To Sail Beyond the Sunset is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1987. It was his last novel when he died in 1988; several books by the author were published posthumously, including a full novel; a collaborative novel is currently (Nov-04) being written by Spider Robinson as noted in more detail at the author page. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential authors in the science fiction genre. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Spider Robinson was born as Paul Robinson on November 24, 1948 in New York City. ...

It is the last of the 'Lazarus Long' set of books, involving time travel, parallel dimensions, free love, voluntary incest, and a concept that Heinlein named pantheistic solipsism - the theory that universes are created by the act of imagining them so that somewhere (for example) the Land of Oz is real. It can easily be considered the capstone to the series, as it ends on a note very suggestive of an epic's finale. Disambiguation: For Prince Lazarus Long, please see New Utopia article Lazarus Long is a fictional character featured in a number of science fiction novels by Robert A. Heinlein. ... Oz is an imaginary region containing four countries under the rule of one monarch. ...

Its title is a line from the poem Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The complete sentence of which is a part is as follows: Ulysses is poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, written in 1833 but not published until 1842. ... Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (August 6, 1809 - October 6, 1892) is generally regarded as one of the greatest English poets. ...

... my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars, until I die.

Opinion is divided among science fiction fans as to whether this and other late Heinlein novels are brilliant, creative and original, or simply the wish-fulfillment of a man in his second childhood. At least one assertion has been made, in some detail and with references, that the book is intended as Heinlein's intentional grand joke poking fun at the entire genre of speculative fiction. Speculative fiction is an all-encompassing term which includes science fiction, alternative history (fiction), horror and fantasy. ...

Other books in this set include Methuselah's Children, The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, The Number of the Beast, and Time Enough For Love. Methuselahs Children is a 1941 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. ... Book cover The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1985. ... Book cover The Number of the Beast is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1980 (ISBN 0-44-913070-3). ... Time Enough for Love is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1973. ...

External link

• To Sail Beyond the Sunset (http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pw.cgi?af4096) publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database