However, Doug seems to be a fan of SF lit, so I bet he initially picked it up from Heinlein.

Yes.

(Though I'd personally argue the literary merit of Heinlein.)

Heresy! Of course, Bitt's opinions on literary matters are suspect to begin with -- I have it on unimpeachable authority that he was unable to get through Samuel Delaney's book "Dahlgren".

(Actually, all that proves is that Bitt isn't quite as weird as some of the rest of us...)

Dahlgren, for those of you who haven't read it, might best be described as... disturbing.


tanstaafl.