Sixth Column / The Day After Tomorrow by Robert A Heinlein - Book Review

Title: Sixth Column (aka The Day After Tomorrow)
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 144
Publisher: Signet Publishing (New York) 1949

Review:

Nothing makes things more fun when reading a book than when that book has a great albeit confusing history. First the book has two titles 1) Sixth Column and 2) The Day After Tomorrow. It was originally published as a serial in pulp publications in 1941. Later it was put into novel form and published in full in 1949. The original backdrop for this story was the communist rebellion of China and the historical prediction that all Asians would unite under one flag to take over the world.

The basic plot is that the Pan Asians have indeed conquered America and subjugated the entire country. Major Ardmore assumes command of the last US military post: The Citadel an underground secret base in Colorado which only has five men left. His plan is to drive the invaders out and he gets unexpected help in that some of the scientists have discovered a unified theory of physics that allow them to do 'miraculous' things. Using the only thing the invaders have left free; the free exercise of religion, they create the cult of Mota, which allows them to work fairly freely to build a sixth column that eventually starts a rebellion against the Pan Asians.

The book explores what would you do if a sudden major technological advance allowed you to kill discriminately, lift heavy objects, cure disease, trans mutate any material to another material (lead to gold), etc. The added twist of leading a rebellion starting with six people against the whole invading force is a good angle as well. The only problem the rebels face is the limited availability of the technology.

The use of religion in the book is heavy and Heinlein sets some of his original observations about religion as a whole in this book. The book also has race as a heavy theme although both sides are racist by modern standards. Heinlein's politics also come through as the army maintains its mission with out a working government because they exist to defend and preserve the constitution. Once done the plan is to restore representative government.

Rating: Three and three quarter stars. Even Heinlein himself did not like this one overly well as he considered it a 'non-artistic success'. For me, the religious being combined with the scientific as an interesting angle, but some of the technology advances are way out there. It is still a good read if you like Heinlein as his style is still very much there.