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Heinlein action scenes 
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Heinlein Nexus
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Post Heinlein action scenes
So in the Reviewing Forum we were just talking about favorite action scenes in Cameron movies, and I thought, let's take that back into RAH-land. Heinlein always strikes me as a master of the written medium, i.e., using techniques that work best or only in the literary form. For example: The unwritten ambiguity of the identity of J.S. Bach when recovering from the operation: impossible to do in a movie. There are other, better, examples that I don't have to hand of Heinlein really leveraging the written word.

But... Heinlein's strength with that form means that he doesn't have (IMHO) a lot of visually dramatic action scenes. Not, I hasten to add, anything I perceive as lacking. Still, in the spirit of the question in the other forum, what would you peg as the greatest action scene in a Heinlein book... the kind of thing that gets your blood racing, would be the most riveting on the big screen, etc?


Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:07 pm
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Sam turning to face the attacking centaurs. (Starman Jones.)

Joe Straczynski said that the greatest story in human history is Horatius, and no one ever tires of the retelling. I'd concur. This is Heinlein's take.

Second choice: Kip throwing the malted in Ace Quiggle's face. Best closing line in any of his stories.

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Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:49 pm
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Yep. Along those lines, then, I submit: the last stand of Joe and Gail Greene. Also Friday's flight from the colony ship.


Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:55 pm
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Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:12 pm
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Post Re: Heinlein action scenes
Mike making the cops disappear from the bottom of Jubal's pool

The Warden's proctors' raid on the insurrectionist meeting

Thorby burning the raider ship

Petronius Arbiter going postal on Belle and Miles

Lorenzo Smythe grimly slicing up the body in the bathtub

Jim and Frank skating thousands of miles on the frozen Martian canals

Lummox consumes the neighbor's dog

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Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:25 pm
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Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:08 pm
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Post Re: Heinlein action scenes
Definately good Ole Pete mashing Miles and Bele!

The escape from the "centaurs" in Starman Jones

The Starship Troopers deploying from the capsule tubes

Most of Gay Deceiver's attack runs!

The attack upon and defence of Time HQ in TCWWTW

Have a great New Year everyone!


Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:38 am
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For me it's the sword dual Oscar has with with Cyrano in the tower (Glory Road)


Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:37 pm
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Thu Dec 31, 2009 6:06 am
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it may take a couple of army vets to appreciate a good sword fight ! ;)


Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:37 am
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Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:20 pm
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TEFL. Lazarus and his wife (forgive me, it's been a few years, I forget her name; Dora, short for adorable?) on their remote homestead. An all male family of four show up and finally make their play. Lazarus and Dora reverse the situation and get the drop on them. This scene is the first that came to mind. It's not as physically active as most of the above, but emotionally, it was extremely satisfying. Even when I know how it turns out, I go from, "Uh-oh, they're screwed," to delicious frontier justice. We've seen it before in many westerns. I love that RAH could render it so well in words.


Fri Jan 01, 2010 5:07 pm
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which one would you like? a vet respects his opponents capabilities ;)


Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:55 am
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Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:55 am
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Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:43 pm
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Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:14 am
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Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:31 am
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Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:00 pm
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Not quite on this point but maybe interesting enough . . .

I noticed recently how often Heinlein has his action sequences in the middle and then the ends become talking heads. The observation came up with regard to Have Space Suit, but darned if Citizen of the Galaxy isn't exactly the same.

Typically the action grows throughout and climaxes near the end. Heinlein's books are not typical.


Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:30 pm
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Because Heinlein's books are what what things mean, not about what things happen.


Tue May 03, 2011 8:54 am
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Finally, given the maturing of CGI, this has become cinematically possible. I'd love to see Oscar, Star and Rufo force-feed Igli to himself.

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