This annotated bibliography was prepared in 1986 for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga class "Methodology and Bibliography" ENGL 500 taught by Dr. Thomas C. Ware. It has not been updated since that time.

Christopher, Joe R. "Methuselah, Out of Heinlein by Shaw." Shaw Review 16 (1973):79-88.

Based on a reference to Shaw made in "Let There Be Light" and on what he sees are thematic similarities between Heinlein and Shaw, Christopher draws the inference that Heinlein is one of Shaw's `parable writers.' Christopher's comments are limited to the Future History series.

Franklin, H. Bruce. Robert A. Heinlein: America as Science Fiction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1980.

Discusses Heinlein in terms of socio-historical elements. Divides Heinlein's work into five periods: Early fiction (Depression to W.W.II), New Frontiers (1947-59), A Voice of the '60's, The Private Worlds of the 1970's, and Apocalypse Now (The Number of the Beast, 1980). He discusses representative works in each area in terms of how it fits his model and in terms of Heinlein's major characteristics such as the autobiographical nature of his protagonists and Heinlein's satire, directed both at himself, his world, and even his critics and reviewers. The book includes a comprehensive list of primary works through 1980 as well as a selected bibliography of secondary works. Note: Franklin includes references to Heinlein's teenage girl and mystery writings.

Heinlein, Robert A. Expanded Universe. New York: Ace, 1980.

Includes The Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein as well as various other fiction and non-fiction by Heinlein. Entries are listed in chronological order from date of first publication. Valuable because of the introductory and concluding comments Heinlein makes for each entry regarding purpose, background, problems, etc.; and because it lists entries not readily available elsewhere.

_____. The Green Hills of Earth. New York: Signet, 1951(?).

Contains a detailed and comprehensive chart of the Future History series.

_____. ed. Virginia Heinlein. Grumbles from the Grave. New York: Ballantine Books, 1989.

Contains correspondence between Heinlein, his editors and various others. Includes a short history written by his wife and a complete bibliography of his published works. Also contains cuts from Red Planet and the original postlude to Podkayne of Mars. Also, a retrospective on the events of the night of Heinlein's posthumously receiving The Distinguished Public Service Award. Excellent source of materials.

_____. Revolt in 2100. New York: Signet, 1953.

Contains an introduction by Henry Kuttner describing Heinlein as having a "sense of proportion....a romantic humanist" who "deals with the relation of man to science" (9). He quotes C. L. Moore calling Heinlein's work the result of "the innocent eye and the sophisticated mind." Also contains "Concerning Stories Never Written" where Heinlein indicates stories in the Future History series although needed for a full understanding of the movement of the stories as a whole will probably, for reasons he elaborates, never be written.

Hull, Elizabeth Anne. "Justifying the Ways of God to Man: the Novels of Robert A. Heinlein." Extrapolation 20 (1979): 38-49.

Hull argues readers come to Heinlein because they are "caught by the questions he raises" (38). The reader enjoys Heinlein's irony and his failing to provide clear answers to the questions he raises. Hull spends a great deal of time discussing how Heinlein fits into the genre of Puritan sermon writing in terms of its effects on his style. Heinlein's use of the first person narrator frees him from the dangers of mere sermonizing by providing a character who is likeable but is not an authoritarian heroic figure. What happens in Heinlein is that the reader-listener is elevated to the position of judge by his relationship with the narrator.

Knight, Damon, ed. Turning Points: Essays on the Art of Science Fiction. New York: Harper & Row, Pub., 1977.

Contains three articles by Heinlein: "Science Fiction: Its Nature, Faults and Virtues" - Defines SF as speculative fiction over possible (generally future) worlds as distinguished from fantasy which deals with impossible worlds. Distinguishes possible in theory from what is actually possible so that SF could include such elements as faster-than-light travel. Discusses all- encompassing nature of SF because it can deal with all levels of human experience. "On the Writing of Speculative Fiction" - Principles in how-to write SF from Heinlein's point of view. Sees three kinds of stories: "boy-meets-girl, the Little Taylor, and the man-who- learned-better" (200). Cautions of danger of "fictionalized essay" instead of stories about people in an SF setting (201-2). Concludes with emphasis on desire to write and publish. "Pandora's Box" - Prophecy in SF: extrapolation - extending trends and speculation - "What if--" (238-239). Discusses types of predictions, predictions of his own, and how they have held up in time. Concludes with prediction of "Hope" in the future (257-258).

MacDermott, K. A. "Ideology and Narrative: The Cold War and Robert Heinlein." Extrapolation 23.3 (1982): 254-69.

MacDermott sees in Heinlein an inversion of the usual order so that the individualists become the good guys while the bad guys serve as the consensus. He sees Heinlein's heroes as outsiders to the normative social order. He refers to Heinlein's views as "social Darwinism. . . . based on ideology rather than genetics" (259). Heinlein's views have their roots in the reaction of our Puritan mores with the new mercantile elite where Heinlein secularizes his Puritanism.

Magill, Frank N., ed. Critical Survey of Short Fiction. Vol. 4. 7 vols. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1981.

Extensive biography focusing on Heinlein's writing career. Discusses his style and identifying characteristics, and his influence on the genre. Briefly details major features of each of his most important or influential short stories and novels through 1980 in terms of their influence on the genre, political philosophies, and popular and critical reactions.

Moskowitz, Sam. Seekers of Tomorrow: Masters of Modern Science Fiction. rpt. Westport, CT: Hyperion, 1974.

Discusses Heinlein's influence on mainstream thinking: in terms of his artistry, acceptance; in terms of his philosophy as perceived in his works, rejection. Traces Heinlein's early fiction in terms of theme, motif and craft. Argues that part of Heinlein's credibility was his taking the future for granted. Concludes that Heinlein's casual "art that conceals art" style has caused many unsuccessful imitations and describes him as a literary "Pied Piper."

Olander, Joseph D. and Martin Harry Greenberg, eds. Robert A. Heinlein. New York: Taplinger Publishing Co., 1978.

A Writers of the 21st Century series volume including articles by various writers regarding perspectives, issues and insights found in Heinlein's works as well as reactions to them. Topics include: Heinlein's juveniles, his Future History series, the human as machine analog, Heinlein's views on sexuality and politics, and Heinlein as "Folklorist of Outer Space."

Panshin, Alexei. Heinlein in Dimension. Chicago: Advent:(sic) Publishers, Inc., 1968.

Panshin begins by dividing Heinlein's career into three periods: influence, success, and alienation; and briefly discusses Heinlein's works during each period. Following this he analyses several aspects of craft, such as structure, context, and style as well as some of the major themes Heinlein frequently deals with--speculation, liberty, unreality, and the Heinlein individual. The Heinlein individual is perhaps the most striking feature in his fiction. He has three central characteristics: strength, singularity, and his ability to teach himself. Panshin argues that different stages of the Heinlein individual often appear in the same novel: the first stage, young and naive; the second stage, the "wiseacre" or competent man in full bloom; and the third stage, the cynical mentor who often appears as both mentor and father to the first stage Heinlein individual (169-71).

--- and Cory Panshin. SF in Dimension: A Book of Explorations. Chicago: Advent, 1976.

Two articles on Heinlein: "Reading Heinlein Subjectively" - Approaches the problem of Heinlein's philosophic statements in his novels and suggests they be taken as indications of the developing awareness of Heinlein's own thinking and not as objective statements. The stories deal with human characters in a state of growth and not with characters making statements of philosophy. "Time Enough for Love" - Sets this novel within the stream of Heinlein's earlier works both in terms of a thematic shift from emphasis on ego (Heinlein individuals) to loss of ego (love) and as a return to the Future History schema.

Parkin-Speer, Diane. "Robert A. Heinlein: The Novelist as Preacher." Extrapolation 20 (1979): 214-22.

Discusses the overemphasis in Heinlein's later novels beginning with Stranger in a Strange Land on issues rather than action. Novels such as I Will Fear No Evil and Time Enough for Love become vehicles for Heinlein's views on sexual individuality which sometimes borders on sado-masochism, homosexuality and incest without maintaining good story lines, so becoming essays rather than novels.

Parrinder, Patrick, ed. Science Fiction: A Critical Guide. London: Longman, 1979.

Numerous passing references to Heinlein. Discusses "Solution Unsatisfactory" in some detail in terms of its foreseeing that nuclear technology would result in a changed foreign policy and so anticipated the Cold War. With regard to trends in SF in the '60's, Sutherland's article discusses Heinlein's overt, and often embarrassing sexual references. He also deals in some detail with Farnham's Freehold as it reveals Heinlein's "conformist patriotism" in its racism, political right wing slant, and its portrayal of the younger generation as degenerate. He concludes it is well-written, but "painfully extreme. . . . driven by the uncontrolled emotional responses of the nightmare" (182). Sutherland also makes reference to Stranger in a Strange Land as a cult novel exhibiting the dangers of scientism in its elitism.

Rottensteiner, Franz. The Science Fiction Book: An Illustrated History. New York: Seaburg Press, 1975.

Contains a brief biographical sketch as well as a quick rundown of Heinlein's major features: his "everyday realism"; "gift for meticulous detail"; the "current of romanticism" that is often present (99); and Heinlein's "ethic of success" (100).

Scholes, Robert and Eric S. Rabkin. Science Fiction: History. Science. Vision. New York: Oxford UP, 1977.

Argues that Heinlein's Future History chart is based on Olaf Stapleton's Last and First Men. Suggests part of Heinlein's appeal is his idea of `future history.' Indicates Heinlein's popularity with readers coupled with the inability of critics to come to terms with him. Describes him as the "most typically American" science fiction writer who writes under a "`neo-pessimistic' facade," a kind of "village social scientist."

Sire, James W. The Universe Next Door. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1976.

Includes a brief discussion of Stranger in a Strange Land as New Consciousness fiction. Interesting primarily because of its orthodox Christian perspective and approach.

Slusser, George E. "Heinlein's Perpetual Motion Fur Farm." Science Fiction Studies 9.1 (1982): 51-67.

Heinlein's perpetual motion fur farm in "By His Bootstraps" becomes a symbol that pervades much of his work for a physical negation of growth and individuation. Heinlein's mythic use of the "ancient patriarch" especially as seen in Lazarus Long illustrates this closed circle where Long becomes both son and father, mortal and immortal. In addition the female characters in Heinlein are often flat, insubstantial, and become only anima figures. The result for Slusser is a pessimism where the future is devoured by these patriarchal figures who degenerate from persons to destinies.

Tuck, Donald H. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Through 1968. 3 vols. Chicago: Advent, 1974.

Lists all Heinlein's pseudonyms, a comprehensive biography of his life, career, influence and importance in the SF genre, a limited list of secondary sources and extensive publication information listing all publications, foreign and domestic through 1968 including prices at the time of publication. A brief synopsis of each work is also appended.