Lousy Prophet

I have read that Heinlein was a lousy prophet. His so called future history stories tell of technological wonders that the present times have shown to poor predictions. The moving roads in the story The Roads Must Roll are one such example. However, whereas these guesses as to the technological development in this future are false the story itself is true. All good stories are based on the truth which has nothing to do with the physical world. Aesop’s Fables are a fine example of this. Outside of animated shows animals don’t talk, yet these (people) always told true stories. People are people the world over and throughout history and will behave in certain ways regardless of the technology present. The pioneer spirit is real whether the mode of transportation is covered wagons to the unexplored west or space ships to new planets. The truth doesn’t change. Humanity is always sailing into the unknown. As I have written before and in all likelihood shall again I am not speaking of what Heinlein meant to say with his stories, I don’t know. However if one wanted to tell a fully accurate story speculative fiction would be a poor choice. These, and in fact all socially motivated science fiction stories are using metaphor to bring certain aspects of human nature to the forefront.

In his story Ordeal in Space Heinlein shows us an acrophobic in a more severe circumstance, hanging from a bridge is frightening, hanging above eternity much more so. As I have a rather extreme fear of heights myself I can relate to the “truth” of this story.

In Life Line a technological advancement allows for people to know the time of their death. This to the best of my knowledge is still fiction. However, what of those who have had a diagnosis of a terminal illness? Have they not been told when their life line will end? So I think that this story is true as well.

In Blowups Happen a fictional nuclear power plant causes stress induced psychosis in its operating personnel. The mechanics of the plant turned out to be false but the human reactions to extreme stress are very much true.

I don’t think Heinlein was trying to predict anything. I think he was only interested in telling true stories which he did brilliantly. 

   We each favor our version of what we find exiting. A childhood friend liked Louis L’Amour. Fictionalized western history was what he found appealing. Not for me. I will take a space ship over a horse any day. Nonetheless cowboys or spacemen or even aliens will help us understand ourselves in the “true” stories they tell.

Sincerely yours

The Rational Anarchist