🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Robert A. Heinlein
Popularly known as the “Dean of Science Fiction Writers”, science fiction would not have achieved its status as a genre that could stand on its own without Robert A. Heinlein. Along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein helped usher in the “Golden Age of Science Fiction”, which is a period of time during the late 1930s leading up to the mid 1940s when science fiction gained a large audience and following, and numerous science fiction stories were published. And, rightfully so, it is because of his eclectic works and achievements in the field that he became its first Grand Master in 1974. Robert Anson Heinlein was born in Butler, Missouri on July 7, 1907. He was the third son of Rex Ivar Heinlein and Bam Lyle Heinlein.
All Book Series by Robert A. Heinlein
The Past Through Tomorrow
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 1967
The Rolling Stones / Tramp Space Ship / Space Family Stone
Book 6 of 12 · published 1952
Have Space Suit—Will Travel
Latest in the series · book 12 of 12 · published 1958
Sixth Column / The Day After Tomorrow
Series opener · book 1 of 17 · published 1941 Pen name · Anson MacDonald
The Pursuit of the Pankera
Latest in the series · book 17 of 17 · published 2020
Delilah and the Space Rigger. Illustrated
Latest in the series · book 12 of 12 · published 2025
Project Moonbase and Others
Latest in the series · book 16 of 16 · published 2008
The Virginia Edition (46 Volume Collectors Set)
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2010
The Science Fiction Novel
Series opener · book 1 of 8 · published 1959 Co-authored · Robert Bloch,C.M. Kornbluth,Alfred Bester,Basil Davenport
Cliffsnotes Heinlein's Works
Book 2 of 8 · published 1969 Co-authored · CliffsNotes,Baird Searles
An Exploration of Horror: Foundations of Fear
Series opener · book 1 of 4 · published 1992 Co-authored · George R.R. Martin,David G. Hartwell,Peter Straub,Richard Matheson,Daphne du Maurier,Clive Barker,Carlos Fuentes,Arthur Machen,Gerald Durrell
Foundations of Fear: Volume I: Shadows of Fear
Book 2 of 4 · published 1994 Co-authored · David G. Hartwell,Peter Straub,H.P. Lovecraft,Daphne du Maurier,Arthur Machen,Jean Ray,Harriet Prescott Spofford
Foundations of Fear: Volume II: Worlds of Fear
Book 3 of 4 · published 1994 Anthology · George R.R. Martin,David G. Hartwell,Thomas Hardy,Gertrude Atherton,Thomas M. Disch,Elizabeth Engstrom,Carlos Fuentes
Foundations of Fear: Volume III: Visions of Fear
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 1994 Anthology · David G. Hartwell,E.T.A. Hoffmann,Richard Matheson,Philip K. Dick,Clive Barker,Octavia E. Butler,Gerald Durrell
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 1
Series opener · book 1 of 41 · published 1985
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 10
Book 10 of 41 · published 1994
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 11
Book 11 of 41 · published 1995
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 12
Book 12 of 41 · published 1996
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 13
Book 13 of 41 · published 1997
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 14
Book 14 of 41 · published 1998
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 15
Book 15 of 41 · published 1999
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 16
Book 16 of 41 · published 2000
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 17
Book 17 of 41 · published 2001
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 18
Book 18 of 41 · published 2002
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 19
Book 19 of 41 · published 2002
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 20
Book 20 of 41 · published 2004
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 21
Book 21 of 41 · published 2005
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 22
Book 22 of 41 · published 2006
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 23
Book 23 of 41 · published 2007
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 24
Book 24 of 41 · published 2008
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 25
Book 25 of 41 · published 2009
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 26
Book 26 of 41 · published 2010
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 27
Book 27 of 41 · published 2011
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 28
Book 28 of 41 · published 2012
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 29
Book 29 of 41 · published 2013
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 30
Book 30 of 41 · published 2014
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 31
Book 31 of 41 · published 2015
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 32
Book 32 of 41 · published 2016
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 33
Book 33 of 41 · published 2017
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 34
Book 34 of 41 · published 2018
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 35
Book 35 of 41 · published 2019
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 36
Book 36 of 41 · published 2020
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 37
Book 37 of 41 · published 2021
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 38
Book 38 of 41 · published 2022
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 39
Book 39 of 41 · published 2023
L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future 40
Book 40 of 41 · published 2024
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 41
Latest in the series · book 41 of 41 · published 2025
Street & Smith's Unknown, Vol 4. No. 6
Series opener · book 1 of 33 · published 1941
Famous Science-Fiction Stories: Adventures in Time and Space
Book 3 of 33 · published 1946
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction - May 1954 - Vol. 6, No. 5
Book 5 of 33 · published 1954
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Ninth Series
Book 7 of 33 · published 1958
The Arbor House Treasury of Modern Science Fiction / Great Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Book 15 of 33 · published 1980
Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction
Book 18 of 33 · published 1984
Requiem: Collected Works and Tributes to the Grand Master
Book 22 of 33 · published 1991
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Robert A. Heinlein?
Popularly known as the "Dean of Science Fiction Writers", science fiction would not have achieved its status as a genre that could stand on its own without Robert A. Heinlein. Along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein helped usher in the "Golden Age of Science Fiction", which is a period of time during the late 1930s leading up to the mid 1940s when science fiction gained a large audience and following, and numerous science fiction stories were published.
Which Robert A. Heinlein series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Future History/Heinlein Timeline series, the earliest of Robert A. Heinlein's multi-book series: it opens with Misfit (1939) and runs to 11 books across 1939–1967, ending with The Past Through Tomorrow (1967). Robert A. Heinlein's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Robert A. Heinlein written?
Robert A. Heinlein has 163 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1939 and 2025. 73 of them belong to 6 named series — the largest being the Heinlein's Juveniles series with 12 books — and 90 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Robert A. Heinlein's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Robert A. Heinlein's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Future History/Heinlein Timeline (1939–1967, 11 books), Heinlein's Juveniles (1947–1958, 12 books) and World As Myth (1973–1987, 4 books), plus 1 more.
How are Robert A. Heinlein's books organised into series?
This guide splits Robert A. Heinlein's 163 books into 6 named series and 90 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Heinlein's Juveniles (12 books, 1947–1958); Future History/Heinlein Timeline (11 books, 1939–1967); World As Myth (4 books, 1973–1987); Future History - The Past Through Tomorrow (1 book, 2025); L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future (41 books, 1985–2025), plus 1 further series.