I could state that the theme of the story is that death is the only destination for all of us and that the only long-range hope for any adult lies in the young-and that this double realization constitutes growing up, ceasing to be a child and putting away childish things. But I can’t say it that baldly, not in fiction, and it seemed to me that I needed Poddy’s death to say it at all. If Poddy gets to have her cake and eat it too (both marriage and star-roving), if that little monster, her brother, gets off unscathed to continue his clever but asocial career, if their mother gets away with neglecting her children’s rearing without having it backfire on her-then the story is just a series of mildly adventurous incidents, strung together.
March 23, 1962: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
I understand and appreciate, I think, your remarks about Cezanne and his black outlines-but this is an endless problem for me with no easy solution. If I preach overtly, I get complaints from Ginny, you, the editor, and in time the readers…and I’m all too prone to preach. In this book, Poddy, I’m limited by what Poddy herself would say-which is perhaps just as well!!!
May 9, 1962: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
Please tell Peter Israel of Putnam’s that I will tackle the revision he wants very shortly, say about the first of the week. I have one other job to finish first. I still have strong doubts about the artistic and dramatic necessity of a happy ending on this story-but I’ll do my damndest.
May 20, 1962: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
Neither editor liked my title and I did not [like] either of their suggestions. I have suggested to Pohl [Frederik Pohl, editor of If\ Podkayne of Mars, which suits him. If it does not suit Mr. Israel I hope that he will suggest one which all three of us can agree on, as I prefer to have magazine, version and book carry the same title if possible.
The new kittens are two weeks old and fat and healthy. A hawk or an owl got Ginny’s ducks.
May 25, 1962: Lurton Blassingame to Robert A. Heinlein Beautiful job on the revision.
CHAPTER V
* ‘; THE BEST LAID PLANS
PUBLIC SPEAKING
August 15, 1968: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
I have given both these bids considerable thought. As you know, I do not like speaking dates, but on the other hand, I realize that I must accept some of them, especially those from librarians. This time the matter is further complicated by the fact that both bids come via Scribner’s (not my current publisher) and, while one group offers to pick up the tab, the other group asks Scribner’s to do so-and Scribner’s has agreed to do so.
I do not want Scribner’s to pick up the tab. After long thought I have concluded that I do not want any publisher ever to pick up the tab when I make a trip to speak; I would much rather see a publisher spend money to advertise and distribute my books than to have promotion money spent on airfares and hotel bills for the author.
So I have finally arrived at this policy, which I now present to you for comment and (I hope) approval. From here on I will continue to avoid speaking dates when possible except speaking dates involving librarians. With respect to their bids, I will accept them if possible in such cases and only such cases as the group which wishes to have me appear wants me badly enough to pay my travel and hotel expenses plus a nominal fee of, let us say, fifty dollars.
WRITING PLANS
November 19, 1945: Robert A. Heinlein to Lurton Blassingame
…My particular talent is for the prophetic novel, i.e., the novel laid in the future, perhaps only a few years in the future but nevertheless in the future. I have no objection to doing contemporary fiction and am open to advice, but there is this one thing which I do especially well. There is a book market for it and at least a limited slick market for it. I believe that the slick market for it will be much greater than before the war, primarily because of atomics. I think people will want to be told what to expect in the coming atomic age. I have notes for many, many stories; do you want to discuss stories with me ahead of time, or shall I just go ahead and write?