Those merely curious can see the thread "What books got you started?" for references.

Small groups of dyed-in-the-wool Heinleiners, here and there, have taken to hoisting a glass in the gentleman's honor on this day (kilt and sidearm optional).

I hear that some group on that other coast- my friend thinks maybe Oregon- has started the custom of exchanging good books with friends on July 7th. Interesting thought- might have the potential to revive gift giving without the runaway consumerism. There are more excellent books in used books stores than new, any day.

Garrison Keillor (he of Lake Wobegone fame) announced Heinlein's birthday on the radio this morning, which surprised me a bit.

Dang! I missed it. I won't next year. He was one of my favorite sf authors.

If you like the book giving thing, take a look at BookCrossing.com.

And it really smacks of the whole "pay-it-forward" ethos that Heinlein liked. (That's what attracted me to the idea in the first place.)

It's hard to get even some Heinleiners much enthused. It tends to fall in the middle of the week, and it's too close to the 4th of July.

Still, a few of us make a point of it.

You know, I've known about BookCrossing for a year or two now, and I've been meaning to do it- thanks for the reminder.

I was going to get a couple of copies of Cryptonomicon in trade paper for just this- maybe I'll do it with a copy or two of Tunnel in the Sky as well.

Now, where to put them....