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Heinlein Robert A Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
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Robert A. Heinlein Trivia

Robert A. Heinlein Trivia Quizzes

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One of the classic authors of Science Fiction, Robert Heinlein brought us 'Stranger in a Strange Land', 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress', and many other creations from his fertile imagination.
25 quizzes and 268 trivia questions.
1.
  "A Human Being should be able..."    
Fun Fill-It
 18 Qns
According to Lazarus Long
This quiz is about the famous quote from "Time Enough for Love" when Lazarus Long defined what a human should be able to do.
Very Easy, 18 Qns, Rowena8482, Feb 24 24
Very Easy
Rowena8482 gold member
Feb 24 24
135 plays
2.
  The Writings of Robert Heinlein    
Collection Quiz
 15 Qns
Robert Heinlein was a prolific author of science fiction for over fifty years. Do you know which of these books and short stories he wrote?
Average, 15 Qns, Rowena8482, Sep 28 23
Average
Rowena8482 gold member
Sep 28 23
98 plays
3.
  The Heinlein Juveniles   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Robert A. Heinlein began his career writing science-fiction adventure stories for young boys and girls. I'll give you a short description of the plot and you pick the title of the book.
Easier, 10 Qns, derickwjazz, Feb 16 13
Easier
derickwjazz
1335 plays
4.
  The Lives and Loves of Lazarus Long   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In accordance with my agreement with Ira Weatheral, the Chairman of the Howard Families, I am dictating some of my adventures into the computers of the Family Seat on Tellus Tertius. My memory is shot so you may have to help me. L.L.
Average, 10 Qns, derickwjazz, Jun 12 22
Average
derickwjazz
Jun 12 22
1352 plays
5.
  Robert Heinlein's Juveniles   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Although Robert Heinlein's more famous works tend to be adult oriented, he wrote a wonderful series of novels for young readers (juveniles) in the late 1940s and 1950s. Given the description, can you identify one of his great juveniles.
Average, 10 Qns, RollTidewinner, Mar 31 13
Average
RollTidewinner
244 plays
6.
  "The Number of the Beast"    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Heinlein strikes again. This novel marks the beginning of the Pan-Theological Multi-Person Solipsistic Universe, and the return of Lazarus Long.
Average, 15 Qns, JayInIndy, Feb 22 23
Average
JayInIndy
Feb 22 23
1291 plays
7.
  Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters"   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Earth has been invaded from space and the Government doesn't even believe it. It's up to a couple of secret agents to bring the truth to light and try to save the world.
Average, 10 Qns, derickwjazz, Apr 30 07
Average
derickwjazz
476 plays
8.
  Robert Heinlein's Future History I: "Life-Line"   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Robert A. Heinlein, arguably the greatest science fiction author of the twentieth century, wrote about two dozen short stories, novellas, and novels in a series called "Future History". This is about the first one, a short story called "Life-Line".
Average, 10 Qns, OofahLandian, Mar 23 15
Average
OofahLandian
138 plays
9.
  Future History II: "Let There Be Light"   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Robert Heinlein, arguably the greatest science fiction author of the twentieth century, wrote about two dozen stories in a series called "Future History". This is about the second in the series, a short story called "Let There Be Light".
Average, 10 Qns, OofahLandian, Mar 28 15
Average
OofahLandian
141 plays
10.
  Have Spacesuit - Will Travel   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Kip Russell dreamed of going to the Moon one day. He just didn't plan on being captured by invading aliens in order to get there. How much do you remember about his adventures?
Average, 10 Qns, derickwjazz, Oct 05 05
Average
derickwjazz
573 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What was the name of the company that sponsored the contest in which Kip won his spacesuit?

From Quiz "Have Spacesuit - Will Travel"




11.
  Weddings in Heinlein   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Robert A. Heinlein often wrote marriages into his stories - how many of this selection do you remember?
Average, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Jan 10 11
Average
Rowena8482 gold member
325 plays
12.
  Heinlein First Lines   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Can you say which of Heinlein's books they are, given the first line? (Where the book was retitled for the UK market, both titles are given)
Average, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Apr 25 08
Average
Rowena8482 gold member
693 plays
13.
  Future History III: "The Roads Must Roll"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Robert Heinlein, arguably the greatest science fiction author of the twentieth century, wrote about two dozen stories in a series called "Future History". This is about the third in the series, a short story called "The Roads Must Roll".
Average, 10 Qns, OofahLandian, Apr 05 15
Average
OofahLandian
137 plays
14.
  Double Star    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you remember about Robert A. Heinlein's novel of deception and political intrigue?
Average, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Aug 28 10
Average
Rowena8482 gold member
309 plays
15.
  Robert A. Heinlein's "Space Cadet"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"Space Cadet" is one of Robert A. Heinlein's first books in a career spanning six decades.
Average, 10 Qns, derickwjazz, Aug 07 10
Average
derickwjazz
493 plays
16.
  "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Heinlein at his best. See how well you remember this one.
Average, 10 Qns, JayInIndy, Aug 15 09
Average
JayInIndy
1233 plays
17.
  The Cat Who Walks Through Walls   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Dr. Richard Ames sets off on a series of adventures with Gwendolyn Novak. We meet up with lots of characters from Heinlein's other novels and watch as they once again save the multiverse.
Average, 10 Qns, rhysean, Nov 21 06
Average
rhysean
480 plays
18.
  "Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much can you remember about Bill and his father's adventures on Ganymede?
Tough, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Aug 08 10
Tough
Rowena8482 gold member
425 plays
19.
  Orphans of the Sky   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you remember from Robert Heinlein's story of the fate of the lost Proxima Centauri Expedition?
Tough, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Oct 14 07
Tough
Rowena8482 gold member
431 plays
20.
  A Martian Named Smith    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is all about the history of Robert A. Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land". No spoilers here.
Average, 10 Qns, Shadowmyst2004, Jul 31 16
Recommended for grades: 7,8,9
Average
Shadowmyst2004
255 plays
21.
  Robert A. Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Do you think you know a thing or two about "Starship Troopers"? Well, I don't, so take this quiz and prove me wrong.
Difficult, 10 Qns, Tuckett, Nov 06 16
Difficult
Tuckett
462 plays
22.
  Robert A. Heinlein's Life and Work    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
10 general questions on RAH.
Average, 10 Qns, damital2hl, Jun 25 12
Average
damital2hl
1380 plays
23.
  Tunnel In The Sky    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you remember about Rod Walker's survival test in this novel by Robert A. Heinlein?
Tough, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Feb 19 09
Tough
Rowena8482 gold member
427 plays
24.
  Heinlein Short Stories - First Lines    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Can you remember which of Robert Heinlein's short stories each of these first lines is from? (May include stories first published under pseudonyms)
Tough, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, May 17 09
Tough
Rowena8482 gold member
346 plays
25.
  Stranger in a Strange Land    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on Robert A. Heinlein's masterpiece novel - the story of a young human born and raised on the 'Red Planet'. The questions are pretty easy, so you should do well. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, myth_god, Mar 27 16
Average
myth_god
2229 plays
Related Topics
  Science Fiction [Literature] (215 quizzes)


Robert A. Heinlein Trivia Questions

1. "The Roads Must Roll" is a 1940 short story by Robert A. Heinlein that takes place around 1970. In the story, what means of transportation has taken the place of the automobile for many commuters?

From Quiz
Future History III: "The Roads Must Roll"

Answer: High-speed moving walkways

In "The Roads Must Roll", high-speed moving walkways are indeed used by commuters, with the walkways moving at speeds as high as 100 miles per hour. Flying cars, rocket propulsion, and space ships do not occur until later in the Future History Series. Interestingly, according to the final Future History chart produced by Heinlein, the story "Word Edgewise", which was never written, takes place in 1960 between "Let There Be Light" and "The Roads Must Roll".

2. Let us get the boring background question out of the way first before we get to the good stuff. You can do it! In which 1950 collection of Heinlein short stories did "Let There Be Light" first appear?

From Quiz Future History II: "Let There Be Light"

Answer: The Man Who Sold the Moon

Rated by many as one of the best Science Fiction books of 1950, "The Man Who Sold The Moon" contained a number of stories from the Future History collection, including the title story ("The Man Who Sold The Moon"), "Let There Be Light", "The Roads Must Roll", and "Life-Line", the subject of my first Future History quiz. "Let There Be Light" was originally published in 1940 in the magazine "Super Science Stories". In the magazine version, Heinlein used the pseudonym Lyle Monroe.

3. At the start of the story, Dr. Pinero is being questioned by what organization?

From Quiz Robert Heinlein's Future History I: "Life-Line"

Answer: The Academy of Science

The Academy of Science is questioning (and for the most part blindly discrediting) Pinero for his wild claims. It is implied that Amalgamated Life Insurance is responsible for this invitation to be ridiculed, but no official representative individual was present. The Inquisition does not truly come into play in Heinlein's future histories until the novel "If This Goes On-", which takes place many years later.

4. Heinlein's original manuscript for the book was heavily edited when it was released. After his death an uncut version of the book was released in what year?

From Quiz A Martian Named Smith

Answer: 1991

The working title for the book was "A Martian Named Smith". Heinlein once gave a speech at a science fiction convention that concluded with "besides who ever heard of a Martian named Smith?"

5. Ross, Art, and Morrie all help to build a rocket ship to the moon. What is this Heinlein novel that ends up with the boys taking on Nazis and discovering an ancient lunar civilization?

From Quiz Robert Heinlein's Juveniles

Answer: Rocket Ship Galileo

"Rocket Ship Galileo" (1947) may be the weakest of his novels for juveniles, and the Nazi bit reads a little old today. However, this book shows his early ability to focus on science and a step-by-step plausible (for his day) plot. It is a fun yarn. Interestingly, this novel was supposedly rejected for the crazy idea of going to the moon.

6. In "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", Manuel 'Manny' Garcia O'Kelly and his spouses take a new wife, named after one of the States of America, into their "line marriage". Who is she?

From Quiz Weddings in Heinlein

Answer: Wyoming Knott

First published in 1966, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" introduced the sentient 'computer person' Mycroft Holmes, known as Mike. It is also the novel in which Heinlein coined the phrase TANSTAAFL - There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

7. Out of work actor The Great Lorenzo is hired to double for kidnapped politician John Joseph Bonforte. What is Lorenzo's real name?

From Quiz Double Star

Answer: Lawrence Smythe

Bonforte is due to be adopted into the most prestigious family nest on Mars. If he does not show up for the ceremony, years of trust and co-operation between humans and Martians will all have been for nothing, and there may even be a war between the races.

8. What is Juan Rico's ethnicity?

From Quiz Robert A. Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"

Answer: Filipino

Rico and a fellow trooper are loosely discussing history when he makes a comment in his native tongue. Rico explains that he has just spoken Tagalog, the language of Philippine Islanders.

9. Which Heinlein short story opens with the line "Americans are considered crazy anywhere in the world."?

From Quiz Heinlein Short Stories - First Lines

Answer: And he Built a Crooked House

"And he Built a Crooked House" was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine, in February 1941. It also appeared in the collection "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag" published in 1959. It is set in Laurel Canyon, Hollywood, California, where apparently they "keep the violent cases"...

10. Which school does Rod attend?

From Quiz Tunnel In The Sky

Answer: Patrick Henry High

Rod is taking the Advanced Survival course in High School even though he could graduate without it as it is technically a College course. He wants to work for the Colonial Service, leading expeditions of settlers to new planets as they are opened up for colonisation.

11. What year did the ill-fated expedition set off from Earth?

From Quiz Orphans of the Sky

Answer: 2119

The Proxima Centauri Expedition was sponsored by the Jordan Foundation, and was a massive colony ship designed to spend several generations en route to a new world suitable for colonisation.

12. When Bill is worried or upset he tries to imagine his mother talking to him. What does he hear her say?

From Quiz "Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein

Answer: 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.

13. What was the name of the company that sponsored the contest in which Kip won his spacesuit?

From Quiz Have Spacesuit - Will Travel

Answer: Skyway soap

Kip had sent in an entry with the winning slogan on it but someone else's entry arrived before his. As a consolation prize he was sent an authentic spacesuit made by Goodyear and used in the building of a space station.

14. Dr. Richard Ames is having dinner with his companion when a stranger asks him to kill a man. Who is the man he is asked to kill?

From Quiz The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Answer: Tolliver

"Tolliver must die by noon Sunday or we'll all be dead!"

15. Dr. Jacob Burroughs, Dr. D.T. Burroughs, Captain Hilda Burroughs. Who is missing?

From Quiz "The Number of the Beast"

Answer: Zebadiah John Carter

Zebidiah John Carter, owner of Gay Deceiver. Master swordsman, master pilot.

16. What was the full name of the Man from Mars?

From Quiz Stranger in a Strange Land

Answer: Valentine Michael Smith

17. In Heinlein's "Life-Line", Dr. Pinero invents a machine that will accurately predict what?

From Quiz Robert Heinlein's Future History I: "Life-Line"

Answer: When a person will die

The machine would accurately predict when a person would die, and as such Professor Pinero became an instant enemy of the life insurance industry, which tried to stop him from profiting from the device. Interestingly, in another much later Future History story, the novel "Methuselah's Children", Lazarus Long explains how he had gone to see Professor Pinero for his services, only to be told that the machine was apparently malfunctioning. I will not ruin that novel for you, so if you do not understand why this is interesting, it is time to pick up the book!

18. In their song "Friends", what band referenced the book?

From Quiz A Martian Named Smith

Answer: The Police

"Friends" was written by Andy Summers and released on the B-side of "Don't Stand So Close to Me".

19. Jim and his Martian "pet" Willis find themselves going to boarding school. What is this Heinlein novel that hinges on Jim spreading the word about a secret government plot that will endanger his family's existence on Mars?

From Quiz Robert Heinlein's Juveniles

Answer: Red Planet

Not to be confused with the 2000 movie of the same name, "Red Planet" (1949) was Heinlein's third juvenile novel. It involves some of the themes that Heinlein liked to focus upon, including gun rights, government interference, revolution, and possibly his original version of Mars for his later novel "Stranger In a Strange Land". One of his better efforts, it shows a Mars that is slowly dying but still has some oxygen, Martians, plant life, and canals. A new revised version of "Red Planet" was released after Heinlein's death in order to put out a version that was closer to Heinlein's original intentions. The publishing house Scribner had an editor named Alice Dalgliesh who battled with Heinlein about the content of his novels. You can read more about these battles in the book "Grumbles from the Grave."

20. Oscar Gordon answers a job vacancy ad in the newspaper and ends up employed as a bodyguard to the beautiful and mysterious Star. After they are married, he finds out she has a 'secret job' that she never told him about; what is her job?

From Quiz Weddings in Heinlein

Answer: Empress of the Universe

Oscar is hired as a Hero, to protect Star on her quest to retrieve a stolen "Soul Egg" containing the memories of one of the previous Emperors. You can read their adventures in "Glory Road" which was first published in 1963.

21. Who is the spaceman who originally contacts Lorenzo, in the bar?

From Quiz Double Star

Answer: Dak Broadbent

Dak is at first reluctant to tell too many details of the job, but soon realises he can, and must, trust Smythe to do the right thing, and be able to carry off the impersonation of Bonforte.

22. Most troopers donned this suit of armor.

From Quiz Robert A. Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"

Answer: Marauder

Powered armor gives the Mobile Infantry the ability to move faster, hit harder, and survive longer in environments that would kill the unprotected man. When you have spaceships that can traverse stellar distances in a lifetime it's really ignorant to equip your soldiers with Twentieth Century technology. Dragoon, Fusilier, and Guerrilla are not the names of armored suits.

23. "'Heel Nixie,' the boy said softly, 'and keep quiet'". Which short story by Robert Heinlein opens with this line?

From Quiz Heinlein Short Stories - First Lines

Answer: A Tenderfoot in Space

Also titled "Tenderfoot on Venus", this story was first published in "Boy's Life" May - July 1958, and in "Requiem", published in 1991.

24. If he had arrived without a certain piece of equipment Rod would have been failed before he even set off for the test. Which piece was it?

From Quiz Tunnel In The Sky

Answer: "Baby Bunting" survival suit

Rod is in two minds but takes along his suit anyway. He plans that he can always dump it if it is unnecessary, even though he would be sorry to lose it. When he arrives and checks in, Deacon Matson says he will mail it home for Rod as he won't need it, except that he would have failed had he not brought it.

25. "If a man walks in dressed like a hick and acting as if he owned the place, he's a spaceman." Which Heinlein novel is this the opening line to?

From Quiz Heinlein First Lines

Answer: Double Star

When the politician Bonforte is kidnapped just hours before the most important interplanetary treaty in history must be signed, an obscure actor is hired to step in and cover for him. The day, and the treaty with Mars, are saved, but when Bonforte is assassinated, the one week job becomes a lifetimes commitment for the Great Lorenzo. "Double Star" was serialised in "Astounding Science Fiction" in February, March and April 1956, and won a Hugo Award.

26. The name of the leader of the mutineers has been passed down in folklore through the survivors as the 'Devil' - they invoke him to scare small children and curse each other. What was his name?

From Quiz Orphans of the Sky

Answer: Huff

'Huff' is the scariest thing the survivors know - he is the Devil, the bogeyman, and the thing that goes bump in the night to them. Over the years, as the story of the mutiny has become garbled, he has metamorphosed into an all powerful symbol of Evil.

27. What is the name of the ship that takes the settlers to Ganymede?

From Quiz "Farmer in the Sky" by Robert A Heinlein

Answer: 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.

28. Juan decides to join the military after high school and ends up in the Mobile Infantry. Earth is being attacked by an alien race called "Bugs" and it is their job to go in and destroy the Bugs on their home planet.

From Quiz The Heinlein Juveniles

Answer: Starship Troopers

Juan Rico reluctantly joined the military in order to impress his classmate, Carmen Ibanez, who went on to become a starship pilot. During the course of his service he was promoted, demoted and promoted again, eventually commanding his own squad, Rico's Roughnecks. He also found out that his dad had joined the MI after Buenos Aires was destroyed by the Bugs in their first attack on Earth where his mother died.

29. What type of pills does Sam take in order to extend his subjective time when trying to enjoy a short leave?

From Quiz Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters"

Answer: 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.

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