Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mould the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters that were strong and independent, yet often stereotypically feminine – such as Friday.

Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas, and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.

Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"―awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including "grok", "waldo", and "speculative fiction", as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon, though he never patented nor built one. In the first chapter of the novel Space Cadet he anticipated the cell-phone, 35 years before Motorola invented the technology. Several of Heinlein's works have been adapted for film and television. [adapted from Wikipedia]

David Mark Weber (born October 24, 1952) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He has written several science-fiction and fantasy books series, the best known of which is the Honor Harrington science-fiction series and has had a number of New York bestsellers. His books are also a regular selection for the Science Fiction Book Club.

“At once, Captain Zebadiah Carter!” With no spoken command, the three thoats executed ‘Troopers left about!’ and headed at ground-shaking speed for the shoulder of the hill where they had appeared. Deety and Jake closed in quickly. Deety hugged me, banging me on the back of my noggin with the barrel of her shotgun in doing so.

“Oh, my captain, I’m so proud of you!”

I kissed her. “Hilda is the hero, not me.”

“I’m proud of Hilda, too. Aunt Hilda, are you all right, honey?”

Hilda stopped nuzzling her man long enough to answer. “That big lunk bruised my ribs. But he couldn’t help it. He’s rather sweet, actually. Handsome, too.”

“ ‘Handsome’!”

“Deety baby, you don’t expect a Great Dane to be pretty by the same rules as a butterfly.”

Deety looked thoughtful. “That’s logical. I must look at him again, with unprejudiced eye.”

“Postpone the debate, girls, and listen. Jake, can you manage a sword salute?”

“Eh? Certainly!”

“Okay, here’s the drill. We line up, Jake on the right, Hilda next, Deety next, me beside Deety―Deety, you can ‘Present arms’ with a gun?”

“I’ve seen it. I can fake it.”

“Good. Hilda, all you have to do is a Girl Scout salute. I give ‘Draw―Swords!’ You gals do nothing; Jake and I draw and come to order arms in three counts. Then I give ‘Present―Arms!’ Jake and I do it, two counts, one for each word―but Deety, don’t move until I say ‘Arms!’ ”

“I’ll be out of step,” Deety objected.

“They won’t be critical. When I ‘Return … swords!’ you come back to order arms―and I’ll say, “Fall out” and Doctor Burroughs―you’re Doctor Burroughs in public from now on and you two are always ‘princess’ and I’m always ‘captain.’ Protocol. Any questions? I hear them coming.”

We lined up. The thundering herd rounded the shoulder and came straight at us, lances at charge, only this time it was the starboard wing man who was about to skewer me. They didn’t slow and I was ready to beat the Barsoomian record for backward broad jump―but couldn’t because both women remained rock steady.

When it seemed impossible that they could stop, the thoats slammed on brakes with all twenty-four legs, and stopped dead as three lances swung up vertically into perfect salutes. My boy almost brushed the tip of my nose with his, but upright his lance was four meters away.

“Draw!―Swords!” (Grab―Draw―Down! Hup! two! three!)―and Sharpie tossed in her own variations. No Girl Scout salute for her―she followed our motions, right on the beat, with her hunting knife.

“ ‘Present’!”―hilts to three chins―“Harmp!” Blades flashed down while Deety chucked her gun into the air, caught it with both hands. I’ve seen it done more by the book, but never with more snap.

The three giants let out wild yells, which I chose to interpret as cheers. I waited a long beat, then dismissed my “troops.”

But the big boys weren’t through. Tawm Takus glanced right and left, and suddenly bunting bloomed from those upright lances, joined together into one big banner (magnets? magic?), spelling:

WELCOME TO BARSOOM!

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