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Future History or "Heinlein Timeline" #4
Blowups Happen
"Blowups Happen" is a 1940 science fiction short story by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. It is one of two stories in which Heinlein, using only public knowledge of nuclear fission, anticipated the actual development of nuclear technology a few years later. The other story is "Solution Unsatisfactory", which is concerned with a nuclear weapon, although it is only a radiological "dirty bomb", not a nuclear explosive device.
The story was first published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1940, before any nuclear reactors had ever been built, and for its appearance in the 1946 anthology The Best of Science Fiction, Heinlein made some modifications to reflect how a reactor actually worked. In the omnibus The Past Through Tomorrow, "Blowups Happen" is referred to as a 1940 story, but it mentions Hiroshima and Nagasaki, reflecting revisions made in 1946.
The story made a later appearance in The Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein, a collection of short stories published in 1966. It also appears in his Expanded Universe in 1980, but here it appears as it did in Astounding in 1940 and Heinlein writes in an introduction to the story: "I now see, as a result of the enormous increase in the art in 33 years, more errors in the '46 version than I spotted in the '40 version when I checked it in '46".
The story is one of the earliest in Heinlein's Future History chronology, taking place in the late 20th century.
The story was first published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1940, before any nuclear reactors had ever been built, and for its appearance in the 1946 anthology The Best of Science Fiction, Heinlein made some modifications to reflect how a reactor actually worked. In the omnibus The Past Through Tomorrow, "Blowups Happen" is referred to as a 1940 story, but it mentions Hiroshima and Nagasaki, reflecting revisions made in 1946.
The story made a later appearance in The Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein, a collection of short stories published in 1966. It also appears in his Expanded Universe in 1980, but here it appears as it did in Astounding in 1940 and Heinlein writes in an introduction to the story: "I now see, as a result of the enormous increase in the art in 33 years, more errors in the '46 version than I spotted in the '40 version when I checked it in '46".
The story is one of the earliest in Heinlein's Future History chronology, taking place in the late 20th century.
35 pages
First published September 1, 1940
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About the author
Robert A. Heinlein
1,060 books10.6k followersRobert 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 30, 2025
4.5 Atomic Stars Blown Up to 5 Ambitious SF Stars!
Full Disclosure Clause: Robert A. Heinlein is one of my top five all-time favorite authors whose stories are so prescient that I believe he, possibly, had a time travelling machine at his disposal.
Heinlein was smart and sane enough to know he couldn’t see beyond the horizon of the moment, but he wrote plenty of stories that tried. “Blowups Happen” is one of those stories that stands out. Initially published in 1940, this 35pg satirical-SF story imagines the dangers of commercializing atomic energy in peacetime. That was five years before Hiroshima.
In the original Astounding Science Fiction Magazine version, the story is set in the near future from 1940; and from 1950 as it was rewritten for the collection, The Man Who Sold The Moon. Those two dates are important because the story is about atomic power and the ramifications of such power; the magazine version was written before Hiroshima and the book version afterward.
Heinlein explores the impact of atomic energy before the world is startled by the reality of Hiroshima. There is a great deal of infodumping here as the author attempts to educate the reader about the science behind atomic energy production. The idea of atomic power had been around since Einstein’s most famous equation and was a hot topic of conversation at all levels during the 1940's & 50's. The best science fiction writers of the Golden Era, including Heinlein, may have gotten some of the details wrong, but they still exhhibit an awe-filled prescience in their work, and skillfully convey the wonder and the chaos of anticipation.
Although “Blowups Happen” is now just a historical curiosity I still admire it for Heinlein’s ambition. I seldom find science fiction stories with that kind of ambition being written today
I listened to this audiobook performed by Daren Marlar of WeirdDarkness in his heavily southwestern-American-accented-English, which seemed to fit the story well as the bulk of land-based atomic energy research and testing took place in the southwestern part of the U.S. (especially Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona) during the 1940's and 50's. The audio is flawless and enjoyable.
You can listen to the audiobook, for free with slightly annoying adverts, here: https://weirddarkness.com/blowups-hap...
Enjoy 🧚♀️🙋🏼!
Full Disclosure Clause: Robert A. Heinlein is one of my top five all-time favorite authors whose stories are so prescient that I believe he, possibly, had a time travelling machine at his disposal.
Heinlein was smart and sane enough to know he couldn’t see beyond the horizon of the moment, but he wrote plenty of stories that tried. “Blowups Happen” is one of those stories that stands out. Initially published in 1940, this 35pg satirical-SF story imagines the dangers of commercializing atomic energy in peacetime. That was five years before Hiroshima.
In the original Astounding Science Fiction Magazine version, the story is set in the near future from 1940; and from 1950 as it was rewritten for the collection, The Man Who Sold The Moon. Those two dates are important because the story is about atomic power and the ramifications of such power; the magazine version was written before Hiroshima and the book version afterward.
Heinlein explores the impact of atomic energy before the world is startled by the reality of Hiroshima. There is a great deal of infodumping here as the author attempts to educate the reader about the science behind atomic energy production. The idea of atomic power had been around since Einstein’s most famous equation and was a hot topic of conversation at all levels during the 1940's & 50's. The best science fiction writers of the Golden Era, including Heinlein, may have gotten some of the details wrong, but they still exhhibit an awe-filled prescience in their work, and skillfully convey the wonder and the chaos of anticipation.
Although “Blowups Happen” is now just a historical curiosity I still admire it for Heinlein’s ambition. I seldom find science fiction stories with that kind of ambition being written today
I listened to this audiobook performed by Daren Marlar of WeirdDarkness in his heavily southwestern-American-accented-English, which seemed to fit the story well as the bulk of land-based atomic energy research and testing took place in the southwestern part of the U.S. (especially Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona) during the 1940's and 50's. The audio is flawless and enjoyable.
You can listen to the audiobook, for free with slightly annoying adverts, here: https://weirddarkness.com/blowups-hap...
Enjoy 🧚♀️🙋🏼!
February 6, 2017
This story, #4 out of #21 of "Future History, has two versions. The original story was released in September 1940 and predates Nuclear Reactors and the A-bomb attacks. In 1946, Heinlein updated the story to include how an actual Reactor works.
Heinlein's 1980 collection "Expanded Universe" has the 1940 version.
Heinlein's 1967 omnibus "The Past Through Tomorrow" claims it has the 1940 version, but it is really the 1946 version.
The story itself deals with the stress of working in a Nuclear Reactor. It flows into the next story "The Man who sold the moon" which was written a decade later in 1949.
Heinlein's 1980 collection "Expanded Universe" has the 1940 version.
Heinlein's 1967 omnibus "The Past Through Tomorrow" claims it has the 1940 version, but it is really the 1946 version.
The story itself deals with the stress of working in a Nuclear Reactor. It flows into the next story "The Man who sold the moon" which was written a decade later in 1949.
September 25, 2018
The foresight Heinlen had about nuclear power at the time of writing this is truly astounding. Couple this with how he approaches the psychological aspect of dealing with such power and this is a solid short story. The only thing holding it back for me is that some of the science ideas have not aged as well as others, which makes immersion difficult.
March 26, 2021
Boring and pointlessly long. Outdated now mundane science, in a hard sci-fi story, meaning the science is at least half the point. On,y saved by the psychological effects of “blow ups” which is actually quite interesting, but could have been more developed.
January 11, 2026
One of the better short Heinlein stories -- basically about nuclear energy, written before nuclear power generation was really a thing. Included interesting psychological angle of how people deal with high stress environments and existential risk.
January 27, 2025
#3/ Ocurren explosiones (1940)
Periodo en que está basada: los años 80
Este relato puede enlazarse en tiempo posteriormente a ‘Las carreteras deben rodar’, ya que nos deja la estela de las pantallas de energía solar Douglas – Martín, que estaban a merced del tiempo, unido, a la escasez de energía, lleva a ser necesaria una nueva apuesta energética, la atómica, para generar corriente en el país.
El doctor Sillard releva al ingeniero Harper de su turno en la planta regeneradora de energía atómica, debido a su falta de lucidez temporal, ya que un fallo resultaría fatal en la vigilancia, control y regulación de la Bomba (como ellos las denominan) o pila atómica central. Éste psicólogo va a ver al superintendente King para comunicarle su decisión y suspenderle temporalmente o trasladarle a otro departamento...pero lo que es una visita usual en los últimos tiempos, y tras una conversación, llegan varios expertos a la conclusión que hay que desarmar a la bomba antes que explote, además, está creando una neurosis colectiva insoportable en los trabajadores cualificados de la central..un riesgo extremo que puede fallar y dejar que explote provocando la muerte de los seres humanos del planeta... pero no todo está perdido, pues un matemático junto a los ingenieros Harper y Erickson, harán que sea posible LA PRIMERA PILA ATÓMICA MOVIL ( en cohete, O SEA, BOMBA NUCLEAR POSTERIOR DE LA REALIDAD)Que orbitará alrededor de la tierra para generar energía, que será recogida en otros cohetes y devuelta a la tierra. Una energía peligrosa fuera de órbita y útil.
Un relato del autor ciertamente PROFÉTICO. Con base real ( la del proyecto Manhattan de los EEUU para hacerse con un arma nuclear antes que sus enemigos los nazis). Escrito cinco años antes del desastre de Hiroshima, HENILEIN NOS EXPLICA A NIVEL QUÍMICO LOS PELIGROS QUE ENTRAÑA LA ENEGÍA ATÓMICA con sus centrales Y QUE ES UNA BOMBA. así mismo, NOS MENCIONA UNA ANTERIOR ‘BOMBA A’ en Nagasaki (antes de 1945) y nos habla de Hihoshima. Así pues, ES UNA REFLEXIÓN EN TODA REGLA DEL PELIGRO DE LA ENERGÍA ATÓMICA O NUCLEAR (radiaciones, emisión, gases, explosión de su núcleo...incluso, nos menciona que el alterado comportamiento de los ingenieros de la planta es debido a las radiaciones de ésta), PROFÉTICA HISTORIA EN SU MENSAJE.
Alusiones a Einstein...
Heinlein no se queda ahí, ya que lanza un par de ‘torpedos’ al bueno de Einstein, o por lo menos a mí me lo ha parecido...juzguen ustedes...
‘Hubo un científico que creó una máquina que podía destruir instantáneamente al mundo’ (¿Einstein y su bocaza en la carta patriótica a Roosevelt?)
‘King, un físico que ama su cargo, pese al peligro que conlleva, porqué es una oportunidad de desafío que un profesional encuentra sólo una vez en la vida’ (¿Nuevamente Mención a Einstein, su ego y petulancia?)
Amén que aquí el personaje de King redirige ese peligro, convirtiéndolo en algo bueno y fuera del alcance de la población
Avances y/ o predicciones tecnológicas:
·Energía atómica para ser utilizada y transformada en electricidad (un símil del reactor nuclear, el primero en 1942 a través del proyecto Manthattan)
· Combustible atómico o isotópico artificial móvil lanzado en un cohete (posterior bomba atómica real)
Avances y/ o predicciones sociales:
· Central regeneradora de energía atómica (centrales nucleares posteriores: Fukushima 1 en 1971, una de las pioneras y más importantes, aunque la primera fue en 1954 en la antigua URRS)
·Primer cohete alrededor de la órbita espacial (alrededor de ella)
·Posible explosión en la ' bomba' o pila en la planta regeneradora atómica, con lo que conlleva (Heinlein nos advierte de los diversos incidentes catastróficos, llegando al punto álgido de una explosión que desencadenase la muerte de la humanidad. Sólo tenemos que remitirnos a los posteriores incidentes de Fukushima, Chérnobil, etc…)
·Bomba A (¿alusión a bomba atómica como experimento de campo?, cosa que posteriormente pasó)
· Cápsulas transportadoras por tubos
·Teoría de la luna: Heinlein nos explica, a través del discurso de un matemático que ayuda en la reconversión de la pila en el relato, que la luna estaba habitada por seres inteligentes que utilizaron la energía nuclear previamente y destruyeron su planeta y su gente, dejando los cráteres que hoy existen. Curiosa teoría, basándose, una vez más en los errores de los seres vivos y los estragos que hacen en sus planetas.
Periodo en que está basada: los años 80
Este relato puede enlazarse en tiempo posteriormente a ‘Las carreteras deben rodar’, ya que nos deja la estela de las pantallas de energía solar Douglas – Martín, que estaban a merced del tiempo, unido, a la escasez de energía, lleva a ser necesaria una nueva apuesta energética, la atómica, para generar corriente en el país.
El doctor Sillard releva al ingeniero Harper de su turno en la planta regeneradora de energía atómica, debido a su falta de lucidez temporal, ya que un fallo resultaría fatal en la vigilancia, control y regulación de la Bomba (como ellos las denominan) o pila atómica central. Éste psicólogo va a ver al superintendente King para comunicarle su decisión y suspenderle temporalmente o trasladarle a otro departamento...pero lo que es una visita usual en los últimos tiempos, y tras una conversación, llegan varios expertos a la conclusión que hay que desarmar a la bomba antes que explote, además, está creando una neurosis colectiva insoportable en los trabajadores cualificados de la central..un riesgo extremo que puede fallar y dejar que explote provocando la muerte de los seres humanos del planeta... pero no todo está perdido, pues un matemático junto a los ingenieros Harper y Erickson, harán que sea posible LA PRIMERA PILA ATÓMICA MOVIL ( en cohete, O SEA, BOMBA NUCLEAR POSTERIOR DE LA REALIDAD)Que orbitará alrededor de la tierra para generar energía, que será recogida en otros cohetes y devuelta a la tierra. Una energía peligrosa fuera de órbita y útil.
Un relato del autor ciertamente PROFÉTICO. Con base real ( la del proyecto Manhattan de los EEUU para hacerse con un arma nuclear antes que sus enemigos los nazis). Escrito cinco años antes del desastre de Hiroshima, HENILEIN NOS EXPLICA A NIVEL QUÍMICO LOS PELIGROS QUE ENTRAÑA LA ENEGÍA ATÓMICA con sus centrales Y QUE ES UNA BOMBA. así mismo, NOS MENCIONA UNA ANTERIOR ‘BOMBA A’ en Nagasaki (antes de 1945) y nos habla de Hihoshima. Así pues, ES UNA REFLEXIÓN EN TODA REGLA DEL PELIGRO DE LA ENERGÍA ATÓMICA O NUCLEAR (radiaciones, emisión, gases, explosión de su núcleo...incluso, nos menciona que el alterado comportamiento de los ingenieros de la planta es debido a las radiaciones de ésta), PROFÉTICA HISTORIA EN SU MENSAJE.
Alusiones a Einstein...
Heinlein no se queda ahí, ya que lanza un par de ‘torpedos’ al bueno de Einstein, o por lo menos a mí me lo ha parecido...juzguen ustedes...
‘Hubo un científico que creó una máquina que podía destruir instantáneamente al mundo’ (¿Einstein y su bocaza en la carta patriótica a Roosevelt?)
‘King, un físico que ama su cargo, pese al peligro que conlleva, porqué es una oportunidad de desafío que un profesional encuentra sólo una vez en la vida’ (¿Nuevamente Mención a Einstein, su ego y petulancia?)
Amén que aquí el personaje de King redirige ese peligro, convirtiéndolo en algo bueno y fuera del alcance de la población
Avances y/ o predicciones tecnológicas:
·Energía atómica para ser utilizada y transformada en electricidad (un símil del reactor nuclear, el primero en 1942 a través del proyecto Manthattan)
· Combustible atómico o isotópico artificial móvil lanzado en un cohete (posterior bomba atómica real)
Avances y/ o predicciones sociales:
· Central regeneradora de energía atómica (centrales nucleares posteriores: Fukushima 1 en 1971, una de las pioneras y más importantes, aunque la primera fue en 1954 en la antigua URRS)
·Primer cohete alrededor de la órbita espacial (alrededor de ella)
·Posible explosión en la ' bomba' o pila en la planta regeneradora atómica, con lo que conlleva (Heinlein nos advierte de los diversos incidentes catastróficos, llegando al punto álgido de una explosión que desencadenase la muerte de la humanidad. Sólo tenemos que remitirnos a los posteriores incidentes de Fukushima, Chérnobil, etc…)
·Bomba A (¿alusión a bomba atómica como experimento de campo?, cosa que posteriormente pasó)
· Cápsulas transportadoras por tubos
·Teoría de la luna: Heinlein nos explica, a través del discurso de un matemático que ayuda en la reconversión de la pila en el relato, que la luna estaba habitada por seres inteligentes que utilizaron la energía nuclear previamente y destruyeron su planeta y su gente, dejando los cráteres que hoy existen. Curiosa teoría, basándose, una vez más en los errores de los seres vivos y los estragos que hacen en sus planetas.
April 5, 2016
“Blowups Happen” by Robert A. Heinlein. Wow just wow.
I could see someone disliking this story, I could find someone hating one character in this book, I could find someone not liking the ending (in fact I felt it was entirely too abrupt).
But then I would ask all of those people did they put this book into context?
1940, Heinlein wrote a story about nuclear reactors. Right there I could stop and we’re done. But the story goes on and in 1945-1946, Heinlein went back updated the book with the knowledge of the atomic bombs.
Now I think that deserves another reiteration because it’s the core of why this book got 5 stars. In 1940 before nuclear power was a major thing, while America was looking for this awesome power. Heinlein talked about using atomic power in a believable way both identifying the huge power potential of atomic power, as well as the scary ramifications. He even takes a further step and identifies the problem of an engineer working on that power and even the very real fears of the time about what would happen if a explosion happen.
Now unfortunately have the 1946 version of the story, so I can’t tell what the changes were from 1940 to 1946, but even at 1946, this story is a feat. This is the third story of the book, but it’s also the first story that nailed the theme of “Future History”. While the story isn’t exactly what happens, and the end result is farcical (as well as a few other things I won’t go into to avoid spoiling the story elements) Heinlein found a realistic and interesting view of nuclear power.
When I really think about science fiction I think of three things I look for, realistic possibility, scientific understanding, and a believable story. Heinlein delivers all of this at the top level. I mean the goal of Future History, is impossible to deliver, but Heinlein nailed it with this story. While there might be a few flaws in the story, and a touch of (period appropriate) racism in one character, the story is so strong and that very clear breath of Hard Science Fiction is so well done, that I can’t give it anything less than 5 stars.
I could see someone disliking this story, I could find someone hating one character in this book, I could find someone not liking the ending (in fact I felt it was entirely too abrupt).
But then I would ask all of those people did they put this book into context?
1940, Heinlein wrote a story about nuclear reactors. Right there I could stop and we’re done. But the story goes on and in 1945-1946, Heinlein went back updated the book with the knowledge of the atomic bombs.
Now I think that deserves another reiteration because it’s the core of why this book got 5 stars. In 1940 before nuclear power was a major thing, while America was looking for this awesome power. Heinlein talked about using atomic power in a believable way both identifying the huge power potential of atomic power, as well as the scary ramifications. He even takes a further step and identifies the problem of an engineer working on that power and even the very real fears of the time about what would happen if a explosion happen.
Now unfortunately have the 1946 version of the story, so I can’t tell what the changes were from 1940 to 1946, but even at 1946, this story is a feat. This is the third story of the book, but it’s also the first story that nailed the theme of “Future History”. While the story isn’t exactly what happens, and the end result is farcical (as well as a few other things I won’t go into to avoid spoiling the story elements) Heinlein found a realistic and interesting view of nuclear power.
When I really think about science fiction I think of three things I look for, realistic possibility, scientific understanding, and a believable story. Heinlein delivers all of this at the top level. I mean the goal of Future History, is impossible to deliver, but Heinlein nailed it with this story. While there might be a few flaws in the story, and a touch of (period appropriate) racism in one character, the story is so strong and that very clear breath of Hard Science Fiction is so well done, that I can’t give it anything less than 5 stars.
March 25, 2023
Отличное развитие идей из Линии жизни и Дороги должны катиться. Корпорации противятся инновациям, засирают планету и создают хрупкие системы, а действующие персонажи обусловлены своим социальным контекстом и не могут вырваться за его рамки. Есть даже легкое подмигивание психоистории Азимова, мол общая семантика всё объясняет и предсказывает.
November 16, 2013
They decide to bring in a shirk to snoop round and find out why the employee are cracking under the great strain of working at a nuclear power station. The problem is danger is so big is mind numbing. They trying to fix it but the don't want to cause other problems.I think we should only use renewable energy like wind, solar and wave. They don't pollute the earth like many other power sources. It's true that nuclear don't release carbon into the atmosphere. But we still have radioactive waste which is just as bad.
June 11, 2015
I really enjoyed the scientific bits about nuclear energy, and the atmosphere felt a little unusual and interesting, but the storyline seemed quite raw to me. What was the use of writing this? To tell that nuclear energy is dangerous? Than it should have been a story about the consequences of a blowup, but not about the pressure on people who work on nuclear stations. So it seems that the author intended to analyze psychology of people vested with great responsibility rather than the disadvantages of nuclear weapons. But than I don't understand the ending =_=
July 4, 2023
A big hot pile, all right. Mathematical psychology? —Read just before Putin ordered the blowing up of the Zaporizhzhia NPP starting WWIII. 🇺🇸 7/4/23 🎇 Bonus: the real genesis of the moon. . .
February 11, 2015
My hat will always be off to you, Sir Heinlein! You helped me understand so many things, and blew my tabula rasa mind in the process, especially from my perspective of knowing that you were writing from a theoretical view on topics and things that had yet to be realised or implimented. Thanks guy!
October 5, 2017
Can't believe this was written in 1940. Way ahead of its time.
January 25, 2018
Book 3. Again, not necessary to read in order to enjoy.
A bit of a nail biter. What is going to blow up?
Have a GoodReads.
A bit of a nail biter. What is going to blow up?
Have a GoodReads.
January 14, 2019
Interesting concept but I found the ending lack-lustre.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews