Roads Must Roll - Heinlein Concordance

A Heinlein Concordance

created by M. E. Cowan

Robert A Heinlein

From the stories: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ
From the real world: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w xyz

A Heinlein Concordance presented by the Heinlein Society

"The Roads Must Roll"

Angeles Sector: A section of the Diego-Reno Roadtown (presumably the former Los Angeles, California).
Bakersfield: Section of the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Barnes (no first name): Cadet engineer on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.; (also in other stories)
Blekinsop (no first name): Minister of Transport for Australia, who was touring with Larry Gaines when the road engineers began their revolt.
"Caissons": Melody from which the road engineers' anthem was taken.; (also in other stories)
Concerning Function: A Treatise on the Natural Order: The "bible" of the Functionalist revolution, written in 1930 by Paul Decker. The striking road technicians mostly followed its preachings.
Dave Davidson: Shorty Van Kleeck's subordinate, an engineer for the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Paul Decker: [mentioned in passing] Author of Concerning Function: A Treatise on the Natural Order, written in 1930. This book was the "bible" of the Functionalist revolution; the striking road workers mostly followed its preachings.
Diego-Reno Roadtown: Motorized roadway that connected San Diego, California, and Reno, Nevada, on and around which a metropolitan area grew up; its terminal was called Diego Circle. The automated roads themselves were large enough to accommodate restaurants and other businesses, as well as the engineers' offices.
Dolores (no last name): Larry Gaines' secretary.; (also in other stories)
Douglas-Martin Solar Receptor Screens: Power source used for the roadtowns. Named after the inventors, Archibald Douglas and Mary Lou Martin.; (Also mentioned in "Blowups Happen". Invented in "Let There Be Light", though not called by this name.)
Edmunds (no first name): Subsector Engineer on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Fresno Sector: Section of the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Larry Gaines: Chief engineer of the Diego-Reno Roadtown. He ended a revolt among the technicians by goading the leader into a complete breakdown. (Mrs. Gaines (no first name) is also mentioned briefly.)
Goddard Field: [mentioned in passing] Rocket field that was also a training ground for rocket pilots.; (also in other stories)
Guenther (no other name): Cadet engineer on the Sacramento Sector of the Diego-Reno Roadtown who reported two technicians for neglect of duty.; (also in other stories)
Harvey (no other name): Roadworker who objected to inflammatory talk about strikes and takeovers. He was murdered while negotiating on the government's behalf with rebel roadworkers.
Hubbard (no first name): Engineer on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Hughes (no first name): Cadet engineer killed by striking roadworkers.; (also in other stories)
Humm-Wadsworth-Burton: Psychological classification test designed to determine who was temperamentally suited for roadwork and other sensitive employment.
Jake's Steak House: Restaurant located on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Alec Jeans: Cadet on the Sacramento Sector of the Diego-Reno Roadtown, reported for playing cards while on duty as subsector technician.
Jenkins (no first name): [mentioned in passing] Cadet engineer on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.; (also in other stories)
Lindsay (no first name): Cadet road engineer.
Marston (no first name): Engineer on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.; (also in other stories)
Mrs. McCoy (no first name): Manager of Jake's Steak House #4.; (also in other stories)
McPherson (no first name): [mentioned in passing] Engineer on the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Philadelphia-Jersey Roadcity: One of the earliest high-speed roads. It overloaded and broke during rush hour, causing numerous injuries and a major crisis.
Provisional Control Committee for the New Order: Organizing group for the Roadworkers' rebellion.
Reno Circle: Terminal of the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
"Road Song of the Transport Cadets": Roadcity workers' anthem, adapted from "The Roll of the Caissons".
roadcity (or roadtown): As traditional highways were replaced by automated roadways, communities sprang up along the roadways' routes,and often the roadways were large enough to include buildings and small communities on the moving surface. As the roadtowns grew, many old cities and towns were largely abandoned, and new municipal boundaries were defined by the roadway routes.; (Also mentioned in "The Man Who Sold the Moon" and To Sail Beyond the Sunset.)
R. J. Ross (no other first name): Technician on the Sacramento Sector sector of the Diego-Reno Roadtown, arrested for playing cards while on duty.
Sacramento Sector: A section of the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Sikes (no first name): Roadworker who accused Harvey of being a company stooge.
Soapy (no other name): Roadworker who agitated for rebellion against the government.; (also in other stories)
Stockton Subsector: [mentioned in passing] Sector of the Diego-Reno Roadtown.
Transport Commission: Government agency that controlled the roadcities.
United States Academy of Transport: Training school for workers on the automated roadways. It not only taught technical skills but also indoctrinated the workers with ésprit de corps and a profound sense of responsibility.
Shorty Van Kleeck (no other first name): Former roadworker and chief deputy engineer of the Sacramento Sector of Diego-Reno Roadtown. He incited rebellion among the roadworkers and declared himself "Director of the Provisional Control Committee for the New Order". Larry Gaines defeated him by pushing him into a nervous breakdown.

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