The influence of Robert Heinlein on Gene Wolfe
From LOCUS magazine:
http://www.locusmag.com/2007/Issue08_Heinlein.html
comes this observation from Gary K. Wolfe:
From a writing point of view, that’s Heinlein as a set of techniques, what Amelia told us is called “Heinleining” in SF writers’ workshops. That is something you need to do in an SF story, something you usually don’t need in a non-science fiction story, and something you might do historical fiction. Bruce Sterling was one of those writers who internalized Heinlein at a very early age. You look at a Sterling story, say “The Blemmye’s Stratagem” (set in North Africa in the 12th century), and it’s technically developed like a Heinlein story. He puts you into this universe, but he doesn’t explain anything about it. Also Gene Wolfe’s Soldier of Sidon books: Gene Wolfe has internalized Heinlein to the extent that when he sets out to write a historical fantasy, he introduces the setting in the way Heinlein would have. What Gene did, particularly in Shadow of the Torturer, was to take the Jack Vance future and “Heinlein” it — in effect, providing the archaeology that enables you to see how this radically alienated future came about. Which makes Gene Wolfe the bastard son of Heinlein and Jack Vance. And Damon Knight was the midwife.
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
