Heinlein juveniles
Encyclopedia
"Heinlein juveniles" are the 12 novels written by Robert A. Heinlein
and published by Scribner's
between 1947 and 1958. The intended readership was teenage boys, but the books have been enjoyed by a wide range of readers. Heinlein had great respect for the children who read the books and was eager to present challenging material to them, such as the firearms for teenagers in Red Planet
. This led to "annual quarrels over what was suitable for juvenile reading" with Scribner's editors.
The series came to an end when Scribner's rejected Starship Troopers
in 1959, ending Heinlein's relationship with the company. He wrote, "I am tired of being known as a 'leading writer of children's books', and nothing else." Putnam soon published Starship Troopers.
In addition to the novels, Heinlein wrote two short stories about Scouting
for boys and three short stories with Puddin', a teenage female protagonist, for girls. Another novel, Podkayne of Mars
, is often classified as a juvenile, although Heinlein himself did not consider it to be one.
magazine Boys' Life
, were part of that effort. Farmer in the Sky, which also had a strong connection to Scouting, was serialized in Boys' Life under the title "Satellite Scout". Heinlein considered writing another Boy Scout story called "Polar Scout" in conjunction with a planned trip to Antarctica in early 1964, with the goal of releasing a collection of Scouting-related stories as a juvenile book. The trip did not take place and the author never wrote "Polar Scout".
Heinlein felt that a particular ending was dramatically necessary to the story, but early readers hated it, and he reluctantly changed it. The book has since been released with both the original published ending and Heinlein's original ending.
The table below does not list most of the collections of short stories
by Heinlein that have been published. Besides his many novels, Heinlein also wrote and published a huge number of short stories that were first published in the science fiction magazine
s and elewhere.
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...
and published by Scribner's
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
between 1947 and 1958. The intended readership was teenage boys, but the books have been enjoyed by a wide range of readers. Heinlein had great respect for the children who read the books and was eager to present challenging material to them, such as the firearms for teenagers in Red Planet
Red Planet (novel)
Red Planet is a 1949 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about students at boarding school on the planet Mars. It represents the first appearance of Heinlein's idealized Martian elder race...
. This led to "annual quarrels over what was suitable for juvenile reading" with Scribner's editors.
The series came to an end when Scribner's rejected Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
in 1959, ending Heinlein's relationship with the company. He wrote, "I am tired of being known as a 'leading writer of children's books', and nothing else." Putnam soon published Starship Troopers.
In addition to the novels, Heinlein wrote two short stories about Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
for boys and three short stories with Puddin', a teenage female protagonist, for girls. Another novel, Podkayne of Mars
Podkayne of Mars
Podkayne of Mars is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialised in Worlds of If , and published in hardcover in 1963...
, is often classified as a juvenile, although Heinlein himself did not consider it to be one.
The Scribner's juveniles
- Rocket Ship GalileoRocket Ship GalileoRocket Ship Galileo is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published in 1947, about three teenagers who participate in a pioneering flight to the Moon. It was the first in the Heinlein juveniles, a long and successful series of science fiction novels published by Scribner's...
, 1947 - Space CadetSpace CadetSpace Cadet is a 1948 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about Matt Dodson, who joins the Space Patrol to help preserve peace in the Solar System. The story translates the standard military academy story into outer space: a boy from Iowa goes to officer school, sees action and adventure,...
, 1948 - Red PlanetRed Planet (novel)Red Planet is a 1949 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about students at boarding school on the planet Mars. It represents the first appearance of Heinlein's idealized Martian elder race...
, 1949 - Between PlanetsBetween PlanetsBetween Planets is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialized in Blue Book magazine in 1951 as "Planets in Combat". It was published in hardcover that year by Scribner's as part of the Heinlein juveniles.-Plot summary:...
, 1951 - The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones (novel)The Rolling Stones is a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein....
aka Space Family Stone, 1952 - Farmer in the SkyFarmer in the SkyFarmer In The Sky is a 1953 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a teenaged boy who emigrates with his family to Jupiter's moon Ganymede, which is in the process of being terraformed. A condensed version of the novel was published in serial form in 1950 in Boys' Life magazine , under...
, 1953 - Starman JonesStarman JonesStarman Jones is a 1953 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a farm boy who wants to go to the stars. It was first published by Charles Scribner's Sons as part of the Heinlein juveniles series.-Plot summary:...
, 1953 - The Star BeastThe Star BeastThe Star Beast is a 1954 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a high school senior who discovers that his late father's extraterrestrial pet is more than it appears to be...
, 1954 - Tunnel in the SkyTunnel in the SkyTunnel in the Sky is a science fiction book written by Robert A. Heinlein and published in 1955 by Scribner's as one of the Heinlein juveniles. The story describes a group of students sent on a survival test to an uninhabited planet...
, 1955 - Time for the StarsTime for the StarsTime for the Stars is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published by Scribner's in 1956 as one of the Heinlein juveniles. The basic plot line is derived from a 1911 thought experiment in special relativity, commonly called the twin paradox, proposed by French physicist Paul Langevin...
, 1956 - Citizen of the GalaxyCitizen of the GalaxyCitizen of the Galaxy is a science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction and published in hardcover in 1957 as one of the Heinlein juveniles by Scribner's...
, 1957 - Have Space Suit—Will Travel, 1958
Scouting stories for boys
When he returned to writing after World War II, Heinlein sought to diversify beyond pulp science fiction. The "Boy Scout" stories, originally printed in the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
magazine Boys' Life
Boys' Life
Boys' Life is the monthly magazine of the Boy Scouts of America . Its targeted readership is young American males between the ages of 6 and 18.Boys' Life is published in two demographic editions...
, were part of that effort. Farmer in the Sky, which also had a strong connection to Scouting, was serialized in Boys' Life under the title "Satellite Scout". Heinlein considered writing another Boy Scout story called "Polar Scout" in conjunction with a planned trip to Antarctica in early 1964, with the goal of releasing a collection of Scouting-related stories as a juvenile book. The trip did not take place and the author never wrote "Polar Scout".
- "Nothing Ever Happens on the MoonNothing Ever Happens on the Moon"Nothing Ever Happens on the Moon" is a science fiction short story written by Robert A. Heinlein and published in April and May 1949 in Boys' Life, a magazine of the Boy Scouts of America, who jointly hold copyright with Heinlein, dated 1976...
", 1949 - "Tenderfoot in SpaceTenderfoot in Space"Tenderfoot in Space" is a short story by Robert A. Heinlein, serialized in Boys' Life magazine in May, June, and July 1958. The original working title was "Tenderfoot on Venus" when it was written in 1956. It was extensively cut according to orders by the magazine editor for its published form. ...
", 1958
Puddin' stories for girls
Upon delivery of one of his early juveniles, his editor at Scribner's commented that she wished somebody would write some stories for girls. Heinlein took this as a challenge and wrote a short story for girls. The story, a first-person tale featuring Maureen "Puddin'", appeared under the byline "R. A. Heinlein" in Calling All Girls magazine. He wrote two more, and planned four additional stories with the goal of publishing a collection titled Men Are Exasperating, but he never wrote any more and the Puddin' stories have never been collected in one volume.- "Poor DaddyPoor DaddyPoor Daddy is a short story written by Robert A. Heinlein. Unlike his usual output, it is not science fiction, but is intended as a modern story for young girls...
", 1949 - "Cliff and the Calories", 1950
- "The Bulletin Board", 1951
Podkayne
Heinlein wrote "I grew so fond of Maureen [Puddin'] that I helped her to get rid of that excess weight, changed her name to "Podkayne," and moved her to Mars (along with her unbearable kid brother)."Heinlein felt that a particular ending was dramatically necessary to the story, but early readers hated it, and he reluctantly changed it. The book has since been released with both the original published ending and Heinlein's original ending.
- Podkayne of MarsPodkayne of MarsPodkayne of Mars is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialised in Worlds of If , and published in hardcover in 1963...
, 1963, re-released 1995 with both endings
The table below does not list most of the collections of short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
by Heinlein that have been published. Besides his many novels, Heinlein also wrote and published a huge number of short stories that were first published in the science fiction magazine
Science fiction magazine
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard copy periodical format or on the Internet....
s and elewhere.