bickleyhouse's review
4.0
This is another installment in my quest to read all of the Science Fiction Grand Masters. And it is another Heinlein book that I had not previously read.
Assignment in Eternity has four stories. "Gulf" and "Lost Legacy" are what would probably be considered "novellas," and "Elsewhen" and "Jerry Was a Man" are short stories. Both of the novellas involve a sort of "superman" kind of character. Not the kind from the comic books, but a type of human being that is far more developed than we normal humans. These people have mental superpowers that place them far above the rest.
In my opinion, I see foreshadowing, in these two stories, of the likes of Lazarus Long and his family, which won't show up until a number of years later in his writings.
In "Gulf," our main character is a spy of sorts. It starts out with a bang and continues in that way for a while, as he destroys any evidence of the person he was at the beginning and assumes a whole new identity. There is a lot of action at the beginning, but somewhere around the middle of the story, it becomes very dialogue-heavy. But this is common for Heinlein. And it was fun to be reminded of Heinlein's talent for snarky dialogue. There is quite a bit of humor/sarcasm in the dialogue of his characters. The main character, he of many names, eventually teams up with some other folks, but there is some disagreement on what they are trying to accomplish. The ending is abrupt and not "happy."
"Elsewhen" involves a sort of hypnotism, using vinyl records as catalysts. The thing is, though, when the subjects go "under," they physical transport into another time/place/dimension. This is quite an entertaining tale.
In "Lost Legacy," three friends go on an expedition and discover a group of the same kind of "supermen" introduced in "Gulf," holed up in a cavern in Shasta Mountain. It turns out that the three friends also have these abilities, but not to the extent of the folks in the mountain. In this story, the three believe that anyone could be taught these abilities, given the right circumstances.
Finally, "Jerry Was a Man" involves an ape-like creature who has higher intelligence, and a legal battle to determine his fate.
This are highly entertaining stories, and I enjoyed all four of them. As I said, Heinlein's dialogue-writing has improved and gotten pretty cynical and sarcastic, which I enjoy quite a bit. These remind me why I have always loved Heinlein so much.
Assignment in Eternity has four stories. "Gulf" and "Lost Legacy" are what would probably be considered "novellas," and "Elsewhen" and "Jerry Was a Man" are short stories. Both of the novellas involve a sort of "superman" kind of character. Not the kind from the comic books, but a type of human being that is far more developed than we normal humans. These people have mental superpowers that place them far above the rest.
In my opinion, I see foreshadowing, in these two stories, of the likes of Lazarus Long and his family, which won't show up until a number of years later in his writings.
In "Gulf," our main character is a spy of sorts. It starts out with a bang and continues in that way for a while, as he destroys any evidence of the person he was at the beginning and assumes a whole new identity. There is a lot of action at the beginning, but somewhere around the middle of the story, it becomes very dialogue-heavy. But this is common for Heinlein. And it was fun to be reminded of Heinlein's talent for snarky dialogue. There is quite a bit of humor/sarcasm in the dialogue of his characters. The main character, he of many names, eventually teams up with some other folks, but there is some disagreement on what they are trying to accomplish. The ending is abrupt and not "happy."
"Elsewhen" involves a sort of hypnotism, using vinyl records as catalysts. The thing is, though, when the subjects go "under," they physical transport into another time/place/dimension. This is quite an entertaining tale.
In "Lost Legacy," three friends go on an expedition and discover a group of the same kind of "supermen" introduced in "Gulf," holed up in a cavern in Shasta Mountain. It turns out that the three friends also have these abilities, but not to the extent of the folks in the mountain. In this story, the three believe that anyone could be taught these abilities, given the right circumstances.
Finally, "Jerry Was a Man" involves an ape-like creature who has higher intelligence, and a legal battle to determine his fate.
This are highly entertaining stories, and I enjoyed all four of them. As I said, Heinlein's dialogue-writing has improved and gotten pretty cynical and sarcastic, which I enjoy quite a bit. These remind me why I have always loved Heinlein so much.
ndenitto's review against another edition
4.0
The Gulf: A superspy working for a secret organization gets recruited by an even SUPERER SECRETER organization to learn to tap in to his unknown mental abilities. This new group believes a race of supermen capable of thinking at a superhuman level will become the new leading species on the planet. They want to train these adepts to bring peace to the world.
Elsewhen: A college professor discovers the key to interdimensional time travel. Apparently it's just sitting down quietly for 30 minutes. Anyway, he teaches 5 students the skill and they all have various adventures in time and space.
Legacy Lost: A college professor, a surgeon, and a student discover that all humans are capable of things like ESP, telekinesis, flight, and anything involving mind over matter, if they exercise the right portion of their brain.
Jerry Was a Man: A wealthy woman discovers that a company that genetically grows humanoid workers treats the apeish beings poorly, and kills them when they run out of usefulness. This is the story of her fight to have them recognized as men.
Elsewhen: A college professor discovers the key to interdimensional time travel. Apparently it's just sitting down quietly for 30 minutes. Anyway, he teaches 5 students the skill and they all have various adventures in time and space.
Legacy Lost: A college professor, a surgeon, and a student discover that all humans are capable of things like ESP, telekinesis, flight, and anything involving mind over matter, if they exercise the right portion of their brain.
Jerry Was a Man: A wealthy woman discovers that a company that genetically grows humanoid workers treats the apeish beings poorly, and kills them when they run out of usefulness. This is the story of her fight to have them recognized as men.
dixiet's review against another edition
5.0
It's been many, many years since I read this book. The four 'short' stories are unmistakably Heinlein. I was disappointed in the first, liked the second, came to remember how much I had loved the third when I first read it - and it's still fun - and really enjoyed the fourth.
spacecomics's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favorite Heinlein stories, but I know some people claim they are favorites. Others say "Gulf" espouses elitism. That's arguable, but if it does, I noticed the third and longest story, "Lost Legacy," is clearly anti-elitist.
"Jerry Was A Man" reminded me distinctly of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Measure Of A Man," in which Data was on trial and his humanity was debated. This story is about a genetically modified anthropoid rather than an android, but otherwise it's about the same issue, written some 40 years earlier.
Both "Lost Legacy" and "Elsewhen" were among Heinlein's earliest stories and the style is more similar to the early pulp fiction than his later, more polished works. "Gulf" is partly intriguing, partly theory of semantics and education that I found interesting. "Jerry Was A Man" is more satirical and subtly cynical.
"Jerry Was A Man" reminded me distinctly of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Measure Of A Man," in which Data was on trial and his humanity was debated. This story is about a genetically modified anthropoid rather than an android, but otherwise it's about the same issue, written some 40 years earlier.
Both "Lost Legacy" and "Elsewhen" were among Heinlein's earliest stories and the style is more similar to the early pulp fiction than his later, more polished works. "Gulf" is partly intriguing, partly theory of semantics and education that I found interesting. "Jerry Was A Man" is more satirical and subtly cynical.
javamamanc's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
imakandiway's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
sirlancelot2021's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
wunder's review against another edition
2.0
Skippable early Heinlein (1940's). Three weak novellas and a decent short story. Two of the novellas have bad pacing problems, both starting off with vigorous story then stalling out with interminable exposition. "Lost Legacy" is the better of the two. The multiple worlds novella just never got any traction with me, I couldn't care about any of the characters. The short story "Jerry Was A Man" is the only reason to pick this up, and raised my review a whole star.
mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
One of the other reviewers on here said it pretty well: Heinlein is just too darn readable, even if you can't get past some of his themes and attitudes. So even the long boring crap about supermen saving all us others who are too dumb to take care of ourselves is tolerable for a while longer than expected.
A word first about Bronson Pinchot as a narrator: Outstanding. Especially for Heinlein. He reads the characters as they sound in my head. He sounds older now, too, because he is, of course. And certainly he wasn't going to sound like Balki or Serge, but he really does read well. Extra star.
Heinlein fans and Ayn Rand acolytes will likely enjoy the first story. The Rand folks might start to like the third story, where people who have trained themselves to be exceptional retreat to a Galt's Gulch of sorts within Mt. Shasta, at least until the altruistic stuff starts (this story riffs of the old 'What if Mark Twain was an alien theme. He's not, no one is, but he is exceptional, despite not appearing in the story). I have to admit, Heinlein pulled a fast one on me by diverging from his usual benevolent dictatorship of the super-powered and just writing about people who simply act out of benevolence (though they are super-powered).
The usual pulp-era sexist attitudes on display here, of course, but the female major characters give as good as they get with plenty of sass and brass, for the most part, though unfortunately in the end they seem to want to just get married, though to be fair, they marry someone who is just as exceptional and deserves them and the matches seem more like partnerships, more or less equal, or at least containing mutual respect. The exception is Mrs. Van Vogel in the final story, "Jerry Was A Man," who is already married and very wealthy and has all the moxie to move the story forward despite her useless husband who clearly does not deserve her.
A word first about Bronson Pinchot as a narrator: Outstanding. Especially for Heinlein. He reads the characters as they sound in my head. He sounds older now, too, because he is, of course. And certainly he wasn't going to sound like Balki or Serge, but he really does read well. Extra star.
Heinlein fans and Ayn Rand acolytes will likely enjoy the first story. The Rand folks might start to like the third story, where people who have trained themselves to be exceptional retreat to a Galt's Gulch of sorts within Mt. Shasta, at least until the altruistic stuff starts (this story riffs of the old 'What if Mark Twain was an alien theme. He's not, no one is, but he is exceptional, despite not appearing in the story). I have to admit, Heinlein pulled a fast one on me by diverging from his usual benevolent dictatorship of the super-powered and just writing about people who simply act out of benevolence (though they are super-powered).
The usual pulp-era sexist attitudes on display here, of course, but the female major characters give as good as they get with plenty of sass and brass, for the most part, though unfortunately in the end they seem to want to just get married, though to be fair, they marry someone who is just as exceptional and deserves them and the matches seem more like partnerships, more or less equal, or at least containing mutual respect. The exception is Mrs. Van Vogel in the final story, "Jerry Was A Man," who is already married and very wealthy and has all the moxie to move the story forward despite her useless husband who clearly does not deserve her.