General Discussion

rsdsharp

(12,059 posts)

40. The original manuscript, which you've read, was 220,000 words.

Fri Jun 30, 2023, 01:12 PM

Jun 2023

Putnam was willing to publish it, but wanted the sex and religion cut out (they had hoped that he would present them with a juvenile novel). Heinlein pointed out that there was no point to the novel without it. Putnam agreed, but thought it was too long — the average novel was 80,000 words; they wanted it down to 120,000, if I recall correctly.

Heinlein laboriously went through the manuscript, page-by-page, cutting excess words (lubrication as he called them). In volume 2 of Patterson’s biography there is a picture of Heinlein blacking out words in a manuscript. He finally felt he could cut no more without hurting the story, and Putnam agreed to publish at 160,000 words.

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Rachel used "grok" again [View all] LetMyPeopleVote Jun 2023 OP

me too mopinko Jun 2023 #1

I know the context. I just find using the word a bit silly-but that's me. As someone downstream hlthe2b Jun 2023 #22

Yup, we are all water brothers and sisters....nt wcmagumba Jun 2023 #2

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2023 #3

Read it in "Stranger", used by Martian-reared Earth citizen Valentine Michael niyad Jun 2023 #5

I've read that one too, a couple of time. My favorite author Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2023 #6

"Send whoores; tousands and tousands of whoores." rsdsharp Jun 2023 #8

I don't know that one. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2023 #11

You should, it's a great line from Moon is a Harsh Mistress... TygrBright Jun 2023 #14

Ah, the meeting meant to mirror some aspects of the French Revolution Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2023 #15

It's from the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. As the Loonies were formulating a list of demands for Earth rsdsharp Jun 2023 #30

Me, too. I use that word occasionally, though the young'uns usually don't get it. Ocelot II Jun 2023 #4

I'm a Heinlein freak. I own at least one copy of everything he ever published, rsdsharp Jun 2023 #7

I used it as part of a message on my answering machine back in the dark ages. niyad Jun 2023 #9

I just. . . can't. rsdsharp Jun 2023 #10

There are many words that I do not use, far more recent than "groovy". niyad Jun 2023 #12

After about 15 years away from reading for summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #20

Heinlein's name is on Variable Star, but he didn't co-write it with Robinson. rsdsharp Jun 2023 #29

Yes, Robinson credited Heinlein with the co-write. summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #32

You might enjoy William Patterson's two volume authorized biography; it's quite interesting. rsdsharp Jun 2023 #33

Thanks for the recommendation! summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #35

I read it a couple of years ago. It's the original version of Number of the Beast, rsdsharp Jun 2023 #36

I wondered. summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #37

Heinlein cut 60,000 words out of Stranger as originally written, rsdsharp Jun 2023 #38

Fascinating. summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #39

The original manuscript, which you've read, was 220,000 words. rsdsharp Jun 2023 #40

I may have to give the uncut version another read. summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #41

I also have a complete collection of Heinlein. 11 Bravo Jun 2023 #43

I have to admit, I've never read Take Back Your Government rsdsharp Jun 2023 #44

My first sci-fi book.. Permanut Jun 2023 #13

It has its problems, but that's a great story and high on my list of Heinleins Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2023 #26

I loved that, too! ShazzieB Jun 2023 #16

Sounds like an excellent button. lark Jun 2023 #28

"Tut, tut. Unreasoned anguish is nonetheless real." Hortensis Jun 2023 #17

All the hip kids stopped using it in the 60's. marble falls Jun 2023 #18

Coincidentally canetoad Jun 2023 #19

It sounds like it might be from Time Enough For Love. rsdsharp Jun 2023 #34

I would guess it's from "I Will Fear No Evil." summer_in_TX Jun 2023 #42

I didn't notice her saying it. Could someone please tell me the context? wackadoo wabbit Jun 2023 #21

Rachel used grok in the hand off to Lawerence talking about the TFG tape LetMyPeopleVote Jun 2023 #25

The term originated with Heinlein, but the hacker community popularized it. sir pball Jun 2023 #23

For this thread LetMyPeopleVote Jun 2023 #24

Stranger in a Strange Land is one of my all time faves and I read it as a youngster. lark Jun 2023 #27

She Dates Herself. MineralMan Jun 2023 #31