Robert Heinlein's Pre-Internet Fan Mail FAQ 181
Hugh Pickens writes "Kevin Kelly has an interesting post about a letter he found amongst correspondence from his days editing the Whole Earth Catalog. The letter is Robert Heinlein's own nerdy solution to a problem common to famous authors: to deal with fan mail. In the days before the internet, Heinlein's solution was to create a list of frequently asked questions, answer them, and remove the questions. Then he, or rather his wife Ginny, checked off the appropriate answer(s) and mailed it back. Some of the entries in Heinlein's answer sheet are quite illuminating and amusing. Our personal favorite: 'You say that you have enjoyed my stories for years. Why did you wait until you disliked one story before writing to me?'"
Why?! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:who ? (Score:5, Funny)
is this person who reads the TFA ? and why cant he act like other /.ers ?
Re:Why?! (Score:1, Funny)
Good idea (Score:5, Funny)
( )The intervieuw
( )The ramblings
was
( )intresting
(X)informative
(X)funny
( )bullshit
and thank you for
(X)sharing this with us
( )informing us of such a very important item.
( )wasting our time
Re:who ? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm not sure that is an excuse; I'm fairly confident that Robert & Virginia Heinlein were fully capable of producing a computer from parts from a TV, washing machine, and whatever was laying around in the basement, anytime from about 1946 on.
I bet it was the printer that was the sticking point.
Re:It isn't "better" now, though... (Score:5, Funny)
This is why hate mail makes so much more sense. People like reading their hate mail.
Re:Makings of a slashdot poll... (Score:4, Funny)
What question in a fan's mail will receive the answer: "Please do not write to me again" ?
Re:Makings of a slashdot poll... (Score:5, Funny)
What question in a fan's mail will receive the answer: "Please do not write to me again" ?
Writing to say you loved his foundation series.
Re:Makings of a slashdot poll... (Score:5, Funny)
Do you like what Stanley Kubrick did in the on-screen adaptation of your book?
Good old Robert (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It isn't "better" now, though... (Score:5, Funny)
My fans are pretty well-behaved. Sometimes they'll say "hi" to me on the street, but they're almost always too shy to tell me that they recognize me from the photos on my blog. Occasionally, my more enthusiastic fans will take time out of their workdays to send me fan mail, often exclaiming that I'm "Super lucky!" or "Pre-qualified!". I do find it a bit creepy when my more ardent fans send me lists of all of the public places I've been in the past few weeks. Although I don't usually notice them when I'm out and about, some of them must get pretty close, as they've been keeping track of my spending habits.
Come to think of it, rising political stars often take advantage of the boost in self-confidence that comes with their new stature on the national stage to send me personalized greetings in the mail, praising our shared values and beliefs. Somehow, though, we always lose that special connection once they're in office.
Re:Why?! (Score:5, Funny)
There's got to be a Lazarus Long quote to fit the situation somewhere. Let's see...
Perhaps the bad mod was an example of "Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect."
but this quote probably fits better: "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity."
Re:Makings of a slashdot poll... (Score:5, Funny)
You need to maintain a balance. In any room an ideal mixture is half ready to kill you, and half eager to defend you. That's maximum entertainment.
Re:Good old Robert (Score:5, Funny)
Heinlein got the technology of the cellphone absolutely right but it didn't occur to him that in the future people would just keep chatting away, annoying people around them.
Well, there's a reason it's called science FICTION, no?
Oblig (Score:2, Funny)
Re:who ? (Score:4, Funny)
No no... You are confusing him with McGyver.
Re:Actually, he missed on that point (Score:4, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
Because... (Score:4, Funny)
'You say that you have enjoyed my stories for years. Why did you wait until you disliked one story before writing to me?'
Because, if I sent you a fan letter after every story I liked you would probably have me arrested for stalking.
Re:Why?! (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe if you don't know anything about Heinlein, you shouldn't modding
Maybe he accidentally a coca-cola bottle.
Re:Good idea (Score:3, Funny)
and
(X)thank
( )fuck
you for
Re:Good idea (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It isn't "better" now, though... (Score:4, Funny)
I am intrigued by your lesbian star trek fan fiction and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.