Life & Works Timeline
From Annapolis to Carmel, 1907 to 2006. The life of Robert A. Heinlein.
1907
Robert Anson Heinlein born on July 7 in Butler, Missouri.
1925
Enters the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
1929
Graduates from the Naval Academy (5th in his class). Commissioned as an ensign. Marries Leslyn Ballou.
1932
Discharged from the Navy due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Begins writing full-time.
1934
First short story published: "Life-Line" in Astounding Science Fiction. Marries Annette Stone.
1939
Writes first novel, "For Us, The Living" (not published until 2003). Publishes influential stories including "If This Goes On..."
1942
Works at the Philadelphia Naval Aircraft Factory with Isaac Asimov and L. Sprague de Camp.
1947
Publishes "Rocket Ship Galileo," beginning his celebrated juvenile novels.
1948
Marries Virginia "Ginny" Gerstenfeld, his lifelong partner and collaborator.
1949
Publishes "Red Planet." Moves to California.
1950
Publishes "Farmer in the Sky." Wins his first Hugo Award for Best Novel.
1952
Publishes "The Rolling Stones."
1954
Publishes "The Star Beast." Wins his second Hugo Award for Best Novel.
1955
Publishes "Tunnel in the Sky."
1956
Publishes "Double Star" (third Hugo) and "Time for the Stars." Moves to Colorado Springs.
1957
Publishes "The Door into Summer" and "Citizen of the Galaxy."
1958
Publishes "Have Space Suit, Will Travel" — wins his fourth Hugo Award.
1959
Publishes "Starship Troopers" — wins his fifth Hugo Award.
1961
Publishes "Stranger in a Strange Land" — wins his sixth Hugo Award. Becomes a counterculture phenomenon.
1963
Publishes "Glory Road."
1964
Publishes "Farnham's Freehold."
1966
Publishes "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress." Wins his seventh Hugo Award.
1970
Publishes "I Will Fear No Evil."
1973
Publishes "Time Enough for Love," introducing Lazarus Long.
1975
Named the first SFWA Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
1980
Publishes "The Number of the Beast."
1982
Publishes "Friday."
1984
Publishes "Job: A Comedy of Justice."
1987
Publishes "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls." Wins first Prometheus Hall of Fame Award for "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress."
1988
Dies on May 8 in Carmel, California, at age 80.
1992
Posthumously published: "Take Back Your Government."
1993
Posthumously published: "To Sail Beyond the Sunset."
2003
Posthumously published: "For Us, The Living" (written in 1939). Virginia Heinlein dies on January 22.
2005
The Heinlein Prize for fiction promoting human exploration of space is established by the Heinlein family.
2006
First Heinlein Prize awarded, to Spider Robinson for "Variable Star" (based on a Heinlein outline).
2006
Posthumously published: "The Pursuit of Happiness."