Requiem

Future History or "Heinlein Timeline" #8

by Robert A. Heinlein

Short story by Robert A. Heinlein first published in Astounding Science-Fiction magazine, January 1940 issue.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

8 pages

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandmaster extraordinaire Robert “Astounding” Heinlein published one of his earliest short stories in the January 1940 edition of Astounding. In “Requiem” the 33-year-old whippersnapper explores some themes that would become ubiquitous throughout his long SF career.

OK kids, how many stories do we find a rich person in the future getting what they want and the cost be damned??

Hmmm, let’s see:

Double Star – rich politician

Stranger in a Strange Land -Jubal!!

I Will Fear No Evil – I wanna be a woman!

Time Enough for Love – Lazarus! and I’m gonna live forever!

OK, well maybe not as many as I thought, but we also see the lifelong dream of wanting to go to the moon. ”Alice!” Some sentimentality and a little hokey, but CLASSIC SF.

Back in the 70s all of us wanted to be astronauts, I think RAH had the right idea.

Good times.

[Althea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of the 1941 Retro-Hugo Voters' Packet.

Vintage Heinlein - with all that comes with that, good and bad.

Mr. Harriman has spent his life dreaming of space, much like the boy sci-fi readers and science club nerds that are the overtly acknowledged audience for this story. Harriman has made a career of risky investments in rocket technology, repeatedly ignoring the cautious and concerned advice of his wife, and his bets have paid off - he's a wealthy CEO of a major corporation. But now that he finally has the financial wherewithal to get to the moon, he can't. The interfering nanny state with its government regulations and well-meaning doctors, say that his elderly body is too frail: he'll never survive the rigors of space travel. But Harriman's not quite dead yet, and neither is his dream....

I think I would've found this one more emotionally affecting if I'd read it when I was younger, and still desperately dreamed of going to space. I don't anymore...

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

#7/ Requiem (1940)

Periodo en que está basada: los 90 supuestamente, rozando el 2000 (inconcreto, por lógica rozaría el 2000)

Han pasado muchos años desde el primer cohete a la luna. Actualmente, el primer modelo está en una de las colinas, a los pies de una feria, para ser visitado y servir de ‘atracción’ con pequeños vuelos de demostración.

Su piloto, McIntyre junto con el mecánico (los cuales han sido destituidos del trayecto luna-tierra por infracciones), reciben una interesante propuesta de volver a ir a la luna nuevamente...la propuesta viene DE UN ANCIANO HARRIMAN, QUE AÚN NO LOGRÓ LA BASE DE SU SUEÑO...

CONMOVEDORA, BONITA Y NOSTÁLGICA POST HISTORIA DE ‘EL HOMBRE QUE VENDIÓ LA LUNA’, CENTRÁNDOSE EN UN HARRIMAN que, a pesar de haber proporcionado una apertura a la galaxia, se le quiere ser denegada SU ÚNICO DESEO BASE DESDE QUE SOÑÓ CON LA LUNA (PISARLA), y todo debido A LA AMBICIÓN DESPROPORCIONADA DE LOS SOCIOS DE SUS CORPORACIONES INTERPLANETARIAS, por MIEDO A LA PÉRDIDA DE SU CAPITAL Y QUE SE DEVALÚEN LAS ACCIONES DE LA CORPORACIÓN. Y es que, como nos cuenta Heinlein aquí, el PODER Y EL DINERO, y HASTA INCLUSO LA CONSERVACIÓN DE LA SALUD EN SEGÚN QUÉ ETAPAS DE LA VIDA, RESULTAN INNECESARIOS PARA LO MÁS BÁSICO: LA FELICIDAD PERSONAL:’- Es cierto que algunas de esas acciones han perdido valor en su liquidación. Pero, el valor de una cosa es la satisfacción que proporciona’ ‘- No creo que la salud de un hombre dependa tanto de lo que haga como de lo que desee hacer. Y estoy empezando a hacer lo que realmente deseo’
Algunos lectores lo tacharán de relato de LÁGRIMA FÁCIL, PERO REALMENTE ES UNA HISTORIA QUE LLEGA, EFECTIVA. TODOS TENEMOS UN SUEÑO IRREALIZADO, ALGUNOS HAN LUCHADO Y OTROS NO POR CONSEGUIRLO. HARRIMAN PROPORCIONÓ UN FUTURO PARA LOS DEMÁS E HIPOTECÓ EL SUYO A CAMBIO.

Heinlein para adelante y para atrás....
‘Réquiem’ está escrito en 1940 y ‘el hombre que vendió la luna’ en el 50. Y realmente están bastante bien hilvanados ambos relatos (el pre y post Harriman). Aquí sabemos que Harriman soñó siempre con ir a la luna desde pequeño, y durante sus primeros pinitos como trabajador y socio, y que al final no pudo conseguirlo. Posteriormente , en ‘ El hombre que vendió la luna’ se nos explica el desarrollo del sueño de Harriman y al final quedamos en que será el próximo en ir a la luna, y no el primero, en pro del desarrollo y evolución del proyecto lunar (todo por cuestiones financieras); incluso él dice que será el primer alcalde de Luna city...pero no se nos hace mención de ello en los demás relatos, o sea que podemos deducir con ‘ Requiem’ que por A o B, no pudo realizarlo, siendo posteriormente viejo para ‘legalmente’ hacerlo... por tanto la conexión entre las dos historias está muy bien hecha, salvo las fechas, que pueden cuadrar menos (aunque bien cierto es que no se nos especifica tampoco la fecha de Réquiem). Una demostración del saber de un Gran escritor.

Avances y/ o predicciones sociales:

·Ley seguridad espacial

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Requiem” by Robert A. Heinlein is so far one of the best short stories in the Future History compilation that I’m reading, and it’s a solid compilation, so that makes it pretty well done.

I don’t want to spoil the story, but I would recommend that anyone who wants to read this short story, needs to read “The Man Who Sold The Moon” first. It’s a little longer of a story, but gives a great deal more context to the story. There are other stories that are slightly related to this story, but for the most part, that story is crucial to really appreciate this one.

What’s interesting is that “Requiem” was written before “The Man Who Sold The Moon”, and without the later, I don’t know if I’d like “Requiem” as much. However reading it with that context, it brought tears to my eyes, and riveted me.

On it’s own it might not be a 5 star story, but I’m giving it the full measure, as it really touched me, and told a story I really wanted to know.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic story. Unfortunately, the easy creation of a rocket to Mars is still too difficult for even private funds, although Elon Musk and SpaceX are trying to realize the dream. What Heinlein posits here is still decades in the future, and I’m not even sure about that, although I’d like to live long enough to see it, just as Harriman does. And that’s the attraction of this story. For those of us who dream of progress, of escaping this one little world and seeing what we could do beyond the Earth, this is our story and Harriman is our guide. For some, the ending would be sad, but it underscores the point of the story: that one must hold on to the dream and make it a reality, but life is what it is.

[Sebastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bastante más emotivo que los anteriores, es bueno sin llegar a excelente.
Algo que agradezco de todas estas historias es que no están alargadas, a excepción de El Hombre que vendió la Luna, la cual esta conectada con este relato.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story about man's right to self determination, exploration, and goals. A sequel to "The Man Who Sold the Moon", although this was written years before.

[A M H · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story with a very basic simple plot. An old rich guys quest to fulfill his dream of going to the moon before his passing. All in all it's just okay.

On a side note, it reminds me of a game called "To The Moon" by Kan Gao that came out back in 2011. It had a similar idea, but a much more fleshed out, rich story and theme, that could really bring out the feels by the end.

If you like Requiem, I really recommend "To The Moon". It's a lot more engaging, thought provoking and heartbreaking than this story.

[Austin Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book #8 of #21 for Future History. This book was it's title from Robert Louis Stevenson's "Requiem", which is inscribed on his own headstone in Samoa.

Released January 1940, it introduces an aged D. D. Delos, most notable for 1949's "The Man who sold the Moon". As short as this story is, it is incredibly powerful.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartwarming if not terribly enthralling sequel to Man Who Sold The Moon. Note, this was actually written and published before Man Who Sold The Moon. It does function as a sequel though, and recommended reading that first.

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the aspect of having a dream (goal) and trying to achieve it before it was too late.

[Read Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting story of the last days of our reoccurring hero D.D. Harriman. He finally gets to the moon.

Have a GoodReads.

[Dave Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far the best short story in "The Past Through Tomorrow."

[Ray Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd read this before, but didn't realised until quite late into the story.