Heinlein Biography


Volume 1 notes

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Volume 2 notes

476 pages of text, 157 pages of good notes, 15 pages of bibliography, and 13 pages of incomplete index. The book is comprehensive, but because of the weak index, frustrating as a reference.

The book is straightforwardly chronological, mixing life events (visits by friends, moves, trips, public appearances, illnesses) with writing, politics, and projects.

Robert and Virginia's illnesses may trace to smoking, and perhaps to diseases tracked in by cats. Because a blood transfusion saved his life, he got deeply into the blood donation movement, attempting to make the process more donor-friendly. Blood donations at science fiction conventions were A Thing, and many of us participated.

Heinlein's writing career was a steady arc upward, greatly advanced by agent Lurton Blassingame and well managed by Virginia.

The book conveys the couple's incredibly strong bond, though it qoutes Virginia's letter with "at least I think you were" on page 471. I met Robert and Virginia at the 1983 Houston ISDC speaker's party. Robert was the center of attention of the room, and Virginia was the center of his attention. There were some memorable moments at that conference, but none so memorable as his doting on her. It set a standard for all husbands to emulate.

Patterson refers to H. G. Wells The World of William Clissold p189 (1926) : Revolution should not be the work of "thwarted pedants and unlicked youngsters ... restless shop stewards and the sort of defectives who set fire to things."

Robert and Virginia's illnesses may trace to smoking, and perhaps to diseases tracked in by cats. Because of his blood transfusions

HeinleinBiography (last edited 2014-12-13 04:53:45 by KeithLofstrom)