The Complexity of Individualism
Heinlein is a champion of individualism and generally not at all fond of collectivist ideologies. Yet he also recognizes the difficult in establishing a true sense of individualism in a democratic system, much less a socialist one. So many of his stories present the concept of individual struggle against the odds that it almost defies belief he could find so many ways to explore this theme. From the staggeringly complex individual at the center of “All You Zombies—” to the central issue of individualism as an expression of solipsism which drives the paranoid thriller “They” Heinlein confronts the issue of the difficulties that must be faced by individualists head-on. "Coventry" even verges into "A Clockwork Orange" territory with its plot pitting a choice against exile into anarchy or "A Clockwork Orange"-style behavior modification of deviant manifestations of individualism. While he personally adheres to a belief in the inherent positivism of individualism, his stories refuse to allow his own idealism to blind readers to unpleasant truths.
Women
Heinlein’s treatment of women varies not just over time, but over literary form. In his later career—which was dominated by novels—some of his writing has been described as misogynistic. While it is true that a certain level of chauvinism is exhibited by some characters—which is different than attributing it to the writer—overall Heinlein stands out in stark relief among science fiction writers of his time for creating strong, smart, independent women. Even more to the point, these women share their stories with men who even in the future are still expressing the same prejudicial biases that was the dominant expression of his own time. “Delilah and the Space Rigger” directly confronts the reality of the times through the metaphor of a science fiction set in the near-future. This story about the first female construction worker on a space station is atypical however. What really makes Heinlein a revolutionary author in not just the science fiction genre, but of his entire generation is the sheer magnitude of female characters (usually minor, often underdeveloped) who held roles generally perceived at the time as out of reach for the majority of women. Even more suggestively, perhaps, is that the women who do appear as major characters are rarely presented as objects of beauty or existing only for the purpose of attraction.
The Business of Science
Heinlein’s short stories cover a remarkable range of scientific themes which were purely the domain of speculative fiction when he wrote them, but which have become serious issues for consideration today. For instance, one of the critical knocks against his stories about D.D. Harriman is that it is based upon space travel being a commercially funded enterprise rather than one run by governments using tax dollars. While he was wrong initially, today it is difficult to find much distance between Harriman and his real life analogue Elon Musk. “Jerry was a Man” took up the ethical, political and social ramifications of genetic engineering in 1947 in its story about a chimpanzee whom scientists have modified to have the intellectual capacity of a human being, thus raising the question should Jerry be treated like a human being. And on that subject, many of Heinlein’s stories feature narratives that predicted the coming of the age when corporations would be granted the same rights as individuals. By this point, it is safe to say that the typical Heinlein short story is one exploring a theme belonged to entirely science fiction when it was written, but has since become the subject of courtroom filings.
