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Index : H : Heinlein, Robert A. Encyclopedia FunTrivia

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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information

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Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

    Heinlein, Robert A.

    Who is the pilot of the 'Junebug'?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Captain Hattie. Captain Hattie is a law unto herself; she is the only pilot of the only shuttle ship and what she says more or less goes!

    Who is Bill's step-sister?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Peggy. Peggy is younger than Bill and a girl, but he is forced to concede she is "okay." Sadly, she is unable to adapt to the low pressure atmosphere of Ganymede and dies before arrangements can be made to send her back to Earth.

    Which Heinlein hero mentions that he was promoted to corporal seven times in "Glory Road"?Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work (damital2hl)

      Oscar "Scar" Gordan. Johnny Rico, Manuel Garcia O'Kelly, and Jubal Harshaw are from "Starship Troopers", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", and "Stranger in a Strange Land", respectively.

    Which city did Sam help infect with aliens while he was being controlled by a slug master?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Washington D.C.. The membership of the Constitution Club "read like Who's Who in Finance, Government, and Industry." Sam Cavanaugh infected a member with a puppet master and with his aid infiltrated the Club to "recruit" more members. This was not voluntary recruitment however.

    Where was the aliens' home "planet"?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Titan. Titan is the largest moon of Saturn, the only satellite in the solar system known to have clouds and a dense atmosphere. It was discovered by Christiaan Huygens in 1655. It is named for the Titans, in Greek myth the children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth). Earth sent an expedition there to eliminate them.

    Where did Sam have a cabin that he and Mary spent their honeymoon at?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Adirondacks. The cabin was maintained in Sam's absence by Old John, or John the Goat who also took care of the cat, Pirate. Unfortunately Old John was infected with a slug which transfered to Pirate and then to Mary in an attempt to retake Sam.

    When Bill is worried or upset he tries to imagine his mother talking to him. What does he hear her say?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Stand tall Billy.. Bill's mother Jane died some years before the story opens, but he always tries to do what he feels she would have wanted him to do.

    When Bill is stricken with appendicitis, how does he make it back to town in time to be operated on?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      They use the alien transport device. They figure out how to use the alien "walker" machine in the nick of time and get Bill to hospital for his operation just in time to save his life.

    When Bill goes out with the survey expedition, what position does he hold?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Cook. Bill goes along as cook on the expedition, and is soon dubbed "Doctor Slop" by the other members.

    When Bill details the terraforming project's beginnings for the reader, how big was the equivalent 'block of ice needing to be melted' to provide enough oxygen for the settlers to be able to breathe unaided on Ganymede?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      160 feet on a side. In order to get it clear how much energy was needed to terraform Ganymede, Bill calculates it in terms of ergs, BTUs and then a block of ice 160 feet on a side. The amount of matter they split into hydrogen and water in their converter would, if reconverted to ice, cover the whole planet in a layer 20 feet thick.

    What was the orginization that Sam and Mary worked for called?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      The Section. Not much was said about the orginization of The Section except that the Old Man reported directly to the President of the United States and was on a first name basis with him. Even so, he was not immune to the red tape that plagues all bureaucracies.

    What was Sam's birth name?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Elihu. With Mary Cavanaugh and Andrew Nivens (his boss and his father), he discovered that the saucer was real, and that it had brought intelligent parasites to Earth to take over the population. Although briefly taken over by a puppet master himself, he played a major role in defeating the invasion. He seldom used his real name, Elihu Nivens, during the mission, preferring the alias that he adopted when he first visited the saucer landing site.

    What was Mary's birth name?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Allucquere. She was born into the Whitmanites (her original name was Allucquere) and emigrated to Venus with her family, where the entire community had been taken over by puppet masters and mostly kept in suspended animation until needed as hosts; Mary spent ten years suspended. The puppet masters, and all human hosts except Mary, died in an epidemic of nine-day fever. Mary was found by Venus colonials and adopted into a mining colony. Her recollection of these events under hypnosis provided a means to destroy the infestation of puppet masters on Earth.

    What was Heinlein's third wife's name?Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work (damital2hl)

      Virginia. Virginia Heinlein died January 18, 2003. The Boston Globe reported that "she became the model for many of the red-haired and seemingly improbably talented women in Mr. Heinlein's stories." Joan Eunice Smith was a character from "I Will Fear No Evil". Estelle was the Empress from "Glory Road". Deejah Thoris was a Martian princess in Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter stories, and RAH borrowed the name for a character in "The Number of the Beast".

    What was Heinlein's first published story?Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work (damital2hl)

      Life-Line. RAH earned $70 for "Life-Line", published in "Astounding" August 1939.

    What was finally used to defeat and kill the aliens?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Nine-Day Fever. Nine-day fever is a Venerian disease fatal to nearly all humans, but even more quickly fatal to puppet masters. It was used to destroy the puppet masters after a cure was developed for humans. Schedule Mercy was an operation to administer the antitoxin for nine-day fever after the disease had killed off the puppet masters.

    What type of pills does Sam take in order to extend his subjective time when trying to enjoy a short leave?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Tempus Fugit. Apparently a derivative of hashish, it is used to make your subjective time seem much longer than the real time around you. Sam would use these in order to make a 24 hour leave seem like a week. Although they aren't habit forming Sam does admit to liking the mild euphoria that is produced as a by-product.

    What is the name of the ship that takes the settlers to Ganymede?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Mayflower. The Mayflower was originally built to be a 'long distance' ship heading out to distant stars. When a new drive system was invented she became obsolete and was commandeered to transport colonists to Ganymede.

    What do the settlers call Mr Schultz?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Johnny Appleseed. "Poppa" Schultz is the proud owner of the only tree on Ganymede, an apple tree. He gives all his friends apples so that they can grow trees too. When the line-up disaster occurs it is his tree, used as fuel, that saves his family and livestock from freezing to death.

    What creature were the survival students warned against in "Tunnel in the Sky"?Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work (damital2hl)

      stobor. The stubor was fictional, a ploy to keep the students alert during the survival test. The students, after the nova kept them on the exercise planet longer than expected, assigned the name stubor to an animal they formerly called "dopey joes" when the creatures became suddenly vicious. Thanks go to JediMasterAJ for spotting an error in the question. It has been corrected.

    Welcome to the Academy. During your training you will learn what it takes to become a Space Cadet and the responsibilities that go with that title. You there! The one they call Matt. What is your full name?Robert A. Heinlein's "Space Cadet" (derickwjazz)

      Matthew Brooks Dodson. Matt is a native of Des Moines, Iowa, who became an Interplanetary Patrol cadet. After completing his training he was assigned to the Aes Triplex with two friends and appointed assistant astrogator and hydroponics worker. He and the other two cadets were sent to Venus to investigate a distress call from a civilian craft. There they straightened out a political crisis caused by a former classmate and discovered the Astarte, the first Earth ship to Venus which had been lost on its first voyage there.

    We've been dispatched to Venus to attempt the rescue of a civilian craft and to quench a possible native uprising. Now, the Venerians are a strange people but friendly. One of the differences is that there is one type of Venerian you will never see. Do you remember which one that is?Robert A. Heinlein's "Space Cadet" (derickwjazz)

      Males. Smaller than humans, the natives of Venus were described by humans as resembling frogs or seals; they were bipedal, amphibious, and nonmammalian. Their society was completely matriarchal; outsiders never saw males. They were ruled by a strict set of customs and taboos, and were scientifically advanced. They were not given to violence but were able to defend themselves against aggression.

    We first meet Sam and Mary as they prepare to investigate a report of a UFO landing in Iowa. What relationship to each other did their cover require them to be?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Brother and Sister. Sam wasn't too keen on this relationship since he quickly developed a crush on Mary. This crush soon blossomed into a full-fledged romance.

    The settlers are amazed by the plentiful food when they arrive on Ganymede. What is the only thing that they are asked not to waste as it is 'rare' there?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      salt. There is a little sign on the shaker saying "Don't waste the salt" as it has to be brought all the way from Earth. To the settlers, fresh from the ever decreasing rations on Earth, the abundance of food on Ganymede is miraculous.

    The only bees on Ganymede live in one of the agriculture sheds; which one?"Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein (Rowena8482)

      Oahu. The bees are very precious, literally worth their weight in gold, and are carefully looked after. They are kept in the shed as it is pressurised to normal Earth pressure. This means the bees can fly. At the time of the story, the air pressure on Ganymede is too low for them.

    The "Notebooks of Lazarus Long" appear in which Heinlein novel?Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work (damital2hl)

      Time Enough for Love. The "Notebooks" are a collection of sayings spanning simple advice on where to keep beer to rules for dealing with anarchists to thoughts on pacifism (he was against it).

    Once you have completed your training you will become members of the largest peacekeeping force in this system. Who can tell me the name of this organization?Robert A. Heinlein's "Space Cadet" (derickwjazz)

      Interplanetary Patrol. The Interplanetary Patrol is a military/civil service organization that patrols the space lanes and also monitors the system of H-bombs that orbit the planets to prevent any one government from committing aggression against others.

    Now that you've been aboard the training ship for a while you should have had time to find your way around easily. Corridor 5 on "A" Deck is an area where you and your fellow cadets get together to socialize and, I understand, have put together a small musical band. What do you call this area again?Robert A. Heinlein's "Space Cadet" (derickwjazz)

      Hog Alley. Hog Alley was known for the carefree conduct of its inhabitants. Among other things, they organized the Hog Alley Band from the musically-inclined cadets assigned to the corridor. The Hog Alley People's Forum was a group of the older cadets, who informally took charge of the new cadets.

    Mr. Jarman! Or may I call you Tex like your friends do? I've heard about this uncle of yours that you talk so highly of. Seems rather incredible to me that he is capable of all the escapades you claim he's been involved in. What is his name?Robert A. Heinlein's "Space Cadet" (derickwjazz)

      Uncle Bodie. According to Tex, Uncle Bodie wasn't afraid of anything or afraid to try anything. Why, he even once rode a twister, bareback!

    Mary was born into a religious sect that had been driven out of Canada and parts of America. What was the name of this cult?Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters" (derickwjazz)

      Whitmanites. Anarchist-pacifist sect evicted from Canada; their settlement failed in Little America, and the survivors emigrated to Venus. They used an artificial language, even for personal names. The Venus colony was infested with puppet masters; both masters and hosts died in an epidemic of nine-day fever; Mary was the only survivor.

    Many of Heinlein's early stories and longer works were linked by common events and characters to form what?Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work (damital2hl)

      future history. Some of Heinlein's later work, such as "The Number of the Beast", fits into something called "The World as Myth" which postulates an infinite number of universes, many shaped by writers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Heinlein, Robert A.

    • What were the feelings of Ayn Rand and Robert Heinlein towards one another during their lifetime? Did they ever come into contact with each other? ( goto )


    • In 'Time Enough for Love' by Robert Heinlein what is the combination that Lazarus Long entered into the chastity belt he put around the slaver's waist when he bought Estrellita? ( goto )


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    • In culinary terms, what is Robert? ( goto )


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    • Robert Burns day. I am assuming it is celebrating the life of Robert Burns. If not tell me and if so who is he? ( goto )


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    • Robert E. Lee was forced to surrender to Grant in what city? ( goto )


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