''Revolt in 2100'' is a 1953

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

collection by American writer

Robert A. Heinlein Robert Anson Heinlein ( ; July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific acc ...

, part of his

Future History A future history, imaginary history or anticipatory history is a fictional conjecture of the future used by authors of science fiction and other speculative fiction to construct a common background for stories. Sometimes the author publishes a t ...

series. The book consists of: * Foreword by

Henry Kuttner Henry Kuttner (April 7, 1915 – February 3, 1958) was an American author of science fiction, fantasy fiction, fantasy and horror fiction, horror. Early life Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915. Kuttner (1829–1903) and ...

: "The Innocent Eye" * "

If This Goes On— If or IF may refer to: *If (preposition), a preposition used in English conditional sentences * If (subordinator), a subordinator used for English subordinate interrogative clauses Arts and entertainment Film and television * '' If....'', a 196 ...

" (1940; originally published in ''

Astounding Science Fiction ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'') * "

Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...

" (1940; originally published in ''Astounding Science Fiction'') * " Misfit" (1939; originally published in ''Astounding Science Fiction'') * Afterword: "Concerning Stories Never Written" "If This Goes On—" is a short novel detailing a rebellion against an American

theocracy Theocracy is a form of autocracy or oligarchy in which one or more deity, deities are recognized as supreme ruling authorities, giving divine guidance to human intermediaries, with executive and legislative power, who manage the government's ...

. Heinlein revised and expanded the magazine version for this publication. "Coventry" and "Misfit" are short stories showing the succeeding secular liberal society with "Coventry" presenting the point of view of characters who reject it. The book's afterword describes three unwritten stories which would have described the beginning of the theocracy and the beginning of the rebellion against it. "The Sound of His Wings" would have followed a televangelist named Nehemiah Scudder who rode a populist, racist wave of support to the presidency. "Eclipse" would have described the subsequent collapse of American society, with emphasis on the withdrawal from space travel by the new regime. "The Stone Pillow" would have covered the rise of the rebellion which the protagonists of "If This Goes On—" later join. Reviewer

Groff Conklin Edward Groff Conklin (September 6, 1904 – July 19, 1968) was an American science fiction anthologist. He edited 40 anthologies of science fiction, one of mystery stories (co-edited with physician Noah Fabricant), wrote books on home improvement ...

described the book as "a classic" and the lead story as "a smashing tale of revolution in the United States". Boucher and McComas, however, described the collection as " pressive in its time, and important in the development of modern science fiction", but found it highly uneven, "with pages worthy of the mature 1954 Heinlein ... followed immediately by passages from the author's literary apprenticeship". P. Schuyler Miller found it to be "a distinctly minor Heinlein contribution, ... way below the mark Heinlein has set himself in his recent teen-age books".

References

External links

* * {{Future History 1953 short story collections American short story collections Science fiction short story collections Short story collections by Robert A. Heinlein Works originally published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact Works originally published in pulp magazines Short stories set in the 22nd century Religion in science fiction