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Lemmy World Rules

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Robert Heinlein's form letter response to people who wrote to him (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago by FlyingSquid to c/sciencefiction

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[–] FlyingSquid 38 points 9 months ago (2 children)

He was pretty misogynistic and kind of nuts, but I do enjoy his books, especially The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which is a great example of how to use a science fiction setting to retell a historical event.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I think that it is unfair to say that about Heinlen that he was misogynistic. The women in his books were strong and capable. He may have been sexiest, but he wasn't misogynistic.

Another thing to note is in many of the books, he changes the point he is trying to make. He is an interesting author as he covers a vast number of topics.

[–] FlyingSquid 16 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I don't know if I would agree with you. Maybe he wasn't misogynistic earlier in life, but by the end? Did you ever read Friday? It's kind of disturbing. Yes, the main character is a woman who is better than a normal human through genetic engineering. She also enjoys getting raped.

[–] RaoulDook 11 points 9 months ago

I think you misunderstood that whole scene. Friday was pretending to like the rape to throw the rapists off guard, so she could find her way to get the upper hand and kill them.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

book vs person. Heinlen explored ideas.

and no, I have no read that one.

[–] FlyingSquid 11 points 9 months ago (3 children)

When the idea is "if you get gang raped, just lie back and enjoy it," I think that says something about the person.

[–] NoRodent 18 points 9 months ago

(×) I don't discuss my colleagues' works or my own. A novelist writes from
many viewpoints; opinions expressed even by a first-person character are not
necessarily those of the author. Fiction is sold as entertainment, not as fact.
(×) Please do not write to me again.
                        Sincerely yours,
                                         Robert A. Heinlein, by ____

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Not always. If it was a constant them then yes, but Heinlen was complicated. It’s like saying Stephen king likes to murder people.

[–] half_built_pyramids 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

It's okay to think rapey stuff is bad.

I haven't read this story, and it is ironic that Heinlein's list makes a point about the characters viewpoint not being the author's.

~~I'm~~ In that same point he also goes on to say that fiction is entertainment. It's also okay to like rapey entertainment I guess is the argument your making. Maybe you'd like the sword of truth books. Or some stephen r donaldson.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

I haven’t read that book, so I can’t comment on it.

Starship troopers is all fascism but Heinlen wasn’t a fascist.

His books were to make you think or explore a topic.

[–] blackbelt352 4 points 9 months ago

That idea is also a very common thing in Ayn Rand's writing too, which he's said he was quite influenced by her writing in an interview in the mid 70s.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

He was pretty misogynistic and kind of nuts

Not to mention very much into eugenics.