DOES ANOTHER BOOK FOLLOW "CHILDREN OF THE LENS?"

   EES had a plotline in mind for what occurred after the last book,
 but, as far as I can find out, never had any intention of writing it.
 Heinlein reports discussing it with him in some detail, but says 
 he's unaware of any of the book ever having been written or even
 outlined on paper.
   EES made references to it on two occasions when I encountered him
 in person, but declined to discuss it in detail.
   Lloyd Eshbach reports that EES said "NO!" in capital letters
 whenever approached on the subject of writing sequels.
   The subsequent storyline seems obvious, since the encapsulation
 of the last book ("CHILDREN OF THE LENS") is addressed to any
 third-level entity capable of obtaining it and reading it, and the
 closing salutation refers to "your race;" this implies the existence
 of third-level species besides Kit and his sisters...... which means
 that Kit & Co.  have replaced the Arisians and are guiding other
 civilizations into producing third-level minds, or have discovered
 or created a new race of third-level intellects.
  (Since the Children are genetically perfect, as EES keeps reminding
   us, inbreeding might not be dangerous, with no dangerous recessive
   genes to be expressed.  Of course, there is no reason to presume
   the Children have any *need* to reproduce their kind; their species
   might well be effectively immortal.)


Above text (c) 1991-1998 gharlane@ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu  ...All rights reserved.
Above photos (c) as noted in "Credits;" all rights reserved.



  
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