Aman Siddiqui

Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science fiction author. Often called the dean of science fiction writers, Heinlein was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. He raised the bar for scientific and engineering plausibility in science fiction and elevated the literary quality of the genre. In the 1940s, he was one of the first to successfully break into mainstream magazines like The Saturday Evening Post with hard science fiction. In the era of contemporary mass-market publishing, he was among the first to produce science fiction novels that became bestsellers. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke were long considered science fiction's 'Big Three'. Heinlein's science fiction frequently explored social themes such as the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the duties of individuals to society, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the suppression of dissenting thought by society. He also dealt with the relationship between physical and emotional love, unusual family relationships, and the impact of space travel on cultural practices. His unconventional treatment of these topics led to his works being interpreted in vastly different, sometimes contradictory ways. For example, his 1959 novel *Starship Troopers* was interpreted as an apologia for militarism, even fascism, while the novel contains numerous passages demonstrating the rigidity and folly of pure militarist thinking. Conversely, his 1961 novel *Stranger in a Strange Land* led to him being unexpectedly viewed as a precursor to the sexual revolution and counter-culture movements, and popularized concepts like polyamory or responsible polygamy. Heinlein won four Hugo Awards for his novels. Fifty years after their publication, three more novels received Retro Hugo Awards for years in which the award had not been given. He was also the first recipient of the Science Fiction Writers of America's Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. After his death, his wife, Virginia Heinlein, compiled his letters and notes into a sort of autobiographical career retrospective, published in 1989 as *Grumbles from the Grave*. Some terms and words Heinlein used in his works, such as 'grok', 'TANSTAAFL', and 'waldo', later became part of the English language. His first story, 'Life-Line', was published in 1939.