order to read the robert heinlein future history main. Buy a cheap copy of destination moon book by robert a. Heinleins first short story was life line, which he had written for a contest but instead sold it to astounding sciencefiction in 1939 for more than the contest would have paid for first prize. The man who sold the moon by robert a heinlein sffworld. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Presentation copy with signed inscription by heinlein to the introducer and coeditor of the gregg press science fiction series. Heinlein was born on july 7, 1907, in butler in missouri. Warner anderson and dick wesson in destination moon 1950 john archer in.
Though he strongly influenced the direction of postwar science fiction in movies and television, none of the books for which he was most famous were ever adapted to the screen, except in the most. Without heinleins foreknowledge or approval, seamans went back and filmed an additional 16 minutes, extending a thin tvgrade story into an even. Sometimes called the dean of science fiction writers, he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. Heinlein bibliography includes 32 novels, 59 short stories and 16 collections published during his life. Heinlein has probably been my favorite author since i was around ten years old and discovered his juvenile series. Like many kids of my generation early baby boomers who grew up to be politica. We were watching a local network broadcast of the movie destination moon. Rocketship galileo is the story of three teenagers who make up the galileo science.
Some of the best robert heinlein books include starship troopers, stranger in a strange land, and the moon is a harsh mistress. Used to be he could read only microfilm, but late 74 he got a new scanning camera with suctioncup waldoes to handle paper and then he read everything. Destination moon the gregg press science fiction series heinlein, robert a on. July 7, 1907 may 8, 1988 was an american science fiction writer. Harriman, a businessman who is determined to personally reach and control the moon. Heinlein books due to its creativity and theme of selfreliance, and is regarded as one of the best scifi cult classics of all time. Why hasnt anyone made a faithful film rendition of any. Charles cargraves and retired general thayer have to start over again.
He published thirty two novels, fifty nine short stories and sixteen collections. Heinlein, first published in the september 1950 issue of short stories magazine. Robert heinlein and his wife on the set of the 1950 movie destination moon. It is also a sort of handbook for thte libertarian movement in u. In this story, mike is the control computer of 21st century prison on the moon, a machine which has had so many enhancements that he has become selfaware. In the meantime, heinlein cracked the last of the major markets he had targeted in his postwar plan. Often called the dean of science fiction writers, he is one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. Destination moon was released in 1950 and caused a national sensation by visualizing for the people of the world the first trip to the moon. Heilein invariably writes a good story, usually with so much accurate detail it is believable.
July 7, 1907 may 8, 1988 was an american sciencefiction author, aeronautical engineer, and retired naval officer. Publication readers reference reprinted requiem revolt in 2100 roads must roll robert heinlein science fiction serialized. Heinlein and his vision, containing many new and uncollected works by the grand master of science fiction, including two major novellas. Heinlein s story destination moon became a sensation after the movie destination moon, directed by irving pichel, produced by george pal, set designs by the great artist chesley bonestell and with heinlein as collaborator on the screenplay, was released in 1950. He spent five years in the pacific ocean until he had to retire because of. Robert heinlein who wrote destination moon was very accurate with that and. With john archer, warner anderson, tom powers, dick wesson. Robert heinlein books in order books reading order. Part 1, 230 pages, contains 10 pages of diagrams and calculations about moon flight. The true genius of robert heinlein was in how his characters always came through as real people, no matter how exotic the location or situation. Heinlein 19071988 was productive during a writing career that spanned the last 49 years of his life.
George pals 1950 film destination moon is loosely based on this novel. Heinleins report on faults and flaws in the script of destination moon addressed to george pal, lengthy with extensive handedits. Includes heinleins novelette, destination moon, his essay on the making of the george pal film, reproduction of a 24page illustrated promotional booklet, facts about destination moon, and fullpage stills. Robert and ginny brainstormed the problem one evening in the fall of 1948.
Heinlein became one of the first american science fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines. The moon is a harsh mistress by robert a heinlein alibris. Heinlein was one of the giants of 20th century science fiction literature and a peer of isaac asimov, ray bradbury, and arthur c. This book is no different and my favourite from him. Destination moon, which was made into the famous george pal film. His 1966 book the moon is a harsh mistress replayed the american revolution, but this time it. Often called the dean of science fiction writers, his sometimes controversial works continue to have an influential effect on the genre, and on modern culture more generally. This novel, the door into summer, takes place in 1970 with the main character, daniel boone davis. Heinlein coauthored the screenplay and served as a technical advisor to the production.