{"id":5611,"date":"2023-04-02T22:30:02","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T03:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/?p=5611"},"modified":"2023-04-05T18:55:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T23:55:54","slug":"writer-j-daniel-sawyer-pays-tribute-to-heinlein-in-fiction-non-fiction-and-praises-the-prometheus-awards-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/writer-j-daniel-sawyer-pays-tribute-to-heinlein-in-fiction-non-fiction-and-praises-the-prometheus-awards-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Writer J. Daniel Sawyer pays tribute to Heinlein in fiction, non-fiction \u2013 and praises the Prometheus awards, too"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michael Grossberg<\/a><\/p>\n

If you weren\u2019t familiar with the books and essays of J. Daniel Sawyer until recently, join the club.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Robert Heinlein, a drawing (Creative Commons license)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A prolific writer of more than 31 fiction and nonfiction books, including several in the sf and mystery genres, and 24 short stories \u2013 not to mention being a huge fan of Robert Heinlein – Sawyer deserves to be much better known by libertarian sci-fi fans and LFS members.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s especially because Sawyer has written two books about Heinlein and one of his nine novels is explicitly structured and billed as a \u201cHeinlein juvenile.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Author J. Daniel Sawyer (Creative Commons license)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I only discovered this intriguing writer by accident recently when he wrote an especially insightful guest column about Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming\u2019s James Bond and today\u2019s cancel culture for one of the Substack blogger\/columnists I follow. (That inspired this recent Prometheus blog pos<\/a>t.)<\/p>\n

Yet Sawyer himself seems well aware of the Libertarian Futurist Society, having described the Prometheus Awards as \u201cprestigious\u201d last year in one of his blog posts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s past time to bring Sawyer to the attention of more LFS members, since he\u2019s written several books of great potential interest.<\/p>\n

For starters, just last year, he wrote and published the acclaimed book The Secrets of the Heinlein Juvenile: Uncovering the Hidden Magic of Perennial Young Adult Literature.<\/em><\/p>\n

Nor was that the first book Sawyer wrote that was explicitly inspired by Heinlein \u2013 the Grand Master golden-age sf author who has had more works recognized with Prometheus Awards than anyone else \u2013 starting with The Moon is a Harsh Mistress<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and extending most recently to Citizen of the Galaxy,<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>the 2022 Prometheus Hall of Fame winner.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Among Sawyer\u2019s other nonfiction books: Robert\u2019s Rules of Writing: Heinlein\u2019s Advice for Publishing Success, <\/em>written under the name Dan Sawyer.<\/p>\n

SAWYER\u2019S OWN \u2018HEINLEIN JUVENILE\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last but not least, Sawyer also has written a science-fiction \u201cjuvenile\u201d novel, Hadrian\u2019s Flight <\/em>(AWP Science Fiction, 369 pages),\u00a0<\/em>advertised as \u201cadventures for younger readers in the Heinlein Juvenile tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n

His novel revolves around refugee Hadrian Jin, a 16-year-old proprieter of Luna City\u2019s \u201cbest orn-suit shop,\u201d which sells wings while Hadrian teaches groundhogs \u2013 for $40 an hour \u2013 how to fly \u201cbird-fashion\u201d in the moon\u2019s low gravity.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>From the book description on Sawyer\u2019s website:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when the tramp of military boots on the road to his home forces him to flee, he finds himself adrift between planets, on the run from government agents, without hope of home. Out of his depth and thrust into danger for which he\u2019s ill-prepared, Hadrian must learn the true reason for his exile, and finally spread his own wings\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026before war comes crashing down around him.\u201d<\/p>\n

SECRETS OF THE HEINLEIN JUVENILE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sawyer\u2019s book seems comprehensive, exploring the historical context, themes, concerns, conception and execution of 14 Heinlein \u201cjuveniles\u201d (although of course many adults enjoy these novels just as much as teenagers.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

According to Sawyer\u2019s description, his book also explores Heinlein\u2019s \u201cquirky moral vision\u201d as well as the literary tradition and \u201cauthorial quirks\u201d that led to their construction.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Fourteen Heinlein novels are covered in Sawyer\u2019s book – including Red Planet\u00a0<\/em>and Citizen of the Galaxy<\/em>, both inducted into the Prometheus Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

The other novels covered:<\/p>\n

Rocket Ship Galileo<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Space Cadet<\/em><\/p>\n

Farmer in the Sky<\/em><\/p>\n

Between Planets<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Rolling Stones<\/em><\/p>\n

Starman Jones<\/em><\/p>\n

The Star Beast<\/em><\/p>\n

Tunnel in the Sky<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Time for the Stars<\/em><\/p>\n

Have Space Suit\u2014Will Travel<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Starship Troopers<\/em><\/p>\n

The Menace From Earth<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/em>
\nSawyer argues that Heinlein\u2019s juveniles were innovative and influential, eventually creating \u201ca new literary form that many writers have attempted, but very few have successfully executed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

TRAVIS CORCORAN\u2019S REVIEW
\n<\/strong>Sawyer\u2019s Heinlein book has received high praise from novelist Travis Corcoran, a two-time Prometheus Award winner for Best Novel for\u00a0The Powers of the Earth\u00a0<\/em><\/a>and its sequel, Causes of Separation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sawyer was so complimented by Corcoran\u2019s review that he posted it on his blog under the title: \u201cPrometheus Award Winning Love for the Secrets of the Heinlein Juvenile.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first two third of the book, where Dan recaps of each of the novels, and explains not just their themes, but the authorial decisions RAH made and the techniques he used, is more than worth the price of entry. I came across an easy dozen insights that had never occurred to me,\u201d Corcoran wrote in his rave review.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Travis Corcoran wins his first Prometheus Award Photo: Courtesy of author<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBut the last section of the book \u2013 that\u2019s the pure gold in the mine. \u00a0Having unrolled the map and set up all of his pieces, Dan then orchestrates them beautifully, explaining the moral vision of Heinlein as one cohesive whole, and referencing by chapter and verse the bricks that Heinlein used to build his pedagogic edifice. \u00a0If I learned a dozen things about Heinlein\u2019s books in the first two thirds of the book, it was the last third that opened my eyes to Heinlein, the man, Heinlein, the teacher, and Heinlein, the father (that wasn\u2019t), and that gave me a fresh appreciation of his entire oeuvre, and of his entire person,\u201d Corcoran writes.<\/p>\n

HEINLEIN AND AMERICA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Corcoran\u2019s broader comments about Heinlein\u2019s fiction are also worth sharing, though I urge Prometheus Blog visitors to read the full review<\/a> and then explore Sawyer\u2019s\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeinlein\u2019s juveniles helped create the last 70 years of American history \u2013 from Apollo to SpaceX, from the Back to the Land movement to internet freedom fighters,\u201d Corcoran wrote.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Robert Heinlein (Creative Commons photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something quintessentially American about Heinlein, and his juveniles, and I have no doubt that his books will be read a century hence, in Luna City, in Marsport, and on Ganymede. \u00a0The United States may fall apart, or survive but become corrupted beyond recognition (both eventualities are present in Heinlein\u2019s novels) \u2026 but Heinlein\u2019s America, his vision of civilization, Enlightenment, and virtue, as propagated through his juveniles, will live on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis book should be read by anyone with an interest in Heinlein, an interest in the craft of writing, or an interest in what America \u2013 the very best version of America, made up of citizen soldiers, mothers and fathers, honest merchants, hard working scientists, and pioneers looking always to the west \u2013 is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

* Check out this previous Prometheus blog post about Sawyer’s insightful essay<\/a> about the roots of today’s cancel culture and why classic literature is worth preserving.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE:
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/strong>* Prometheus winners:\u00a0<\/strong>For the full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees \u2013 for the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards \u2013 visit the enhanced\u00a0Prometheus Awards page\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>on the LFS website, which now includes convenient links to the full set of published appreciation-reviews of past winners.<\/p>\n

* Read\u00a0\u201cThe Libertarian History of Science Fiction,\u201d<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0an essay in the international magazine\u00a0Quillette<\/em>\u00a0that favorably highlights the Prometheus Awards, the Libertarian Futurist Society and the significant element of libertarian sf\/fantasy in the evolution of the modern genre.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0Watch\u00a0 <\/strong>videos <\/strong>of the 2022 Prometheus ceremony with Wil McCarthy, and past Prometheus Awards ceremonies, Libertarian Futurist Society panel discussions with noted sf authors and leading libertarian writers, and other LFS programs on the Prometheus Blog\u2019s\u00a0Video page.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

*\u00a0Join us<\/strong>! To help sustain the Prometheus Awards,\u00a0join\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>the Libertarian Futurist Society (LFS), a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf\/fantasy fans.<\/p>\n

Libertarian futurists believe that culture matters! We understand that the arts and literature can be vital, and in some ways even more powerful than politics in the long run, by sparking innovation, better ideas, positive social change, and mutual respect for each other\u2019s rights and differences.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Michael Grossberg If you weren\u2019t familiar with the books and essays of J. Daniel Sawyer until recently, join the club. A prolific writer of more than 31 fiction and nonfiction books, including several in the sf and mystery genres, and 24 short stories \u2013 not to mention being a huge fan of Robert Heinlein … Continue reading Writer J. Daniel Sawyer pays tribute to Heinlein in fiction, non-fiction \u2013 and praises the Prometheus awards, too<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[32,1585,1860],"tags":[1908,1902,1905,1895,1903,46,21,1906,759,1901,1909,1904,42,1907],"class_list":["post-5611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-author-updates","category-fiction-in-the-news","category-robert-heinlein","tag-between-planets","tag-hadrians-flight","tag-have-spacesuit-will-travel","tag-j-daniel-sawyer","tag-luna-city","tag-prometheus-awards","tag-robert-heinlein","tag-rocket-ship-galileo","tag-space-cadet","tag-the-secrets-of-the-heinlein-juvenile","tag-the-star-beast","tag-time-for-the-stars","tag-travis-corcoran","tag-tunnel-in-the-sky"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe8nGl-1sv","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5611"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5702,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5611\/revisions\/5702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}