Robert Heinlein's Lazarus Llllooonnnggg Series
Review by Marcus Mulkins and Terry Brussel-Gibbons

The following books by Robert Heinlein are part of his future history series Methuselah's Children, Time Enough for Love, Number of the Beast, Cat Who Walks Through Walls, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset. What do these books have in common? They all have Lazarus Long, the oldest living human. Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Stranger in a Strange Land did not have him. They were actually written before these others but were brought back into the mix later.

Lazarus manages to tie all these story lines together in a montage that starts one thinking of plates of spaghetti. Heinlein has created several distinctly different timelines in his stories. Yet, he managed to have a recurrent theme dominating many of them: Love. How many ways can a person love? How many people can one person love? Is love fated to fade away? How many people can you love at one time? After raising all these questions, Heinlein teaches us that 1) It is possible to love all those good and decent people for whom we can make the time. 2) There is no limit to the number of people you can love--except the limit you place on yourself, 3) Love is what makes life worth living. Heinlein makes each of these books entertaining on its own, but even more meaningful when read in order. Characterization is at least as important as plot. In Number of the Beast, he introduces a concept which enables his characters to travel not only to alternate timelines he himself has created in previous novels, but to alternate realities consisting of the universes created by other authors--from the Land of Oz to the Lensman series. The concept is that if sufficient numbers of people have read about it, their minds create it. This means that Lazarus can jump timelines to go recruiting for worthwhile members for his expanded family--who just happen to be the protagonists of Heinlein's previous stories.

This is where Stranger in a Strange Land and Moon is a Harsh Mistress reintegrate with his unique
future history. Heinlein uses a lot of artistic freedom to provide everything his characters need in order to make their massive family work-- lives which last hundreds of years, plenty of money and ways to take a vacation from each other on other planets and in other histories. However, the ways the people actually relate to each other are real and human. Heinlein's trademark has always been to keep his characters believable.

A saloon owner who is the subject of an Emperor of Nine Worlds is smuggling a runaway slave off planet. What is she concerned about as she returns home with mission completed? Keeping her customers satisfied and her business profitable. (Citizen of the Galaxy). If you want to see graphic descriptions of what an ideal group marriage/expanded family would operate like, from who watches the kids to who engenders them and how they keep track of it, from how the house is set up architecturally to the wording of marriage ceremonies for bringing in new members, read some of these stories.

Those who really live these life styles have gleaned much practical advise that really works from this stuff. CAW founders Oberon and Morning Glory Zell are now part of a six-person multigenerational group marriage with members ranging from early 20s to late 50s. There are many such Nests all over the
country. These expanded families include parents, kids and plenty of aunt and uncle types. They are located in both rural and more urban settings.

Between the numerous scenes detailing familial bliss, you can learn scores of Heinlein's Life Lessons, disguised as Lazarus' Words of Wisdom as compiled by the historian of the Howard Families, Justin Foote.

This is a kinship line bred for long life of which Lazarus is the senior member. They discover monogamy doesn't work too well in a situation requiring it be honored over very Llllooonnnggg lives and that the plural of spouse is definitely spice...

 

ALL HALLOWS EVE FESTIVITIES
Saturday, October 26, 2002, 6:30pm

POT LUCK Sandwich Buffet (6:30pm)
Bring a dish big enough for 10: A-F bring Cheeses, G-M bring meats and other tasty things for
sandwiches N-R bring juices or fresh fruit Salads, S-Z bring Deserts and treats.
LTD provides good breads and spreads, paper goods, and marshmallows to roast.

ALL HALLOWS EVE RITUAL (SAMHAIN) 8:00pm
(outside under the stars)... Bring something you want to let go of--a symbol or written note. It will be cleansed in the cauldron's flame...
HALLOWEEN PARTY follows--Dress as your favorite Science fiction character--or be body painted. Do each other for fun (body paints provided) or have a real artist do you fantastic and take a professional photo of the result. Artist/photographer Marcus Brussel Jenkins will be available at this event. Call ahead for this as his time is limited. You are welcome do some sort of dramatic or funny presentation appropriate to your costume. Audio equipment available for sound effects--call ahead to plan it with Paul if you have something elaborate in mind.
PRIZE TO BEST COSTUME/PRESENTATION COMBINATION-
Be creative! (The prize will be a group massage in the hot tub to the winner
with all participants yours to command...within reason.)
HOT TUB AVAILABLE ALL EVENING--CLOTHING OPTIONAL.
Bring towels, sandals, etc.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW VIDEO AT MIDNIGHT
Cost: $7.50 non-members/$5.00 to members.
Location: Brussel-Gibbons group house in Sylmar-directions same as
September 20 event on page one. RSVP PLEASE! (818) 361-6727

I met Kathy Mar originally at a Worldcon in 1984. She was filking in the halls surrounded by several fans. Our mutual interests in Polyamory and particularly Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land forged a friendship, which has lasted over the years. This collection of original poly oriented songs from the 1980s has recently had the sound quality enhanced and its first release on CD is here at Worldcon!

You are water to my thirst
You have been my first, last and only loves.
Though you are many, we are one.
And if our way is growing,
It is not perfect yet.
We may need all our lives to learn it's song.
There's more to muscles flowing
Than solo or duet.
And better still when many sing along.

Living the Dream Is a collection of original songs and commentary on Alternative Lifestyles by popular filk singer Kathy Mar. Finally, here are lyrics which truly relate to the lives we are leading…
See insert to order or call the Live the Dream hotline at (800) GOAL NOW (462-5669).

LIVE THE DREAM SPECIAL EVENT AT CON JOSE WORLDCON 2002
SCIENCE FICTION & ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES
SUNDAY MORNING from 10:00am TO 12:00pm in the hospitality suite!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ALTERNATIVE? Line (Multigenerational Group Marriage) from MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS? The four way group marriage in FORBIDDEN TOWER (based on a real one which lasted sixteen years)? Group living and a BIG group marriage from Time Enough for Love and To Sail Beyond the Sunset? WE'LL WORK OUT SOME ACTION STEPS FOR BRINGING YOUR DREAM FROM FANTASY INTO REALITY (or for making your current actualized Dream even better!)

This event is lead by Terry and Paul Brussel Gibbons and Marcus Brussel Jenkins.

They give workshops for such groups as Loving More, Lifestyles, SF Conventions and Elysium. Terry and Paul have lived the polyamorous lifestyle since 1973. They have been together since 1992 and were joined by Marcus Brussel Jenkins to form a triad June 2, 2001.

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September 20th, 2002 at 7:00pm,
LIVELY DISCUSSION ON POLY LIFESTYLES AND SF
followed by relaxed hot tubbing. Clothing optional.
Event will be at 809 Lashburn in Sylmar, California. Take the 5 or 405 to San Fernando Mission off ramp, Laurel Canyon east to Hubbard one block. Right on Pearwood one block. Corner Pearwood and Lashburn. Look for the blue neon cat.
Bring something healthy and delicious to share for a POT LUCK DINNER.
Bring towels, sandals, etc. RSVP PLEASE! (818) 361-6727

Please see ALL HALLOW EVE festivities on back of newsletter, page 4

 

GIVE US YOUR STORIES. We need your stories for research purposes--your names will remain anonymous. If you have been hassled by the government for your lifestyle, particularly by any child services department, we want to hear from you by phone, in writing or by E-Mail.
Our phone number is 818-361-6737.
Our mailing address is
6454 Van Nuys Blvd #211
Van Nuys, CA. 91401.
Our e-mail address is: [email protected]

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