Full Transcript: Mike Griffin at the Heinlein Centennial

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/911/2

I read the full transcript at the URL above and if you haven't, I think
you would find it informative.

The subject of science fiction and books has been mentioned in several
of my posts and we snipped some of the material about Heinlein's
writings before and I have done so again below. Mike Griffin has some
thoughts on what comes first - science fiction then science fact, or
science fact that inspires new science fiction, or do they play along
side each other, complementing and reinforcing each other.

What do you think?
- LRK -

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http://www.thespacereview.com/article/911/1
Griffin, Heinlein, and spaceflight
by Jeff Foust
Monday, July 16, 2007

Snip
On the link between science fiction and the public's interest in space -

So, a question that has often been asked and that I've asked myself is,
"Was the growth of science fiction as a genre and hard science fiction
in particular, a response to the cultural zeitgeist or was it a cause of
it"?

I think in all such questions, there is an inevitable chicken-and-egg
effect, one sponsors the other in a reinforcing loop. But, I think that
if asked that, when I have been asked that, I often said that I think
the growth of science fiction helped to create the cultural matrix in
which we saw the advancements that we saw in aerospace in the 50's and
60's, more so that than the other way around.

I mean, American kids had for generations been raised on boyhood stories
of people who accomplished themselves in difficult arenas. There was
Jack Armstrong, all-American boy, and Tom Swift and then later Tom Swift
Jr. and Rick Brant and other things that maybe many of you, like me,
read as kids. We celebrated the accomplishments of great people and
people were acknowledged to be great people.

So, in science fiction literature, Tom Swift, I think, led inevitably to
Asimov, Clarke, and inevitably Heinlein. And if asked, I would say that
I think that Asimov painted the broadest canvas and Clarke was the best
technician. But Heinlein was the guy that put you there. Heinlein's
literary skills combined with his technical knowledge put you there, in
a way that no one else did and, frankly, that not even the best in my
opinion have done since. I enjoy reading science fiction to this day,
and my own opinion would be that I've not seen Heinlein's equal at
putting you there...
Snip
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I like the thought that science fiction might help create a cultural
matrix in which we could see real science play out. You get people
thinking that what if - as you begin to see what is. A lot of folks can
read the books even if they can't take part in the actual experience.
It makes it okay to say that we will go back to the Moon, and then
contemplate what we will do there.

I listened to the radio - and my mind filled in the pictures.
You read a book - and your mind fills in the pictures.
They are part of your own creation and you are participating in the
adventure.

So let us hear it for the great science fiction stories that you have read.

Let me know what you like, past and present.
Will see if we can put together a list that might be of interest to
those that missed some, like I did.

Never too late to dream the dream, then go out and make it happen.
There is that twinkle in your eye and the corners of your mouth turn up
in a smile.
You know, this might just work, now if I just......

I don't recommend hanging your test rocket inside the garage to see if
there is ANY thrust from you home made gunpowder.
(didn't understand the need for a nozzle)
Tends to burn holes in the sleeping bags that are airing out on the
garage floor.
Never mind, iron on patches will cover all those little burn spots.
Mom thought it was quiet for too long and came to see what I was doing.
Seem to have some blank spots in my memory. :-)

Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update

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Space News As It Happens
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http://www.rvt.com/~lucas/heinlein/booklist.html
A List of Heinlein's Published Works

Here is a (hopefully) complete list of Robert A. Heinlein's works, in
alphabetical order. For a chronological list with notes, see the FAQ.
If the title of a book has a link, follow it to see the cover of the book.
For the compilations, click on "contents" to see what stories can be found where.

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http://www.rvt.com/~lucas/heinlein.html

Well, I'm sorry to say that this site is now a little out of date.
Although it has unfortunately been so for quite some time, the recent
release of a new Heinlein novel, For Us, the Living, and the creation of
a new Heinlein-related web site, The Heinlein Society, have underscored exactly how outdated
and incomplete some of the information here has become. I have
considered removing my page entirely, at least until I could fix some of
the big issues, but I really don't want to to that, as some of the
information here is still good. But be warned that for the newest
information, you're far better off looking at some other sites. See my
Links section to get
to some of those sites.
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http://www.heinleinsociety.org/index.html
The Heinlein Society exists to preserve the legacy renowned writer
Robert Anson Heinlein left us in novels, essays, speeches, and short
stories that remain as fresh as ever. We need your help to do it.

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http://www.sfsite.com/scribe/scribe01.htm
SF Site
Welcome to the most comprehensive directory of science fiction, fantasy
and horror writers on the Web. We are constantly updating this site as
new authors appear, and as fans post informative sites devoted to their
favorite writers. Authors are listed alphabetically by last name. If you
know of any sites which should be included, be sure to let us know.
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http://www.sfsite.com/home.htm
SF Site Home
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_authors
List of science fiction authors

Note that this partial list contains some authors whose works of
fantastic fiction would today be called science fiction, even if they
predate, or did not work in that genre. There is also a considerable
overlap with the List of fantasy authors, since many
authors are equally comfortable with both genres, and in any case some
works deliberately combine the two or blur the distinction.
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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