Have Space Suit Will Travel - 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

Have Space Suit — Will Travel

American Express

The company offered tourist excursions to the Moon. With Skyway Soap, it sponsored a contest with a first prize of a trip to the Moon.

(also in other stories)

astrar

Object detection and distance-measuring method (presumably analogous to radar). Technicians were needed on Luna, and Kip Russell briefly considered training for the trade.

Barsoom

The "dead sea bottoms of Barsoom" were among the locales of the nightmare Kip Russell had after he had been kidnapped with Peewee Reisfeld.

(also in other stories)

Beowulf

[mentioned in passing] Featured in the nightmare Kip Russell had while held captive with Peewee Reisfeld.

Beulah (no last name)

[mentioned in passing] Wife of the President of M.I.T.

(also in other stories)

Jake Bixby

Friend of Kip Russell, whom he helped soup up a car.

Dr. Bruck (no first name)

[mentioned in passing] Physicist and colleague of Curt Reisfeld.

Centerville

Town where Kip Russell lived.

Center Lumber and Hardware: Local sponsor that advertised on TV before the Skyway Hour.
Centerville Clarion: Town newspaper, which according to Kip Russell was only good for wrapping salami.
Centerville High: Kip Russell's high school; it was great socially, but academically lackluster. Its emphasis was on "preparation for life" rather than on education. Its students frequently called it just "Center."

Mr. Charton (no first name)

Owner of Charton's Pharmacy, Kip Russell's employer. He helped Kip sell Skyway Soap and claim the wrappers to enter their contest for a moon trip, also to write slogans. He encouraged Kip's ambitions to go into space, loaning him books on biochemistry and space medicine.

Charton's Pharmacy: Kip Russell worked there mainly as a soda jerk, but he was also learning about pharmacy.

Commander Comet, Scourge of the Spaceways

Ace Quiggle's jeering name for Kip Russell after Kip's TV appearance with the space suit he'd won.

Thomas Cook and Son

Company that offered tourist excursions to the Moon. With Skyway Soap, they sponsored a contest for which the first prize was a trip to the Moon.

Coronets

[mentioned in passing] Brand of cigarettes advertised on TV before the announcement of the Skyway Soap contest winner.

Xenia Donahue

[mentioned in passing] Winner of the trip to the moon in the Skyway Soap contest.

Eboracum

Location of Iunio's garrison, north of Londinium [London] in Britain.

Lars Eklund

[mentioned in passing] The original owner of Kip Russell's spacesuit.

Family Living

High-school course that Kip Russell was required to take. It was intended to prepare the students for adult life; but it was based on solely on the latest sociological theories, and was thus impractical and unrealistic.

Farley (no first name)

Scientist at MIT requested by Curt Reisfeld for his research team into the items that his daughter and Kip Russell had brought back with them.

(also in other stories)

Federated Free Nations

Successor to the United Nations, which existed during Kip Russell's time.

Federation

By inference (a reference to the Federation Space Corps), a world government had been instituted.

(also in other stories)

Federation Space Corps

Government agency that established a lunar colony during Kip Russell's lifetime.

Miss Finchley (no first name)

Teacher who, thought childless and unmarried, nonetheless taught Centerville High's course in "Family Living."

General Electric

Manufacturer of the auxiliary equipment for the spacesuit won by Kip Russell.

(also in other stories)

General Bryce Gilmore

Guest on the Skyway Hour the night the winner of the trip to the Moon was announced.

Dario Giomi

Professor and colleague of Curt Reisfeld. He was involved in the research on the information and items brought back from outer space by Peewee Reisfeld and Kip Russell.

Goodyear

Manufacturer of the spacesuit won by Kip Russell. When Kip wrote asking for parts, they supplied the parts to him free of charge, and provided extra information on refurbishing.

Guardian Mother

Closest English translation to the Mother Thing's official title.

Haber (no first name)

[mentioned in passing] Author of a book on space medicine loaned to Kip Russell by Mr. Charton.

Hanley (no first name)

Principal of Centerville High.

"happy thing"

Vegan artifact sent back with Peewee Reisfeld and Kip Russell. It resembled abstract sculpture and emanated the Mother Thing's comforting "presence".

Hayden Planetarium

When Curt Reisfeld was a child he entered their publicity contest for a trip to the Moon; he was awarded a trip years later and his daughter Peewee Reisfeld talked him into letting her go in his place.

Herald-Tribune

Newspaper preferred by Kip Russell's mother.

(also in other stories)

Hernandez (no first name)

[mentioned in passing] (Miss) Kip Russell's Spanish teacher.

"Him" (no other name)

Name used by Timothy Johnson for his alien boss. The alien is described as five feet tall with squat legs and disc-like feet, a tail or third leg that balanced him while at rest, two pair of many-jointed arms, purplish-brown oily skin, and a face hideous to humans. He was the vanguard for an invasion of Earth. His entire race and their planet were "rotated" out of this dimension in punishment for their attempted crimes.

Horace Mann Grammar School

Kip Russell's grade school.

(also in other stories)

Institute for Advanced Studies

[mentioned in passing] Institution where Curt Reisfeld was a VIP.

Iseult

[mentioned in passing] Legendary figure who appeared in the nightmare that Kip Russell had after he was kidnapped with Peewee Reisfeld.

Iunio (no last name)

Roman legionary captured from third-century Britain and held prisoner on Lanador to testify in the judgment of Earth by the Galactic community.

Jay's Drive-In

[mentioned in passing] When captured, Kip Russell had a pencil with him stamped with their slogan; he repudiated their claim to make the "thickest shakes in town", since his were the thickest.

Jenkins (no first name)

[mentioned in passing] (Mrs.) Centerville resident whom Kip Russell persuaded to buy a dozen cakes of Skyway soap, leaving him the wrappers to send in for their contest for a trip to the Moon.

(also in other stories)

Timothy Johnson

One of Kip Russell's captors. He was imprisoned with Kip after his usefulness was over, and disappeared after several days — possibly eaten by Wormface. Kip called him "Fatty" even after learning his real name.

Jo-Jo

Name that Kip Russell used for the Neanderthal man imprisoned on Lanador.

Junebug

Code name Kip Russell used to test Oscar's [his space suit's] radio circuit. When Peewee Reisfeld heard his broadcast "Junebug to Peewee" she thought he was trying to contact her.

Kennedy (no first name)

Centerville physician whom Mr. Charton persuaded to write prescriptions so Kip Russell could fill his space suits pharmaceutical stocks.

King Arthur

King Arthur's Court was the locale of the nightmare Kip Russell had after being kidnapped with Peewee Reisfeld.

(also in other stories)

Lake of the Forest

[mentioned in passing] Resort where Kip Russell was invited to spend Labor Day weekend; his parents probably thought he was there when he was kidnapped and taken off Earth.

Lanador

Planet in the Lesser Magellanic Cloud where the tribunal was held that judged first Wormface's planet, then Earth.

Lunar Base

[mentioned in passing] Military settlement.

Madame Pompadour

Peewee Reisfeld's rag doll, which she took everywhere with her. She even had it with her when she was kidnapped and during the subsequent adventures until she returned to Earth.

(also in other stories)

Mary (no last name)

[mentioned in passing] Wife of the Commander of the Federation Space Corps on Luna.

mathematics

In Have Space Suit — Will Travel and The Rolling Stones in particular, but also in passing mentions in most of his stories, Heinlein states that mathematics is the most important science, and anyone who does not know advanced math should not be considered civilized or intelligent.

Elaine McMurty

Girl with whom Kip Russell briefly went steady. She "wanted to talk boys and clothes" while he wanted to "talk space and engineering", so she dropped him.

Mother Thing

Alien with whom Peewee Reisfeld was held captive. She was given the name by Peewee because of her emanation of warmth and security. Vaguely feline in appearance, she also resembled a lemur but was not a primate. Her official position with the galactic community was roughly analogous to "police officer"; she monitored activities on different planets, particularly ventures into space, and acted upon any ventures that might threaten other civilizations.

New York Times

The newspaper Samuel Russell most preferred to read.

(also in other stories)

Old Race

Race that originated in the Lesser Magellanic Clouds, in Lanador, and spread civilization throughout the Three Galaxies. The race was no longer extant, but Mother Thing suggested that humans might be their descendants.

"On the Statistical Interpretation of Imperfect Data"

Important paper written by Samuel Russell.

Only People

Wormface's name for its race.

Oppie (no other name)

The President of M.I.T., who was persuaded to provide a full scholarship for Kip Russell.

Oscar the Mechanical Man

Usually shortened to just "Oscar", the name Kip Russell used for the space suit he won.

Peewee

Code name Kip Russell used to test Oscar's [his space suit's] radio circuit. Peewee Reisfeld heard him and thought he was calling her, resulting in his capture by Wormface's minions.

(also in other stories)

Pikes Peak

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb made the front page of the Centerville Clarion along with Kip Russell winning his spacesuit.

(also in other stories)

Pluto

Solar-system base of the invading aliens (see Wormface).

(also in other stories)

Princeton, New Jersey

Peewee Reisfeld's hometown.

Pring's Garage

Centerville business where Kip Russell bought pressurized air for his spacesuit.

Professor Josephus Egghead

Kip Russell's name for the Vegan who helped him dictate Earth's history. Kip usually called him "Joe".

Ace Quiggle (no other first name)

"Over-aged juvenile delinquent" who "kidded" Kip Russell about his ambition to go to the Moon, and about the spacesuit Kip won. He was a frequent loiterer at Charton's Pharmacy.

Quinlan Family

[mentioned in passing] Centerville residents who had nine children in a five-room house, cited as refutation of theories expressed in Kip Russell's "Family Living" course.

Curt Reisfeld

Peewee's father, a Nobel prize winner and professor with the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey.

Janice Reisfeld

Peewee's mother. (See next entry.)

Patricia Wynant (Peewee) Reisfeld

Young girl kidnapped by Wormface's minions who hoped to force her scientist father to cooperate with them. With Kip Russell's help, she and the Mother Thing signalled the Vegans and effected their rescue. She was called to testify for Earth in the Lanador tribunal, and afterwards was returned safely home.

Clifford (Kip) Russell

High school student who won a spacesuit while aiming for the first prize of a trip to the Moon. He completely restored the suit, and while testing the radio accidentally contacted Peewee Reisfeld, who was trying to escape from kidnappers. He was taken captive with her and involved in a plot by aliens to invade Earth. He nearly died setting a rescue beacon after defeating his kidnappers, and after recovering was required to testify for Earth in the Lanador tribunal staged to determine whether Earth was any threat to the rest of the galactic community. When he returned home Peewee's father, a Nobel scientist, arranged a scholarship to MIT for him.

Emma Russell

Kip's mother, described as having been her husband's star pupil before their marriage.

(Have Space Suit — Will Travel)

Samuel C. Russell

Kip's father, a prominent scientist who retired to a small town over his colleagues' protests to raise his son. He occasionally agreed to take on projects for the government, but mostly didn't want to be bothered by the outside world.

Scourge of the Spaceways

Ace Quiggle called Kip Russell "Commander Comet, Scourge of the Spaceways" after Kip's TV appearance with the space suit he'd won.

(also in other stories)

Skyway Hour

Television program sponsored by Skyway Soap.

Skyway Soap

Company that sponsored a contest with the first prize of a trip to the Moon. Kip Russell sent in numerous entries, but managed only to win a used space suit. The winners were announced on the Skyway Hour TV show, and Kip later appeared on a local version, the Skyway Jubilee, with the spacesuit. "Skyway Kwikbrite Armor Polish" was featured in the nightmare Kip had after being kidnapped with Peewee Reisfeld.

Space Cadet

Ace Quiggle's "kidding" name for Kip Russell because of Kip's enthusiasm for the contest for a trip to the Moon.

Stapp (no first name)

[mentioned in passing] Author of a book on space medicine loaned to Kip Russell by Mr. Charton.

Strughold (no first name)

Author of a book on space medicine that Mr. Charton loaned to Kip Russell.

Susie (no last name)

Switchboard operator for the Institute for Advanced Studies.

Three Galaxies

The advanced worlds of the Lesser Magellanic Cloud, Greater Magellanic Cloud, and Milky Way comprised a quasi-political "police" force to protect themselves against "uncivilized" worlds that might develop dangerous technology and cause trouble for the more advanced worlds.

Three Men in a Boat

[mentioned in passing] Samuel Russell's favorite book, by Jerome K. Jerome.

time

The Three Galaxies officials were able to send Kip Russell not only back to Earth, but back in time to just after he was kidnapped.

(also in other stories)

Tombaugh Station

Lunar base named for the discoverer of Pluto.

Tristan

Hero of an Arthurian legend, featured in the nightmare that Kip Russell had after being kidnapped with Peewee Reisfeld.

Joe Valiant

Fictitious college boy mentioned by Kip Russell as getting by on lots of luck and no money; in contrast to Kip's situation.

Beatrix Van Duivendijk

[mentioned in passing] Wife of the Secretary General of the Federated Free Nations.

Van Duivendijk (no first name)

Secretary General of the Federated Free Nations, an acquaintance of Samuel Russell who was introduced to Kip Russell at Curt Reisfeld's home.

Vega

The home star of the Mother Thing's people.

(also in other stories)

Victrix

The Sixth Legion of Rome, with which Iunio served in Britain.

Jacques (Jock) de Barre de Vigny

One of Peewee Reisfeld's captors, a flunky of Wormface. He was imprisoned with Kip Russell on Pluto after Wormface had no further use for him; he disappeared after several days and was presumed eaten by Wormface. Kip called him "Skinny" before learning his real name.

Walker, Boyd and Asimov

Biochemistry text that Mr. Charton loaned to Kip Russell.

Wormface

Kip Russell's name for the aliens who plotted to invade Earth. They set up a base on Pluto and kidnapped Peewee Reisfeld to coerce her father into cooperating with them. With the aid of the Mother Thing, Kip and Peewee were able to thwart the aliens' plans. The council of the Three Galaxies passed judgment on the aliens, and "rotated" their planet so that it was 90 degrees from the rest of the universe — leaving their sun behind.

Wright Field

Spaceport presumably located near Centerville.

York

Manufacturer of the air conditioning unit for the spacesuit won by Kip Russell.

Join The Heinlein Society and Pay Forward the legacy of Robert A. Heinlein and Virginia Heinlein.

The Heinlein Society was founded by Virginia Heinlein on behalf of her husband, science fiction author Robert Anson Heinlein, to "pay forward" the legacy of Robert A. Heinlein to future generations of "Heinlein's Children."