Infinite Possibilities: Tunnel in the Sky, Time for the Stars, Citizen of the Galaxy
by Robert A. Heinlein
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Tunnel in the Sky is a science fiction book written by Robert A. Heinlein and published in 1955 by Scribner's as one of the Heinlein juveniles. The story describes a group of students sent on a survival test to an uninhabited planet. The themes of the work include the difficulties of growing up and the nature of man as a social animal. Time for the Stars (1956) is slightly dated-less so than some of the others that have more noticeable computers in them-but not really all that much. The show more story is an exploration of the Twin Paradox-a thought experiment that explains how relativity works. If you had identical twins, and one of them accelerated away from Earth and the other stayed home, so much more time would pass on Earth than in the spaceship that the Earth twin would be a hundred years old when the space twin came home, only a few years later. Heinlein took this concept and made it a real story with characters-and he made the twin thing relevant by using twin telepathy (which works faster than light ...) as a means of communicating between Earth and ship. What Heinlein was unbeatable at was writing total immersion. His universes hold together perfectly, even though he describes them with very few strokes. From the first words of Citizen of the Galaxy (1958) you're caught, you're there beside the slave block that stands by the spaceport in Jubbalpore as a beggar buys a slave. The story is quite simple. Thorby is a slave, recently arrived on the world of Jubbalpore in the hold of a slaver's spaceship. He is bought by Baslim the Cripple, who is more than a beggar and who educates the boy. Then Baslim is killed and Thorby whisked off planet by a ship of Free Traders, a Finnish speaking spacer clan who adopt him in gratitude for past services by Baslim. Baslim has made them promise to deliver Thorby to a vessel of the Space Navy, (The Hegemonic Guard, his own service) in the hope that they will be able to identify Thorby ... --Amazon. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The other two stories are less compelling that Citizen of the Galaxy, which is a compelling read in the typical plot-driven Heinlein style, but like other Heinlein works, touches on societal issues that remain relevant today. Honor, subterfuge, mistaken identity, love, ethics, man's dehumanization of man, and the ability of youth to adapt and to grow.
Tunnel in the Sky: As a teenager, this was a solid 4-stars; but now only 3.5 stars. A good, inspiring tale of children learning to do, or die.
Time for the Stars: As close to time travel as you can get without getting wonkie. A good adventure story without an especially exciting plot line.
Citizen of the Galaxy: Solid Heinlein…as good a story as it was when I first read it---50+ years ago. These early works are so much better than his last books.
Time for the Stars: As close to time travel as you can get without getting wonkie. A good adventure story without an especially exciting plot line.
Citizen of the Galaxy: Solid Heinlein…as good a story as it was when I first read it---50+ years ago. These early works are so much better than his last books.
In order by merit:
*Citizen of the Galaxy combines the exotic allure of the underclass in Rudyard Kipling's Kim with the moral heroism of science fiction. A consistently intelligent and interesting tale.
*Tunnel in the Sky is a good story of the building of a civilization out of the raw human materials of modernity, a la Lost or Lord of the Flies.
*Time for the Stars begins well, with a plausible description of the functioning of telepathy, but somehow fails to impress. Perhaps the narrator is less likeable than in the other two stories.
All in all, a good introduction to science fiction, and not a bad reread for adults.
*Citizen of the Galaxy combines the exotic allure of the underclass in Rudyard Kipling's Kim with the moral heroism of science fiction. A consistently intelligent and interesting tale.
*Tunnel in the Sky is a good story of the building of a civilization out of the raw human materials of modernity, a la Lost or Lord of the Flies.
*Time for the Stars begins well, with a plausible description of the functioning of telepathy, but somehow fails to impress. Perhaps the narrator is less likeable than in the other two stories.
All in all, a good introduction to science fiction, and not a bad reread for adults.
Citizen of the Galaxy is in this and is one of Heinlein better stories ,it keeps one engrossed and the ending is a pretty satisfying one to its start
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456+ Works 174,195 Members
Robert Anson Heinlein was born on July 7, 1907 in Butler, Mo. The son of Rex Ivar and Bam Lyle Heinlein, Robert Heinlein had two older brothers, one younger brother, and three younger sisters. Moving to Kansas City, Mo., at a young age, Heinlein graduated from Central High School in 1924 and attended one year of college at Kansas City Community show more College. Following in his older brother's footsteps, Heinlein entered the Navel Academy in 1925. After contracting pulmonary tuberculosis, of which he was later cured, Heinlein retired from the Navy and married Leslyn MacDonald. Heinlein was said to have held jobs in real estate and photography, before he began working as a staff writer for Upton Sinclair's EPIC News in 1938. Still needing money desperately, Heinlein entered a writing contest sponsored by the science fiction magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories. Heinlein wrote and submitted the story "Life-Line," which went on to win the contest. This guaranteed Heinlein a future in writing. Using his real name and the pen names Caleb Saunders, Anson MacDonald, Lyle Monroe, John Riverside, and Simon York, Heinlein wrote numerous novels including For Us the Living, Methuselah's Children, and Starship Troopers, which was adapted into a big-budget film for Tri-Star Pictures in 1997. The Science Fiction Writers of America named Heinlein its first Grand Master in 1974, presented 1975. Officers and past presidents of the Association select a living writer for lifetime achievement. Also, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame inducted Heinlein in 1998. Heinlein died in 1988 from emphysema and other related health problems. Heinlein's remains were scattered from the stern of a Navy warship off the coast of California. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Infinite Possibilities: Tunnel in the Sky, Time for the Stars, Citizen of the Galaxy
- Original publication date
- 2002 (1955, 1956, 1957) (1955, 1956, 1957)
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- Members
- 204
- Popularity
- 160,158
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.90)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
- ASINs
- 1
