Customer Reviews

The Fantasies of Robert A. Heinlein

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These are some of my favorite stories by RAH. "All You Zombies...", "They", and "Hoag" are particular favorites.

Caveat emptor, however: this is merely a repackaging of two paperback collections: Waldo and Magic, Inc. and The Unpleasant Profession of Johnathan Hoag (also sometimes published as 6xH). If you can find those two volumes, you'll save yourself a few bucks. Use what you save to pick up Friday, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Puppet Masters, Stranger in a Strange Land, or one of Heinlein's many other masterpieces....

As has already been pointed out by other reviewers, this books is an omnibus containing the contents of two previous Heinlein collections, The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathon Hoag and Waldo & Magic Inc. in their entirety. So, should you buy this if you already have those two books? No, not unless you are a Heinlein obsessive who must have every book with his name on it. However, if you've never had the pleasure of reading those two books (especially Hoag, a very underrated collection, and possibly my favorite Heinlein book EVER), then you should most definately pick this up. The Hoag novella is a classic mix of fantasy and horror, and just begs to be read in one setting. "They" is one of Heinlein's best short stories, a paranoid, but all-too-realistic horror story of solipsism (one of RAH's pet interests.) And He Built A Crooked House is a neat "gimmick" short story that you will be the better for having read. "Our Fair City" may not be earth-shattering in plot or scope, but it is worthwhile and, in fact, quite hilarous. "All You Zombies" is a semi-disturbing time paradox tale. Rounding out the collection are two other novellas: Waldo, a unique early Heinlein tale that you will probably enjoy; and Magic Inc., a fairly interesting story that is quite different from anything else he ever wrote. This collection, in total, contains all of Heinlein's works that would normally be classed in the "fantasy" category (aside from Glory Road), and is definately worth picking up if you've never read the stories it contains before.

I love Robert Heinlein's work. This is a repackaged set of sort stories previously published in Waldo and Magic, Inc. and The Unpleasant Profession of Johnathan Hoag.

So beware! Make sure you don't already have these works -- but if you don't, get it quick.

Robert A. Heinlein is considered one of the greatest, most influential writers of all time in the genre of Science Fiction. He was a master of weaving fantastical tales of wonder and depth that often left the reader reflecting upon its social relevance to society as a whole. He had the ability to blend elements of both Science Fiction and Fantasy to create imaginative new worlds that were drastically different, yet strikingly similar to our own world. Though Heinlein was chiefly known as a writer of SF, he was also quite an accomplished fantasist.

"The Fantasies of Robert A. Heinlein" is a collection of eight of his best fantasy stories and novellas. In this book, the author of such books as "Stranger In A Strange Land," "Starship Troopers," and my favorite, "Have Space Suit, Will Travel," fully displays his unique ability to write about the mundane, ordinary people like ourselves and bring them to life in vivid, tales of fantasy and the supernatural.

The stories of this collection cover a broad range of themes, from the tongue in cheek portrayal of an average businessman dealing with demon troubles in "Magic, Inc." to the eerie tale of a man believing that the whole world is plotting against him in "They--" to the provocative and touching story of an old man rediscovering love in "The Man Who Traveled In Elephants." Heinlein's style is distinctive, straightforward, and strong. He easily achieves what so many of would-be writer's like myself yearn to, which is to paint pictures with our words. Once you've read this book, you'll understand why "The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction" says that Heinlein "...rewrote US SF in his own image..."

If you're specifically a Heinlein fan, a lover of Science Fiction and Fantasy in general, a writer aspiring to write in this field or merely a reading enthusiast (personally, I qualify for all of the above), this book is a wonderful addition to your library.

Read any of the stories contained in this book and you'll be convinced that Robert A. Heinlein is the master of the genre. I first had the pleasure (or displeasure) of meeting the Sons of the Bird in the paperback 6 X H and I was immediately Hooked on Heinlein. Once you start any of these stories, you'll find it all but impossible to break away. Suspense, romance, terror and a whole lot of fun finally all together under one cover.

I am a big fan of Robert Heinlein, although I find all his Hugo award winning novels especially "Stranger in a Strange Land" and the "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" pretty hard to digest. However "The Fantasies of Robert Heinlein" collects 8 intriguing stories from one of the true masters of SF.

"All you Zombies", where a man in a bar reveals that he is his every relation (father, mother et al) through a series of time paradoxes and "And he built a crooked house" where an architect constructs a house in the shape of a tesseract (a four dimensional hypercube) in which he and the new occupants of the house find themselves trapped are simply masterpieces. Check out "They --" as well.

A must read for any Heinlein and serious SF fan.

Fantasies of Heinlein? You mean like the one where he and Pam Anderson are naked with a jar of peanut butter? Sorry, I'm too straight for that. Heinlein's macho-man image often hid the fact that he was a softy who loved his wife beyond life. In his collection you'll see love triumph over everything, including ordinary death and the worse-than kind. He's often put down by folks who forget he invented half the concepts of SF; he was writing before Tolkien, as Gahan Wilson mentions. Here's the point: he was GOOD, and his stories are all gems, and if you haven't read everything in this collection you need it.

This collection typifies the clarity and style that has been Heinlein's catch cry since I first started reading him at about 10 years of age in the mid 60's. He displays that warmth of character and vividness of scenery captured in a succint yet wholly real portrait. Many of the stories are old favourites, though some have eluded my collection. The forthright nature of his opinions, though dated, are still refereshing to hear enunciated once more. In truth the SF world has truly lost a great figure with his passing. This is reflected in the paucity of 2nd hand literature from this author in the various bookshops I puruse - evidently like minded fans are reluctant to pass on his classic works. More specific to this work is the feel of an America that has passed, yet Heinlein still captivates with his in-depth analysis of the geometry and tensor algebra inherent in ballistics or quantum physics, which remains timeless despite the passage of decades. This is a mark of a truly great author who holds reign over Science Fiction. Small woder he has been heralded as the The Master of SF.

Fantasies of RAH? The title made me envision Heinlein surrounded by redheaded, brilliant, multi-lingual women, somewhere on the Moon. But it's actually a collection of this brilliant but warped author's non-science fiction works, and a great collection it is, too. Of COURSE it's repackaged from old stories, because RAH, being dead, hasn't written much lately. PC revisionists have tried to drive Heinlein into critical disfavor by pointing to his obsession with and peculiar treatment of women without taking into consideration that he was working in the early fifties, and that his later work attempted to make amends. But don't listen to them, or me: read this seminal work and see for yourself. He was the Dean of SF; he opened the doors for the rest, and his work will live forever. Wait and see.

"The Fantasies of Robert A. Heinlein" is a collection of stories. The worst of these is very good. Robert Heinlein was a master of science fiction writing. His fantasies are even more masterful!

One piece of advice. Do not read them all at once. They are best if savored, one at a time, over a few weeks. "Waldo" brought a new word to the American-English language. I believe Waldoes are still used. Many of today's robots (There are many more than you think.) had their basis in Waldoes. "All You Zombies ... " may be the best Heinlein story, ever. I think "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" is a great key to appreciating Heinlein. I consider "Magic, Inc." to be a fun story, but it has chilling undercurrents. And, wait til you find the story that I consider to be the most chilling story of all time! Consider each of these to be a good shot of brandy, of varied sort and potency.

At least two of these stories reach the level of all time great American literature.