Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein - Book Review

Title: Tunnel in the Sky
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 262
Publisher: Pocket Books (New York), 1955

Robert Heinlein's ninth juvenile, Tunnel in the Sky proposed another alternative for space travel: energy tunnels.  At the time science fiction writers loved the idea of someone coming along and taking Einstein's theories and standing them on their head and Heinlein was no exception to this.  The idea of using energy gates to move without moving became a big hit for many authors.

Like all of Heinlein's juveniles it is a coming of age story concerning Robert Walker a senior in high school who is taking his final in Advanced Survival where the school drops participants off on a semi-hostile world and expects the students to survive for seven to ten days.  In this particular case a planet in a different part of the galaxy.  Robert soon finds himself along with his classmates and others from other schools, including college students, trapped on this world with no expectation of recovery.  What follows is a tale of survival, primitive society and human beings overcoming great challenges to create a small civilization.  After a couple years, the group is rescued and the greatest choice Robert has to make is to stay or leave.

Technologically, the book is a contrast between the great advances in technology that make such trips possible and the primitive technology of a colony of young people stuck on a world with no support where everything requires great effort to create and maintain. 

Sociologically, Heinlein begins to hint at the difficulties of governments that become too bureaucratic, how primitive societies evolve and the necessity of freedom for survival. There are other elements as he hints at sex for the first time with older kids getting married and needing honeymoon cottages as well as making a little light fun at how much resources it would take to make clothing that could be put to other uses.  Scribner's (the first publisher Heinlein worked with) did not seem to have problems with this one, although it was at this time Heinlein expressed his grief over having to work with them.

Stylistically, this is one of his better juveniles as it has some great descriptive language and yet is a pretty straightforward story.  Not to say it does not have any plot twists or turns, it does and they are brilliant.  Heinlein's characters are realistic as always,  They argue, make fun of each other and have joy and sadness.  We see another strong female character in this book but in the end the 1950s chivalry wins out a lot.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.  A good simple story that addresses some basic issues of survival on an alien world.  It has a good central character and some entertaining stuff.  Not one of Heinlein's best, but I would say a good read.

The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein - Book Review

Star Beast

Title: The Star Beast
Author: Robert A, Heinlein
Pages: 253
Publisher: Ballantine Books (New York) 1954

The Star Beast was Robert Heinleins eighth juvinile novel and marked a slight departure in subject.  Instead of being out there in space, this book takes place on good old earth.  It is an earth of the future where travel in starship across the galaxy is possible nad brought to earth all kinds on extraterestrial flora and fauna to the earth. 

The central plot revolves around John Thomas, his girlfriend Betty Sorenson and the star beast known as Lummox.  The adventure starts when Lummox decided to take a stroll outside its cage and causes tons of damage.  The conflict continues as people want Lummox destroyed but Betty and John work hard to keep him alive even though it is discovered later lummox can't really be killed.  Despite the seeming lack of intelligence of Lummox it turns out that Lummox is part of an interstellar race more advanced than humans.  What follows is a tale of interstellar diplomacy, law and friendship.

The technology of the book is not a great advance except of the existence of interstellar ships and other items.  The technology of this book actually takes a back seat to the real issues on xeno-relationships with other star faring races.

Sociologically this book still has a strong message of how people would act in the face of 'we are not alone in the universe' and various alien races that must be negotiated with and dealt with on a personal level.  In a bold move for 1954, Heinlein also introduces the concept of children divorcing the parents.  The style is juvenile but Heinlein isn't thinking high school students in this one, but early college so the 'sex' question does get through although it is very veiled.

Stylistically, this book has real dialogue and humor that at times causes a pretty good chuckle.  Heinlein's plot is not only solid but has many twists and turns that are realistic and at time fantastic.  One thing to note is the character of Betty Sorenson, who is a very strong female character.  Rare for 1954 and up till now Heinlein had made his male characters the strong ones.  Betty introduces a pretty strong female heroine to Heinlein's books and he will have many more in books to come.  Even though John and Lummox take center stage most of the time, Betty gets them in and out of trouble more often than not.

Rating: 3 and three quarter stars.  This is a good book and well worth the read.  The issues are great brain stretchers and the humor entertaining.  The thing is this is a good Heinlein book, but not a great one.  It is innovative and fun, so it was a good read.

Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein - Book Review

Starman Jones

Title: Starman Jones
Author: Robert Heinlein
Pages: 261
Publisher: Pocket Books (New York) 1953

Starman Jones was Heinlein's seventh juvenile novel for Scribner's and was published in 1953.  His publishers only wanted minor changes and so for the most part the book went off without a hitch. 

The central plot centers around Max Jones who starts the story as a farm boy until his new stepfather abusive behavior drives him to seeking the far reaches of the stars.  Max's journey ultimately leads him to befriending a tramp named Sam and both of them stow away on a space liner.  Max's natural talent for remembering everything he reads and mathematics soon finds him promoted to being an astrogator, but the course of events leads the liner to be lost in space and Jones being ultimately promoted to captain and it is placed on his shoulders to get them home. For Jones it really becomes both a rags to riches story and a coming of age story all in one.

Technologically, this was a big leap for Heinlein and a look at real speculative technology involving space travel on a stellar level.  Star to star travel is made possible by the discovery of warp points and massive discoveries in power and space drive technology.  Astrogators are needed to do the complex mathematics to make these jumps possible.  Ultimately this is the only place where current technology has already surpassed Heinlein's vision as modern computers could do what the astrogators do. Artificial gravity generated by fields and other convenience technologies give us a world where real space travel across the galaxy is possible.

Sociologically, Heinlein engages the idea of human freedom as in the course of the liner being lost they encounter a planet that has evolved into a symbiotic slavery.  The statement being that humans were not made for such a thing.  Heinlein does make some sexually interesting situations but they do not in any way go over the top.  As always, Heinlein bets on mankind's abilities to adapt and overcome obstacles.

Stylistically, this is a well written book but perhaps because this is the first time he has really gone far into the future, not one of his best.  His characters are well done, but the story at times seems a little predicable and slightly romanticized.  Other than that this is classic Heinlein.

Rating: 4 stars.  I love this story and it introduces us to Heinlein's far future history which is good.  Other than the few small objections I have, this is a good read and an entertaining one.

Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein - Book Review

Title: Farmer in the Sky (aka Satellite Scout)
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 290
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises (New York), 1950, full version 1953.

This story was originally serialized for the magazine Boy's Life and was originally called Satellite Scout. It was released in 1953 in an extended novel form in 1953 and won a retro Hugo Award for best science fiction story of 1951. Retro because the Hugo Award did not start until 1953 and they went back to 1946 with the first set of awards. This would be Robert's first Hugo but not his last. This is Heinlein's sixth publish juvenile novel (in its final form) and one of his best.

The plot centers around a young man William 'Bill' Lermer as he and his family become colonists to one of Jupiter's moon's Ganymede. Like all of Heinlein's juvenile novels it is a coming of age story that shows a young boy becoming a man. Bill is a boy Scout and throughout the book scouting becomes a central theme. As Bill heads to and settles on Ganymede, he deals with a multitude of issues involving family, farming, colonization in space and the challenges of life. Throughout the story he struggles with one question: Do I stay or do I go back? There are several plot twists and discoveries that help Bill answer that question.

Technologically, Heinlein had yet to engage the problem of actual colonization of a different world by mankind and so this is his first attempt and it is a good one. My copy had an analysis of the technology and methods involved by physicist Dr. Jim Woosley who say basically two things: 1) For what Heinlein knew in 1950 he did a great job extrapolating but 2) knowing what we know now about Jupiter and Ganymede the story loses some credibility. In any case some of his predictions about other technology like microwaves and such are pretty good.

Socially, Heinlein shows his rugged individualism coupled with free community and a distrust of central authority. He also seems very interested in showing the benefits of frontier society on humanity.

Stylistically, this is a great story. It is well written and entertaining from start to finish. Even when he is giving some of the science of things he does it with a dose of humor and never lectures too long. As always, Heinlein's characters are real with strengths and flaws and family interactions realistic.

Rating: 4 and one quarter stars. One of Heinlein's best juvenile novels with a good story and a realistic feel even if flawed by poor understandings caused by modern findings about Jupiter and Ganymede.

The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein - Book Review

Title: The Rolling Stones (aka. Space Family Stone)
Author: Robert A Heinlein
Pages: 287
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises (New York), 1952

I was particularly excited to read and review this one because I had never read it before. The sad truth is I write book reviews to justify my book addiction and my 'need' to buy them.

The Rolling Stones was also published as the Space Family Stone and it is Heinlein's fifth published Juvenile book. By all accounts this one was readily received by Heinlein's editor and publisher. The reason is simple; it a great story and a lot of fun to read.

The plot basically centers around a pair of twins: Castor and Pollux Stone and their family: Hazel Stone (Grandma), Robert Stone (Dad), Edith Stone, (Mom) Meade Stone (sister), Lowell Stone (brother) and Buster Stone (baby brother). The Stone Family which lives on Luna (The moon) gets caught up in the idea of the Stone twins of setting out and seeing the solar system. The boys are not saints and they try to scheme there way though a lot of situations. Dad ultimately decides to purchase a spacecraft and set out with the whole family as year long vacation. In a very real way this is a cross between a family trip in a Winnebago, a family of pioneers crossing the old west frontier and a space adventure. The whole lot of them are rugged individualists and that creates some interesting situations in and of it self as the journey from Luna to Mars to the Asteroid Belt. Along the way, they have adventures, sell bicycles and 'flat cats', and the twins grow from being selfish boys to responsible men.

Stylistically, this is a funny book with all the snappy banter of any sitcom but with characters so real to life you almost forget it is a space story. This is classic Heinlein as far as storytelling. Sometimes things go well for the characters, sometimes not and there are some interesting twists and turns.

The Technology issues are great as for the most part Heinlein was trying to show that with some expected advances in technology of his day (1952) such space travel would be possible. In my edition published by Baen in 2010, Steve A. Hughes writes in the end of the book analyzing the technology in the book and basically says that Heinlein did very well with about 80% of his predictions, his big miss being communications, but the rest was very close.

If there is any theme to the book it has to be pushing back the frontier. Hazel Stone at the end of the book sums it up the best: "Why does anyone go anywhere?...To see what he could see...The dull ones stay at home - the bright ones stir around and try to see what trouble they can dig up." In the end freedom and pushing the edge of what we think is possible is the message of The Rolling Stones.

Rating: Four stars. One of Heinlein's best juveniles. I will definitely look forward to reading it again. Very humorous and entertaining.

Reflection - Why I Write

Since the month began (in truth probably since the middle of April), I have been plagued by several questions not the least has been what to do with my writing. I mean throwing blog article out there is great from time to time and it has its moments where people seem genuinely touched, but what is it all for?

Last week I read a reviewed Robert A. Heinlein's Grumbles from the Grave and to be very honest it was challenging book to read from the standpoint of it challenged my motivation for writing. Heinlein in the book answers a letter from a reader answering several questions. One of those questions is 'why do I write?" Heinlein's response is lengthy to explain three simple statements: 1) To support myself and my family, 2) To entertain my readers and 3) To make people think. I believe he is dead on.

I think my problem is related to these answers; in that, I have the last one but not necessarily the first two. Ultimately, it is the first two though that mark the success of any writing venture. Writing takes time and it is time I could be doing something else that actually did number one. So far the grand total made in my writing career is $50 but it was enough that I had the same sort of reaction that Heinlein did when he got his first check for writing his first short story: 'Life-Line'. "How long has this racket been going on?" was his response. Mine was: "Holy crap, it took me ten minutes to write that letter to Musclemag International and it netted me 50 bucks. Talk about easy money!" To be honest, if I could sit an write stuff and net a few hundred a week, I would. If I could make more, even better.

Artistic purists always whine about money ruining art, but the fact is without cash any pursuit will eventually die out on planet earth. More money means more time and freedom to enjoy and pursue what you want. It is not money itself that pulls me but the things I could do with it and if writing were my second career, and it could generate a significant enough paycheck, I would love doing it even more.

The real thing though is number 2 - entertainment. If it is not entertaining, no one will read your stuff. No one has to read your stuff; they have choice. On the Internet there are a google of choices to read out there why should they read mine? The only reason anyone would is that they like it enough ot bypass the others and read mine. Books are about as bad, but the same principle applies.

So, for the last week I have been just thinking positively about the whole thing and doing the one thing I know works - praying and then shutting up and waiting for God to answer. You know this Law of Attraction thing works! Suddenly I was hit with an idea and instructions. The idea was to take the themes of the non-fiction book I have been stuck on and turn it into a work of fiction. What was turning me off about the book is it was basically a series of lecture type essays. The only thing entertaining about them was my sarcastic sense of irony. Taking those same themes (and my sarcastic sense of irony)and weaving them into an entertaining novel would definitely make it better. The only question is backdrop, characters and plot. Story tellers are always far better received than lecturers anyway.

I got instructions as well. Wait till I go on the trip to Romania to start. Why? There are some things I need to see and learn from the trip that will help the book. I have always heard that world travel is as educational and life changing as university or college; I guess this will put this to the test.

My blog is an entirely different matter. The real questions is learning how to connect in the right ways. There are a ton of blogs out there on how to make money blogging, why not read them and see what they suggest? There are a lot of questions here but I know what gets hits: magazine reviews. One post shot up simply because the title made it perfect for Google when you typed in a search that read "scientific method". Learning what does this and how to do it better are essentials here. I need to be the thing people are searching for.

Making people think is what I try to do naturally in all my communication but what they feel, see and hear is important too. Communicating on all levels to get mind, heart and spirit change is the real challenge, but that's what I love about writing and preaching for that matter.

For the first time in a while I have sense of real purpose about this writing thing and it feels great. I can see what I am trying to achieve, I can hear the sound of change falling into my bank and I feel the winds of success. This is great stuff.

Grumbles from the Grave by Robert A. Heinlein (edited by Virginia Heinlein) - Book Review

Ever read a book written by someone after they died? In a sense, this is what this book is. Grumbles from the Grave is a non-fiction work that contains the letters of Robert Heinlein and others back to him from throughout his career. This book was put together by Virginia Heinlein (Robert's wife) after Robert Heinlein's death, but it was his idea including the title.

In essence this book is edited correspondence between Heinlein, his agent and others that chronicles some of his struggles, thoughts and triumphs over the years of his career. There are chapters that cover various aspects of his life from his early career, his juvenile novels, his adult novels, his travels, his thoughts on life and the publishing industry of his time. There is much more as well about other topics. The reason it is called Grumbles from the Grave is that most of the correspondence focuses on the complaints he had about things and when people wanted to change his work.

What this book offers is a unique look inside the mind of Robert Heinlein. you see where he gets his ideas, how he develops his work, his motivation for writing and living and his conflicts with editors and publishers. It is very enlightening for a Heinlein fan to see that much of his realism came from being real. It is also interesting to see some of his dialogue in his books was inspired by some of this correspondence.

Stylistically, it is excerpts from real letters and they have been edited to get to the good parts. There are also several editor's notes from Virginia regarding certain subjects to help clarify and every one of them is helpful. In addition there are many pictures that show the man and his life around him.

Rating: 3 and three quarter stars. The big issue with this book is that if you are not a real fan of Robert Heinlein, it will not be entertaining to you unless you are a writer. In those two cases though, it gives good background on each book and many of the short stories as well. It also gives an inside look into the man who is considered the Grandmaster of Science Fiction. For the writer you can see that even the great writers have their struggles and that sometimes inspiration can come from odd places. I loved it but I am both a fan and a writer.

The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein - Book Review

Title: The Puppet Masters
Author: Robert Heinlein
Pages: 340
Publisher: Del Rey / Ballentine Books (New York), 1951

The Puppet Masters marks a great moment in Robert Heinlein's career as writer as it is his first novel that was a) not a reprint of a serialization and b) not a juvenile novel. Even though it was an adult novel, it had some edits in 1951 which toned down the sex and nudity, but in 1990 after Heinlein's death the book was republished with the edits restored.

Alien invasion is a popular theme in science fiction and in this case it is a combination of science fiction and horror as the puppet masters are a parasite that uses human hosts to do so. The 'slugs' become an insidious enemy that take over secretly by riding on their hosts and controlling their actions. They creep into society and only a botched space craft gets them noticed in the first place.

The plot centers around secret agent Sam Cavanaugh who follows the invasion from its earliest beginnings to the final days when all seems lost. In the end, Sam becomes the key to organizing and finally defeating the 'slugs'. The adventure takes him from being possessed by a parasite to learning everything he can so he can fight them.

Technologically speaking the book presented some interesting options for 1951 including the ideas of implant technology, advanced medical technology including burn grafts, and transportation that involves cars that could both fly and ride roads. For the aliens the issue is not technology by the idea of parasite control and borrowing the technology of all the interplanetary races they had encountered.

Sociologically, Heinlein is at his best even in the edited version. Because the parasites can attach themselves any part of the human body, the best defense is for people to be naked so they can be seen to be 'slug free'. At the beginning of the war, the chief antagonists are not the slugs, but the social mores of human beings. This changes very quickly when people become aware of the truth of the invasion. Heinlein was an avid nudist in life so this is an interesting take on it. What happens when nudity is your only defense against being completely robbed of life and humanity? Would the human race get over its own moral taboos or cease to exist?

Stylistically, this is pure Heinlein, his characters a real and the situations equally so. The plot has a lot of interesting twists and turns and the ending soul searching. The man makes you think in this one.

Rating: 4 and one quarter stars. This is truly classic Heinlein. He is still rough around the edges but not very much so. It is a long story, but it still entertains throughout the entire story. It is a combination of science fiction and horror so it has some rough and morally challenging spots but definitely worth the read.

Between Planets by Robert A Heinlein - Book Review

Published in 1951, Between Planets is a basic science fiction adventure, but because Robert Heinlein writes it; it is not basic. In Heinlein's day Venus was still pretty much a mystery and so he was able to cast it as a jungle/swamp planet inhabited by various creatures and aliens. Even though it is juvenile science fiction, the publishing went off without a hitch and it became a reasonable success.

The basic plot revolves around the main character Don Harvey as he is unwittingly drawn into an interplanetary war between the Federation of Earth and Venus. Harvey was born between planets and so has dual citizenship both on Earth and Venus. The story is a great boy to man story where the backdrop is both space and an alien world. With the help of friends, including a dragon from Venus named 'Sir Isaac Newton', he discovers how important a simple plastic ring can be as he tried to deliver it to his parents on Mars and gets sidetracked to Venus.

The book explores the politics of interplanetary relationships and how the idea of 'home planet' can change depending on where you were born. It is also another book about human-alien relationships and the possibility of a major breakthrough in technology and how it would affect the world. It is also a great view of how some thing might change and some things would stay the same despite technological advance and interplanetary colonization.

This book has many Heinlein themes. The idea of freedom and rights being sacred and the faults of colonialism are present. The human race is not alone and does not have the inherent right to dominate everyone else in the universe is also there. Not many of Heinlein's moral issues come out as this is a juvenile book, but the hint at how space travel would change family and relationships is there.

Rating: Four stars. Solid Robert Heinlein but the story seems like Space Cadet redone a little. Even so the story telling is great and the science a little more solid this time.

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.

Red Planet by Robert Heinlein - Book Review

Title: Red Planet
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 229
Publisher Ballantine Books (New York: 1949)

Review:

When it was first published in 1949, Heinlein's editor tore large chunks out of it to make it able to fit on a public middle school library shelf. In so doing, the book was stripped of much of its Heinlein charm. In 1992, after Heinlein's death the book was re-published with the edits restored. I have read both versions and let me tell you I like the one that is restored much better. The third of Heinlein's juvenile books, it remains a classic.

When Heinlein wrote this book in 1949, Mars was an very much unknown place. It had canals and the possibility of life much like our own. It remained a science fiction paradise and playground for many years and in many ways still does. In Heinlein's Mars, there is life, Martians, canals and water. It has an almost fantasy quality.

The central plot of Red Planet centers around two teenage boys who discover a plot against the colonists of Mars by the company government. Through their actions with a little help from the Martians (in particular, a Martian bouncer 'pet' named Willis) they are able to help save the day. It is a solid adventure story and has some interesting twists and turns.

The romance of being a human colonist on another planet is the driving force of this book. The colonists are free people with a great deal of liberty and aim to stay that way. Heinlein explores the nature of some of the difficulties of colonizing another world both from a technological point of view and from a diplomatic point of view. The most charming part of this book is of course the Martians. They are truly different from humans and it is this large difference that makes the struggle even more interesting.

The style (once the edits are put back in) is very Robert Heinlein. Fierce loyalty to individual liberty, an understanding of the science of colonization and realistic characters are distinctive Heinlein traits in this book.

Rating: 4 stars. While not my favorite of Robert's juvenile books, it is extremely well done and merits a read. Just make sure you get a copy published after 1992; it is much better.

Book Review: Space Cadet by Robert A Heinlein

Title: Space Cadet
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 223
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates (New York, 1948)

Review:

Robert Heinlein's third published book and second work of juvenile science fiction is Space Cadet. Set roughly one hundred and thirty years in the future from 1948, this book is a classic among science fiction. Space travel is not only common place but planetary colonization has taken place on many worlds in the solar system. it is against this backdrop, the Heinlein spins a simple tale of a young man Matt Dodson who joins the Space Patrol, the organization charged with keeping the peace in the solar system.

The central plot centers around Dodson and his friends as they navigate space patrol training, their first assignments and ultimately their first real adventure. Their travels take them from earth orbit, to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and to Venus. Along the way, the Grandmaster of science fiction teaches valuable lessons about space travel, living in space aboard ship, dealing with extraterrestrials and above all else paints the picture of an ideal space going peacekeeping body -- The Patrol.

As a work of juvenile fiction, Heinlein's desire to inspire and young generation into space is highly evident. In this he urges them to dream big and reach for the stars. You can bet his calculations about space travel as far as astrogation are concerned are probably dead on even though he does not bore his audience with them. Technologically, many things he speaks of; cell phones, computers, etc. are not real in his day have become science fact in ours. Socially, you see the development of his first 'military' ideas in many senses as the Patrol is a group of volunteer professionals who strive as men to be the best men they can be. Politically, he shows both and understanding of politics and how long term peace would lead to apathy.

Stylistically, the language is simple and real. Heinlein's characters are not larger than life. They have flaws and conflicts just like today, but they achieve great things because they are men that have embraced being the best they can be as men. The plot is not completely predictable because Heinlein see space as unpredictable, but men as supremely flexible and adaptable.

Rating: 4 stars. This is one of my favorites of Heinlein's juvenile fiction. I have read it many times and it never ceases to entertain. It is probably in the best three of Heinlein's juvenile fiction

Book Review: "Beyond This Horizon" by Robert A Heinlein

Title: Beyond This Horizon
Author: Robert A Heinlein
Pages: 158
Publisher: The New American Library (New York; New York) 1948

Review:

I actually have a 1948 copy of this book but the cover above is the new cover from a more recent publication. This novel was actually originally published as a series in 1942 in science fiction pulp periodicals under the pseudo name of Aston MacDonald. The fact it is from World War 2 is evident by the predictions in it that the war would dropkick the Russians and Chinese back to the stone age while the rest of the world would survive and prosper. When it was finally published as novel in 1948, it would have been a nostalgic view back in time to when the war was uncertain. This is also the first non juvenile novel Heinlein would publish. It is for adults, it has adult conversations, no sex or nudity yet, but their are veiled sexual references (for 1948) and social relationships that are different as well as fashion ideas that would have been challenging for the time of writing (men wearing nail polish for example).

The central plot of the story center around the main character Hamilton Felix who is trying to answer one question: Why? and specifically: is there something we can prove scientifically that a) there is life after death and that b) gives life meaning? Hamilton lives in a world where voluntary genetic breading has wiped out most illness, made the human race stronger, faster and smarter, but the 'why' question challenges his mind. He himself is a star genetic line that his society wants to use to procreate the next generation of humanity - a better race. The story takes Hamilton through several situations that cause him to search and look for the answers to these questions.

As a work of science fiction, Heinlein is way ahead of his time in many areas: genetics, telepathy, social customs because of technological improvement, space travel is in the background, educational and child rearing advances, etc. Stuff in the real world of 1942 that was pure theory, Heinlein is racing ahead and making some realistic and startling predictions.

As far as style and content, this book is pure Heinlein with many of his social and political views in your face. Libertarianism is in your face throughout the book, nothing is ever forced on any citizen but often people volunteer for things because it betters the race as a whole. The concept of a citizen having a 'private sphere' that even the media and nosey neighbors would consider it rude to interrupt is present. The concept of an armed citizenry making a more polite citizenry and civilization, economics based on his economic theories, open and temporary marriages, mankind always coming out on top, etc. are all here in some form or another. As with all Heinlein books the characters are believable and real but set in a science fiction future.

Rating: Four stars. Heinlein's early adult stuff is very good but limited by the publishing industry due to society being very conservative. This book is a good representation of that as Heinlein's first published adult level novel. You think while reading this book that Heinlein is being true to himself but is being reigned in. The story is good and the conclusion is mentally challenging. It is well worth the reading time.

Book Review: "Rocket Ship Galileo" by Robert A Heinlein

Title: Rocket Ship Galileo
Author: Robert Heinlein
Pages: 211
Publisher: Ace Books (New York)

Review:

By 1947, Robert Heinlein had changed tactics in getting his views across. He had authored tons of science fiction short stories by this time and at last he got his first full length novel published. He did it by changing over to the popular 'pulp' type stories of his day and toning down the moral stuff to engage a work of juvenile fiction to reach the teen/young adult audience of his time. Rocket Ship Galileo is a basic adventure story of the time but with Robert Heinlein as the author, the science part of the science fiction is high quality and as accurate as the times could make it.

The story is about and man who enlists his nephew and his teenage friends to help him convert a rocket transport into a moon ship with an atomic drive. At the time, atomic power and application was wide open and the story would have had a very realistic appeal with the 'could be' of atomic power at the time. They group of four has many adventures just getting their ship into the air and then the moon trip ends with a discovery, humans are already on the moon secretly. The Nazi's have a secret rocket base on the moon already and the four are forced to take action.

The message is clear, we need to get to the moon because if we don't we could be in danger and who knows what we will find. It is a message Heinlein will repeat. The story is set in his near future, the early 1950s, so he is also pointing out that with a few scientific advances it could be done. Heinlein was pressing for Mankind to reach for the stars for the advancement of man and that it need not be far in the future to do so.

In the story Heinlein still possesses some of his political naivete, showing the United Nations as a world unifying force. But we also see his conservative and libertarian side by showing the benefits of both a capitalist and free society. Young people are valued in the story and it is designed to inspire a young generation to do great things. It is a great tactical change for Heinlein, as in the coming years his fan base will grow up and be ready for the rest of his message.

Rating: Four stars. This is a great adventure story as well as being informative from a science point of view of what people thought was possible in 1947. Heinlein captures the imagination with this one and it is a great science fiction story as well as being a good Heinlein novel.

Book Review: "For Us, The Living" by Robert A. Heinlein

Title: For Us, The Living - A Comedy of Customs
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Publisher: Pocket Books (New York)
Pages: 329 (paperback)

Review:

Of all the science fiction writers that have ever written, Robert A Heinlein is simply one of the best. He is considered by all who love the genre of Science Fiction to be one of the the Golden Age writers (along with Asimov and Clark) and he himself is known as The Grandmaster of Science Fiction.

This book was written between 1938 and 1939 but was not published until 2004, sixteen years after his death in 1988. It is not that it never was submitted, it simply was rejected twice. Not because it is not well written or even a fun Heinlein type story but it had two qualities that would have made it nearly impossible to publish in 1939: 1) stylistically it fit more with the later works Heinlein did like To Sail Beyond the Sunset or Time Enough for Love, there are a lot of conversations set in the future and it resembles a series of lectures encased slightly in a story and 2) it was moralistically 'ahead' of its time. Heinlein was a nudist, believed in open marriages and despised religious taboos and he puts these in this book. In 1939, it means rejection notices. He would have to wait until the 1960s before such a book could be published and that with edits.

The story is basically of a man who dies and by some unknown means enters the body of a man who lives 150 years in the future. Under this backdrop, Heinlein lays out a vision of utopia or at least utopia as Heinlein saw it in 1939. Much of the book focuses on the economic system which is not surprising considering the Great Depression is still in power at the time. He also touches on cultural taboos, religion, psychology, technology, and social customs. In this world, everyone is tolerant, educated, lacking in cultural taboos, open and non-religious.

Whenever I read Heinlein, my mind and heart are always challenged. The man is smart and good writer. He makes you think. This book was in 1939 far ahead of its time and it is probably for this reason it was rejected. He would have caused quite a stir; with naked people running around and his comments on religion, it would have made he Bible Belt enraged.

For the Heinlein fan, this book gives one of the greatest insights into the origins of this literary genius. In this book you see it all -- Heinlein's future history, his drive to advance the cause of man, his moral and ethical understandings and his absolute gift for making his characters believable. In it you also see a change from a man who wants to lecture on what needs to be into a story teller who tells stories with the lecture so well hidden that you don't see it until it has already affected you. We see a teacher learn to teach through character, plot and theme. We see someone who seeks to overwhelm us with his logic change into a person who invites us in, lays out lunch and tells us a story that changes our minds; so subtly, that we are not aware it has happened until long after it is over. This book; in short, is the only blunt instrument he will ever use, after this he prefers the rapier.

Rating: 3 and a half stars. As Heinlein books go, this is not a bad one. The story is a simple one but illustrates many concepts. If you are interested in Heinlein's early career and writings, this is a great read because it shows us that Heinlein didn't so much change his views as he did tactics in getting them across. Stylistically, it lacks the sophistication of his later works but the essence of Heinlein's style is there. If you want your mind challenged and don't mind sitting through a few written lectures, this is a good read.