Robert
Anson Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein, (b. July 7,
1907, Butler, Mo., U.S.—d. May 8, 1988,
Carmel, Calif.), prolific American
writer considered to be one of the most
literary and sophisticated of
science-fiction writers. He did much to
develop the genre.
After
graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1929 and serving in the Navy for five
years, Heinlein pursued graduate studies
in physics and mathematics at the
University of California at Los Angeles.
Except for engineering service with the
Navy during World War II, he was an
established professional writer from
1939.
His
first story, “Life-Line,” was published
in the action-adventure pulp magazine
Astounding Science Fiction. He continued
to write for that publication—along with
other notable science-fiction
writers—until 1942, when he began war
work as an engineer. Heinlein returned
to writing in 1947, with an eye toward a
more sophisticated audience. His first
book, Rocket Ship Galileo (1947), was
followed by a large number of novels and
story collections, including works for
children and young adults. After the
1940s he largely avoided shorter
fiction. His popularity grew over the
years, probably reaching its peak after
the publication of his best-known work,
Stranger in a Strange Land (1961). His
broad interests and concern for
characterization as well as technology
brought him a considerable number of
admirers among general-interest readers.
Among his more popular books are The
Green Hills of Earth (1951), Double Star
(1956), The Door into Summer (1957),
Citizen of the Galaxy (1957), and
Methuselah’s Children (1958).
