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The Past through Tomorrow (Future History Series)

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The Past Through Tomorrow (1967) is an omnibus collection of the relatively short SF stories in the Future History series. These stories were originally published between 1939 and 1962. Many were first published in Astounding Science Fiction, but others first saw print in a variety of other venues. This edition includes an introduction by Damon Knight.

Life-Line (1939) tells of the man who could predict the time of death of an individual; this was Heinlein's first sale. The Roads Must Roll (1940) is about an illegal work stoppage on the mechanical roads. Blowups Happen (1940) depicts the tensions among the workers in an atomic breeder plant. The Man Who Sold the Moon (1949) relates the story of D. D Harriman and his efforts to establish a base on the Moon. Delilah and the Space-Rigger (1949) recounts the tale of the men who constructed Space Station One and the woman who came among them.

Space Jockey (1947) describes the perils of piloting a passenger ship in space. Requiem (1939) reveals the story of how D.D. Harriman finally got to the Moon. The Long Watch (1948) is a tale of duty, honor and death. Gentlemen, Be Seated (1948) tells of three men in a tunnel on the Moon that starts leaking air. The Black Pits of Luna (1947) concerns a lost child on the Moon.

"It's Great to be Back!" (1946) is a tale of homecoming for two Luna City residents. "--We Also Walk Dogs" (1941) discloses how General Services performed an unusual task for the government. Searchlight (1962) concerns another lost child on the Moon. Ordeal in Space (1947) is about a man who is afraid of falling. The Green Hills of Earth (1947) depicts the last voyage of Rhysling, the blind poet of the spaceways.

Logic of Empire (1941) exposes the reasons for slave labor in the colonies. The Menace from Earth (1947) relates the story of Holly Jones of Luna City and the beautiful tourist. "If This Goes On--" (1940) describes one man's role in the Second American Revolution against Nehemiah Scudder, the Prophet Incarnate. Coventry (1940) tells the story of a rebellious young man who defies the Covenant. Misfit (1939) portrays a young man with an unusual talent.

Methuselah's Children (1941) concerns the troubles of a group with greatly extended lifespans. This tale introduces Lazarus Long, one of Heinlein's most popular characters. This version of the story is much longer that the original and has been further extended into a series of novels.

The book also includes a chart of Heinlein's Future History upon pages 622 and 623. The chart includes the stories Universe and Common Sense, which are not contained in this omnibus. However, this chart also omits several full-length novels in this series.

Although Heinlein wrote many other stories and novels, the stories in this omnibus are probably the reason for his initial popularity within the science fiction community. Stranger in a Strange Land led to his fame within the general population, but was not treated as a cult book by SF fans. We understood a lot more about this novel than did the general public and accepted it as just another of his major works.

Highly recommended for Heinlein fans and for anyone else who enjoys classic tales of high technology, highly competent people and human values.

-Arthur W. Jordin

"The Past through Tomorrow" is a collection of short stories, novellas and shot novels written by Robert A. Heinlein. They all have a common context, Heinlein's Future History as conceived by the author during the 1930s and 40s. It was during this period, the author created a timeline of mankind's progress into space.

To the best of this reviewer's knowledge, this was the first attempt of anything like this on this scale. Several of these tales are considered to be classics of their genre.

We start with "Lifeline" the first published short story written by Heinlein. Hugo Pineiro has created a machine that can tell you exactly when you are going to die. Of course the insurance industry and various other interests are not amused.

Another is the classic "The Man Who Sold the Moon". Delos David Harriman was a reluctant businessman. He couldn't go to the University of Chicago to study astronomy because he had to support his family. He started in real estate then prefabricated housing on to ballistic hypersonic transport. Now he thinks the time is ripe to make possible his true ambition - a trip to the moon. Harriman has only ever wanted to go to the moon but he winds up created an interplanetary business empire and a victim of his own success.

There is "the Green Hills of Earth" where we are introduced to "Noisy" Rhysling, the blind singer of the space lanes. Blinded in an engineering room accident, he is forced to change professions and becomes a traveling musician ultimately writing the songs that defined this era in human expansion.

In "Logic of Empire" two wealthy drunken dilettantes sell themselves into indentured servitude on Venus. In "The Roads Must Road" (voted one of the greatest science fiction stories of all time) a civil servant must head off a labor strike that will cripple the U.S. economy. "The Menace from Earth" deals with young romance while indulging in a distinctly lunar past time, flying with strap-on wings.

There other stories in this volume but the reviewer will mention just one more, "Methuselah's Children". This is where we are first introduced to the Howard Families, a secret group bred for longevity. They approximately 2.5 times as long as their more ephemeral brethren. This is where RAH first introduces Woodrow Wilson Smith better known as Lazarus Long, the oldest man alive. The Howards make the mistake of revealing their existence to the world at large. Humanity drops its veneer of civilization and arrests the members of the Howards in order to torture their secret of longevity out of them.

The problem is there is no `secret'.

If you enjoy science fiction and/or Robert Heinlein, this collection is required reading. It doesn't get any better than this in any genre.

Though I greatly enjoy Heinlen's writing, I didn't think I'd read very many of his short stories. Surprisingly, I had read "Life-Line", which is the first story in this book. But I didn't mind re-reading it one bit! One thing I had not realized before was that it was the first short story Heinlen had ever submitted for publication. I think the book is worth getting for it alone.

Now, not only is this book just an incredible collection of plain good 'ole fashioned story-telling at it's best, but the stories actually proceed in chronological order in the same timeline, which creates an incredible fluidity between stories. You find yourself trying to figure out how far in the future from the last story you read you are in the one you've just started.

I think of the stories in the book, "Life-Line", "The Green Hills of Earth", and "Methuselah's Children" are my favorites, though I think I enjoyed every one of them. And you have characters that flow from one story to the next, so every now and then you get to spend more time with a character that you found you enjoyed.

Do I recommend this book?! Absolutely! And despite it's thickness, it's actually great for people who aren't much into big books - because it's a collection of short stories. You can sit down and read for a half an hour or an hour and then put it down without regret. Awesome book!

This is a collection of the core Short Stories & Novellas that are collectively known to make up Robert Heinlein's "Future History"

Since these were written in the early days (many in the 1940's and 50's) much of the "future" part is now past tense at least in terms of the year on the calendar. Also, most of these have that feeling to them I would describe as pulpy, which I think most people would consider fair, since they were actually first published (not all but many) in magazines.

You hear a TONNE of superlatives bandied about these days - sometimes it is hard to sort through them to the real truth that underlies, and of course it doesnt help that writing is subjective, and something that rings true or is interesting / moving etc...

All that said, the words that people use to describe Robert Heinlein do not begin to do him justice.
Not every story is perfect, and in most the science is pretty speculative based on the period. Of course we know no one is whipping out a slide rule in the future, but he couldnt possibly have known.

The stories really grabbed me, and never let go. Some are poetic and almost high art / drama type, some are just silly little blurbs about next to nothing. They all have people at the core, and the technology / science is largely window dressing for the characters - though there is plenty of the rocket ships to the moon and beyond to keep your attention if that is what you are there for.

It is SOOOO easy to read this, then almost pick an author and tell what you guess his favorite Heinlein was. Like Kim Stanley Robinson wrote the Mars trilogy very much in the fashion of The Man Who Sold the Moon... I got the feeling Niven / Pournelle had a soft spot for Jackpot and the one with the guy, the 2 kids and the bum (I forget the title)
Easily understandable, this collection is probly home to the most influential set or works you can assemble in this field (including the classic Doc Smith works that Lucas turned into Star Wars)
Words do not do it justice. It is classic, it inspired a generation of authors, and it probly gave the US government the idea to fake the moon landings - if you like Sci-fi - read this book.

Thank me later

Robert Heinlein is not as popular as he once was; certainly, most of his "future history" story collections are not readily available. But if you're curious to see what all the buzz was about Mr. Heinlein, and more particularly what a great influence he had on the science fiction field, you should seek out this massive collection of all of these stories, THE PAST THROUGH TOMORROW.

This book is mainly important as a "primary sourcer", to see how Heinlein developed his later non-nonsense, brusque (and very often, later, highly-opinionated) writing style - as evidenced in such stories as
the delightfully timely - and cynical - "The Man Who Sold the Moon" and the stirring "The Green Hills of Earth." All of his "Future History" stories are included, including the novel METHUSELAH'S CHILDREN.

This book is a must for any "serious" sci fi collector.