sbenzell's review
2.0
A slightly more clever than you'd think kids' first space jaunt. A bit straightforward and uncritical to appreciate as an adult I think. There's no interesting social commentary (ironic or straightforward) as in Heinlein's more important works.
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
One of my long time comfort reads and about the only Heinlein I feel the need to revisit.
What works wonderfully is the juvenile wish fulfillment: Teenager Kip wants to go into space, wins a space suit (lovingly described), and ends up on an adventure far, far, far beyond anything he has ever imagined. On that adventure, he meets Peewee, a preadolescent genius, and the interaction between them is fun and intelligent with just the right amount of Kip acting as a heroic big brother. And there are so many pieces of the novel that just seem right to me: problem-solving air transfer between space suits on a trek across the Moon, Heinlein's vision of a Galactic police force (personified by social worker/cop Mother Thing), and how Kip's and Peewee's parents respond to everything that has happened. So much of the novel feels so natural to me, it's like it's part of my science fiction reading DNA.
Still, there are issues. There's quite a bit of intellectual elitism in the book, mixed strangely with a fondness for human "barbarity" (as least as compared to galactic civilization). There's a "overcome the bully" subplot that doesn't have to devolve into violence, but does (at least a little). And while Peewee and Mother Thing are great female characters, the depiction of academia on Earth is wholly male.
So, I love the book, but I couldn't really say what a new reader in 2022 would think of it now. I'm just too close to it.
What works wonderfully is the juvenile wish fulfillment: Teenager Kip wants to go into space, wins a space suit (lovingly described), and ends up on an adventure far, far, far beyond anything he has ever imagined. On that adventure, he meets Peewee, a preadolescent genius, and the interaction between them is fun and intelligent with just the right amount of Kip acting as a heroic big brother. And there are so many pieces of the novel that just seem right to me: problem-solving air transfer between space suits on a trek across the Moon, Heinlein's vision of a Galactic police force (personified by social worker/cop Mother Thing), and how Kip's and Peewee's parents respond to everything that has happened. So much of the novel feels so natural to me, it's like it's part of my science fiction reading DNA.
Still, there are issues. There's quite a bit of intellectual elitism in the book, mixed strangely with a fondness for human "barbarity" (as least as compared to galactic civilization). There's a "overcome the bully" subplot that doesn't have to devolve into violence, but does (at least a little). And while Peewee and Mother Thing are great female characters, the depiction of academia on Earth is wholly male.
So, I love the book, but I couldn't really say what a new reader in 2022 would think of it now. I'm just too close to it.
blevins's review
3.0
As I've said in the other Robert A. Heinlein books I've read the past couple of years--I wish I'd have discovered him when I was a teenager! That's the perfect age to appreciate his tales involving young people on some kind of space adventure. This is another one that is just flat out fun if only slightly dated by slang [my favorite would be: what the deuce?!]. A teenager wins a space suit in a competition and is suddenly kidnapped into space by beings from another world. He meets another human and together they attempt to come back home. It's just simple stories done with a lot of charm and entertainment.
titusfortner's review
3.0
Another Heinlein Juvenile that was nominated for a Hugo award. I'm not a big fan of the sharp plot turns Heinlein seems to have enjoyed making in this series. I like the plot both before and after everything went crazy, but the transition makes the whole story feel less cohesive.
lb2211's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
thegabecole's review
2.0
Eh. Didn’t love the blatant misogyny, fatphobia, or other issues and just didn’t find it all that engaging otherwise either.
metallurgicalhedonist's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ryanseay's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Very fun, Heinlein has a great style
chrisshorb's review
3.0
Not as bad as I was afraid it would be.
Sexist, yes. Imaginative? Yes. And it went in an unexpected direction, twice.
If there was a bit less sexism This would be a solid 3-3.5.
But then it was written in the 1950’s. The other “but” being “but Heinlein”.
Sexist, yes. Imaginative? Yes. And it went in an unexpected direction, twice.
If there was a bit less sexism This would be a solid 3-3.5.
But then it was written in the 1950’s. The other “but” being “but Heinlein”.