54 pages • 1 hour read
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
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Background
Literary Context: Robert Heinlein
Robert Heinlein (1907-1988) was a leading science fiction writer who established many of the key tropes of the genre. He is considered one of the “Big Three” science fiction authors, along with Isaac Asimov—the author of the Foundation series and classics like I, Robot—and Arthur C. Clarke, the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Heinlein won four Hugo awards in his lifetime; The Moon is a Harsh Mistress won this award in 1967.
Heinlein’s novels and short stories often deal with issues of society, politics, and economy, such as marriage, religion, sexual ethics, and racism. For much of his adult life, Heinlein was an anti-communist libertarian conservative; he was skeptical of democracy and championed personal freedom. These political beliefs characterize much of his work, including The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Heinlein sought to live his life in conformity with the beliefs he espoused in his works. For example, in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein writes positively about polyamory; Heinlein himself had an open marriage with his wife, Virginia Gerstenfeld.
Heinlein is credited with coining many words and phrases that are still in use today, including “pay it forward,” “grok,” and “There Ain’t No Such Thing as a Free Lunch,” an expression which features prominently in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. His emphasis on the scientific accuracy of his science fiction helped to establish the sub-genre of “hard science fiction”—this differs from the earlier trend in science fiction that focused more on fantastical “scientific” elements.
Heinlein’s understanding of technological progress and scientific innovation continues to influence technologists today. For instance, Elon Musk recommended The Moon is a Harsh Mistress as one of his favorite novels. Musk’s own work reflects the values in the novel, such as a belief in privatizing government functions, colonizing outer space, development and use of artificial intelligence to manage society, and skepticism of representative democracy (Jordan S. Carroll. “To Understand Elon Musk, You Have to Understand This ’60s Sci-Fi Novel.” Jacobin. 29 May 2022). Heinlein’s legacy is continued through the Heinlein Society and its various awards. In 2011, Elon Musk was awarded the Robert Heinlein Prize for Accomplishments in Commercial Space Activities.
Ideological Context: Libertarianism and Techno-Futurism
The work of Robert Heinlein generally and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress specifically is characterized by his two dominant ideological beliefs: libertarianism and techno-futurism. There are many different interpretations of libertarianism, but a core tenet is individual liberty. Most libertarians believe that government interference in individual lives should be minimal, especially with regard to personal and economic matters. Many oppose taxation, believing the goods and services funded by taxes should be privately, rather than publicly, provided. Heinlein was also a social libertarian and believed people should be free to make their own choices with regard to sex, marriage, and relationships, without government interference. In his works, he often pushed these beliefs to their logical extreme. For instance, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress portrays child marriage positively.
Heinlein was also a techno-futurist. Techno-futurism is a belief that technology and science can solve major societal problems. It is associated with scienticism, which is an ideological, zealous faith that science and technology can improve society. Techno-futurists privilege scientific and technological solutions over others, such as education, collective action, or humanist public policies like social welfare programs. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress represents techno-futurist beliefs in a variety of ways. The most prominent example is Mike, an artificial intelligence whose communication abilities are central to the lunar revolution. Heinlein’s techno-futurism influenced many contemporary proponents of the ideology, like Elon Musk.
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By Robert A. Heinlein
