Alexei Panshin's The Abyss of Wonder
Correspondence between Alexei Panshin and Virginia Smith about Robert Heinlein's letters to "Sarge" Smith
In researching my book Heinlein in Dimension, one of the people I wrote to seeking information was "Sarge" Smith, a friend of Heinlein's who was the dedicatee of Starship Troopers. The answer I got back came from his wife Virginia. Here is our complete correspondence.
2515 Arrowhead Rd.
Okemos, Michigan
Jan. 6, 1965
Dear Mr. Smith,
I'm a young professional writer currently engaged in writing a book on Robert Heinlein for Advent:Publishers of Chicago, a small house that specializes in science fiction critical material. Among other things, they have published a talk that Heinlein gave at the University of Chicago a few years ago. The book will be in small part biographical (one chapter out of about thirty), but mainly critical. A book of this sort hasn't been done before on any modern science fiction writer, and considering Heinlein's influence with the field, I thought the project seemed worth doing when it was proposed to me.
I want to be as careful, thoughtful and accurate as possible. I did an article a year or so back on Heinlein (in fact, it was what led to my being asked to do this book) that was thoughtful, but over-abrupt and too hastily written. I want to do better in this book, partly because I think the subject deserves better and partly for the sake of my own pride. I want to be both honest and complete. I intend to think as honestly as I can and to say what I honestly think. That means both praise and criticism -- no pedestals, no mud. I have, by the way, informed Heinlein as to what I am doing.
I was given your name and address by Avram Davidson as being a good friend of Heinlein's (though, of course, I recognized your name from the dedication of STARSHIP TROOPERS). In the interests of completeness, I'm seeking information, advice and quotable opinion. If you have any comment on, or criticism of what I'm doing, I'd like to hear. I am particularly interested in anything you might have to say on Heinlein as an individual, and any information about him that has not had wide circulation and that I might not have seen. I am interested in anything that seems relevant to you.
I do feel somewhat hesitant about asking you to give time and thought to my problem, but to be honest I am somewhat lost with a project like this -- fiction is what I usually write and am used to writing -- and I'm fumbling around trying my best to get a handle on it. I want to write the best book that I possibly can, and if you can help me at all, it would mean a great deal to me.
Yours,
Alexei Panshin
Jan. 8, 1965
65 N. Foster St.
Norwalk, Ohio
Dear Mr. Panshin,
In reply to your recent letter, I wish to inform you that Mr. Smith died at Crile Veteran's Hospital in Cleveland, the 23rd of Sept. after a long illness. They found he had lung cancer and had let it progress past help. It is with regret that he cannot be of help to you in this project, as he was most helpful to many young and eager students in many fields. I see where you are acquainted with Avram Davidson, who was also one of his many devoted friends. I also received a card from Mr. Davidson the same day your letter was received, so if it isn't asking too much, would you kindly inform him also of his death.
Mr. Smith was very well acquainted with Robert Heinlein and also helped him in rearranging one of his recent books. I have a complete collection of Mr. Heinlein's books and are all personally autographed by him. "Star Ship Troopers" was dedicated to him. I only regret and also wish that I might be of help to you as I am more or less interested in your type of project.
If I can be of any assistance to you, please let me know and I sincerely wish you all the luck in your ventures.
I Remain
Respectfully,
Mrs. Virginia K. Smith
P.S. I also have a complete file of personal correspondence of Mr. Heinlein to Mr. Smith expressing many of his views and personal opinions on many subjects and this may be of interest to you.
2515 Arrowhead Road
Okemos, Michigan
Jan. 11, 1965
Dear Mrs. Smith,
I was most sorry to learn of the death of Mr. Smith. I never had the pleasure of knowing him, but I had heard his name raised many times in very favorable terms, which is why I felt I could write to him when Avram Davidson gave me his address. And I am sure that it was because of his knowledge of Mr. Smith and his respect for him that Avram felt it was possible to recommend him as a possible source of information to me.
As soon as your letter arrived, I wrote to Avram as you requested. I think you will hear from him most shortly.
Thank you very much for your offer of assistance. If you feel that Mr. Heinlein's correspondence might add light to my book, I would be most grateful the chance to look at it. I do want to be as thorough as I possibly can and I welcome any help that I can get.
My very best wishes to you.
Yours,
Alexei Panshin
January 15, 1965
Dear Mr. Panshin:
In reply to your last letter, I wish to ask if you wish me to mail you the correspondence of Robert Heinlein's or if by any chance you might be able to come to Norwalk, and have perhaps a better chance to discuss this information more thorough. Which ever might be more convenient for you. In the past through correspondence and by Mr. Smith's discussions, I have gained quite a bit of Mr. Heinlein's personal viewpoints on a great many subjects.
Mr. Heinlein is without a doubt, very well versed on most every subject, rangeing from political to individual persons, and although he has confined his talents towards the Science Fiction field, he could most easily qualify for most any field which he might enter. He is unmoved by unjust criticism, and he expresses his own personal viewpoints regardless to individuals. He is also a great cat fan cier, and will cancel an engagement when the emergency arises, to tend a sick cat.
I see where you wish an unbiased opinion, also an accurate description of his and his work. At his convenience, Mr. Heinlein would write a twelve to twenty page letter giving detailed facts on whatever subject he was persuing. He is last, but not least, most gererous with financial aid to his friends whenever the need arises. He is, in my own personal opinion, a most sincere kind and understanding person, and as an author, critical to a fault, leaving nothing to chance.
If by any chance, you are not able to make the trip to Norwalk, I will be more than pleased to mail you the letters, and may be of some help to you for your book, and may enlighten you as to how he thinks as he does. I am most hopeful they will be of help to you, and if I may offer any further suggestions, I will be very pleased to give them to you.
With all my best,
Respectfully,
Virginia K. Smith
2515 Arrowhead Rd.
Okemos, Michigan
January 18, 1965
Dear Mrs. Smith,
Thank you very much for your letter. I was very pleased to receive your personal impression of Mr. Heinlein. I want to thank you, too, for your invitation to come to Norwalk. I only wish that I could, but that is clearly impossible. Right now I am working, attending college and writing two books, one of which, the Heinlein book, for a variety of reasons has to be completed in just under two months. I'm somewhat older than most college students, having spent several years in the army and another year in travel, and now I am doing my best to finish my education and be done. Adding in the work I do for the money I need and the time I spend in writing, I am right in the center of what is so far the busiest time of my life.
Perhaps if there were more time available before my book is due I could afford to come to Norwalk. As it is, I am right now in the middle of writing the book itself. So far, I have finished three chapters out of thirty-one proposed and expect to have two more done by the end of this week. I am still missing some of my material -- two speeches, two never reprinted stories from 1942, two Boy's Life serials that have never been re-published -- but it should be arriving within the next week or ten days from various sources. What I am chiefly missing now are a few details of Mr. Heinlein's career, and these I hope Mr. Heinlein himself will be able to supply -- in any case, the biographical chapter will be the last written. I am interested in Mr. Heinlein's correspondence with Mr. Smith for whatever insight it can give me into his writing and thinking -- as a source of general background thinking for me.
I want to be honest with you. I've enjoyed Heinlein's writing for a long time, and when I was sixteen I even wrote him one of the most worshipful fan letters you can imagaine. However, in my book I am trying to be as critical as I can. That is, I am trying to think about everything that I write and also to state my conclusions, even when they are not favorable. For instance, I was thoroughly unhappy with Mr. Heinlein's recent novel, PODKAYNE OF MARS. I did not think it was up to the standard of his previous juveniles (partly, I suspect, because Heinlein, as a very strongly masculine person does not have real insight into the teen-age female mind). I am interested in Mr. Heinlein's correspondence for the insights it will give me into his writing, but these insights may well be negative as well as positive. I can see that you have a great deal of respect for Mr. Heinlein and if there is any possibility in your mind that letting me see his correspondence might be in any way a disservice to him, I would prefer that you did not send me the letters. If however, you do feel that you can send me the correspondence, I would be most grateful to see it. I will reimburse you, too, for the postage involved when I return the letters to you.
In any case, I do thank you for your continuing interest and for your most helpful letter. You have been very kind and I do appreciate your kindness.
Yours,
Alexei Panshin
January 29, 1965
Dear Mr. Panshin:
Would you kindly return the correspondence which I sent you of Robert Heinlein's, also I would advise that you not use any of the material they would furnish you. I wouldn't want any misuse of this correspondence, unless it met with Mr. Heinlein's approval, and would prefer it isn't used.
I aso received a very nice letter from Avram Davidson, and he expressed his sympathy at the news of Mr. Smith's passing. Wishing to thank you for your message to him.
Sincerely yours,
Virginia K. Smith
2515 Arrowhead Rd.
Okemos, Michigan
February 1, 1965
Dear Mrs. Smith,
Your letter came this morning just as I was packaging your letters to return them to you. I found them very interesting, but more for Mr. Heinlein's attitudes than for any specific information within them. Since you show concern on the point, may I reassure you -- I will not quote from these letters.
I am enclosing stamps with this letter to replace the postage you spent in sending the letters to me.
Last week I got a hurried note from Avram Davidson mentioning that he had written to you. He is a very fine person.
I do wish this could be longer, but I am terribly rushed. Tomorrow I am to start on a two-day project involving some eleven hours of tests of various sorts and I am doing my best to do too many different things today to clear my desk.
You have been very good to me, and I do want to thank you. I hope you will find the book worthwhile when it is published.
Yours,
Alexei Panshin
These letters can be found in The Heinlein Archives, the Alexei Panshin File 1964-1974, which may be downloaded for $3.00.