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A review by morgandhu
The Menace from Earth by Robert A. Heinlein
3.0
The stories collected in The Menace from Earth can be divided loosely into two groups. Some of the stories are part of the Luna City cycle, including the story that gives the collection its name. In these stories, one sees the same focus on the spirit of exploration as in the other stories set in this particular timeline and frequently set in, or referencing, Luna City, most if which are collected in The Green Hills of Earth. Some of the stories - “ Columbus Was a Dope,” “The Menace from Earth,” - show Luna City as a well established habitat, with its own full culture, serving as a cradle for further exploration, while “Skylift” focuses on the downsides and the dangers of a space-faring society.
In addition to the Luna City cycle stories, the collection contains several stand-alone stories, including some of Heinlein’s best known short fiction - “The Year of the Jackpot,” “By His Bootstraps,” and “Goldfish Bowl.” These stories, and the two lesser known tales “Water is for Washing” and “Project Nightmare” interestingly enough, do share a common theme of menace - from the sun, from the waters, from the skies, from the future, from other humans.
Rereading these short stories reminds me of Heinlein’s great versatility, and of how very good a writer he was, and how modern his work still feels today, despite his being in many ways a man of his time. So many sf short stories of the period lack in characterisation, or use language in ways that feel forced, overwrought, or insufficiently nuanced upon rereading. Heinlein ages well in many ways, even when the inevitable casual sexism and racism of the times is too much a part of the story to be set aside - though even then, it is important to note that Heinlein seems to have thought more about the social status and roles of women and people of colour than many other writers of his time, and he does his best to make them fully realised characters, and not just stereotypes, when he includes them in his writing.
In addition to the Luna City cycle stories, the collection contains several stand-alone stories, including some of Heinlein’s best known short fiction - “The Year of the Jackpot,” “By His Bootstraps,” and “Goldfish Bowl.” These stories, and the two lesser known tales “Water is for Washing” and “Project Nightmare” interestingly enough, do share a common theme of menace - from the sun, from the waters, from the skies, from the future, from other humans.
Rereading these short stories reminds me of Heinlein’s great versatility, and of how very good a writer he was, and how modern his work still feels today, despite his being in many ways a man of his time. So many sf short stories of the period lack in characterisation, or use language in ways that feel forced, overwrought, or insufficiently nuanced upon rereading. Heinlein ages well in many ways, even when the inevitable casual sexism and racism of the times is too much a part of the story to be set aside - though even then, it is important to note that Heinlein seems to have thought more about the social status and roles of women and people of colour than many other writers of his time, and he does his best to make them fully realised characters, and not just stereotypes, when he includes them in his writing.