Halfway to Anywhere
(This posting is made from 100% previously posted electrons and bits!)
In his book of the same title, G. Harry Stine has this to say: "The title of this book, Halfway to Anywhere, was suggested by Tim Kyger, currently a staff member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in Washington. It sums up where we are today with respect to real space transportation for everyone and comes from the statement--correct from the viewpoint of the energy and thus the rocket propellant required--I first heard in private, personal conversation with the late author, space advocate, and contemporary philosopher Robert A. Heinlein in 1950:
"Get to low-earth orbit and you're halfway to anywhere in the solar system.""
Now, here's my question: Did Heinlein ever use this in a story or novel? I swear I remember reading it in one of the Future History stories, or maybe one of the YA novels, but I haven't found it so far in my search. Anybody remember this as well?
(Halfway to Anywhere: Achieving America's Destiny in Space was written by G. Harry Stine in 1996. It was published by M. Evans & Company, N.Y. There's also a companion book by Stine, Living in Space, published by the same company.)
Posted by Fred Kiesche at May 16, 2007 11:03 AMThanks for mentioning the Stine book. I haven't read it, but Spider Robinson references Stine in the Stardance trilogy. This is especially cool because Tim Kyger is running the Heinlein Centennial Convention this coming July.
BTW, wasn't Waldo's habitat in LEO?
hugs,
kitten
I want to say it's from an essay - can't remember the collection. Big sucker, mix of older shorts and fact stories.
Posted by: Brian at May 16, 2007 01:36 PMHmmm...so that would make it Expanded Universe, maybe?
I re-read that a couple of years ago and don't recall running across the phrase. Luckily, I bought the Baen eBook version, so I can search by phrase. I'll give that a try.
Posted by: The Nameless Poster at May 16, 2007 01:39 PMYes, IIRC, Waldo's habitat was in LEO. But I haven't read Waldo in more years than I care to mention!
Posted by: The Nameless Poster at May 16, 2007 01:40 PMDang, well, just downloaded Expanded Universe from the Baen Books site and did a search on "halfway to anywhere" plus a few variants and found...nada.
Now my memory cells are telling me that maybe it is in Space Cadet. Unfortunately, that one isn't available in (legal!) eBook format, so I'll have to use the Mark I Eyeball to search for it.
Posted by: The Nameless Poster at May 16, 2007 01:54 PMHmmm...so that would make it Expanded Universe, maybe?
Yes.
Dang, well, just downloaded Expanded Universe from the Baen Books site and did a search on "halfway to anywhere" plus a few variants and found...nada.
Dang.
Posted by: Brian at May 16, 2007 02:15 PMI seem to remember always hearing that quoted - Pournelle always talked about it in A Step Farther Out and in his essays. I don't know if I remember it actually being in Heinlein.
If it was, it would probably be in one of the juveniles - besides Space Cadet it could be Rolling Stones, Farmer in the Sky, even Rocket Ship Galileo. I haven't read those in a long time.
Posted by: buckethead at May 22, 2007 06:30 AM