Lazarus Long the Scot

[sailortats]

I just bought a new copy of the "classic" Time enough for love to reread after many years and lo and behold here sits Lazarus in full kit.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I think Lazarus Long was my first exposure to kilts. At least, reading Methusaleh's Children is the first book I recall with a kilted character. I love Robert Heinlein, an awesome author and I was extremely upset when he passed.

[Standard]

I have both of those books, and remember Lazarus Long being mentioned as wearing a kilt. Gotta love Heinlein.

[Steve Ashton]

I have been a fan of RAH since my first exposure to "Stranger in a strange land" more than 50 years ago now. I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting him on a beach in Hawaii when I was stationed there.

I was walking down the beach and noticed him sitting quietly soaking up the sun. He was still recovering from a case of peritonitis.
I was pretty familiar with the shops in that area and knew that one of them was owned by an old Navy guy who served coffee the Navy way (in heavy porcelain cups with no handles). I bought two cups and without saying anything I sat down next to RAH putting one cup beside him.

We sat there in silence for about 30 min. sipping coffee and enjoying the girls walking by. He then pulled out a notebook, scribble down something and handed it to me.

On the paper was his home address and phone no. He thanked me for not pestering him and said that if I was ever in the area I should call and drop in for another coffee.

It was about four months later that I flew from Honolulu to SFO. I called the number and was invited out to Bonnie Doon. As I was leaving, RAH reached over to a bookshelf and pulled down a first edition of "SIASL" signed it and handed it to me.

Even today if someone asks who Steve Ashton is I will pull down one of my copies of "Time enough for love" and tell them to read it. Yes, I keep multiple copies just to loan out.

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

"TANSTAAFL"

RIP RAH, Lazarus Long is still out there, alive and kicking.

[Geoff Withnell]

According to my father, the Withnell chieftain, our family motto is "TANSTAAFL".

[Jim Simmons]

I am another fan of RAH. I believe that I read my first Heinlein book when I was just a youngster back in the 50's. My two favorites are The Glory Road and Starship Troopers. I have copies of both in my small library, and still read them every now and then.

" So tomorrow we are heading up that Glory Road, rocks and all !! ¿Got any dragons you need killed? "

[kiltedrennie]

I just bought a new copy of the "classic" Time enough for love to reread after many years and lo and behold here sits Lazarus in full kit.

I really love this cover. There is another very similar to this with his two "sisters" standing to either side with Lazarus in a robe.

[John_Carrick]

I must have read Heinlein's "Red Planet" 20 times as a boy. It was written in 1949, which is amazing, but was a great book to read in the 60s and 70s alongside the Apollo missions.

[The Wizard of BC]

Please remember. Lazarus Long himself was not a Scot. His birth name is Woodrow Wilson Smith.

[kiltedrennie]

Please remember. Lazarus Long himself was not a Scot. His birth name is Woodrow Wilson Smith.

True. I believe he wore the kilt for pragmatic reasons. Easier to hide a blaster holstered to your leg under a kilt!