Let's get the ball rolling. Who are your favorite authors?

[eppur_se_muova]

58. There are some authors I read in my earlier days that I can't stand to re-read now ...

Heinlein's worst stuff is definitely at the top of the list. Only Edgar Rice Burroughs' stuff loses respect with advancing maturity faster.

Heinlein was a deviously clever guy, but seemed not to realize that he often came across more as amoral (or dysmoral, if that's a word) than open-minded.

Have to admit some his juvie stuff is still enjoyable, though, in a running-away-to-live-with-the-Indians sort of way. Grand, mostly meaningless adventures by precocious teens/young adults.

If were you put off by TEFL, stay away from Number of the Beast. It's strictly the culmination of his "I can be more shockingly open-minded than you can handle" schtick.

One of his collections -- I *think* it was Expanded Universe -- contained a lot of autobiographical commentary by Heinlein, including a story about his treatment for TB, and his description of how he gamed the Navy regs to retire at the best rank and pension with a minimum of service. He seemed to be proud of that.