Heinlein is great reading for when you're 14 years old.
After that, PKD in your late teens and KV in your 20s.
Mark Twain is for pre-sci fi and re-read again when beyond sci-fi.
Voltaire is probably too much for you guys, but I'd say in your 30s, if you've exhausted RH, PKD, and KV.
Heinlein at an advanced age is sort of silly. Something a marine might think is literary.
(Not disparaging marines, marines are an important part of the Navy!)

om mani padme hum

The hoi polli on DR could not even tolerate the name Mark Twain for a long time...

#24 | Posted by Zed

I are idiot, in this best of all possible worlds.
Yet still I know the difference between Arouet and Descartes.

I go with John Steinbeck.

#20 | POSTED BY C0RI0LANUS

LOL
You would

What struck me about Steinbeck was how his writing was an ever-tightening coil, often wrapping around itself.
#30 | Posted by Danfort

>often wrapping around itself.
exactly
like whacking off
A liberal ----ot ----ing off. That's Steinbeck.

You just look things up.
#29 | Posted by Zed

And you, ...don't.
Just your native lib-bot embedded training, yes?

#30 | Posted by Danforth

JFC, this entire post is so GAY that I feel like I need a HIV test after reading it!

>a theatre producer-friend of mine had his Stage Manager fall ill...
-...with AIDS?

#33 | Posted by snoofy

Ah yes, Ray Bradbury is based reading when you're young. Inculcates intelligence. He and Arthur C Clark and Michael Crichton.
Cool brainiacs.

^ *whew* [wipes brow]