L. Ron Hubbard letter to Robert Heinlein

In 1982, after a three decade hiatus from the field came L. Ron Hubbard with the first works of science fiction to attract a truly mainstream readership in almost as many years -- works with more than twelve million cumulative sales across a dozen languages, and of such continuing relevance the word classic is the only appropriate term.

Just after completing Battlefield Earth he wrote to his longtime friend, Robert Heinlein, who is himself a giant in the field of science fiction, with such memorable novels as Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers.


Here is the letter Hubbard wrote to Heinlein on 26 October 1980 just after he finished writing Battlefield Earth (referred to as "Man: the Endangered Species"):

Dear Bob,

Congratulations on your new book, The Number of the Beast published by Fawcett Columbine. I read it with considerable pleasure. The old master has lost none of his touch. Indeed, he has added to it!
It do look like us old codgers sitting around the stove at the general store, still have more git up and go than them young fellers.
I have just finished a novel myself. It hasn't been shipped out yet but it's all done! I had a couple of months idle and so I rolled up my cuffs and wrote "Man: The Endangered Species." That, at least, was the working title. It is 428,750 words long plus intro and is pure SF genre but in a modernized style and very fast-paced.
I said some nice things about you in the dedication and intro. I hope you do not mind and hope also that you can still blush! If such fills your modesty with horror, write back....
Anyway, it's a good thing for the field and fans we're still around. From other things on the stands, if 'tweren't for us, they wouldn't be readin' anything at all!
It is amusing that us, in our decrepit conditions, should still be outliving and out-producing the young fellers. Do you suppose it's the fallout? Or maybe the water? Or is it because we're just too cussed to move over and let somebody else on the bridge?
More power to you, dear Bob.
Your friend,
Ron


Bob Heinlein replied on 15 December 1980 and had the following to say:

Dear Ron,

Thanks for the very nice note and for three (!) Xmas cards. I want to be on the lookout for your new SF novel. Will you please let me know the published title, date of publication, and publisher as soon as you know it yourself?

It has been a bit over forty years since you published Final Blackout -- but the warnings in it are more timely than ever.

I hope this finds you and yours well and happy and no longer hassled by the busies.

All the best!
Bob

Writers of the Future Top Pick in Chicago

L. Ron Hubbard launched the Writers of the Future Contest in 1983 for new and budding writers, to give them a chance to make it in this extremely competitive field.

Since then the contest has continued to grow with thousands of entries received every quarter and winners routinely go on to have successful careers due to the powerful springboard this contest provides.

The latest volume - Writers of the Future Volume XXII - has just appeared in the Sun Chicago Sun Times this week as the #3 on the Chicago's Top Picks list.

Check out the link below to see the article from February 4th in this prestigious paper:

www.suntimes.com/entertainment/books/241922,CST-
BOOKS-amazon04.articleprint

Win a Battlefield Earth 1st Edition!

Hello Everybody,

Just wanted to give you an update on the Battlefield Earth contest.

Here is how the first edition book looks like with the original book cover in case you are interested.

We now have over 50 entries for the contest. More and more fans are writing in to win the 1st edition book.

One fan wrote in to enter the contest and he is presently in the middle of reading the book.

Here is what he said:

"I'm reading Battlefield Earth now and am loving it! I'm approaching the end and have sadly discovered that this is one of "those" books: in other words, a book that I don't want to end! Hubbard has created a great sci-fi tapestry, full of the high adventure that I love so much! I hope I win this contest!"

Eric J. Johnson
Pittsburgh, PA

I hope too, that you win, Eric.

The drawing will be on the 15th of February. I wish everybody the best of luck!

Check back on this blog for the results of the contest.

Peter