I recently read through Heinlein’s Future History stories, collected in the book The Past Through Tomorrow. This is a big old tome, and collects 21 stories from short stories through to full novels. I thought it might be worth commenting very briefly on each one, as others may want to dip into the series. I think the publishing history and Heinlein’s idea to provide an overarching storyline for our future is quite interesting. I also thought it might be nice to have somewhere to discuss these stories and their larger story arc in one place
Life-Line (1939) – 20 pp short story
I enjoyed this, but it’s not essential for the timeline. More of interest as a very early Heinlein; first published in Astounding.
The Roads Must Roll (1940) – 38 pp novelette
This is a bit of a classic, and tells of a future union action that turns to violence. I’ve never been as fond of it as some anthologists, but it reads well. Heinlein on good form.
Blowups Happen (1940) – 48 pp novelette
This is strangely anachronistic, as very old stories can be if they take a stab at hard SF, as we now know atomic power doesn’t work quite the way Heinlein worried about, but it’s a well told story.
The Man Who Sold the Moon (1950) – 92 pp novella
Quote a long story, and a very good one. It’s many things: a good SF yarn, a study of a great but flawed genius, the use and misuse of money, greed and bullying, and the inevitability of ‘progress’.
Delilah and the Space-Rigger (1949) – 14 pp short story
This one is a bit, ‘meh’. It’s actually trying to rebut misogyny, but it’s so steeped in the sexism of the time, it hardly works these days. Not the best here.
Space Jockey (1947) – 18 pp short story
I had to look this up to try and remember it! Oh, yes it’s about a space pilot who ends up moving base to the moon. Kind of average, for Heinlein.
Requiem (1940) – 18 pp short story
This returns us to Harriman, the man who sold the moon, at the end of his life. It’s terrific; full of pathos and genuinely moving. Heinlein can really write.
The Long Watch (1949) – 14 pp short story
This is a nice story – and yet another where Heinlein is worrying about atomic power and atomic bombs. Nicely done and memorable.
Gentlemen, Be Seated (1948) – 10 pp short story
This is rather short, but it’s great! A moon disaster story.
The Black Pits of Luna (1948) – 14 pp short story
This is a juvenile, and it does read like one – the heroic protagonist is a young lad who needs to rescue his annoying sister. It’s okay, but not the best here.
"It's Great to Be Back!" (1947) – 18 pp short story
This is another classic that’s found in many anthologies. It is very good. The grass isn’t always greener, and appreciate what you have, etc.
"—We Also Walk Dogs" (1941) – 24 pp novelette
I really liked this, it works very well, and while the central SF idea (artificial gravity) is a bit silly, Heinlein casualty drops mobile phones into the plot – in 1941! The man was a genius.
Searchlight (1962) – 5 pp short story
Too short to be much. Okay; another moon rescue story.
Ordeal in Space (1948) – 27 pp short story
Okay; a man confronts his vertigo, gained in spce, with the aid of a cat. Quite nicely done. And I like stories with cats.
The Green Hills of Earth (1947) – 12 pp short story
A very well told story of the flawed man who authored the titular song. Art recreates the artist in its form, however accurate that may be.
Logic of Empire (1941) – 48 pp novella
Slavery and rebellion on Venus – which sounds odd these days, but Heinlein’s Future History is written in an old-school solar system. Rather good actually. I liked how the protagonist signed up for slavery when drunk!
The Menace from Earth (1957) – 26 pp novelette
This story is a strange one in a way – it’s nice enough, but almost seems like someone else wrote it. It’s not especially typical of Heinlein (it’s a bit of a romance). Not essential to the Future History plotting.
"If This Goes On —" (1940) – 136 pp novel
This really does read like a self-contained novel, albeit quite a short one. Its Heinlein’s imagining of how the US might turn into a far right Christian dictatorship, and the rebellion against it. The characters are good, and it’s well told. I’m surprised it’s not been published more prominently other than in these collections.
Coventry (1940) – 48 pp novella
I really liked this story – one of my favourites from the collection about a man literally being sent to ‘Coventry’ for thinking independently, while not appreciating how good he’s got it in his modern world.
Misfit (1939) – 22pp novelette
This is a short little piece, written before most of the other stories, but set later. It tells of a misfit genius who helps move an asteroid to create a space station.
Methusalah’s Children (1958) – 175 pp novel
This novel caps the collection. I’ve not actually read it yet, so will comment on it in due course – I plan to read it shortly. It marks the first appearance of Lazarus Long, the protagonist of Time Enough for Love, which also links the Future History with Heinlein’s later World as Myth novels.
Life-Line (1939) – 20 pp short story
I enjoyed this, but it’s not essential for the timeline. More of interest as a very early Heinlein; first published in Astounding.
The Roads Must Roll (1940) – 38 pp novelette
This is a bit of a classic, and tells of a future union action that turns to violence. I’ve never been as fond of it as some anthologists, but it reads well. Heinlein on good form.
Blowups Happen (1940) – 48 pp novelette
This is strangely anachronistic, as very old stories can be if they take a stab at hard SF, as we now know atomic power doesn’t work quite the way Heinlein worried about, but it’s a well told story.
The Man Who Sold the Moon (1950) – 92 pp novella
Quote a long story, and a very good one. It’s many things: a good SF yarn, a study of a great but flawed genius, the use and misuse of money, greed and bullying, and the inevitability of ‘progress’.
Delilah and the Space-Rigger (1949) – 14 pp short story
This one is a bit, ‘meh’. It’s actually trying to rebut misogyny, but it’s so steeped in the sexism of the time, it hardly works these days. Not the best here.
Space Jockey (1947) – 18 pp short story
I had to look this up to try and remember it! Oh, yes it’s about a space pilot who ends up moving base to the moon. Kind of average, for Heinlein.
Requiem (1940) – 18 pp short story
This returns us to Harriman, the man who sold the moon, at the end of his life. It’s terrific; full of pathos and genuinely moving. Heinlein can really write.
The Long Watch (1949) – 14 pp short story
This is a nice story – and yet another where Heinlein is worrying about atomic power and atomic bombs. Nicely done and memorable.
Gentlemen, Be Seated (1948) – 10 pp short story
This is rather short, but it’s great! A moon disaster story.
The Black Pits of Luna (1948) – 14 pp short story
This is a juvenile, and it does read like one – the heroic protagonist is a young lad who needs to rescue his annoying sister. It’s okay, but not the best here.
"It's Great to Be Back!" (1947) – 18 pp short story
This is another classic that’s found in many anthologies. It is very good. The grass isn’t always greener, and appreciate what you have, etc.
"—We Also Walk Dogs" (1941) – 24 pp novelette
I really liked this, it works very well, and while the central SF idea (artificial gravity) is a bit silly, Heinlein casualty drops mobile phones into the plot – in 1941! The man was a genius.
Searchlight (1962) – 5 pp short story
Too short to be much. Okay; another moon rescue story.
Ordeal in Space (1948) – 27 pp short story
Okay; a man confronts his vertigo, gained in spce, with the aid of a cat. Quite nicely done. And I like stories with cats.
The Green Hills of Earth (1947) – 12 pp short story
A very well told story of the flawed man who authored the titular song. Art recreates the artist in its form, however accurate that may be.
Logic of Empire (1941) – 48 pp novella
Slavery and rebellion on Venus – which sounds odd these days, but Heinlein’s Future History is written in an old-school solar system. Rather good actually. I liked how the protagonist signed up for slavery when drunk!
The Menace from Earth (1957) – 26 pp novelette
This story is a strange one in a way – it’s nice enough, but almost seems like someone else wrote it. It’s not especially typical of Heinlein (it’s a bit of a romance). Not essential to the Future History plotting.
"If This Goes On —" (1940) – 136 pp novel
This really does read like a self-contained novel, albeit quite a short one. Its Heinlein’s imagining of how the US might turn into a far right Christian dictatorship, and the rebellion against it. The characters are good, and it’s well told. I’m surprised it’s not been published more prominently other than in these collections.
Coventry (1940) – 48 pp novella
I really liked this story – one of my favourites from the collection about a man literally being sent to ‘Coventry’ for thinking independently, while not appreciating how good he’s got it in his modern world.
Misfit (1939) – 22pp novelette
This is a short little piece, written before most of the other stories, but set later. It tells of a misfit genius who helps move an asteroid to create a space station.
Methusalah’s Children (1958) – 175 pp novel
This novel caps the collection. I’ve not actually read it yet, so will comment on it in due course – I plan to read it shortly. It marks the first appearance of Lazarus Long, the protagonist of Time Enough for Love, which also links the Future History with Heinlein’s later World as Myth novels.
