Andres P. (necromage) reviewed on 11/11/2009

Helpful Score: 3

This book is Heinlein's first novel and shows it. That's not necessarily as bad as it sounds. Heinlein was a grandmaster sci-fi writer, and in fact helped define/create the genre. His primitive work can be as good or better than other, established authors' magnum opuses. That said, you will find the seed ideas for many of Heinlein's future masterpieces in this book. it looks like, as was his wont, he did not let rejection kill the project but instead said, "What? You won't buy my book? Well, damn you, now you'll buy it 20 times and more", and proceeded to incorporate the ideas in his future output.

Read it. It will be worth it. Only if you are new to Heinlein you may want to read a few of his other work, especially his acknowledged masterpieces, before coming back to his almost but not quite stillborn first novel...

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