2005 Heinlein Awards To Be Given to Niven and Pournelle In Seattle at NASFiC

July 2005 Contents

2005 Heinlein Awards to Be Given to Niven and Pournelle in Seattle at NASFiC...... Pages 1 & 3

Secretaryʼs Report ...... Page 2

Lindalee Stuckey New Library Com- mittee Chair...... Pages 4 & 5

Blood Drives Committee Report ...... Pages 6 to 8

The Virginia Edition ...... Page 9

Education Committee Report ...... Pages 10 & 11

Plans for Our 2005 Annual Meeting at NASFiC in Seattle ...... Pages 12 & 13

“ ... a time when loose and easy isnʼt enough ...” ...... Page 14

The Heinlein Centennial Year ...... Page 15

Convention Coordinatorʼs Report Larry and Jerry peeping out from behind a huge Mote in Godʼs Eye ...... Pages 16 & 17 cutout during a promotional tour for the novel. Heinlein Society Makes Its First unopened; he usually didnʼt Visit to the Mid-West ...... Page 18 Colorado Springs, CO, on a day in June 1973 even acknowledge receipt Fourth Annual Visit to Norwescon of those not yet published, ...... Pages 19 & 20 There arrived in Robert Heinleinʼs mailbox a pack- hadnʼt read one received in Awards Banquet Reservations & age containing a massive six months before this one Membership Application ...... came in, and hadnʼt com- ...... Pages 21 & 22 manuscript. Robert received such things with “monoto- mented favorably on publica- Membership Services ...... Page 23 nous regularity”; and if he tion for one in 4 or 5 years. didnʼt recognize the name as But this one was from Jerry “But still, a few small things ... ” ...... Pournelle and Larry Niven...... Page 24 someone he knew, liked and Contʼd on Page Three trusted, he sent them back

Jun05NL 1 7/12/05, 5:43 PM The Secretary-Treasurerʼs of the board of directors for The Heinlein Society Table and Reports the Golden Duck Awards for Notice of Annual General Meeting And Voting Procedures excellence in childrenʼs sci- Board of Directors ence fiction literature, and Virginia Heinlein (1916-2003) Charles N. Brown a member of Reading for Bill Patterson Yoji Kondo the Future, the group de- Alan Milner Joe Haldeman veloped to promote the use Jane Silver, Secretary-Treasurer David M. Silver, President and Chairman of science fiction literature P.O. Box 1254 in classrooms and libraries Venice, California 90294-1254 Dear Members of The Society: by Messrs. Brin, Bear, and Our by-laws, adopted by the Board of Directors in 2002, as amended, require that the board conduct an Benford. Ms. Stuckeyʼs ar- annual general membership meeting each year during the time and at the place of the annual World Science-Fiction ticle appears in this newslet- convention, when held in North America, and when not at a place in North America it shall determine. ter and we will be sending This the written notice of that meeting as required in our by-laws to each member entitled or likely to be out a call for all volunteers entitled to vote at the meeting. You will be entitled to vote only if you are registered as a regular member and only if who have come forward very your dues are fully paid up and through the current year of 2005 at the time of the meeting. An opportunity to generously in the past and make dues current will be afforded members prior to and Jane Silver at Noreascon Dinner at the beginning of the meeting. Supporting members are any new members who have not entitled to vote, but, subject to ruling of the chair, may Greetings and saluta- address the meeting. expressed an interest in this This yearʼs meeting will be our Societyʼs fourth annual tions from the Secretaryʼs general meeting. It will be held at Seattle, Washington, on committee. Congratulations Monday, September 5, 2005, at 1:00 PM, PDT, in a room cubicle. as yet to be assigned by Cascadia Con programming, at Lindalee, I am at your dis- the Seattle Airport Hilton Convention Center and Hotel, 17620 Pacific Highway South Seattle, Washington 98188 First, the good news: posal. or at the Airport Radisson Hotel, 17001 Pacific Highway South, Seattle Washington 98188. Cascadia Con has Pam Somers has proved I encourage everyone not yet published its programming schedule with room numbers. You need not be a purchaser of Cascadia Con to be an excellent member- to be sure to attend the membership to attend the meeting. Both hotels are public venues, open to non-Cascadia Con members. Visitors who ship services committee Heinlein Awards Banquet are not members of the Society are encouraged to attend, subject to ruling of the Chair. chair! that we are co-hosting with The regular order of business specified in the by-laws to be observed is that customary for non-profit member- Please read her article of Cascadia Con on Labor Day ship charitable corporations and will include, this year, election of two of the seven directors of The Society for what she has planned. I per- Weekend in Seattle if you the two senior non-exempt positions on the Board for a term of three years, as specified in the by-laws. sonally thank Pam for com- are able. I plan to be there The two senior incumbents by length of service in their current term are William F. Patterson and Alan Milner. ing on board and taking on to make sure that this is an Either, or both, or neither, may stand for reelection, as he each may announce at or before the time of the meeting. this very important position. even bigger success than Mr. Patterson has served as an original director of this Society since its formation and pre-incorporation filings, Next, we are up to 538 past Awards Banquets. We in August 2000, and was reelected to a three-year term in 2002. Mr. Milner was elected to a three-year term in registered members--more have some great plans relat- 2002. Other nominations may be made and accepted at the meeting. than a tenfold increase since ing to a special program and Further business consistent with the by-laws will occur at the meeting. 2001, our charter year. if all goes well it will be an- You may vote at the meeting in person, or by an assigned written proxy, if you are eligible to vote at We have a library commit- other one you will not want the time of the meeting. All proxies must be written, signed, and notarized, or accompanied by a clear and tee chair! This is me dancing to miss. legible photocopy of a government-issued photo identification containing a signature for comparison in glee, while I take that hat If you wish to volunteer purposes, to be valid. Further, they must designate in writing the person off and store it carefully in or discuss anything, please to exercise the proxy; and they must be received by the Secretary of the Society by postal mail or in person the box atop my closet, hop- E-mail me at secretary@hei at or before the time of the meeting. If you mail your proxy to the Societyʼs postal address in Venice, Califor- ing I will never take it down nleinsociety.org, please; and nia, please note that an officer of the Society will finally check that post office box address on the afternoon again--except for some weʼll talk. We truly need help of Tuesday, August 30, 2005, before he departs to Seattle;, and it is solely your responsibility to ensure other use. I know Lindalee to meet our dreams and en- it arrives before his departure. You may designate any natural person to attend the meeting and vote your Stuckey will be the same sort deavors that we have set to proxy. Further, the by-laws specify that failure of a non-attending member to designate a proxy shall of take charge and do it per- Pay it Forward. constitute designation of the president as the holder of the proxy of the member not in attendance. son Pam Somers has proved Dues: Need I say more? We all hope as many of the Societyʼs members as pos- to be with Membership Ser- Bad news? There is no sible do attend the meeting. vices. bad news. FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: /s/Jane Silver Ms. Lindalee Stuckey who Jane Silver, Director and Jane Silver Secretary-Treasurer and Director is an educator, both a teach- Secretary-Treasurer June 19, 2005 er and a librarian, a member

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Jun05NL 2 7/12/05, 5:43 PM 2005 Annual Heinlein Puget Sound keeps it tem- ing on something special, Awards To Niven and perate; and thereʼs much to but havenʼt nailed it down Pournelle see including Paul Allenʼs enough to announce, yet. Contʼd from Page One new Science Fiction Museum We have substantially re- So he opened it and started and Hall of Fame, downtown duced banquet dinner prices reading. Three days later he Seattle, with its famous Pike to $45 each, no host bar, sat down and started typ- Place Market and Under- which means food is provid- ing a letter of advice to them ground, the Space Needle ed at cost, with the Society which became, first, twenty- and monorail downtown, or Cascadia Con bearing all seven pages long; and then, Childrenʼs Museum, the Se- additional expenses associ- after revisions were made attle Art Museum and Pacific ated with the banquet; and, and returned, grew into a although the dinner is black second letter and a tie optional for the third letter totalling 33 head table and honored more pages--60 pages guests, attire is relaxed in all. for the balance of at- The published novel tendees to open the that resulted became a festivities to general best seller, The Mote members of the con- in Godʼs Eye (1974), vention. Children and “possibly,” Robert your own guests are Heinlein said, “the fin- welcome so long as you est science fiction I have tickets. have ever read.” The Seiun and Gold- It was Niven and en Duck Awards will Pournelleʼs first col- also be presented. laboration; and, as they Altogether, attend- say, the rest was his- ing NASFiC this year is tory. a substantial value we This yearʼs Annual highly recommend. Heinlein Awards will be pre- Science Center, to name only Reservations for the sented live to both Mr. Niven a few. banquet may be found and Dr. Pournelle for their Another attractive aspect on our website at http:// lifetime achievements in hard in having our Societyʼs Fifth www.heinleinsociety.org/ science fiction or technical Annual Memorial Robert A. awarddinner.html and pur- writings inspiring the human Heinlein Banquet, where the chase of convention mem- exploration of space. Awards will be presented, as berships are on Cascadia The Awards will be pre- part of the conventionʼs of- Conʼs website at https: sented, in cooperation with ficial program is it leaves an- //www.cascadiacon.org/ Cascadia Con at the Societyʼs other evening free for a less cgi-bin/ecommerce/ annual banquet to be held on formal engagement, perhaps ac/agora.cgi?cart_ Sunday night at this yearʼs a private dinner in relaxed id=3345990.15593_sR2Pk4& 8th North America Science circumstances for members product=Membership Fiction Convention (NASFiC), of The Heinlein Society in And weʼll schedule our on September 4, in Seattle, a suitable, nice place, with own annual Society meeting Washington. perhaps a specially-honored during the convention, likely Seattle is a beautiful guest--yes, weʼre work- on Monday, September 5, the place in early September; Heinlein Award Medallion day after the annual banquet. the weather is usually quite Rendition property and courtesy PLEASE RESERVE YOUR balmy and warm, not hot; of artist Arlin Robins TICKETS NOW!

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Jun05NL 3 7/12/05, 5:43 PM school and later in college, Lindalee Irene Stuckey Appointed Library Committee Chair I discovered a great amount of prejudice by librarians and teachers about science fic- tion. This always bothered me. I met my second hus- band in 1983, and he took me to the World Fantasy Convention. I discovered a lot of people who enjoyed reading SF and fantasy as much as I did. Eventually I joined other fans working at SF conventions and helped to start DucKon and the Golden Duck Award for Ex- cellence in Childrenʼs SF. [Editorʼs Note: The Golden Duck Awards inaugurated in 1992 consist of three cash prizes annu- ally for excellence in childrenʼs SF literature for picture books, books for middle grades (the Eleanor Cameron Award), and books for young adults (the Hal Clement Award), with occasional special Heinlein Society Library reporter listening to John awards; and they are funded by Committee Report Glennʼs radio reports. That a charitable corporation that also I was born in Manitowoc, year I discovered Eleanor sponsors a regional Science Fic- and grew up in tiny nearby Cameronʼs Mushroom planet tion convention every spring, called “DucKon” in DuPage County, Mishicot, Wisconsin, popula- books and then Heinleinʼs Illinois, the western suburbs of tion 1400, attending Mishi- Have Space Suit--Will Chicago. Ms. Stuckey is a director cot elementary and high Travel. Even though I had all of the Golden Duck Awards. See, schools; the district is over the autographed pictures of http://www.goldenduck.org/ 110 square miles, south- all the current astronauts, I The Golden Duck Awards, this year, will be presented at Cascadia east of Green Bay. I showed was devastated to hear from Con, during our annual Robert A. an early interest in read- an eighth grade teacher that Heinlein Memorial Award Banquet ing, starting at age two, and women would never be al- on Sunday evening, September 4, was a first grader at age lowed to be astronauts. at the Seattle Airport Hilton Con- five because the only third Taking inspiration from vention Center.] grade teacher in the district Heinlein, I read many sci- In my first Newsletter col- found I was already reading ence fiction books. This was umn as Library Committee books. By third grade I had a great help on later SAT Chair let me pose a problem read every book in the tiny vocabulary scores. I became that we can use your help to classroom library and began the librarian for my high solve. THE “ACCELERATED to haunt the nearest public school as a freshman be- READER” MENACE library. I quickly persuaded cause the library clerk said, the childrenʼs librarian to al- “You are smart, so you can Let me explain. Education low me “upstairs” privileges. do the reference work.” It led has periods of innovation In fourth grade, on a day I to me becoming a profes- that gradually swing here was done with class work, I sional librarian and teacher. and there. Teaching reading was allowed to be the class However throughout high has gone through such a 4 5

Jun05NL 4 7/12/05, 5:43 PM swing. The whole language Now that doesnʼt seem very SF stories, including the concept of reading library restrictive until you realize Heinlein juveniles, among books has taken over from the other problems. Many those official AR tests they the textbooks you may school libraries are only sell school libraries; and, in recall from your schooling purchasing books that have this way, we can disseminate that contained snippets already prepared accelerated them to teachers to permit extracted from novels and reader quizzes. There are them to be read. plays and short stories. not as many SF books with We need to purchase and Teachers have to deal quizzes as other genre. send two copies for each with this. In recent years, This means students who story we prepare tests that another swing has taken want to read SF books are we send to RenLearn to place from library floating many times told they have approve. For the Heinlein collections to Accelerated to put them down and find juveniles, that is only $260. Reader-controlled school something on the AR list. Once we have the tests libraries and reading. “AR” I have many students who officially approved, we is a program developed by come to me with books that can make tests and books a corporation, Renaissance they want to read and ask available to needy schools Learning, Inc., called me to write a test for them. that canʼt afford to purchase “RenLearn,” which has Each school can write only these tests or books. contracts nationally with 500 of their own tests. There are 500 or so of you more than 55,000 schools; Some school libraries may out there. If you each donate and, whether they approve or not accept donated books, $25, with matching money not, teachers and librarians and some are removing from the Heinlein Trust, have to deal with it. books that do not circulate, doubling funds, we can Let me explain the process. because they do not have AR provide nearly 100 schools A student is tested on his quizzes. this year with a full set of reading ability. The student It is essential that we Heinlein juveniles with their then goes to the library find a way to get good SF official AR tests. to find a book close to his books into schools with AR- If you have children or score. He is only allowed approved quizzes so that grandchildren who you want to read books that have future fans, engineers, and to read quality books that Accelerated Reading tests scientists have the reading you probably read when during the school day and material that inspire many you were a kid yourself, must read an AR book for of them to read and to deal go get your credit card or 30 minutes each night. with life. checkbook, now. Use http: He writes a summary and So my question to each of //www.heinleinsociety.org/ defines one vocabulary word you, to the Heinlein Society fundraising.html for your for each reading session, is this: what can we do to credit card, or mail your which means two summaries overcome this problem that check to: The Heinlein and two vocabulary words teachers at 55,000 schools Society, PO Box 1254, each day. His teacher sets have to deal with? Venice, CA 90294-1254. for him a reading goal of ACTION PLAN Mark the check “Library points which he earns by We can get AR quizzes Fund.” taking AR tests. Books are prepared for suitable books Thank you from my fellow assigned points when they and stories; a group of teachers and librarians, and are given AR tests based on teachers exist who share from Robert Heinlein. the number of words and the teacher-written accelerated Lindalee Stuckey reading level of the book. reader tests; we can Library Committee Chair Students are to read 40% submit them to RenLearn [email protected] nonfiction and 60% fiction. for approval and listing of 4 5

Jun05NL 5 7/12/05, 5:43 PM David Wright for all his hard ran this convention, and they work there. were very enthusiastic and We organized two blood helpful. A new THS member, drives over Easter weekend Charles Coffin, was able to (March 25-27) as well. The put me in contact with his first was at ConDor in San sister-in-law, Teresa Fields, Diego. Some of you may re- a registered nurse, who ran call that the San Diego Blood things onsite. The results, Bank was forced to drop our however, were quite disap- drive there last year due to pointing. With an attendance budget cuts, but they came of about 30,000 we only got through for us this year. The 12 donors and 9 units col- Michael Sheffield on video turnout was unfortunately lected. Perhaps this is just at dinner at Torcon III somewhat smaller than we the wrong crowd for a blood Heinlein Society Blood had hoped for, with 13 at- drive. If they have a Celebra- Drives Committee Report tendees attempting to do- tion IV, I donʼt think weʼll Thus far, 2005 has been nate and no deferrals, so bother. something of a mixed bag as 13 units collected. This is a We had another disap- far as blood drives are con- fairly small convention with pointment with Leprecon in cerned. only about 300 attendees, Scottsdale, Arizona (May 6- The year started off nicely so the percentage was bet- 8). This was going to be our with Arisia in Boston, which ter than most larger cons; second year there, but the runs January 21-23. John but I think we can do better. United Blood Services repre- Hodges once again did a Hopefully the blood bank will sentative that we were work- great job organizing the give us a chance to try again ing with left and did not pass drive there. He also had a lot next year. Thanks to Mike on the information to her of help from Natalie Seals Mahoney and Dan Brans- successors that we were try- and her “naughty nurses”, trom for working this one. ing to set up a drive there, so who recruited a lot of do- Mike is also pursuing a blood it never got on the books. By nors and made a big show of drive for Conzilla, the 2006 the time we found out it was presenting each donor with Westercon, which will be in too late to correct the situ- their blood drive pin. Ac- San Diego. ation, as they were already cording to John they were a Also on Easter weekend booked up for the weekend. joy to behold and did a won- we had our first blood drive Beth Murphy, a very helpful derful job. In all there were at Minicon in Minneapolis. person from UBS, will help us 51 donors presenting and 48 We had 24 people attempt get things arranged for next units of blood were collect- to donate, an amazing 23 of year. ed. Weʼre already scheduled them first time donors. 20 Memorial weekend for next year and looking units of blood were collect- was yet another two-drive forward to more great things ed. Although this was a little weekend. First we had our there. short of the goal of 35 that third annual blood drive Unfortunately, the drive the blood center had, they at Balticon, on which Pam at Chattacon in Chattanoo- were still satisfied enough to Somers took the lead, with ga, Tennessee for the same put us on the books for next help from her husband Bob weekend was cancelled the year. Thanks to Geo and Deb and J.J. Brannon, as well as day before it was scheduled, Rule for running that drive. David Silver, our current THS apparently due to mechani- After that came the Star president. Balticon has been cal problems with the blood- Wars Celebration III in In- very supportive of our drives mobile. We will try again dianapolis, April 21-24. The and we appreciate their en- for next year. My thanks to same folks who do Gen Con thusiasm for paying it for-

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Jun05NL 6 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Left to right: Pamela Somers, Bob Preisinger and J.J. Brannon, blood drive volunteers extraordinary, relax, ready for donors to sign up at Balticon on Memorial Day weekend. All three also put long stints in at the fan table. ward. There were 45 donors gaming convention in Bur- were not feeling well or had presenting, 12 of them first lingame, California. It was no picture ID, so they didnʼt timers, and 32 units of blood difficult to get staffing for make it that far). There were were collected. Some won- that con, with most of the 4 deferrals, and 13 units of derful prizes were raffled THS members in the area blood donated. The Stanford off to the donors, includ- already having plans to at- representative was satisfied ing a very nice CD donated tend Baycon that weekend, with the results for a first by the Filk Guest of Honor, so I decided to work that one time drive given that it was Justin Kare, a three-volume myself. The convention was on a holiday weekend, and series of books autographed a lot of fun and the organiz- we should be doing it again by author EE Knight, and ers were great to work with. next year. a beautiful dinosaur litho The Stanford Blood Center Next up is Due North, the autographed by artist Bob came with their bloodmo- 2005 Westercon in Calgary, Eggleton. Pam is also looking bile on Sunday of the con Alberta. We are going to try into possible blood drives at and we had 17 donors who something a little different some other cons in the area. went through the screen- there. Canadian Blood Ser- Our other drive for that ing process (several others weekend was at Kublacon, a who wanted to donate either Contʼd on Page Eight

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Jun05NL 7 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Blood Drives Report, Contʼd from previous page

vices in Calgary is not set the convention, with a typi- presenting and 51 units of up to do remote drives, so cal attendance of 4,000 or blood collected. Weʼre look- they have offered to send a more. The convention itself ing forward to doing even van around to ferry people had over 87,000 attendees better this year. to their donor center, which last year. On Labor Day weekend is about 5 minutes from the We are also scheduled we will have a blood drive at convention. The upside of for our first ever blood drive the Cascadia Con, the North this is that we can have the at Demicon in Des Moines, American Science Fiction in drive over 2 days of the con July 29-31. We werenʼt Seattle. We are also planning for 7 or 8 hours of the day, able to get the blood drive for our third annual blood where a drive on site would scheduled there last year drive at Dragon*Con in At- only last 1 day for 5 or 6. as the Iowa Blood Center lanta. Last year the blood I have a couple of people was already booked up for drive there went all 4 days (Hugh Gregory and Lynda the weekend and Iʼm look- of the convention and col- Williams) who have volun- ing forward to working with lected 162 units of blood. We teered to help out here when them. expect similar results for this they can, but both have pro- I had hoped to have a year. fessional obligations at the blood drive at Interaction in In November, on the con and will only be available Glasgow, Scotland the first weekend before Thanksgiv- on a limited basis. I need weekend in August, continu- ing, we will have our second to hear from anyone who is ing a five-year tradition of annual blood drive at Gen planning to attend, or might THS sponsored Worldcon Con in Anaheim, California. be able to, that can help staff blood drives. Unfortunately, And, of course, Iʼm still con- a table and take sign ups. the National Blood Service tacting conventions, so there We will have a bigger will not be able to accom- may be more besides these. presence at Comic-Con modate this. The rules for Once again I would like to International in San Diego donating blood in the UK do thank all those who volun- this year (July 14-17). If you not allow anyone to donate teered their time and energy havenʼt heard, they have the unless they have been in the helping out. Paying it for- longest standing blood drive country for a least 28 days, ward is what weʼre all about, of any convention. This will so most of the attendees and I encourage everyone to be their 29th annual Robert would be ineligible. They consider getting actively in- A. Heinlein Memorial Blood have offered to provide us volved in one or more of the Drive. We have been giv- with information pamphlets, committees of the society. I ing them pins for the blood and the convention is still will be contacting members donors for a couple of years willing to provide us a table as the upcoming conventions now, and this year, in ad- if we have people to staff it. get nearer to ask for assis- dition, we will have a table I would like to hear from any tance. Or you can contact me at the convention to pro- members who will be attend- at blooddrivechair@heinleins mote blood donation and ing Interaction about their ociety.org and volunteer. paying it forward with The availability to help out there. Thanks, Heinlein Society. We will also On the third weekend Mike Sheffield, Blood be sponsoring a cash prize in August we will have our Drives Committee Chair in the masquerade for the second annual blood drive best re-creation of a Heinlein at Gen Con in Indianapolis. character. The masquerade Last yearʼs drive was very Give the Gift of Life-- is the most attended event at successful, with 63 donors Blood! 8 9

Jun05NL 8 7/12/05, 5:43 PM The Virginia Edition Arthur Dula, literary exec- utor and trustee of The Rob- ert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust, advises us that it has selected newly-incor- porated Meisha Merlin RAH, Inc., associated with Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc., to publish The Virginia Edition, a luxury edition of forty-six titles spanning the career of Robert A. Heinlein, contain- ing all of Heinleinʼs novels, short stories, non-fiction Dinner with the Trustee: From left: Arthur M. Dula, Tim and Lester titles, the vast majority of Collier, Alec Iorio, and David Silver enjoy dinner while discussing the Trustʼs decisions and plans for the Virginia Edition. Mr. Dula was on his his interviews, social com- way to an Asia visit in early April and able to stop briefly, graciously in- mentaries, speeches and vited a few of us to dinner that evening and informed the Society of de- articles, and several volumes cisions affecting its membershipʼ ability to purchase the Virginia Edition. of Heinleinʼs letters. tion $3,500.00, if paid at the percent royalty on each set, It will be sold only as a time your order is placed. and contribute that royalty to set. The edition is limited to Time payment options The Heinlein Society. Further 5,000 copies, divided be- are available. See, for ad- it will offer to pay the first tween a cloth bound and ditional details, http:// yearʼs membership dues to a full leather bound (gold www.meishamerlin.com/Rob new members who purchase gilded) edition. Printing of ertHeinleinTheVirginiaEditio the set. the first volume of The Vir- n.html. The publisher has em- ginia Edition, I Will Fear No The Prize Trust has dis- ployed Bill Patterson to write Evil, will be is set for Janu- cussed with us two addi- 1,000 word introductions to ary 2006, followed every four tional incentives for Heinlein each volume describing what weeks thereafter by the next Society members who desire Heinlein was doing while he title in the series. to purchase the set. It has wrote each volume. The cloth edition sells for offered to discount its fifteen The Trust also suggests $2,200.00, the leather edi- that The Society, using its own imprint, may wish to make MBNA affinity credit cards available to its mem- bership to finance purchase of the Virginia Edition; and we are looking into that. We appreciated the re- turns you sent to our survey in our last newsletter. Let us know, please, of your thoughts about these items, by e-mailing secretary Serious points? Or just “counting the ways I love you”? To be a fly on that Marina del Rey restaurant wall might have been interesting …. @heinleinsociety.org.

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Jun05NL 9 7/12/05, 5:43 PM our members are lined up to Heinlein I: Heinlein 101 participate in teaching pan- This special session was els at the Thursday, one-day designed for both apprecia- convention within a conven- tive readers and those new tion, being developed for to reading Heinlein. A vari- Cascadia Con in cooperation ety of presenters gave short with both Reading For the talks on a variety of subjects, Future and the Museum of including a brief biography Science Fiction. We will con- provided by William Patter- tinue supporting this project. son, UC Santa Cruz Heinlein Geo Rule at Now for Ms. Edmondsʼ Scholar; an overview of TorCon III in report: Heinleinʼs major works by 2003 “Robert A. Heinlein and the Dave Landry of San Diego Heinlein Society Education Liberal Arts and Sciences” State University; a discus- Committee Reports Heinlein Scholars Shine at sion of Heinleinʼs later works This issue we have a the National PCA/ACA by Rachel McGrath-Kerr of scholastic or academic Conference the University of Canberra, studies report from Lisa By Lisa N. Edmonds Australia; a Heinlein filmog- Edmonds, Area Chair for Wichita State University raphy by Chris Leslie of the Heinlein Studies of the ACA/ Responding to the prom- CUNY Graduate Center; and a PCA. ise of sun, sand, and intel- review of the Future History A few “little things” first: lectual exchange (listed timeline by Lisa Edmonds of We didnʼt receive much roughly in order of draw- Wichita State University, Area of a response to my appeal ing power), twelve Heinlein Chair for Heinlein Studies. for funds to begin long-au- scholars from across the Heinlein II: Literary Theory thorized writing contests nation and around the world Chair: Christopher Leslie, on Heinlein-related themes converged on San Diego City University of New York among middle and high to participate in this yearʼs Graduate Center school students. We need National Popular Culture “Canonicity and Con- your support. DONATE! Itʼs Association/American Cul- troversy: Heinleinʼs World easy, just take your credit ture Association (PCA/ACA) as Myth Books,” by William card in hand and go to http: conference. In its inaugu- Patterson, UC Santa Cruz //www.heinleinsociety.org/ ral year as an autonomous Heinlein Scholar fundraising.html. Youʼll find Area of the PCA, the Heinlein “Fascist Sci-Fi?: Using when you get there you can Studies Area boasted an Reader-Response to Decode/ use a regular credit card even impressive and diverse line- Defuse the Conservative En- if you havenʼt a PayPal ac- up of five panels and two vironment of Heinleinʼs Nov- count. Your donation will be roundtables. This yearʼs els, ” by Christopher Leslie. matched by the Trust. general theme was “Robert “ʻThe great globe itselfʼ: Nor has there been much A. Heinlein and the Liberal Shakespearean Allusion in action to report on our CD- Arts and Sciences,” a focus Heinleinʼs Juveniles,” by Pete rom project for Education that successfully encouraged McCluskey, Middle Tennes- panels at Cascadia Con. We panelists from a wide range see State University. havenʼt yet received a reply of academic backgrounds. Heinlein III: Roundtable I: to our request to the literary This will be a continuing em- Heinlein and the Canon trustee for permission to in- phasis of the Heinlein Stud- Moderator: Bill Patterson clude a Heinlein story within ies area. This open roundtable, led that CD-rom project and Our program included the by UC Santa Cruz Heinlein much depends on his per- following: Scholar Bill Patterson, ex- mission. However, several of amined current concepts of 10 11

Jun05NL 10 7/12/05, 5:43 PM the science fiction canon and Stranger in a Strange Land,” The Society recently con- Heinleinʼs place in it. by Michael Kagan, Le Moyne tributed funds for a website Heinlein IV: Gender Theory College. for the Heinlein Area Studies Chair: Christopher Brooks, Heinlein VII: Roundtable for the group chaired by Ms. Wichita State University II: The Future of Heinlein Edmonds. We expect to see “I am Not a Woman—er, Scholarship great things web-published Human: Gender Politics in Moderator: Robert James on it! Heinleinʼs Friday,” by Chris- This open roundtable For myself and wife Deb topher Brooks discussed current literary Houdek Rule weʼve just fin- “Why Donʼt All My Girl- scholarship and criticism ished a cross-country move friends Want to be Heinlein on Heinlein, as well as new from California to Minne- Women?: The Subtle Strength and potential opportunities sota, so we donʼt have much of Anne, Dorcas, and Miriam to support and expand the further to report on either in Stranger and a Strange scope of literary discourse Education or Website; but we Land,” by Kelli Gardner Bell, on the first Grand Master of have our reservations made Western Missouri State Col- Science Fiction. for Cascadia Con this La- lege. Most of the papers pre- bor Day weekend; and weʼre “Fatherʼs Daughters: sented at this yearʼs pan- looking forward to seeing all Sexuality in Two Works from els will be published in the of you. Heinleinʼs Final Decade,” by Heinlein Journal over the Have you bought your Dave Landry, San Diego State next year. DVDs of the pan- tickets and made your res- University. els will also be available ervations? Thereʼs no time Heinlein V: Social Theory I soon through the Heinlein like the present. Chair: Lisa Edmonds, Wichita Studies website: http: Regards, State University //www.rahstudies.org/. As Geo and Deb Houdek Rule “How to Build a Bet- planning commences for Education Committee ter Human: Why We Need next yearʼs conference in Chair and Webmistress (and Hate) APs, the Howard Atlanta, please check the Families, Replicants, and the website in July for announce- Got some spare time? E-mail: [email protected] Khans,” by Lisa Edmonds. ments and calls for pa- Special Guest Speaker: pers. If you have questions, James Gifford, author of comments, or suggestions Robert A. Heinlein: A Read- for topics or areas of in- erʼs Companion. quiry for next yearʼs panels, Heinlein VI: Social Theory II please e-mail them to me at Chair: Robert James, West [email protected]. Los Angeles College Details concerning the “Cannibals All? The Cold April 12-15, 2006, confer- War, the Civil Rights Move- ence at the Atlanta Marri- ment, and Robert Heinleinʼs ott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Farnhamʼs Freehold,” by Center Ave, Atlanta, GA Robert James. 30303, may be found at http: “The Man-Made Faith //www.popularculture.org/ of the Man from Mars,” by Index.asp. Dawn Baker, Western Mis- Please note that mem- souri State College. bership in the ACA/PCA is “Heinlein and Heroic Edu- required to attend or submit “I need a couple guys what donʼt cation: The Education of the papers. owe me no money fer a little Hero in Have Space Suit—Will That concludes Ms. Ed- routine patrol.” --Bill Mauldin, Travel, Glory Road, and mondsʼ report. Up Front, ©1944

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Jun05NL 11 7/12/05, 5:43 PM The Societyʼs 2005 Annual Awards Banquet, Other Events, and Meeting be Sunday evening, Septem- ber 4th, and although tickets may be available through Sunday afternoon, weʼd ap- preciate advance reservations so we can have a good idea on settings and arrange- ments to tell the hotel ban- quet staff to provide in ad- vance. Dinner tickets are $45 each, a substantial reduction in price from past years. The annual membership business meeting will be the following morning, Monday, September 5th, at a room as yet to be assigned, prob- ably in the Hilton Convention Center. Youʼll have to check The Winner Is! First time blood donor Tom Stidman displays his draw- the program. Please ing prize, an illustration donated by Hugo Award Winner Bob Eggleton make certain at Balticon. Tom was so pleased, heʼs volunteered to help with a blood drive at an Anime convention heʼll attend later this year. On left is the youʼve Klingon used to capture donors and on right is Pam Somers, who worked brought hard ensuring our attendance at Balticon would be the success it was. And, yes, there will be a Blood Drive at Cascadia Con.

Weʼre making final prepa- a name change. See, http: rations for our annual meet- //www.radisson.com/seat- ing in Seattle, now. We hope tlewa/ E-mail the secretary, all of you will attend. Here at secretary@heinleinsociety are a few details: .org, before August 1, 2005, We have reserved the but as soon as possible, if Presidential Suite at the you wish to join us in block Radisson Hotel Seattle Air- booking. Rooms are approxi- your dues port, 17001 International mately $90 nightly. The con- current if Boulevard (aka 17001 Pa- vention center is located at you plan to cific Highway South), Se- the Airport Hilton, about 300 exercise your attle (Seatac), Washington. feet south of the Radisson, right to vote in our Telephone: (206) 244-6000. or easy walking distance. affairs at that meeting. Weʼre block-booking rooms Caution: there is another In between the “Con- there, if you care to join Radisson hotel farther south Within-a-Con” for educators, us. This is the same ho- in the Seatac area. It is called beginning on Thursday, Sep- tel that Robert and Virginia the Radisson Hotel Gateway tember 1, and our business Heinlein stayed at for the Seatac, at 18118 Internation- meeting on Monday the 5th, Seattle Worldcon in 1961, al Boulevard. Do not reserve we may be participating in as when he was Guest of Honor. a room there unless you wish many as seven Heinlein sub- It has been extensively re- to pay regular rates. ject matter panels, depend- modeled, and undergone The Awards Banquet will ing on schedule availability.

Jun05NL 12 7/12/05, 5:43 PM The Societyʼs 2005 Annual Awards Banquet, Other Events, and Meeting Weʼll know closer in time to the dates of the convention and will advise you by E- mail. Expect us to have a couple evening receptions in the Presidential Suite at the Radisson. We may also arrange a small, intimate dinner one evening for our- selves with a few people from the area who well knew Robert and Ginnyʼs support of convention efforts in the Northwest area. Weʼll an- nounce these events and the dates as time gets closer to the convention. For entertainment at our Planning for Cascadia Con: On left, new Heinlein Society Volunteer Sunday night banquet, aside David Nasset discusses “Con-Within-a-Con” Reading For the Future from the Awards presenta- SF YA programming with Heinlein Society member and RFF manager tions themselves--and with David-Glenn Anderson during a break at Norwescon. Both Rob Slater Jerry and Larry present, ex- and Mr. Nasset, despite recent back surgery, each did seven panels at pect some surprises, antici- Norwescon, their first experience as SF convention panelists. pate the best we can offer. plans for The Heinlein Cen- Cascadia Con is certainly Weʼre planning , if all goes tennial Year of 2007 com- not too expensive; registra- well, to set up a live iSight ing up. Weʼve invited all at- tions may be for the entire tendees at NASFiC to join five day event, or a shorter us at our Heinlein Awards period you select, even at Banquet, made substantial the door; hotels are reason- interview, the same process efforts to support the overall ably priced; the Seattle area we used last year to award convention experience for all delightful to visit wholly The Heinlein Award to Sir SF fans at Cascadia Con, and apart from a SF convention; Arthur Clarke, with Ray Brad- weʼve done this quite delib- and the overall event is a bury or Jack Williamson, or erately to promote accep- quite worthwhile experience both of them, the two re- tance of our efforts among for yourself and family. maining participants in The the community to encourage Registration may be Mañana Society that met the very many SF conven- made on-line, here: http: before World War II at Rob- tions throughout the world //www.cascadiacon.org/ Use ert Heinleinʼs Laurel Canyon to accept the programs we the link for “memberships.” home in Los Angeles to dis- will be offering to celebrate Dinner tickets may cuss their writing and hopes Robert Heinlein during The be bought here: http:// for the future. If not, weʼll try Heinlein Centennial Year. www.heinleinsociety.org/ to find something equally in- We need your attendance. awarddinner.html triguing to present. You should seriously consid- We look forward to seeing Itʼs quite important that er your plans for the Labor all of us support this “not a we, as a Society, do well this Day weekend and, if at all fan club” educational charity year in these affairs with our possible, fit yourself in. we all belong to.

Jun05NL 13 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Letters “There comes a time when loose and easy isnʼt enough, when you have to be willing to obey, and do it wholeheartedly and without argument.” -- Dr. Cargraves from Rocket Ship Galileo, by Robert A. Heinlein Just before Memorial threat of dissipation of en- Day, something calling itself ergy, time, and money. This is a statement of policy “Heinlein Centennial, Inc.,” We have received inquires of the board of directors of the Heinlein Society. popped up with announce- from members and non- The board has come to a ments hustling advance members alike: Are we sup- conclusion on its Heinlein Cen- money payments and vol- porting this? Are they “front- tennial Year program. We will unteers to hold what it says ing” for us? Whatʼs going on? publicly announce its details will be a gala affair in Kan- The board of directors shortly. It will be substantially larger and contain features dif- sas City on Robert Heinleinʼs has decided to ignore those ferent from anything previously 100th birthday weekend, July efforts. We will go ahead contemplated by our Centennial 7, 2007, two years from now. with our Societyʼs own plans. Committee before its past chair- This came as a shock to your Youʼll hear a lot about them man resigned. It will contain board of directors and of- shortly. Expect something some similar features previously recommended. It will last the en- ficers, since we, the Society, that creates a full year of tire year of 2007, not be merely have been planning to hold festivities that are worthy of one three-day convention at one Centennial celebrations since what the first Grandmaster of location, and be held at multiple 2002. Science Fiction deserves. locations, in multiple countries, More of a shock was its There is a formal board as many as our membership and friends can handle. Our position source: Bill Patterson, one policy statement on the right concerning an entity known as of our own directors, cre- of this column. Read it as Heinlein Centennial, Inc. is sim- ated this entity in secret, you wish. Mr. Pattersonʼs ply this: we intend to treat it the concealed its existence and term as director expires same as we treat any other local then, when it appeared that September 5. It is the con- SF convention, so long as it does not compete with our Centennial The Society was about to ap- sensus of the board to allow programs. If we offer programs point a chair to effect Cen- Mr. Patterson to complete to other local area or larger tennial plans, caused his own his term. Mr. Patterson has conventions, if it asks and does announcements. Not surpris- spent five years working on not compete with our programs, ingly, its plans include those a biography he promised we will offer it the programs it merits based on its size and our worked out by the Society Ginny to complete for her to assessments. We do not sponsor well before September 2003, read before she died. We all or approve other local conven- considered and then tabled hope this most recent dis- tions, nor do we sponsor or ap- when it appeared prema- traction and project of his prove it. If individuals affiliated ture to make a decision only will not delay its completion with it volunteer to work with us on our programs we will afford as to location, as a result farther and disappoint every- them the same opportunities of objections that made the one again. consistent with our assessment enterprise as then suggested The first important lesson of their abilities and our needs appear doubtful. that Robert Heinlein used that we would afford any other It boils down to Mr. Pat- Dr. Cargraves to teach his volunteer. That is the end of the statement of policy of the board. terson wanting to have a July boy readers in 1947, quoted 7th celebration in Kansas above, applies here. “Loose City; but, when a majority of and easy” doesnʼt satisfy any Bob Grieve, who agreed to the board would not make a directorʼs duties to this So- accept an appointment as decision on venue he want- ciety. Centennial Committe Chair ed, he bided his time and David M. Silver, President this Easter, could use all then sprung his preemption and Chairman of the the help he can get. Inter- without caring about the Board of Directors ested? E-mail us.

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Jun05NL 14 7/12/05, 5:43 PM The Heinlein Centennial Year

heart for Tunnel in the Sky. complete with RAH book I consider it to be RAHʼs cover artwork best juvenile (and it is not •A museum quality dis- all that juvenile if you read play of artifacts and para- between the lines). SiaSL has phernalia pertaining to the an incredible amount of sage life of RAH advice, religious logic, sound •Display tables for dis- politics, and other oxymoron pensing the word of RAH and but TitS gives the reader a encouraging new member- Bob Grieve, visiting an old girl- real clue on how to get along ship in THS friend. Later, following 9-11-01, in life as well as some of the •RAH focused program- he sadly returned representing more treasured Heinleinisms. ming paneled by Heinlein his Washington State fire depart- For all you skeptics: better knowledgeable pros and THS mentʼs relief efforts to NYC . watch out for Stobor. members The statement responding In real life I am a jack-of- •Contests, raffles, and to some letter inquiries on the all-trades having had a long other associated fund raising preceding page doesnʼt explain and broad college education activities with a RAH flavor wholly what is occurring on the matter of the Heinlein Centennial culminating in a few minor •THS sponsored Blood Year. The following is from our degrees and certificates. I Drives to pay it forward with new Centennial Committee Chair. have been to nursing school, RAH centennial twists Greetings Fellow Heinlein worked as an OR Tech, have •RAH book donations to Enthusiasts and Aficionados! over 35 years of experience local schools to get students My name is Robert J. in EMS (about 15 years with hooked on the master Grieve and I have been ap- the fire service where I crest- •RAH oriented workshops pointed Heinlein Centen- ed the wave at Lt/Firefighter/ for budding young writers nial Committee Chair of The EMT), am a vampire (phle- •Banquets and celebra- Heinlein Society. I will give botomist) and regularly teach tions commemorating RAHʼs a “brief” description of what BLS courses EMTA. I dabble 100th year all that is about in a wee bit in Protozoology, freelance And a number of other but first I need to introduce writing, and semi-profes- things that you (YES, that myself. sional bowling. I am the means you) come up with to I have been reading RAH proud Papa of one child with help us celebrate 100 years for several decades and en- one child and husband to of Heinlein. We have chal- joy most of his works im- a green-eyed vixen. I like lenges to hurdle over be- mensely. A few times I wish producing SF/F conventions, tween now and 2007, but I his editor had been firmer genealogy, writing fiction, am confidant that we can act about a revision or two. and reading lots of books. as team and achieve a goodly Such is fodder for discus- Now for the 100th year of number of suggested, and to sions. Yet my favorite is the Heinlein: what we are plan- be suggested, projects if not 1991 edition of Stranger in ning is a year long travel- all of them. a Strange Land wherein I ing show that will bring the It will be interesting to retract my former statement master to as many conven- say the least. Suggestions? and wish that the editor had tions as we can possibly Volunteers? E-mail me at: originally butted out and left entice. What we will be trying [email protected] or Centenni it alone. Conflict? Yeah, but to bring to a con near you [email protected] such is life. Cʼest la vie. might include: Bob Grieve, Centennial I also have a place in my •An Art Show Exhibit Committee Chair

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Jun05NL 15 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Andrews, Maurice Abrams, than we had for the first Roderick Walker, Juan Rico, panel, and there was a very Marjorie Baldwin, and Co- spirited discussion about lin Campbell. How Heinlein the use of race and ethnic- sought to overcome preju- ity in early science fiction. dice and discrimination Responding to Davidʼs point based on gender, religion, about the difference between race or national origin or the description of Rod Walk- color through his selection of er and the cover art of Rod Alec Iorio SF protagonists. Walker, Steve Barnes told a Heinlein Society Conven- Both panels were sched- funny (and directly-on-tar- tion Coordinatorʼs Report uled for Sunday late after- get) story about one of his Working with the Heinlein noon or evening and both books written with a black Society is NOT a “leisure- were resoundingly success- protagonist and published time activity.” At least it ful. The Balticon people with a white man illustrated hasnʼt been recently. There put us into two fairly small on the cover. Balticon, per- are SF/Fantasy Conventions rooms and both presenta- haps hurried by some late held all over the U.S., but it tions were SRO. Entirely un- minute scheduling changes, appears that the spring and prompted by us, the Balticon inadvertently fell down a bit summer months have the people apologized and told on providing resources for greatest number of large- David they would make sure David to project the scan of scale cons. we have larger rooms next the 1968 letter from RAH. We Over the Memorial Day year. Very nice to be noticed! ended up having to ask the weekend, THS was an active David Silver, Yoji Kondo, audience to squash together participant in the BaltiCon Michael Flynn, J.J. Brannon to give us enough blank wall festivities. Pam Somers re- and Pam Somers presented space to project it. Their ported we ended up present- “Heinlein 101.” There was cooperative attitude was a ing two panels: enthusiastic audience partic- measure of their real enthu- Heinlein 101: “All you ipation and the audience was siasm. They gathered around ever wanted to know about packed in with shoehorns. the wall projection pointing Heinlein, but were afraid to People occupied every avail- out bits of content to each ask.” able seat, and stood, and sat other and chattering eagerly. An overview of the on the floor to participate. Despite some omissions themes, writing techniques, Quite a good-sized crowd on the pre-event program- literary forms and character hung around afterwards to ming listing, the panels were types of Heinleinʼs works. chat about the panel. J.J. a great success. Had we been The who, when, where, what Brannon arranged to have properly pre-advertised, and, most important, why of the presentation digitally weʼd have had them standing reading Robert A. Heinlein. preserved, audio and visu- in the hallway to hear us. It General introduction to ally, so, perhaps shortly Iʼll doesnʼt get much better than Heinleinʼs writing covering have available a “training aid” this. various zigs in his career for those of you interested The Star Struck Sci-Fi and the groups of different in presenting panels at your Convention is a one-day works: pre-war, juveniles, local area conventions. event scheduled to be held Post stories, Future History, David Silver, Yoji Kondo, in Sacramento, California on Stranger and the novels of Michael Flynn, and author July 9. Bill Patterson, joined the 60ʼs, and the final World GOH Steven Barnes present- by James Gifford, author as Myth books; and, ed “Stealth Heroes.” We quite of Robert A. Heinlein: A Robert A. Heinleinʼs literally packed even more Readerʼs Companion, will be “Stealth Heroes”: Maggie participants into the room presenting Heinlein 101.

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Jun05NL 16 7/12/05, 5:43 PM A Truly Well-Packed Room: “Heinlein 101” at Balticon. Heinlein Award winning Writer Michael Flynn in the foreground discussing Heinlein. Others presenting the panel included Pam Somers (not shown as she was tak- ing the photograph), J.J. Brannon, Dr. Yoji Kondo, and David Silver. Attendees were seated in every possible niche, including vacant spots on the floor. “Next year,” they said, “Remind us to give you a LARGE room!”

Weʼve been in very pro- weekend, as well as in the proaching the entire mem- ductive contact with the Awards Banquet at which bership for their assistance: planners and programmers The Heinlein Award will What topics would you like to of Cascadia Con/NASFiC, be presented to both Jerry discuss at a convention? Who which is scheduled for the Pournelle and Larry Niven. would you like to have on the Labor Day weekend (Sep- The executive staff of panel? Whom do you think tember 1 through 5). Our LosCon which, we remind you can provide as a good suggestions for panels have you, is held during the panelist? What other sorts of been approved as submitted Thanksgiving Day weekend presentations do you think and weʼre currently waiting in Los Angeles; has ap- would be appropriate for THS for replies from a couple of proached us. Weʼve made sponsorship at SF/Fantasy putative panelists concerning our submission of panel convention? Let us know. At their availability. Arguably topics. It has been received your earliest convenience. My this will be the most signifi- and praised. We are awaiting E-mail address is Alec Iorio cant SF/Fantasy Convention their final selections. [email protected]. held this year. THS actively Finally, itʼs part of the encourages its membership “received wisdom” that one Many thanks, to attend the festivities and of the greatest resources of Alec Iorio to participate in the Gen- a volunteer organization like Convention Programming eral Membership meeting THS is its membership. With Coordinator to be held during the long that in mind, we are ap-

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Jun05NL 17 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Heinlein Society Makes Its First Visit to the Mid-West At Capricon 37 in the Chicago Area

Arlington Heights, Illinois, Saturday, February 12, 2005. We made our first convention visit to the mid-West with a program entitled The Heinlein Society and The Influence of SF on Space Flight and Explorations, aka “The Greatest Day in the History of Mankind.” After introduction of panelists, the unique Heinlein Society archive of a news program of July 20, 1969, was shown, the interview that occurred before, during and after Neil Armstrongʼs moon walk, with Walter Cronkite, Robert Heinlein, and Arthur C. Clarke. Following it, panel- ists (from L to R: Capricon Author Guest of Honor James P. Hogan, Heinlein Society mem- ber Lt. Col. Chuck Coffin, USA, Rʼtd., who, with his wife Linda had the honor to accompany Robert and Ginny Heinlein to two aero- space conventions, and Heinlein Society President David Silver, on the projector above, about to start the 1969 Apollo 11 interview, shown at right, discussed the past and continuing influence of SF on space flight and exploration. It was an exciting and thoughtful panel, focused in discussion of the question: “Why, oh, why, didnʼt we simply continue onward?” Writer Hoganʼs essays are particularly useful reading on this topic, especially his 1999 collection Rockets, Redheads, and Revolution. Hogan has lived in Massachusetts, Florida, and California; he now resides in Ireland. His first SF novel was Inherit the Stars in 1977. He keeps fairly busy, hopping between Photographs above are courtesy Europe and North America, stirring up controversy in his of Dave McCarty, bid chairman of chicagoworldcon7.org. Photograph writings and appearances with rather unusual but insight- at right is by David M. Silver. ful takes on orthodox and accepted scientific dogma.

If you live in the mid-west, or other areas where The Heinlein Society hasnʼt yet made appearances at SF conventions, and youʼd like to see us, have a talk with your local convention organizers, and let us know if theyʼre willing to cooperate with us and schedule a panel or two to make our trip worthwhile. Contact Alec Iorio at [email protected] and let him know whom to call or write.

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Jun05NL 18 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Flanked by Heinlein Society members Mrs. Frances Van Cleave and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Coffin, writer Guest of Honor James Hogan holds forth on “Rockets, Redheads, and Revolution” over wine after dinner. Fran drove over from Indiana and Chuck up from St. Louis to participate in the panels and blood drive at Capricon 37 in Arlington Heights, and their help was most appreciated. Among others, we re- cruited a new Library committee chair.

Fourth Annual Visit to Norwescon in Seattle

Our annual visit to Seattle, Silver, Heinlein Society mem- create were not all Heinlein- for Norwescon, opened a bers participated in fifteen topic panels. One particularly new era in our participa- panels and two readings this interesting theme panel: Le- tion in convention panelling. year. gal Systems in SF, included We had two new volunteers, Nasset and Slater, who Robert Sawyer who set up in David Nasset and Rob Slater, had never before participated Hominids, his Hugo-winning who live in the local area. in SF conventions as panel- novel, criticisms of the An- This was the fourth ists so impressed Norwescon glo-American legal system; a year The Heinlein Society Programming Chair Ali lesser known writer, Harold has been invited by Bob or Grieve with their wide range Gross; and David Silver, a Ali Grieve to contribute to of SF knowledge and inter- recovering, er, retired lawyer. Norwescon; we were de- ests that they both are invit- It was more fun to comment lighted to offer our services ed back to attend next year on what Sawyer set up , than to help. Between volunteers as professionals. try to turn it into a Heinlein Nasset and Slater, and David The panels we helped to Contʼd on Page Twenty

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Jun05NL 19 7/12/05, 5:43 PM panel. Discussion points noted Stanley Schmidtʼs April 2005 piece in Analog, not so oddly, since editor Schmidtʼs perceptive essay carefully analyses what Mr. Sawyer set up in that so well-deserved Hugo winner. This is what we must do in any panel for any conven- tion to which we are invited. Work within the system; honestly do the themes the convention wishes--mention Heinlein where appropriate, but donʼt monopolize; and sooner, rather than later, the nice folk in programming will allow us to do “pure” Heinlein panels ourselves. Which is what we were al- lowed with the new Heinlein Stealth Heroes panel we debuted there. Greg Bear, a very well-known author, joined us; and we displayed for the first time the letter we received from Richard Cham- bers who thirty-seven years ago, as an eighteen-year- old, wrote Mr. Heinlein to ask if he and a friend could stay with them during that yearʼs World Con in Oakland, California. As he finished writing, one horrible thought occurred to Richard: his friend was ethnic Chinese-- perhaps Mr. Heinlein would Robert Heinleinʼs October 14, 1968, letter to Richard Chambers object--it was the height of the Vietnam War and Mao The Heinleins were vaca- altogether that clear to first- was certainly helping Uncle tion travelling and did not time Heinlein readers. Ho, or it might be unwise to attend World Con that year; “I wrote one with a Negro have a Chinese guest in the but Robert Heinlein very pa- hero (TUNNEL IN THE SKY), exclusive neighborhood in tiently replied to this unusual ...”. which the Heinleins had so letter when he returned. The panel was quite a recently built their home. So The response, reproduced hit; and it was equally a hit he added a postscript mak- above, contains a clear refer- two months later when pre- ing Mr. Heinlein aware of ence to Roderick Walker, a miered on the other coast at that fact. character whose color is not Balticon!

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Jun05NL 20 7/12/05, 5:43 PM You are cordially invited ... to join the members of The Heinlein Society in cooperation with Cascadia Con, the 8th North American SF Con since 1975, for this year’s presentation of The Heinlein Award for outstanding published works of science fiction and fact that inspire humanity’s expansion into space.

Mr. Larry Niven and Dr. Jerry Pournelle have been chosen as the 2005 recipients for the body of their lifetime published works. The award will be presented at the Society’s annual banquet, held at Cascadia Con, on Sunday, September 4, 2005. Mr. Niven and Dr. Pournelle will attend in person.

Join the members of the Heinlein Award board of judges, Greg Bear, Michael Flynn, Joe Haldeman, Yoji Kondo, Elizabeth Moon, Spider Robinson, Stanley Schmidt, Herb Gilliland and John Hill in this event honoring a great man’s vi- sion and a great lady’s dedication to that cause.

Also featured at the evening’s banquet will be presentation of the Golden Duck Awards and the Seiun Awards by their respective sponsors.

Mr. Greg Bear will be the Toastmaster.

Cut Here Reception begins at 6 pm sharp! No host bar. Formal attire encouraged, but not required. Black tie optional. Sunday, September 4, 2005. Dinner is served at 7 pm. Awards will commence at about 7:45 pm. The Seattle Airport Hilton Hotel and Conference Center 17620 Pacific Highway South Seattle, Washington 98188 (one-quarter mile from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport)

Tickets are $45 (US) until August 28, 2005. Late reserva- tions will be sold on-site at Cascadia Con, or at the door, but may be sold at a premium depending on available space. R.S.V.P. with payment in advance payable to:

The Heinlein Society Attn.: The Heinlein Awards Dinner PO Box 1254 Venice, California USA 90294-1254 or use the PayPal method on the website page below: w w w . h e i n l e i n s o c i e t y . o r g / a w a r d d i n n e r . h t m l

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Jun05NL 21 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Board Of Directors Virginia Heinlein [1916-2003] A Non-Profit Corporation Charles N. Brown Bill Patterson PO Box 1254 Alan Milner Venice, California 90294-1254 Yoji Kondo www.heinleinsociety.org Joe Haldeman Jane Silver, Secretary-Treasurer David M. Silver, Chairman

Dear Prospective Member:

The Heinlein Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the intellectual and literary concerns, and social legacy, of Robert A. Heinlein. In addition to his main reputation as a science fiction writer and futurist, Heinlein during his lifetime tried to give worthy social causes a boost. The best way we can show our appreciation for his legacy is to PAY IT FORWARD. Some examples of projects already proposed for the Society (now pending tax-exempt charity status) are: continuing the series of blood drives he started; developing an educational curriculum using Heinleinʼs writing; sponsoring educational programs such as essay contests; keeping his books in libraries; sponsoring scholarly and literary work on Heinlein; and doing our best to promote space exploration. A complete list of the working sections already started is in the information part below. We will want to add more worthy projects as time goes by. Membership in the various working sections is not mandatory, but it is certainly encouraged. Also we want your ideas for working projects in the future! An annual Supporting Membership level is provided for students and those on fixed incomes who wish to support the work of The Heinlein Society. If you are interested in joining us in continuing the good work Robert Heinlein started, please fill out the application form below and mail it to The Heinlein Society, P.O. Box 1254, Venice, CA 90294-1254. Or visit our web site at http://www.heinleinsociety.org, where you may apply for membership by an online application form. For further information, please contact the Society at the above postal address or Internet E-mail via “[email protected].” Cut Here “I think the Heinlein Society is a fine idea. Robert would be proud of the way his Children have grown up.” -- Virginia Heinlein, October 2000. Detach Here for Application

Name: ______E-mail Address: ______

Street Address: ______Home Telephone: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip:______Work Telephone: ______

Annual Membership Dues Check Enclosed Regular Membership $35 ______*Supporting Membership: $15 ______[*Supporting membership is available only to students enrolled for a degree or certificate, or persons retired and on a limited income. It confers no eligibility to vote or hold Society office.]

I wish to join and work on the following projects (check as many as you wish): ______Membership ______Library support ______Scholastics-Academics ______Blood Drives ______Fund-raising ______Education (K-12th grades) ______Centennial Celebration of Robert Heinleinʼs Birth ______Aerospace Outreach

Other Projects I would like to see the Society become involved in: ______

______

Other Comments: ______

______

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Jun05NL 22 7/12/05, 5:43 PM Membership Services by Pam Somers

Work on our upgraded member package continues apace. Our ultimate goal for new member packages is to include a membership card, a membership certificate, and a short description of each committeeʼs activities. Membership cards are in stasis right now. Weʼd like to produce a high qual- ity plastic credit card type item; and Iʼve found a device that works like a printer, but prints on plastic stock. Balticon Stealth Heroes Panel, L to R: David Silver, Writer GOH Steve However, itʼs expensive Barnes, authors Michael Flynn and Yoji Kondo discuss Heinleinʼs use of women and minority lead characters long before writing fashion made ($1200-$1400). Iʼm await- their use “politically correct.” Photograph by Pamela Somers ing product samples before making a recommendation. people at local cons and invaluable to key people at In any case, itʼs cost-pro- expand our exposure. As a local cons who are as virginal hibitive just now unless we starting point, Iʼll be working as I was. find someone who wants to with Mike and others who At Balticon we debuted donate one. already have active contacts. a “Welcome to The Heinlein A Membership Certificate Also in the works: devel- Society” brochure, handing (“suitable for framing”!) is opment of a panel resource it out at the fan table and at nearing the final develop- package for participants who panels at which we partici- ment, and a phased-in mail- may not be familiar with the pated. It will be available for ing should begin within 30 to panels we do. This will be NASFiC. 60 days. A description of why we do blood drives has been submitted for approval and Iʼll be following up for input from other Chairs describing their activities. My experience over the past few months pulling together participation at Balticon, inspired another new project--an outline of a comprehensive package about “Conning a Con.” Our membership base is growing large enough that we should Norwescon Legal Systems in SF Panel, L to R: Harold Gross and Hugo be able to begin identifying Award writer Rob Sawyer discuss speculative systems of law in SF, in- key members in a number of cluding Sawyerʼs Hominids trilogy. David Silver, also on the panel, is places who can act as point missing from the photograph because he took it.

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Jun05NL 23 7/12/05, 5:43 PM “Some days we have nice dinners with a trustee at the Marina, But still, a few small things …” A few more words about a major area convention, to be event. Ginny didnʼt support Cascadia Con, as seriously and held in 2007 in Portland or San the notion of competition with forcefully as I can, I urge you: Jose, on the July 7th weekend, existing organizations in creat- please attend Cascadia Con this or with the locations of major ing The Heinlein Society; she September. We need everyone established events, such as the would be furious with one of of you to attend and help make likely 2007 NASFiC to be held the directors she appointed our efforts there a success. in St. Louis, Missouri, in early invoking a competing effort; We always need all the help August, within the same state, and she didnʼt appoint folk we can get on our committees. less than one month after July such as Charles N. Brown, Dr. We now have a Library Commit- 7th in Kansas City; or even with Yoji Kondo, or Joe Haldeman to tee chair, may shortly have both encourage the sort of competi- a full-time Education Commit- tive egoistic nonsense than can tee chair and a full-time Scho- easily enmesh this Society into lastic or Academic Committee fan politics, selfishness, resent- chair, now have a thoroughly ments, and quickly turn us into experienced Centennial chair just another fan club that ac- whose plans for The Centen- complishes little, if anything, nial Year will be announced at except ego gratification of a Cascadia Con in Seattle, but few people actively involved. we continue to seriously need I hope you support our ef- a Newsletter editor. We need forts to keep this Society on to build our working commit- track, and fully support Bob tees up in membership, with Grieve in his plans to include people able to help and keep all of our communities in cel- the Chairs from burning out. All ebrating The Heinlein Centen- our committee chairs work hard nial Year. Heʼs going to need to show we arenʼt just another help from all the membership, “fan club.” Let me know what from artists, writers, the entire you can do to help on any of SF industry, from aerospace our committees. and science, and from scholars About our Centennial plans: alike--from everyone interested there are two points to keep in fully celebrating The Heinlein in mind above all else. In the Centennial Year. And we need David Silver at to focus everything we do to words of Charles N. Brown, Trusteeʼs Dinner in April editor and publisher of Locus, help him. and our Societyʼs senior di- We need, especially, to focus the dates of Worldcon, Nippon rector, the first is this: “Rob- upon fund-raising. This year, 2007, in Yokohama, Japan, the ert Heinlein deserves more once again, the Prize Trust has 2007 Labor Day weekend. Fans than one single event in one announced a matching grant of are planning to attend, to help place on one weekend,” and up to $15,000 for every dol- present, and support all these we should begin the year of lar we raise. We should have no competing events; and they celebration with multiple ap- trouble, with your generosity. should never be placed in a pearances beginning at least Dig deep and give us what you position where they are forced by “... Boskone in February and can. The usual membership ap- to choose between them and continue throughout to the end plication is on page 22. Pass it celebrating the Centennial of of the year.” The second is at on to your friends. Robert Heinlein. least as, if not far more, impor- And weʼll see you in Seattle. That was why weʼd didnʼt tant. We must not compete with David M. Silver approve Mr. Pattersonʼs plans the dates or locations of other, President and Chairman back in August 2003 when he established fan events, whether “The Lieutenant expects pushed to have us approve a they be the dates of Westercon, your names to shine!” one-location, single weekend

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Jun05NL 24 7/12/05, 5:43 PM