[Robert A. Heinlein]. Correspondence of Robert and Ginny Heinlein to and from Francis C. Ware. 1963-1998. A delightful series of six letters from master science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) to friend and fellow Navy man, Lieutenant Commander Francis C. Ware (1923-1999). Ware, a younger man by sixteen years, wrote to Heinlein, hoping that he and his wife Ginny would consent to be the guardians of his two daughters, in the event that anything happened to him or his wife. Heinlein's two page TLS response to Ware, which is the first letter of this collection, suggests that Ware should find a younger couple to consider and that his own views of politics (which they admittedly shared), sex, and religion might not be a good fit. Ware's six page reply, present as an unsigned typed copy, addressed each of Heinlein's concerns; however, suggested that if the worst did happen, Robert and Ginny would be given a choice to say "yea" or "nay". The next Heinlein letter in this conversation is only a half a page, unsigned, the lower half may have been removed, agreeing to Ware's conditions regarding the guardianship of his children, while still gently urging him to find a younger couple.
The July 22 1964 TLS is a gem and begins on a light note, stating "Your life may be forfeit at any moment for you have uncovered my dread secret: I am not an 'individual,' I am a committee of Martians." The rest of the letter addresses domestic concerns and politics with Heinlein stating his belief that "the American people have slipped so far down into decadence that they will never vote out Bread & Circuses and regain their souls." He also mentions the upcoming release of Farnham's Freehold.
There are six signed letters from Ginny Heinlein to Ware, two from 1969, dating themselves by the day and year after man's first landing on the moon, and four letters directly after Robert's death in 1988 and 1989.
What follows is a long correspondence between Ware and Ginny of twenty-five letters back and forth from 1989 to 1998. The contents include mentions of the overwhelming amount of fan mail to be answered, Heinlein film adaptations such as Starship Troopers and Disney's optioning of Star Beast; the posthumous publication of his self-titled Grumbles from the Grave; and various mentions of cats and houses.
Overall a wonderful, quirky, and heart-felt collection of letters, providing a window into the life of Robert Heinlein and those who loved him so well.