Expanded Universe (Hardcover)

"Solution Unsatisfactory" tells of an alternate ending to World War II where the US develops an intensely radioactive dust with selective half-life rather than the atomic bomb; its use on Germany and its parallel discovery by the Soviet Union bring the world into a Cold War many times worse than what the world truly experienced. In short, the balance of terror doctrine was and will always be a "solution unsatisfactory."

"PRAVDA Means TRUTH" is a short nonfiction piece on the dangers of a state-run media and its influence on the lives of citizens, based on true-life experiences Heinlein and his wife had while traveling to Russia at the same time Francis Gary Powers' U2 was brought down. Similarly, "Inside Intourist" tells of the Heinlein's experiences with the Soviet tourism agency (through which all travel had to be arranged). Contrary to some reviewers' comments, Heinlein never condescends upon the people of Russia and its former republics; he merely explains the dangers the people face from their oppressive government. He in fact often discusses how nicely the actual people of Russia treated him and his wife on their trip.

Many other stories and nonfiction pieces (some dated by their survivalist Cold War era themes) are included; another of interest is "No Bands Playing, No Flags Flying," which tells the slightly fictionalized tale of courage and TB treatments (which Heinlein himself underwent) in the pre-WW2 Navy. His survivalist pieces may seem dated or extremist today, yet for the cold war climate (and today's constant threat of terrorism), the message is still clear: those who are ready will survive catastrophes, and those who aren't may very well not.

Give this Heinlein anthology a chance; for those already versed in Heinlein's other works, Expanded Universe will offer a fresh look into the mind of one of science fiction's Grand Masters.

Have you ever done that and immediately regretted it?

"Hmmm..." you ponder, "perhaps there is a REASON for package tours."

If the above applies to you, do not buy this book, "Expanded Universe."

However, if you've been to Heinlein-ville many times and taken the package tours (Stranger In A Strange Land, Friday) and thought "What an interesting guy. Wonder what makes him go tick-tock?" then this book is the equivelent of "Europe On $5-a-Day."

Containing some of his earliest works, some works considered by publishers, "not fit for paper," and some personal papers with some fascinating insights, "Expanded Universe" is a must-have for anyone who has that common feeling that resembles personal acquaintance with the master of sci-fi. The writing style itself is not his best -- some is quite primitive (being early Heinlein). Some of the stuff, to be quite honest, I had to struggle through. But some of the stories were incredible, and in my opinion, too short.

A wonderful reference manual. If you truly LOVE Heinlein, then your collection is obviously not complete without it, and it makes a good bathroom reader (of which there are so few).

"Solution Unsatisfactory" is probably the finest piece of prophecy in science fiction. The story, written in 1940, predicts the ending of WW II by the use of an atomic weapon and the start of a nuclear standoff shortly thereafter. He get the details wrong of course, the atomic weapon is radiated dust, the city Berlin, and the cold war is between Germany and the United States, but the foresight is uncanny.

"Blowups Happen", also written in 1940, shows the tension of working in a nuclear power plant and what happens when an accident happens. Any similarity between this story and three-mile island is purely coincidental.

I gave this book to a friend who had never read any science fiction and after reading it, she swore Heinlein was a time-traveler.

The two nonfiction pieces, "PRAVDA means TRUTH" and "Inside Intourist". Both pieces are taken from a trip Heinlein and his wife took to the Soviet Union in 1960. Heinlein's observations about life in the Soviet Union at that time are both entertaining and enlightening.