Robert A. Heinlein Books In Order

Publication Order of Future History/Heinlein Timeline Books

Publication Order of Heinlein's Juveniles Books

Publication Order of The Road to Science Fiction Books

Publication Order of World As Myth Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Chapbooks

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Anthologies

Popularly known as the “Dean of Science Fiction Writers”, science fiction would not have achieved its status as a genre that could stand on its own without Robert A. Heinlein. Along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein helped usher in the “Golden Age of Science Fiction”, which is a period of time during the late 1930s leading up to the mid 1940s when science fiction gained a large audience and following, and numerous science fiction stories were published. And, rightfully so, it is because of his eclectic works and achievements in the field that he became its first Grand Master in 1974.

Robert Anson Heinlein was born in Butler, Missouri on July 7, 1907. He was the third son of Rex Ivar Heinlein and Bam Lyle Heinlein. 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.

His destiny to become a great science fiction writer seemed apparent from the start, as young Heinlein was always seen in the Kansas City Public Library immersed in books of astronomy and science fiction. He was such a voracious reader of such stories that he declared that he had read all the science fiction stories he could get his hands on by the age of 16. He enjoyed reading books by famous sci-fi and fantasy writers like H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Jules Verne. But he showed particular favoritism towards Olaf Stapledon’s sci-fi romances. ‘

The time that he spent growing up in Kansas City would have a major impact on the type of fiction that he would write later in life. In fact, many of his famous works like “Time Enough For Love” are set in and heavily influenced by his hometown, and he often wrote about its stifling conservative practices in a lot of his novels and short stories.

Equally influential to his writing is his 5-year service in the U.S. Navy after graduating in 1929 with a degree in naval engineering from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It is also around this time that he married Elinor Curry – a union that would prove to be short-lived. Much of his early years of service was spent on board the USS Lexington, where he worked as a radio communications officer. By 1932, he would enter in a second marriage with Leslyn MacDonald, which lasted comparatively longer than his first one. In 1933, he was assigned to the USS Roper, where he became seasick most of the time. It is alleged that this factor is what primarily caused him to contract pulmonary tuberculosis later on. Because of his weakened condition, he was discharged from the Navy in 1934, even though he recovered fully from the disease.

He attended graduate classes for a brief time in UCLA before making his ill-fated decision to try out a career in politics. In 1938, he ran for the California State Assembly but failed utterly in the attempt. With his financial situation dire, he decided to give writing a hand. And this, as his later achievements attest, would prove to be the best decision he ever made.

It didn’t take long for his career to take flight, as in 1939, he was able to have his first story, “Life-Line”, published in the magazine, Astounding Science-Fiction. This would start a flow regular publications in the said magazine then ran by the late-great John W. Campbell, one of the men responsible for the development of science fiction into a serious genre. After a brief “retirement” in 1941, he would continue to be prolific until 1942, after which he immersed himself in naval aviation engineering development because of the war, and wouldn’t start writing again until 1947.

It is from this period on that he would write what would undoubtedly be the sci-fi stories that he is best remembered for. He received his first Hugo Award in 1956 for his story, “Double Star”. After working on an almost decade-long manuscript, “The Heretic”, he shelved it to begin writing “Starship Troopers”, which would inarguably become his most well-known work. Even though the novel was attacked by critics due to its controversial themes, at the time, Starship Troopers would go on to win a Hugo Award in 1960.

He would continue writing even up to the last years of his life. His last work, “To Sail Beyond the Sunset”, was published in 1987 on his birthday. And approximately nine months later, Robert A. Heinlein passed away on May 8, 1988, while taking his regular nap every morning.

Methuselah’s Children

This is the first novel which features Lazarus Long, a character that Heinlein would frequently use in his other novels. These novels are what would later make up the Lazarus Long series. “Metheselah’s Children” initially follows the story of Ira Howard and his ardent quest to prolong the lifespan of humans by supporting grandparents who have exhibited robust longevity and encouraging them to procreate. It is in this process of selective breeding that the “Howard” Families were conceived, with members assuming different identities and faking their demise to keep their lineage clandestine.

Trouble arrives when the new governing faction, The Covenant, becomes suspicious of their evidently long life. It does not take long for it to demand the Families to reveal the secret behind their longevity. Constantly harassed and vilified, Lazarus Long, the oldest member of the Families, suggests they leave Earth. Hijacking a starship, the Families begin their interstellar journey, exploring planet after planet, which contain inhabitants that share equally peculiar characteristics.

The novel won in the category “Best Libertarian Sci-fi Novel Award” at the Prometheus Hall of Fame Awards in 1997.

Time Enough For Love

This is the second novel that follows Lazarus Long, who at the start of the novel is now already considered as the oldest human begin alive. The book is divided into separate novellas which could stand on their own but are interconnected as well by its singular themes of selective breeding and incest. Many of the stories are either recollections of actual experiences that Lazarus had or his deeper meditations on life. The Notebooks of Lazarus Long provide aphorisms, which do not contribute to the narrative but is relavant to the themes of the book if taken as a whole. The book only assumes a linear narrative in the later stories, when Lazarus gains a deeper insight about the value of living.

The book mainly tackles the morality of incest and, as some critics have pointed out, attempts to justify their occurrence. “Time Enough For Love” was nominated for the “Best Novel” category at the 1973 Nebula Awards and was subsequently nominated in the 1974 Locus and Hugo Awards.

4 Responses to “Robert A. Heinlein”

1. Susan Jo Lewis: 3 years ago

   The Covenant is the “constitution” of the new government after the religious-based government of the Prophet, written about in “If This Goes On…” It has nothing to do with the government trying to find the Howards.
   The Howards thought that as under the Covenant everyone is urbane and kind and polite–the greeting and goodbye is “May I do you a service?” –they would be safe in revealing themselves. Turns out they were wrong. Those kind, urbane people go a bit crazy to learn that there are people living to 200 years and older, and they are sure there is a secret the Howards are keeping to themselves.

   Reply
2. Scott Elsdon: 4 years ago

   To sail beyond the sunset is part of the future history series, after Notebooks. It deals with TIFL from Maureen’s perspective and continues the storey onwards

   Reply
3. Alex Predoehl: 4 years ago

   I just wanted to look up a book in comparison with his other works. I am re-reading Beyond This Horizon, which I think isn’t one of his best. However, I am more interested in the copyright.

   My copy says: 1942 Street Publications, inc.
   1948 Robert Heinlein

   It is a Signet Publication- but this suggests that the Story was published in 1942 long before the 1948 Book. Is there any interest in charting the original timeline of his stories?

   Reply
   • Susan Jo Lewis: 3 years ago

     I know I am answering a question posed two years ago. There is a timeline of the future history stories in, I believe, The Past Through Tomorrow.

     Reply