Today on Far Future Horizons we present another instalment of
the acclaimed documentary series the Prophets of
Science Fiction which focuses on the life and work of Robert Heinlein.
Prophets of
Science Fiction is hosted by Executive Producer Ridley Scott.
Science fiction
legend Robert Heinlein is a walking contradiction. His stories address themes
of patriotism and duty while at the same time stressing the importance of
personal freedom and expression.
In Robert Heinlein's
1952 novel The Puppet Masters, the world is taken over by mind-controlling
invaders. Is this mere science fiction? Not when an actual cutting-edge
magnetic device has been proven to alter the outcome of decisions when trained
on the human brain.
With 1960's Starship
Troopers, Robert Heinlein writes of a military equipped with strength-enhancing
power suits. Today, electronic exoskeletons are being developed for the U.S. Army, to
create the super soldiers of tomorrow.
Heinlein's Stranger in
a Strange Land struck a chord with the 1960s
counterculture and made the writer a reluctant icon of the free-love movement.
Among the future devices predicted by Heinlein is a sci-fi classic: the
waterbed.
Robert Heinlein's
challenging work addresses formerly taboo topics like religion and sexuality
and propelled sci-fi towards mainstream literary acceptance. His innovative
work continues to draw supporters and detractors, challenging readers with a
steadfast theme: what is freedom?
Surprising But True
- In the early 1960's, Robert Heinlein foresaw a future in which people would become addicted to the internet and lose hours of their lives to endless online searches.
- Robert Heinlein had an open marriage with two of his wives and the future sex in his books made him a hero to the "make love not war" crowd. At first he was flattered, and then he built a hippie-proof fence to keep them away.
- Heinlein invented the water bed.
- The Manson Family loved Heinlein's novel, Stranger in a Strange Land and Charles Manson even named his son Valentine Michael Manson, after the lead character in that novel ('Valentine Michael Smith').
A very good review
by Janice Kay concerning this episode of ‘Prophets of Science Fiction: Robert Heinlein appeared in Science Fiction.Com.
This episode of the Prophets of Science Fiction can be purchased from Amazon.com.
This episode of the Prophets of Science Fiction can be purchased from Amazon.com.
Prophets of Science Fiction ~ Robert Heinlein
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