Heinlein Centennial
Encyclopedia
The Heinlein Centennial Convention was held in Kansas City
from July 6 through July 8, 2007, coincident with the 100th anniversary of Robert A. Heinlein
's birth on July 7, 1907.
The only actual "Guests of Honor" were Robert and Virginia Heinlein
, in absentia and deceased. The keynote speakers were:
Many notable science fiction authors were also in attendance, including Spider and Jeanne Robinson
, David Gerrold
, Frederik Pohl
, and John Scalzi
.
The event was held in the adjoining Crown Center Hyatt Regency and Westin hotels, which are linked by a Habitrail
-like transparent pedestrian tube called "The Link".
.
Some programming began on the evening of July 5 with selections of Heinlein's biography read by his official biographer, William Patterson.
Saturday evening featured a gala of entertainment including a rare video greeting from Sir Arthur C. Clarke
in Sri Lanka
, one of the last he recorded before his death the following year.
The centennial also hosted two ongoing conferences at the same venue: The annual Campbell Conference
and the Science Fiction Research Association
Conference, where both presented their awards. The winners of the awards were brought to Kansas City and were honored in a joint evening event on Friday evening.
The Campbell Conference
topic for Saturday's round-table discussion was, "Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, and 21st Century Science Fiction."
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
from July 6 through July 8, 2007, coincident with the 100th anniversary of Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
's birth on July 7, 1907.
The only actual "Guests of Honor" were Robert and Virginia Heinlein
Virginia Heinlein
Virginia "Ginny" Heinlein , born Virginia Doris Gerstenfeld, was the third wife of Robert A. Heinlein, a prominent and successful author once known as one of the "Big Three" of science fiction .Born to George and Jeanne Gerstenfeld, Virginia was raised in Brooklyn and had one brother, Leon...
, in absentia and deceased. The keynote speakers were:
- Michael D. GriffinMichael D. GriffinMichael Douglas Griffin is an American physicist and aerospace engineer. From April 13, 2005 to January 20, 2009 he served as Administrator of NASA, the space agency of the United States...
, administrator of NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research... - Brian BinnieBrian BinnieWilliam Brian Binnie is a former United States Navy officer and is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites.-History:...
, pilot of SpaceShipOne on its X-Prize-winning flight - Peter DiamandisPeter DiamandisDr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
, founder of the X-Prize - Jeff GreasonJeff GreasonJeff Greason is a founder of XCOR Aerospace, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation , was the team lead at Rotary Rocket for engine development, and previously worked at Intel....
, CEO of XCOR Aerospace - Patricia G. Smith, Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation within the Federal Aviation AdministrationFederal Aviation AdministrationThe Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
Many notable science fiction authors were also in attendance, including Spider and Jeanne Robinson
Spider Robinson
Spider Robinson is an American-born Canadian Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author.- Biography :Born in the Bronx, New York City, Robinson attended Catholic high school, spending his junior year in a seminary, followed by two years in a Catholic college, and five years at the State...
, David Gerrold
David Gerrold
Jerrold David Friedman , better known by his pen name David Gerrold, is an American science fiction author who started his career in 1966 while a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. He was invited to submit several premises, and the one...
, Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
, and John Scalzi
John Scalzi
John Michael Scalzi II is an American author and online writer, and president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He is best known for his Hugo Award-nominated science fiction novel Old Man's War, released by Tor Books in January 2005, and for his blog , at which he has written...
.
The event was held in the adjoining Crown Center Hyatt Regency and Westin hotels, which are linked by a Habitrail
Habitrail
Habitrail, a product made by the Hagen corporation, is a series of translucent plastic tubes and "houses" for use in home terrariums, designed especially for small pets such as mice or hamsters. The design of the Habitrail is modular and can be configured however the owner likes, as well as...
-like transparent pedestrian tube called "The Link".
Programming Notes
The program included a track devoted to space travel with emphasis on commercial endeavors, since Heinlein is revered by many in the private space community, notably for his book The Man Who Sold the MoonThe Man Who Sold the Moon
The Man Who Sold the Moon is a science fiction novella by Robert A. Heinlein written in 1949 and published in 1950. A part of his Future History and prequel to "Requiem", it covers events around a fictional first Moon landing, in 1978, and the schemes of Delos D...
.
Some programming began on the evening of July 5 with selections of Heinlein's biography read by his official biographer, William Patterson.
Saturday evening featured a gala of entertainment including a rare video greeting from Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, one of the last he recorded before his death the following year.
The centennial also hosted two ongoing conferences at the same venue: The annual Campbell Conference
Campbell Conference (science fiction)
The Campbell Conference is an academic science fiction event put on yearly by the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas. The Campbell Conference is the concluding event of the CSSF Writers Workshop in Science Fiction and the Novel Writers Workshop in Science Fiction,...
and the Science Fiction Research Association
Science Fiction Research Association
The Science Fiction Research Association , founded in 1970, is the oldest, non-profit professional organization committed to encouraging, facilitating, and rewarding the study of science fiction and fantasy literature, film, and other media...
Conference, where both presented their awards. The winners of the awards were brought to Kansas City and were honored in a joint evening event on Friday evening.
The Campbell Conference
Campbell Conference (science fiction)
The Campbell Conference is an academic science fiction event put on yearly by the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas. The Campbell Conference is the concluding event of the CSSF Writers Workshop in Science Fiction and the Novel Writers Workshop in Science Fiction,...
topic for Saturday's round-table discussion was, "Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, and 21st Century Science Fiction."