Robert A. Heinlein

The Dangers Posed by Reader Bias: A Reader Response Criticism of The Science Fiction Novel Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein Few modern authors have had as profound effect on their genre, society, political debate, or literature in general as Robert Heinlein. Science fiction author Ken Macleod suggests that the world was having a dialogue with Heinlein, unfortunately, one of the unintended consequences of dialogue is misunderstanding, some of which is caused by reader bias (Macleod, James, & Mendlesohn 231). Bias is dangerous to a reader and should therefore be avoided for at least three reasons; first, it causes a work or author to be regarded in many contradicting ways; second, it creates an atmosphere in which faulty arguments are made,…

The story Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein describes the life of a modern day “prophet” who is born in a spaceship during an expedition to the planet Mars. His name is Valentine “Mike” Smith and although his life was short it was extraordinary. When he is 25 years old he is returned to his people on Earth and begins to live a life unlike any other. He learns how normal humans act and discovers how horrible humans truly are and believes that he can cure humanity using his martian…

Stranger in a Strange Land, written by Robert A. Heinlein, is set in a future United States where organized religions are politically powerful. The book opens up with a ship returning from a trip to Mars with an interesting passenger, Michael Valentine Smith, the son of crewmembers from a previous voyage to the planet. He was born on the ship twenty-five years ago and raised by Martians until he came to Earth. The story focuses on Michael’s adaptation to humans and their culture. In Stranger in…

Within Isaac Asimov’s Bicentennial Man, Andrew forms attachment and loves Little Miss and her family. Although Andrew does not completely understand empathy, he forms meaningful relationships and greatly cares for Little Miss family’s wellbeing. Additionally, Robert Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress illustrates Mike’s ability to express human affection. In the beginning of the novel, Mike appeared to only talk to Mannie to satiate his boredom; however, Mike builds strong relationships with…

Author As controversial today as when it was first written, Robert Heinlein’s 1959 novel Starship Troopers appears at first to be a short, exciting science fiction jaunt common to pulp fiction. Heinlein’s novel chronicles the adventures of fledgling space solider, Johnny Rico, who in his pursuit of full citizenship volunteers for military service and ends up fighting in an interstellar war (Heinlein, Starship Troopers). However the Hugo award winning Starship Troopers is actually Heinlein’s…

controversial today as when it was first written, Robert Heinlein’s 1959 novel Starship Troopers first appears to be a short, exciting science fiction jaunt common to the pulp era; an adult revisiting of his 1949 Space Cadet. Chronicling the adventures of fledgling space solider, Johnny Rico, who in his pursuit of full citizenship volunteers for military service and ends up fighting in an interstellar war (Heinlein, Starship Troopers). However the Hugo award winning Starship Troopers is actually…

George Orwell, author of 1984, and Robert A. Heinlein, author of Starship Troopers, both harshly criticize modern society in their dystopic science fiction novels: either by exaggerating fatal flaws or amplifying the triumphs of mankind. Even though both books present similar ideas about humanity, they portray them with very different attitudes. Orwell takes a depressing fear-inspiring approach whereas Heinlein motivates the reader to see the best of humanity. George Orwell uses Winston Smith’s…

This paper will review and evaluate the article written by Carole M. Cusack, the professor at the University of Sydney. The article is called “Science Fiction as Scripture: Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and the Church of All Worlds” and was published in journal Literature and Aesthetics in 2009. At that point professor Cusack was already a recognized expert on Religion Studies and Contemporary Religious Trends. She received her Bachelor degree in Religious Studies and English…

influence in science fiction and society more widely. The essay will use particular science fiction texts, explain if they conform to Wellsian rule and then go onto compare them to other fictional works. In the end, I will argue that Wells’ recipe is only as successful as the author who writes according to it - a literary genius may adhere to or break Well’s rule with the end product being equally successful regardless of the technique used for writing. Wells was a prolific writer in…

you 're using force. And force my friends is violence. The supreme authority from which all other authorities are derived” –Jean Rasczak, Starship Trooper. According to Robert Heinlein, social responsibilities requires making individual sacrifices. He created a world where basic human rights comes with high price of willingness to sacrifice yourself. In Starship Trooper full citizen rights are given to those who have demonstrated an understanding of individual and selfless sacrifices for the…