Recently I replied to a post and pulled my information from my memory of Fred Pohl's The way the Future was. Well first of all let me say that I was totally mistaken, on re-reading the book, I can only say that I must have pulled my information out a$$, because it certainly was not in the book. There is a great picture of Heinlein receiving a honorary doctorate from Eastern Michigan University in 1977, but no mention of his military career during WWII ( which is the information I reported in error ).

One thing the book makes clear is how small and incestuous the world of pulp Sci-Fi was. At one time most of the great writers we have come to love were members of a group known as the Futurians. Asimov, Pohl, Cyril Kornbluth and many others.They went on to be editors, co-writers and in Pohl's case, agents for many of the others. Through there actions they shaped what science fiction would become. Printed in 1978 the book is great insight into the publishing world from the 40's to the 70's. If you can lay your hands on a copy I suggest reading it.

On a purely personal note, after reading Gateway, sometime in my teen years, I was moved to write Pohl and tell him how much I enjoyed this book and encourage him to write a sequel. Much to my amazement I received a reply from Mr. Pohl. It was a short note informing me that a sequel was indeed in the works and he even gave me the working title. At the time he was the President of the Science Fiction Writers Association of America and the note was on their letterhead. I still have it to this day. Now R.A.H. was always my favorite author, but for some reason I never thought to write to him. Knowing what I know now, I know that he rarely replied to fan mail and if he did it was with a form letter, but I guess I was too in awe of him to even consider attempting to contact him.

He, or Virginia, replied more often than most people think. Tho the word was "on the street" for a long time that if you really valued him you *wouldn't* write and add to tiring him and her out.

There are also stories out there of people who wrote receiving phone calls out of the blue from him, if their letter tickled him for whatever reason.

I endorse "The Way the Future Was" as a worthwhile read as well. Tho some authors, and editors, that dealt with Fred when he was in his agent phase are not quite as generous of at least that part of the book.

I have a copy (actually. . . maybe two. One of what we used to call "The Lost Three", now reprinted in Off the Main Sequence. I have two copies of one of those magazines and one each of the other two) of Future with My Object All Sublime in it. I love it. Bottom of the market el cheapo near-trash magazine. Story by Robert A. Heinlein (as Lyle Monroe); art by Damon Knight; edited by Fred Pohl. I wonder how many stories can claim three Grand Masters that way for their initial appearance?

I wrote RAH in the late 70s and received a short personal note in reply. It was penned at the bottom of the form letter and initialed "rah". In the 90s I wrote Ginny and received a lengthy two-page reply in large type.

Once upon a time, I came upon a remainder table with a whole stack of The Way the Future Was. I already loved the book.

They were a dollar apiece. I bought every one.

I am looking forward to volume two, which Fred is working on now.