2010-08-16 19:55:24.999226+00 by petronius 5 comments
Interesting notes about a new in-depth biography of the master, Robert Heinlien. Apparently he got into the sex stuff early, with his second wife having an affair with L. Ron Hubbard, and their getting introduced to a Crowleyist sex-majick enthusiast. I guess Valentine Michael Smith had to be inspired by something, as did Nehemiah Scudder.
[ related topics: Erotic Sexual Culture Scientology Heinlein Marriage ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2010-08-16 21:00:31.791226+00 by: meuon
I loved Heinlien. As a teen and young adult his writings were important and mind-opening. Much later and after some very mind-opening personal experiences and life changes, I re-read "Stranger in a Strange Land" and a couple of others. They reminded me that I was once younger and differently minded, but the lacked the seminal importance of my youth they once had.
Reading about panels where matters of "His" personal beliefs may/may not be interpreted from his writings (article linked above). I discover that there are many people whome still need to evolve past Comicon panels and explore the wide open world themselves. At least the panels weren't a Klingon Opera as well.
Get laid and download a life (not to anyone in particular.. just those that need it)
Although if a preacher gets elected in 2012 (N. Scudder)... which just may happen, Heinlien will become the prophet of the age.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-08-17 12:46:20.019226+00 by: Dan Lyke
I've wondered about how much of the shift in how I view re-reading Heinlein, or The Magus, is changes in me, or in the wider culture that I'm reflecting. I kinda think there's a general cultural shift. There's lots of talk about "hookup" culture, but:
Young people—which is never defined but I'm assuming we're talking 25 and older if not 21 and under—are having sex with less frequency than the generation that came before them. I tell this to my students and it blows their minds since they just assume sexual activity amongst teens is on a linear progression upwards but nope, the trend has been towards less, not more, sexual activity.
And I've been erroneously quipping that the term "Free Love" was coined with its current meaning in the '70s... the 1870s, but it was apparently actually the 1850s (Handbook of the Oneida Community). Cultural attitudes towards sex and community flow in waves, and I'm thinking there's actually a similar set of ebbs and flows surrounding politics and spirituality.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-08-18 16:12:45.203226+00 by: other_todd
Someday someone is going to do an analysis of how not just Heinlein's writings but his entire worldview changed when he met Virginia, and whether this was a good or bad thing. I'd do it, but I don't write about Heinlein anymore; every time I do, my friends pigpile me. It's become like writing about Ayn Rand: No matter what position you take on her, someone is going to react vehemently all over your nice clean clothes.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-08-19 19:12:50.155226+00 by: petronius
Every Generation thinks they invented sex.
#Comment Re: made: 2010-08-19 20:12:57.887226+00 by: Dan Lyke
And as my grandfather appended to that statement, "... they're wrong: we did."