830 pages
English language
Published Nov. 13, 1987 by Ace Books.
Here in one monumental volume are all 21 of the stories, novellas and novels making up Heinlein's famous Future History—the rich, imaginative architecture of Man's destiny that many consider his greatest and most prophetic work.
Contents: * Introduction - Damon Knight * Life-Line * The Roads Must Roll * Blowups Happen * The Man Who Sold the Moon * Delilah and the Space-Rigger * Space Jockey * Requiem * The Long Watch * Gentleman, Be Seated * The Black Pits of Luna * "It's Great to Be Back!" * "—We Also Walk Dogs" * Searchlight * Ordeal in Space * The Green Hills of Earth * Logic of Empire * The Menace from Earth * "If This Goes On—" * Coventry * Misfit * Methuselah's Children
This is a compilation of stories that span Heinlein's career, and the next thousand years of human history. Not all are top notch, but enough are that i give it five stars.
I have a lot of very fond memories of this book. It was one of my first serious introductions to science fiction as a teenager, and many of the stories in it are captivating. Heinlein does something in writing that I've only seen done by a few others- specifically, Isaac Asimov- in which the author creates a contained story universe with history, technology, and geography that are all shared between titles. I could go on and on about each individual story and why I loved it, but to save time I'll just say this: this collection of short stories alone is, ironically, probably better than a majority of Heinlein's full-length novels.
This book is to Heinlein is what Robot Visions is to Asimov, and that's a great thing.
Go read this!
