Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century

“The definitive biography of the writer who defined science fiction.” —Allen Steele, Hugo Award–winning author

Robert A. Heinlein is generally considered the greatest American science fiction writer of the twentieth century. His most famous and widely influential works include the Future History series (stories and novels collected in The Past Through Tomorrow and continued in later novels), Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress—all published in the years covered by this volume. He was a friend of admirals, bestselling writers, and artists; became committed to defending the United States during the Cold War; and was on the advisory committee that helped Ronald Reagan create the Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative in the 1980s.

Heinlein was also devoted to space flight and humanity's future in space, and he was a commanding presence to all around him in his lifetime. Given his desire for privacy in the later decades of his life, the revelations in the second volume of the authorized biography by William H. Patterson, Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century Volume II, 1948-1988 The Man Who Learned Better, make for riveting reading.

“Patterson's monumental biography remains an important contribution to the history of science fiction.” —The Washington Post

Praise for Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century Volume I, 1907-1948 Learning Curve:

“A majestic biography of the grandest of science fiction's grand masters. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the development of science fiction in the twentieth century.” —Robert Silverberg, Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author