Expanded Universe: More Worlds of Robert Heinlein

Expanded Universe is a collection of various short works of Robert A. Heinlein; several short stories, but more interestingly, a lot of non-fiction. Articles on his 1960 trip to the Soviet Union (with his Russian-speaking wife Ginny), his opinion of U.S. education, stuff about antimatter, and predictions for the future originally made in 1950 and updated in 1965 and 1979 when the book was published. Even if you don't agree with his views, it's a very interesting read, and useful in getting a feel for the mood of the U.S. during the mid-20th century.

The first book has an often overlooked opening, that appears even before the copyright page, written by Heinlein's wife, in which she thanks fans for such great support.

A Letter From Mrs. Robert A. Heinlein:

Amidst all of the fan mail coming in on EXPANDED

UNIVERSE, I find that I must pause to advise you of

what is happening.

The mail on this book has been comin in in quantities

we had never dreamed of. Almost every day, we re-

ceive about half a dozen to a dozen letters, telling Rob-

ert how much people have enjoying this book. It seems

strange to us, because fan mail has a tendency to drift

in slowly when a new book is out, but this has been

coming in a flood. Never has any book of Robert's had

this amazing response ... Some of it is from people

who are, or have been, in the military. More is just

from people who have read the book. All of it is

friendly, and much of it heart-warming.

For over thirty years I have been reading fan mail, and

answering much of it, but thsi response has amazed

me.

-Virginia Heinlein