Universe was a 1941 story from Heinlein's Future History series (shown here in the 1951 Dell edition).

This article is about Robert A. Heinlein's Future History series. For other future histories, see Future history.

The Future History, by Robert A. Heinlein, describes a projected future of the human race from the middle of the 20th century through the early 23rd century. The term Future History was coined by John W. Campbell, Jr. in the February 1941 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Campbell published an early draft of Heinlein's chart of the series in the March 1941 issue.[1] Image File history File linksMetadata Universedell. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Universedell. ... Universe was a 1941 story from Heinleins Future History series (shown here in the 1951 Dell edition). ... Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... John Wood Campbell, Jr. ... Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ...

Heinlein wrote most of the Future History stories early in his career, between 1939-1941 and between 1945-1950. Most of the Future History stories written prior to 1967 are collected in The Past Through Tomorrow, which also contains the final version of the chart. That collection does not include Universe and Common Sense; they were published separately as Orphans of the Sky. The Past Through Tomorrow was a collection of Robert Heinleins famed Future History stories The stories, for the most part, follow the same storyline of a rapidly collapsing American sanity, followed by a theocratic dictatorship (If This Goes On. ... 1964 hardback edition Orphans of the Sky is a 1951 science fiction novella by Robert A. Heinlein, consisting of two parts: Universe and Common Sense. ...

The Future History was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966, along with the Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the Lensman series by E. E. Smith, the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov and The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien, but lost to Asimov's Foundation series. ^[1] The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ... A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, McClurg, 1917 Barsoom is a fictional version of the planet Mars owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc and invented by author Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. ... Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 – March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan, although he also produced works in many genres. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ... Gray Lensman in Astounding Oct. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Isaac Asimov (January 2?, 1920?[1] – April 6, 1992), IPA: , originally Исаак Озимов but now transcribed into Russian as Айзек Азимов) was a Russian-born American Jewish author and professor of biochemistry, a highly successful and exceptionally prolific writer best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. ... The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English academic J. R. R. Tolkien. ... John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE (January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973) was an English philologist, writer and university professor, best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. ...

Definition

For the most part, The Past Through Tomorrow defines a core group of stories that are clearly within the Future History category. However, Heinlein scholars generally agree that some stories not included in the anthology belong to the future history category, and that some included are only weakly linked to it.

James Gifford^[2] adds Time Enough for Love, which was published after The Past Through Tomorrow, and also "Let There Be Light", which was not included in The Past Through Tomorrow, possibly because the collection editor disliked it or because Heinlein himself considered it to be inferior. However, he considers Time Enough for Love to be a borderline case. He considers The Number of the Beast, The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset to be too weakly linked to the Future History to be included. Time Enough for Love is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1973. ... “Let There Be Light” a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein, originally published in Super Science Stories magazine in May 1940 under the pseudonym Lyle Monroe. ... Time Enough for Love is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1973. ... The Number of the Beast may refer to: the number 666, a biblical allusion to the Book of Revelation The Number of the Beast, a novel by Robert Heinlein The Number of the Beast, an album and song by Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast is the name of... Book cover The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1985. ... To Sail Beyond the Sunset is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1987. ...

Bill Patterson^[3] includes To Sail Beyond the Sunset, on the theory that the discrepancies between it and the rest of the Future History are explained by assigning it to the same "bundle of related timelines" in the World as Myth multiverse. However, he lists a number of stories that he believes were never really intended to be part of Future History, even though they were included in The Past Through Tomorrow: Life-Line (which was written before Heinlein published the Future History chart), The Menace from Earth, We Also Walk Dogs, and the stories originally published in the Saturday Evening Post (Space Jockey, It's Great to Be Back!, The Green Hills of Earth, and The Black Pits of Luna). He agrees with Gifford that "Let There Be Light" should be included. The story "--And He Built a Crooked House" was included only in the pre-war chart, and never since. To Sail Beyond the Sunset is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1987. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Menace From Earth is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... —We Also Walk Dogs is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... There have been many publications called the Saturday Evening Post; several were/are local British newspapers. ... Space Jockey is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Its Great to Be Back! is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... The Green Hills of Earth is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... The Black Pits of Luna is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein about a boy scout on a trip to the moon and his novel way of finding his lost brother. ... “Let There Be Light” a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein, originally published in Super Science Stories magazine in May 1940 under the pseudonym Lyle Monroe. ...

The Heinlein juveniles do not hew closely to the Future History outline. Gifford states that "Although the twelve juvenile novels are not completely inconsistent with the Future History, neither do they form a thorough match with that series for adult readers. It is not often recognized that they are a reasonably consistent 'future history' of their own... At least one major story specified in the Future History chart, the revolution on Venus, ended up being told in the framework of the juveniles as Between Planets."^[4] The novel Variable Star, written by Spider Robinson from Heinlein's detailed outline, incorporates some elements of both the Future History (e.g., references to Nehemiah Scudder) and the universe of the Heinlein juveniles (e.g., torch ships and faster-than-light telepathic communication between twins). The adult short story The Long Watch, generally considered to be a Future History story, connects to Space Cadet through the character of (John) Ezra Dahlquist, the central characer of the first, memorialized in the second.^[5] Heinlein juveniles is a phrase that collectively refers to the twelve novels written annually by Robert A. Heinlein and published by Scribners between 1947 and 1958. ... Between Planets is a 1951 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. ... Most stars are of almost constant luminosity. ... Spider Robinson (born November 24, 1948 in New York City) is a Canadian science fiction writer. ... If This Goes On— is a science fiction short novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published as part of the book Revolt in 2100. ... The Long Watch is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Space Cadet is a 1948 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about Matt Dodson, who joins the Space Patrol that keeps the peace in the solar system. ...

Chronology

The following is a chronology of the Future History. Years are included (where known) to indicate when each story takes place within the narrative timeline. Stories that were planned but never written are noted; see explanatory comments below.

The anthology The Past Through Tomorrow was meant to collect all the Future History stories that were less than novel length.

• Life-Line (1939 in the original published version, 1951 in book collections)
• "Let There Be Light" (soon after Life-Line)

Word Edgewise (Never written)

• The Roads Must Roll
• Blowups Happen
• The Man Who Sold the Moon
• Delilah and the Space Rigger
• Space Jockey
• Requiem
• The Long Watch (1999)
• Gentlemen, Be Seated!
• The Black Pits of Luna
• "It's Great to Be Back!"
• "—We Also Walk Dogs"
• Searchlight
• Ordeal in Space
• The Green Hills of Earth

Fire Down Below (Never written)

• Logic of Empire
• The Menace from Earth

The Sound of His Wings (Never written)

Eclipse (Never written)

The Stone Pillow (Never written)

• "If This Goes On—"
• Coventry
• Misfit

Universe, prologue only (2119)

• Methuselah's Children (2136-2210)
• Universe
• Common Sense
• Time Enough for Love (4272- and earlier time periods)
• To Sail Beyond the Sunset

Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... The Past Through Tomorrow was a collection of Robert Heinleins famed Future History stories The stories, for the most part, follow the same storyline of a rapidly collapsing American sanity, followed by a theocratic dictatorship (If This Goes On. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... “Let There Be Light” a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein, originally published in Super Science Stories magazine in May 1940 under the pseudonym Lyle Monroe. ... The Roads Must Roll is a 1940 science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein about wide, rapidly moving passenger platforms (like moving sidewalks, but much faster). ... Blowups Happen is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Cover of Shasta edition collection The Man Who Sold the Moon is a science fiction novella by Robert A. Heinlein written in 1949 and first published on February 23,1951, part of his Future History of stories sharing a common background from Life-Line to Da Capo. This story, which... Delilah and the Space Rigger, a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein, is arguably one of the best feminist works of fiction ever written by a male author. ... For other uses, see Space Jockey (disambiguation). ... Requiem is a short story by Robert A. Heinlein, serving as a sequel to his short science fiction novel, The Man Who Sold the Moon. ... The Long Watch is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Gentlemen, Be Seated! is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein about a visit to a tunnel on the surface of the moon which goes awry when a pressure seal fails, trapping two men. ... The Black Pits of Luna is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein about a boy scout on a trip to the moon and his novel way of finding his lost brother. ... Its Great to Be Back! is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... —We Also Walk Dogs is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Searchlight is a very short science fiction story by Robert A. Heinlein about a little blind girl whose spaceship crashes on the moon. ... Ordeal in Space is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... The Green Hills of Earth is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Logic of Empire is a short science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. ... The Menace From Earth is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. ... If This Goes On— is a science fiction short, yet still really, really boring, novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published as part of the book Revolt in 2100. ... Coventry is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein and part of his Future History series. ... Misfit is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein about Andrew Jackson Libby, in this story called Pinky, a boy from Earth with extraordinary mathematical ability and meager education who joins a crew creating a permanent outpost in the Jovian asteroids. ... Methuselahs Children is a 1941 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. ... 1964 hardback edition Orphans of the Sky is a 1951 science fiction novella by Robert A. Heinlein, consisting of two parts: Universe and Common Sense. ... 1964 hardback edition Orphans of the Sky is a 1951 science fiction novella by Robert A. Heinlein, consisting of two parts: Universe and Common Sense. ... Time Enough for Love is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1973. ... To Sail Beyond the Sunset is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1987. ...

Stories never written

The chart published in the collection Revolt in 2100 includes several unwritten stories, which Heinlein describes in a postscript. Fire Down Below, about a revolution in Antarctica, would have been set in the early 21st century. Three more unwritten stories fill in the history from just before Logic of Empire in the early 21st century through the beginning of "If This Goes On—". The Sound Of His Wings covers Nehemiah Scudder's early life as a television evangelist through his rise to power as the First Prophet. Eclipse describes independence movements on Mars and Venus. The Stone Pillow details the rise of the resistance movement from the early days of the theocracy through the beginning of "If This Goes On—". Revolt in 2100 is an anthology of a science fiction short novel and two short stories by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1953. ... Logic of Empire is a short science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. ... If This Goes On— is a science fiction short, yet still really, really boring, novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published as part of the book Revolt in 2100. ... If This Goes On— is a science fiction short, yet still really, really boring, novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published as part of the book Revolt in 2100. ...

References

1. ^ Asimov, Isaac (1994). I. Asimov: A Memoir. ISBN 0-553-56997-X. 
2. ^ Gifford, James (2005-03-29). The RAH FAQ. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.; Gifford, Robert A. Heinlein: A Reader's Companion, 2000, p. 11-16
3. ^ usenet posting on rec.arts.sf.written, 10/19/06 07:15, "Re: definition of Heinlein's Future History"
4. ^ Gifford, Robert A. Heinlein: A Reader's Companion, 2000, p. 24
5. ^ Gifford, p. 116

Isaac Asimov (January 2?, 1920?[1] – April 6, 1992), IPA: , originally Исаак Озимов but now transcribed into Russian as Айзек Азимов) was a Russian-born American Jewish author and professor of biochemistry, a highly successful and exceptionally prolific writer best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ...

External links

• A review of the Future History by Robert Wilfred Franson
• A timeline of the Future History by Alberto Monteiro
• A review of the Future History by Galen Strickland at The Templeton Gate
• A copy of the timeline of the Future History published in The Past Through Tomorrow at The Templeton Gate

Robert A. Heinlein novels, major collections, and nonfiction (Bibliography)

Future History and World as Myth: Methuselah's Children (1958) • The Past Through Tomorrow (1967) • Time Enough for Love (1973) • The Number of the Beast (1980) • The Cat Who Walks Through Walls (1985) • To Sail Beyond the Sunset (1987) Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress cover The science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) was productive during a writing career that spanned the last 49 years of his life and thus the Robert A. Heinlein bibliography includes 32 novels, 59 short stories and 16 collections published during his... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Pantheistic solipsism is a technical term that has been advanced for the World as Myth idea proposed by science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein in several of his books and stories, although the concept has nothing in common with either Pantheism (the universe is God) or Solipsism (nothing exists but... Methuselahs Children is a 1941 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. ... The Past Through Tomorrow was a collection of Robert Heinleins famed Future History stories The stories, for the most part, follow the same storyline of a rapidly collapsing American sanity, followed by a theocratic dictatorship (If This Goes On. ... Time Enough for Love is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1973. ... The Number of the Beast is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1980. ... Book cover The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1985. ... To Sail Beyond the Sunset is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1987. ... Scribner's juveniles: Rocket Ship Galileo (1947) • Space Cadet (1948) • Red Planet (1949) • Farmer in the Sky (1950) • Between Planets (1951) • The Rolling Stones (1952) • Starman Jones (1953) • The Star Beast (1954) • Tunnel in the Sky (1955) • Time for the Stars (1956) • Citizen of the Galaxy (1957) • Have Space Suit—Will Travel (1958) Heinlein juveniles is a phrase that collectively refers to the twelve novels written annually by Robert A. Heinlein and published by Scribners between 1947 and 1958. ... Rocket Ship Galileo is a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein in which boys build a rocket ship in their backyard and take it to the moon. ... Space Cadet is a 1948 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about Matt Dodson, who joins the Space Patrol that keeps the peace in the solar system. ... Red Planet is a 1949 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein about students at boarding school on Mars. ... Farmer In The Sky is a 1950 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a boy who emigrates to Jupiters moon Ganymede, which is in the process of being terraformed, and who creates a farm out of gravel. ... Between Planets is a 1951 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. ... The Rolling Stones (also published under the name Space Family Stone in the United Kingdom) is a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein June 1, 1952, Atheneum, library binding, ISBN 0684923033 June 13, 1985, Del Rey, paperback reissue edition, 256 pages, ISBN 034532451X May 12, 1977, Del Rey, paperback... Starman Jones is a 1953 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a farm boy with an eidetic memory who wants to go to the stars. ... The Star Beast is a 1954 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein about a high school senior who discovers that his late fathers extra-terrestrial pet is more than it appears to be. ... Tunnel in the Sky is a science fiction book written by Robert Heinlein and published in 1955. ... Time for the Stars is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1956. ... Cover: 1987 Del Rey paperback Citizen of the Galaxy is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1957. ... Have Space Suit—Will Travel is a juvenile science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialised in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (August, September, October 1958) and published by Scribners in hardcover in 1958 as the last of the Heinlein juveniles. ... Other novels: For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs (1939/2003) • Beyond This Horizon (1942) • Sixth Column (1949) • The Puppet Masters (1951) • Double Star (1956) • The Door into Summer (1957) • Starship Troopers (1959) • Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) • Podkayne of Mars (1963) • Glory Road (1963) • Farnham's Freehold (1965) • The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966) • I Will Fear No Evil (1970) • Friday (1982) • Job: A Comedy of Justice (1984) • Variable Star (1955/2006) For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs is a 1939 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published for the first time on November 28, 2003. ... Beyond This Horizon is a 1942 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Sixth Column, also published under the title The Day After Tomorrow, is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, set in a United States that has been conquered by a foreign invader. ... In 1951, Robert A. Heinlein published a science fiction novel, The Puppet Masters, in which American secret agents battle parasitic invaders from outer space. ... When two stars are so nearly in the same direction as seen from Earth that they appear to be a single star to the naked eye but may be separated by the use of telescopes, they are referred to as a double star. ... The Door into Summer is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, published in 1957. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Starship Troopers Starship Troopers is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published (in abridged form) as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (October, November 1959, as Starship Soldier) and published hardcover in 1959. ... Stranger in a Strange Land is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1961. ... Podkayne of Mars is a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein published in 1963, about a teenage girl named Podkayne and her little brother, an antisocial genius, who leave their home on Mars to take a trip on a spaceliner to see Venus and Earth, accompanied by their uncle. ... Glory Road is a fantasy novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1963. ... Farnhams Freehold is a science fiction tale set in the near future by Robert Heinlein. ... The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress cover The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a lunar penal colonys revolt against rule from Earth. ... I Will Fear No Evil is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1970. ... Friday is a 1982 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Job: A Comedy of Justice is a novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1984. ... Most stars are of almost constant luminosity. ... Nonfiction: Take Back Your Government (1946/1992) • Tramp Royale (1954/1992) • Expanded Universe (1980) • Grumbles from the Grave (1989) Take Back Your Government!: A Practical Handbook for the Private Citizen Who Wants Democracy to Work was an early work by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Tramp Royale is a nonfiction travelogue by science fiction writen Robert A. Heinlein, describing how he and his wife went around the world by ship and plane in 1953-1954. ... The full title of this book by Robert A. Heinlein is Expanded Universe, The New Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein, copyright 1980 by Heinlein. ... Grumbles from the Grave contains an assortment of bits of writing by Robert Heinlein, edited by his wife Virginia Heinlein, published a year and a half after his death. ...