James Baquet

    The mid-20th century has been considered a sort of “Golden Age” of science fiction. This was the time when such works transcended pulp fiction and rose to the level of social commentary, sometimes even prophecy.

    Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) was considered by some to be the “Dean of Science Fiction” in that heady time, and, with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, was one of the “Big Three.”

    In fact, one of his greatest books is the first “sci-fi” novel I fell in love with, 1961’s “Stranger in a Strange Land.” The book tells of one Valentine Michael Smith, a quasi-alien who was born on Mars (and raised by Martians) and came to Earth as a young adult. He brings with him a unique point of view on politics, daily life, and especially religion. He ultimately starts a “Church of All Worlds” which is supposed to result in the evolution of humans into “homo superior.”

    The book won the 1962 Hugo Award (the top award for science fiction books) for best novel, and was named by the U.S. Library of Congress one of 88 “Books That Shaped America.” Its own advertising blurbs call it “the most famous science fiction novel ever written.”

    One interesting contribution of the book is Heinlein’s coinage of the word “grok.” Literally the Martian word for “to drink,” metaphorically it meant “to understand something thoroughly” — a definition now found in most dictionaries. For a time, hippies and other counterculture types were heard to say “I grok you,” or “Grok this!”

    This was of course not his only book. All in all, 32 novels, 59 short stories, and 16 collections were published during his life, and a few more were published posthumously. He also made forays into politics, and sat on a board which advised America’s space policy. He also testified before Congress regarding the medical benefits resulting from the U.S. space program.

    Heinlein’s last two decades were plagued by ill health interspersed with periods of intense physical and literary activity. A longtime smoker, he died of lung disease and heart failure.

    Vocabulary

    Which word above means:

    1. youth of the 1960s who rejected society’s standards

    2. distributed between other things

    3. more-or-less, sort of

    4. telling of the future

    5. short statements to advertise something

    6. criticism of the way society works

    7. efforts, attempts

    8. creation of a new word

    9. exciting

    10. rose above, became better than