Methuselah's Children / Robert A. Heinlein

Methuselah's Children
by Robert A. Heinlein

science fiction

copyright 1958
read in April 2013

rated 6 out of 10: read to pass the time

Sure, this is Heinlein. And"Heinlein defined modern science fiction." Frederick Pohl said so. It says so on the cover.

Yes, this book is good, solid science fiction: the characters are cardboard, the plot is thin and the scientific what-if is the best part. It's an interesting take on mankind's reaction to people who are believed to be holding a valuable secret.

Easy to read but not much more than a scientific what-if. Somewhere in between exciting and boring.

The book is dedicated, "To Edward E. Smith, Ph.D". And yes, it is clear that this is Heinlein inspired by Doc Smith. Except that Doc Smith is a lot more fun.

Take, for example, the limiting factor of the speed of light...

The captain of Doc Smith's Skylark mentions Einstein's theoretical limit. But, says the captain, that is only a theory... So he simply puts his foot flat to the floor -- and exceeds the speed of light. Heinlein's captain takes three pages of scientific gobbledegook -- then decides to not even try.

Doc Smith also offers a more positive view of humanity's place in the universe... No matter where they go, no matter what aliens they meet, the heroic humans are superior. Not necessarily in all ways. But, somehow, humans are at the head of the species pecking order.

Heinlein skips the challenge of plot and introduces us to several alien races. In each case, humans are overawed and overwhelmed. Okay, the heroes agree that, we'll improve and we'll be back... More realistic, perhaps. Just not as much fun.

Then the heroes arrive home and... all their problems have been solved. Ho hum.

A book worth writing. Just not a great book for reading.

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Problems ? Solved

For Us, the Living / Robert A. Heinlein

For Us, the Living

(category: science fiction)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

published by Scribner in 2004, but written in 1939
Nick read a library book, in April 2010

Nick's rating: 6 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

This book is of historical interest for fans of Heinlein... A treatise on how society should be and an early taste of Heinlein's preachy style. In 1939 the book was unpublishable; that obstacle has been overcome because Heinlein is now dead and famous.

Okay, I admit it: I skipped over great chunks of the book. I read some large chunks of ground-rules for a Heinlein utopia, then jumped a long way forward. Here's how it seems to go:

Modern (1939) hero leaps forward 150 years, to a perfect world. Various characters spend a lot of time explaining how their utopia works. Hero gets over his atavistic impulses, gets the girl, gets the other girl. Then -- in this perfect world -- the hero perfects rocket power and flies off to the moon.

What?!

Yes... In this perfect utopia of 2086, it is the hero from the USA of 1939 who has the nous and ability to perfect futuristic rocket technology. Heinlein describes utopia with one fault: the people are so boring and bland that they seem unable to develop their own technology..

So what is the message? Utopia is great but people of today's dystopia are so much more capable? Interesting, really: as the US heads towards WW II, Heinlein is scathing of its economy, its politics, its prudery, its crime. But he still sees the 1939 american male as being the be-all and end-all of heroic and successful endeavour.

An interesting book... mainly for its insight into the author.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes & documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

Between Planets / Robert A. Heinlein

Between Planets

(category: science fiction)
by

Robert A. Heinlein

published by Robert Hale in 1951
Nick read a library book, in December 2009

Nick's rating: 6 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

Scientists are good guys, politicians are baddies... a simple message from a simple book. An old-style SF novel, with a young hero, an aged scientist (or in this case, senior member of the resistance), the scientist's beautiful daughter, a few aliens -- seemingly powerful but second fiddle to the heroic humans -- and the scientific breakthrough which will save the world. Not so much an adventure, as a series of pointed (though very blunt) comments on society. An easy read.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.