Robert A. Heinlein

In 1910, when Heinlein was only 10, he saw Halley’s Comet. It started an obsession with far away galaxies. By the time he was 16, he had read all the science fiction works by H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. At 32, having been medically discharged from the army because of tuberculosis, Heinlein began to publish his own science fiction stories. His works analysed the effects of technology on mankind. His first science fiction story, Lifeline, was written for a magazine contest that offered $50 for the best science fiction story from an unknown writer.

Heinlein eventually sold his story to Astounding Stories, who paid him $70 and published it in 1939. He was such a prolific short story writer that he used to have several articles published at the same time, in the same magazine edition. He used many pseudonyms, including Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, John Riverside, Caleb Saunders and Simon York.

At first, Heinlein dedicated himself to writing science fiction stories for children. In 1959, he wrote Starship Troopers, a story that was labeled as anti-communist. After that, he began writing for more mature audiences, analysing controversial subjects like cloning and religion. Among his most popular books, many of which have been made into films and cartoons, are Glory Road and Stranger in the Strange Land.