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Title: Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein ISBN: 0345353730 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1995 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.65
Rating: 5
Summary: Thanks Grandad!
Comment: 24 years ago my grandad gave me this book. It was my first Heinlein. I can't remember how many times I've read it but I'm on my third copy. It's a simple tale of survival. Like Starship Troopers, family and friends play an important role and the way the characters develop is inspiring.
I've read and re-read all of Mr Heinlein's published works, he is so easy to read. I hope this classic tale does not fall under some action movie director's axe like Troopers. The story is perfect as it is and does not need to be re-told.
Rating: 5
Summary: A delightful classic. No collection should be without it.
Comment: Tunnel in the Sky shows both the best and the worst in human nature. The worst, because some people are murderers and thieves at heart and will act on their impulses if they can get away with it. The best, because it shows what people can accomplish if pressed to survive. This quick read is one of the all-time classics and simply can't be overlooked.
The book is a page-turner from the very beginning, starting with the exciting possibility of simply stepping through a door to another world, and then bringing the reader face to face with the consequences of that act: Survival in a harsh wilderness. The ingenuity and the personal dynamics of the characters drive the story forward, with the constant question of what will happen next to improve the quality of life for their small pocket of civilization--or what will threaten it.
Like most Heinlein, a few things appear out of place at times but they add to the charm of the story. The mainstream news media, for example, seem a little sensationalistic and goofy even by today's standards. But as a Heinlein fan I wouldn't have it any other way.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Young Man's Adventure on an Unknown Planet
Comment: Tunnel in the Sky is the most Naturalistic of Heinlein's juveniles, teaching some harsh lessons about death and survival. The novel is the coming-of-age story of Rod, a student who is about to take the final exam for "Outworlds Survival", a class he must pass to achieve his dream of becoming a planetary explorer. Rod is one of Heinlein's most likable characters: smart, compassionate, willing to listen, a natural leader, but still human enough to have his faults, and inexperienced enough to make plenty of mistakes. Watching these mistakes and the price he pays for them should be an exciting adventure for readers of all ages. Admittedly, the plot is not very original, although something about castaways in a hostile environment always captures the imagination. Rod's first night alone in the wilderness is especially well depicted. The book isn't really that big on action, or even on science; but Heinlein provides plenty of conflict, particularly once the students join
forces and sociological issues come to the fore. Heinlein has often been criticized for his view of women, but this book goes a long way towards refuting such charges. First, the students are both male and female, and the girls are granted absolutely no preference. Heinlein wants us to see that the laws of survival treat men and women as equals; it is only human society that invents the differences. Second, the female characters are frequently shown to be both more capable and more practical than their male classmates. Caroline is as skilled a hunter as any two boys together, and later proves herself an able administrator. Jacqueline manages to preserve the basic comforts of civilization while Rod has regressed to savagery. And Rod's own sister is a professional warrior, veteran of countless campaigns, and leader of her own platoon. The fact that these women appear as interested in getting married as in furthering their careers seems a byproduct of Heinlein's conservatism, rather than misogyny. And conservative Heinlein certainly is, at least at this point in his career. As the survival group becomes larger and more civilized, it becomes more comfortable, more divided, and less vigilant in its own defense. Once Grant takes control of the group, political expediency makes pleasing his constituents (ie., the newlyweds) more important than practical considerations required for their safety (ie., the wall). Heinlein clearly feels that eternal vigilance is the price of survival. The novel's conclusion is fairly weak, especially the coincidence relating to Rod's parents. Perhaps Heinlein is trying to show that he understands how young people can grow and mature without their parents noticing. His advice to them is to hang in there - it's worth it. This book is a good, fast read, and I enjoyed very much despite its flaws. I would recommend it very highly for younger fans of science fiction. For readers who prefer hard science, or who want complex characterization, or who have higher literary expectations, this book may be less enjoyable.
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Title: Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein ISBN: 0345342445 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1987 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein ISBN: 0345330129 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1993 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein ISBN: 0345340396 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1991 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein ISBN: 0345324412 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1995 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein ISBN: 0345324382 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 1990 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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