Monday, June 20, 2005

Halfway to Anywhere

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.)

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Book Meme

Via Zoe Brain...

Number of books that I own: 4,719 paper books, plus another 1,671 eBooks of various sizes and formats (there's about a 10 to 15% overlap in titles between paper and electronic). Plus a collection of astronomy-related magazines that stretches back to before I was born by a couple of decades.

Last book I bought: Several volumes of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, the volumes by Lord Dunsany.

Last book I read:

A Heritage of Stars by Clifford D. Simak. To get a YTD listing, you can always take a look here (for whatever year we are in).

Five books that mean a lot to me:

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I've read it dozens of times since I first encountered it in the late 1960's.
2. Starlight Nights by Leslie Peltier. A book on amateur astronomy, nature and travel that I re-read practically every year, especially when I am depressed.
3. The World, The Flesh and The Devil by J.D. Bernal. An amazing essay on the future of mankind.
4. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein. One of my favorite books by a favorite author.
5. Just about anything and everything by Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Of course!
6. Just about anything, but especially City, The Goblin Reservation, Way Station and several collections of short stories by Clifford D. Simak.
7. Just about anything and everything by Poul Anderson.

Yep, that's more than five books. So what?

So...who will be next in the meme?

Addendum: I remembered that Professor Hall at Spacecraft did this one back in May 2005.