Virginia Heinlein, 86; Wife, Muse and Literary Guardian of Celebrated Science Fiction Writer
Virginia Heinlein, who gave her husband, science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein, the idea for his acclaimed 1961 novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" and inspired many of the strong female characters in his stories, died Jan. 18 at a retirement community in Atlantic Beach, Fla. She was 86.
Heinlein died in her sleep after a long struggle with respiratory illness and a broken hip suffered on Thanksgiving, said David M. Silver, secretary-treasurer of the Heinlein Society.
Her husband's muse, manager and literary guardian, Virginia Heinlein was widely known and respected in the science fiction community for her devotion to the Heinlein legacy after the prolific writer's death in 1988 at the age of 80.
She was responsible for the posthumous publication of the original, uncut manuscript of "Stranger in a Strange Land" in 1990, as well as for "Grumbles From the Grave," a selection of his letters; the travel memoir "Tramp Royale"; and a political handbook, "Take Back Your Government."
Robert Heinlein was considered by many to be the most influential science fiction author since H.G. Wells. During a five-decade career that produced 37 novels and 11 short-story collections, he won an unprecedented four Hugo Awards, given by popular vote of science fiction fans for the best novel of the year.
"Stranger in a Strange Land" was his best-known work. It became, to the author's dismay, a favorite of the iconoclastic '60s generation, in part for its apparent advocacy of free love and cynicism about organized religion.
The story behind the novel began with the November 1948 issue of the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. In keeping with the speculative nature of the genre, a letter writer complimented the editor on an issue a year in the future, going so far as to mention stories by specific writers. The editor, John W. Campbell Jr., decided to fulfill the letter writer's fantasy and have the stories written for the November 1949 issue.
The letter writer said one of the stories was "Gulf" by Robert A. Heinlein. Heinlein accepted the assignment, then held a brainstorming session with his closest advisor -- his wife.
"Among other unsuitable notions, I suggested a story about a human infant raised by an alien race," Virginia Heinlein wrote years later.
Her husband liked the idea, made some notes, but then set them aside. The idea was "too big" for a short story, so he pursued a different theme for "Gulf."
