• NielsBohron@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      In his memoir I, Asimov, Isaac Asimov wrote chapters about his contemporaries and apparently Heinlein was notorious for changing his political convictions based on who he was married to/sleeping with at the time. Hence, free-love hippie in Stranger in a Strange World and boot-licking war-hawk in Starship Troopers.

      • DaMonsterKnees@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        3 months ago

        Interesting, thanks for the info, and great name! I found a first edition of his in a basement bookstore in Switzerland as a teen. Totally random, I know.

        • NielsBohron@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          3 months ago

          Interesting, thanks for the info

          No problem! Obviously, I like talking about this stuff. And if you’re interested, I’d also recommend reading the whole book. It’s pretty fascinating, although in his reminiscing and pontificating, Asimov does get a little “get off my lawn” for my taste at times.

          great name! I found a first edition of his in a basement bookstore in Switzerland as a teen. Totally random, I know.

          Thanks! And it’s not too random, I’d say; we’re in a sci-fi forum talking about historical sci-fi writers, many of whom were also trained as scientists, after all.

    • Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      3 months ago

      Heinlein changed his mind.

      There are 7 years between Starship Troopers and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, during which the world didn’t end or devolve into anarchy.

      That’s a long time to think about something, especially if you do so by writing an entire book about the theme.

      • Murdoc@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        3 months ago

        Well, then there’s what he said in the form letter above, that the views expressed in fiction aren’t necessarily those of the author in real life.