34 review for Astounding Science Fiction, August 1939

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Lyn – Jul 27, 2016

   Life Line is a short work written by a 32-year-old new writer, in fact, Heinlein’s very first published story. In writing this fantastic truism, I think that there was a time when an unknown songwriter sketched the words: Love, love me do You know I love you I'll always be true So please, love me do Whoa, love me do And some record producer thought about it, looked at the young face before him, and made history. In the present case, Astounding editor John W. Campbell made this discovery and decision i Life Line is a short work written by a 32-year-old new writer, in fact, Heinlein’s very first published story. In writing this fantastic truism, I think that there was a time when an unknown songwriter sketched the words: Love, love me do You know I love you I'll always be true So please, love me do Whoa, love me do And some record producer thought about it, looked at the young face before him, and made history. In the present case, Astounding editor John W. Campbell made this discovery and decision in the summer of 1939 with an unknown 32 year old Navy veteran and first time writer, someone named Robert Anson Heinlein. Dr. Pinero’s life and death predicting machine had far ranging consequences for his clients, for the life insurance industry, and ultimately for himself. Pinero created a machine that could trace the echoes of a person’s life, look far ahead into the pink worm of a human’s existence and see where the line would end. In summary: he could predict the moment of someone’s death. But this caused problems, if a man knows when he will die, he won’t but life insurance, he won’t plan ahead for an uncertain future, but rather will live his allotted time in forewarned bliss. Pinero tests his device to try for errors, but to no avail, he has used the machine himself and knows the difficult truth. A fine SF story, this is even more memorable because we can trace backwards along the line and know this is where it all begins.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   César Bustíos – Apr 17, 2019

   "In simple language I have invented a technique to tell how long a man will live. I can give you advance billing of the Angel of Death. I can tell you when the Black Camel will kneel at your door. In five minutes time with my apparatus I can tell any of you how many grains of sand are still left in your hourglass." How exciting! This was Heinlein's first story, the very beginning of the Grand Master prolific career. Dr. Pinero builds a chronovitameter, a machine that can predict the exact time of "In simple language I have invented a technique to tell how long a man will live. I can give you advance billing of the Angel of Death. I can tell you when the Black Camel will kneel at your door. In five minutes time with my apparatus I can tell any of you how many grains of sand are still left in your hourglass." How exciting! This was Heinlein's first story, the very beginning of the Grand Master prolific career. Dr. Pinero builds a chronovitameter, a machine that can predict the exact time of death from one person's life line. What would you think are the consequences of that kind of technology? See for yourself. Great story.

3. 

   4 out of 5

   M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews – Mar 21, 2018

   This was Heinlein's first published short story, and as they say, the rest is history. This was written in the 1930's, and is a short story following Doctor Hugo Pinero and his invention which can predict how long a human will live using what is a sort of 'feeler' along one person's life line, which made me think of like an echo/message sent through time travel. Heinlein doesn't describe that in these exact words, but for the times, this really was an inventive and creative story, and the rest o This was Heinlein's first published short story, and as they say, the rest is history. This was written in the 1930's, and is a short story following Doctor Hugo Pinero and his invention which can predict how long a human will live using what is a sort of 'feeler' along one person's life line, which made me think of like an echo/message sent through time travel. Heinlein doesn't describe that in these exact words, but for the times, this really was an inventive and creative story, and the rest of the stories in the Future History collection are definitely worth checking out.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Jamie – Jan 24, 2011

   My full review can be found here: http://www.jamierubin.net/2011/01/30/... My full review can be found here: http://www.jamierubin.net/2011/01/30/...

5. 

   5 out of 5

   William Wagoner –

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Hilliary –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Chip Follett –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Michael Lloyd-Billington –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   jennet wheatstonelllsl –

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Jeff Yoak –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Ian –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Bon Son –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    WaterProof –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Forbidden Golden –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    De Jan –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    David Rauschenbach –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Brett –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Joshua –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Matthew –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Raymond –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Teri –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    John –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Lisa –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Dee Martin –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Brian Enters –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Michael L. –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Darlene –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Carl Floyd –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Cyberpunk –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    David Whovian –

31. 

    4 out of 5

    Mark Gaulton –

32. 

    4 out of 5

    DP –

33. 

    5 out of 5

    Louis –

34. 

    5 out of 5

    Yv –