I just finished re-reading Job for the first time in probably twenty years. I enjoyed it much more this time around than I did originally. I "got" the themes much better, and was surprised how tightly plotted the tale is. There's hardly a wasted word in the novel.

I then re-read Bill Patterson's essay, "The Heir of James Branch Cabell," and went to Amazon.com to order a used copy of Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice. I'm interested in reading this to see for myself the similarities with Job and other Heinlein novels, such as Glory Road.

I'll try in the future to be less dismissive of "latter Heinlein."

There was a time when I was so amused at Bill's bringing Cabell into every discussion of Heinlein that I started clocking him for the first reference in each presentation. Perhaps I wasn't as subtle or surreptitious as I thought, or perhaps my muttered "fifteen seconds!" "one minute ten!" etc. was a trifle too loud.

At one memorable panel/presentation, which might have been at a hilariously small con here in Sacramento, Bill took the mike, turned to me, and intoned, "Cabell!" before beginning his actual talk. I now keep my time-keeping to myself. Mostly. But just the name can make me crack up now.

(Not that he's wrong. A grasp of Cabellian influence is key to understanding many of Heinlein's themes.)

In that vein, I have to add this here for Bill and see if he takes the bait:

<fx dirty chuckle, maybe Christopher Lee style>