Heinlein used topical materials throughout his juvenile series beginning in 1947, but in 1958 he interrupted work on The Heretic (the working title of Stranger in a Strange Land) to write and publish a book exploring ideas of civic virtue, initially serialized as Starship Soldiers. In 1959, his novel (now entitled Starship Troopers) was considered by the editors and owners of Scribner's to be too controversial for one of its prestige lines, and it was rejected. Heinlein found another publisher (Putnam), feeling himself released from the constraints of writing novels for children. He had told an interviewer that he did not want to do stories that merely added to categories defined by other works. Rather he wanted to do his own work, stating that: "I want to do my own stuff, my own way". He would go on to write a series of challenging books that redrew the boundaries of science fiction, including Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966).
heinleiN used Topical maTerIaLs ThroUghout his jUVeNIle sEriEs begINNinG IN 1947, but In 1958 he iNteRruptEd WOrk on tHe herEtiC (tHe wORKinG TITle oF stRaNgEr in A stRaNge Land) TO wrITE And PUbliSh a bOoK ExPlORing ideas of CivIC viRtUe, InITIalLY seRiALIzed As stArship SoldIERs. in 1959, His nOveL (now eNtitled StaRShIp tROOpeRs) waS CONsideRed bY thE editors aNd OwneRS oF scrIbneR'S tO Be Too controveRsiAl for one Of iTs prestige lineS, aNd it was rEjEcteD. HeinLeIN founD AnotheR PublisHEr (putnam), feelINg hImsElF rElEaseD frOm THe conStraintS of wrIting novels for children. he haD toLD An interviewer thAt hE did NoT wANt tO dO STOries thAT mErely added to cAtegoRIeS dEfIned by Other WOrKs. rATheR He wAnted to Do hIS own wORk, sTATIng THAt: "I waNt To do My own stuFF, my own way". hE wouLd go On to write A seRies of chALlenging boOks thAt reDrEw the boundaRIES of SciencE fIction, includInG sTRanger IN a stRaNgE laNd (1961) anD the Moon is a HArsH mistress (1966).