Is "THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH" by Robert Heinlein the Best Science Fiction Short Story? (PULP SCI-FI)

[@ernestschultz5065]

Best is completely subjective. One of my favorite sf short stories is called Syndrome Johnny, can't recall who wrote it off the top of my head at the moment.

[@StrangersandAliens]

I found this because I was curious… I’m going to give it a read! Is this the story you’re talking about? www.gutenberg.org/files/51231/51231-h/51231-h.htm

[@StrangersandAliens]

Best is absolutely subjective! Best of all time even more so. :)

[@weevil601]

The first full-length novel I ever read was Stranger in a Strange Land, by Heinlein. I was around 12 or 13, so this was 1967 or '68, and the "turbulent 60s" was in full swing. Somehow, the hippy culture and the free love movement were prominently featured in this novel. This didn't mean anything to me at the time. It was only much, much later that I realized Heinlein had written this novel in 1959 or 1960, before any of the 60s stuff was a thing. It was almost as if someone from 10 years in his future had sat with him one evening and explained what was coming in the next decade. I think I've read almost everything Heinlein ever wrote. If I had to make a tier list of science fiction writers, RAH would be on the top tier. A few others have joined him over the years, but there is no tier above his, at least not for me. I don't read as much these days, but watching your video has made me want to read this story again. It's been a while. Speaking of your video, it's a bit spooky that youtube recommended it to me. Most of my recommendations are related to AI, chess, science of one sort or another, and music. Yours is the only one related to reading, and it popped up on the front page this morning. Maybe I'll see if I can track down Nimoy's version. Thanks for the memories.

[@StrangersandAliens]

@@weevil601 I’ve been on a bit of a Heinlein kick recently - doing the “sci-fi homework” and reading some of the classic works. In the last two years I finally read Stranger in a Strange land and Starship Troopers. I also read Double Star, which was a surprising read. He is, rightfully so, a giant in the field. Your perspective on the timing of things is interesting, too. He was definitely one of the those prescient writers, predicting some things we take for granted. Tech-wise and socially.

[@MrStringybark]

I don't know if you realise this but for 80% of the time, you kept repeating the same sentiments over and over again.

[@StrangersandAliens]

And that's after editing it down! Sorry!

[@MrStringybark]

@@StrangersandAliens I loved reading Heinlein, Bradbury, Asimov, etc when I was a teenager and I watched your video hoping to get an synopsis of this story.

[@StrangersandAliens]

@@MrStringybark here’s the audio version which also has the old time radio version of the story - I never did a synopsis because I wanted to encourage people to read it or listen to it. It’s not long if you search for Leonard Nimoy Green Hills of Earth you can listen here on KZbin or Spotify. But this link wil send you to my audio podcast version. The first 27 minutes are from the video above. The last 25 minutes or so are the story as told on the x-minus one radio program. strangersandaliens.com/the-green-hills-of-earth-by-x-minus-one-otr/

[@Rickkennett143]

I have this on cassette read by Leonard Nimoy.

[@StrangersandAliens]

@@Rickkennett143 I’ve been watching eBay to see about getting it on vinyl. We have a record player but I’d be buying it more for the artwork. That Kelly Fries painting is gorgeous.