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Elon Musk's Debt To Science Fiction Books
Elon Musk, who developed Tesla Motors, PayPal and SpaceX, has revealed his source of inspiration - science fiction.
In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great. I like the Foundation series, probably one of the all-time best. Robert Heinlein, obviously. I like The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and I like Stranger in a Strange Land, although it kind of goes off the rails at the end.
Take a look at a few of Musk's projects, and their science fiction antecedents:
During his interview with DnA host Frances Anderton, the SpaceX founder said that science fiction had inspired his wide-ranging career. Naturally, this GalleyCat editor asked what books inspired the entrepreneur. Musk gave a long answer:
Via Media Bistro.
Science fiction fans have long been comfortable with the private exploration of space.
John Jacob Astor IV set forth a marvelous vision of a national fleet of electric phaetons that would truly revolutionize motor transport in his 1894 story A Journey in Other Worlds.
Robert Heinlein looks for a ship in a whole field full of freighters abandoned on the Moon in his 1941 novel Methuselah's Children.
I thought I'd mention that this private space craft that can easily take off and then land back on a planetary surface sounds a lot like science fictional space craft like Heinein's Joy-boat Junior.
For decades, sf fans have dreamed of having rocket ships that can land on their tails, like sf writers intended.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 3/19/2013)
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