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Double Star

by Robert A. Heinlein

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3,094754,341 (3.72)154
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:

Every stand-in dreamed of the starring roleâ??but what actor would risk his life for the chance?

One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe is, as usual, in a bar, drinking away his troubles while watching his career circle the drain. Then a space pilot buys him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knows, he's shanghaied to Mars. Smythe suddenly finds himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who has been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians is at stake, and failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war.

Smythe knows nothing of the issues concerning free interplanetary trade and equal rights for aliens and cares even less, but the handsome compensation is impossible to refuse. He soon realizes, however, that he faces a lifetime masquerade if the real politician never shows up.… (more)

  1. 00
    Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (SylviaC)
    SylviaC: Both books play with identity.
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» See also 154 mentions

English (70)  Spanish (1)  Dutch (1)  French (1)  Swedish (1)  All languages (74)
Showing 1-5 of 70 (next | show all)
This is a book I would have loved as a kid. Feels dated now. Glad I read it but I was thankful it was short. ( )
  cdaley | Nov 2, 2023 |
A brief review for a brief story. Double Star focuses on our main character, Smythe, an actor who is recruited to double for an important politician who has been kidnapped. The plot moves briskly along, and while there's a little of the expected Heinlein action early on, there's less than one might expect. Absent also are some of his usual tropes about sexism and sexuality (though we do have an almost entirely male cast of characters). Strangely, in a book centered around politics, there is also little to none of his usual diatribes against socialism, for capitalism, or for some pseudo-fascist libertarian regime. Instead, we see Smythe grow out of initial close-minded, racist and isolationist beliefs and into someone who embraces collectivism across cultures and species. There's also some interesting ranting about the 'artist' and how/why/when he creates/participates in his art that whole ostensibly speaking about acting, feels like it must have been to some degree self-referential for Heinlein regarding writing. Overall, great, short read. ( )
  jdavidhacker | Aug 4, 2023 |
Good sf novel. Intrigue, etc. ( )
  kslade | Dec 8, 2022 |
When the leader of the Expansionist Party, John Bonforte, is kidnapped, unemployed actor Lorenzo Smythe is hired to take his place just before an important ceremony that will serve as a peace treaty between Mars and Earth. Should he fail, however, the results could be interplanetary war.

While the resemblance between Lorenzo and Bonforte is remarkable, the actor undergoes intense training to learn the politician’s background, thought process, manner of speech, and body language as well as the Martian phrases he must utter with impeccable precision during the ceremony. Coached by Bonforte’s team, Lorenzo delivers a flawless performance.

Shortly after, the real John Bonforte is found, but his mind and memories have been scrambled, leaving him in no condition to resume his responsibilities until he is fully recovered. Even his personal physician is uncertain how long that will take. Thus, Lorenzo must continue his impersonation, fearing that at any moment, the charade will be revealed.

As one of my favorite Heinlein novels, Double Star is a thoroughly entertaining, fast-paced romp with likeable characters, witty dialogue, and constant tension. ( )
  pgiunta | Nov 6, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 70 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (33 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Robert A. Heinleinprimary authorall editionscalculated
Hollander-Lossow, Else vonTranslatormain authorsome editionsconfirmed
Adlerberth, RolandTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bacon, C.W.Cover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Capel, TheoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Day, ThomasTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
García, AlbertTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Giancola, DonatoCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
James, LloydNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Joó, AttilaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Korkut, NazlıTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
MacLeod, KenIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Michel ChrestienTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Powers, RichardCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Powers, Richard M.Cover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rekunen, VeikkoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Roberts, AnthonyCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Szafran, GeneCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Valla, RiccardoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Weiner, TomNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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To Henry and Catherine Kuttner
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If a man walks in dressed like a hick and acting as if he owned the place, he's a spaceman.
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Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:

Every stand-in dreamed of the starring roleâ??but what actor would risk his life for the chance?

One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe is, as usual, in a bar, drinking away his troubles while watching his career circle the drain. Then a space pilot buys him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knows, he's shanghaied to Mars. Smythe suddenly finds himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who has been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians is at stake, and failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war.

Smythe knows nothing of the issues concerning free interplanetary trade and equal rights for aliens and cares even less, but the handsome compensation is impossible to refuse. He soon realizes, however, that he faces a lifetime masquerade if the real politician never shows up.

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