Tunnel in the Sky

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Summary: I wish I had gone to high school in one of Heinlein's works.
Review: This was simply one of the best books I have read simply for pure enjoyment. Heinlein brings out the kind of adventure in this work that we all dream that we could experience. This "Lord of the Flies" meets "Land of the Lost" work, Heinlein captures the desires of young people and displays them to a perfect degree. Even though the work is old, it is far from outdated. Young people of taday still desire this type of adventure. Like many of Heinlein's other works, this one shows how the younger generation would be able to take on responsibility and survive, if given the opportunity. I am so glad that there is not a movie version of this (at least I do not know of one). The way Hollywood ruined "Starship Troopers" by turning it into a 90210-esque peice of dung, and all of the "Puppet Masters" rip-offs (As can be found on "Star Trek: TNG") makes me sick. My only hope is that someday Hollywood will quit ruining good works of art and hire mindless drones to write their own movies.

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Summary: My favorite Heinlein juvenile
Review: This was the book that got me hooked on Robert Heinlein, the Grand Master of science fiction. Unlike most young science fiction readers of the 50s, 60s, or 70s, Heinlein was not my first introduction to the field: that was Frank Herbert's "Dune." But I read "Tunnel in the Sky" one day at school (I hid it in my notebook all afternoon and read it faster than any book I'd ever found) and within three weeks I'd read every single one of his books. That was the first time I'd ever done that. And now, twenty five years later, I teach "Tunnel in the Sky" to my freshmen English class. None of Heinlein's juveniles create a future world so fast, or so different from our own; when Rod Walker and his class become lost on an alien world and have to fend for themselves, my entire class starts ripping through the pages as fast as they can. A great read, full of ideas and adventure.

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Summary: A Young Man's Adventure on an Unknown Planet
Review: 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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Summary: A delightful classic. No collection should be without it.
Review: 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.

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Summary: Tunnel in the Sky
Review: Tunnel in the Sky was a good book. When I say good, I mean it was easy to understand, it had a good plot, and it kept me interested right until the last page. It is about a teenager named Rod who is taking an advanced survival course in his high school. The final test is: all weapons 2-10 days anywhere in the universe. This means that they could be sent anywhere in the universe for 2-10 days, and they can bring any weapons they want. The book is filled with adventure, danger and fun. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to read it.

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Summary: Heinlein at his best
Review: Tunnel in the sky was the first Heinlein book I read. I haven't stopped. "Red Planet", "Have a Space suit will travel", his all famous "Stranger in a strange land", "Citizen of the Galaxy" and a few others, some of which I cannot recall at this time, include the long list of books that have touched my life at one time or another, but "Tunnel in the sky" started it all. Except for "Stranger in a strange land" this is his best novel. While the characters names have gone and went throughout years since reading this novel, the stories essance remains in my heart. It is a book of survival, of civilization, of building and rebuilding, and of friendship. Heinlein is a master at story creation. When the last page swept threw my fingers, those many years ago, I couldn't help but feel delight, sarrow, anger (that it was over), and everything else all at once. I had finished a great book and I thank Heinlein for allowing me to experience this. If you enjoyed this book as much as I than I highly recommend you read "Survivor" by Robert Gray, and the Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer. You wont be dissapointed!

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Summary: The book that started it all for me
Review: What an awsome read this book was for me. This is the book that got me reading sci fi in the first place. I am presently reading it for the second time, and i can see now why i found it so enjoyable the first time around. I mean forget the whole ingenious concept of a portal for a second(which by the way, when the book was written,was a very novel concept)what i really loved about this book is the way he describes the whole future society on this planet. An overcrowded earth where the Greater New York City stretches from the east coast all the way to the grand canyon and tubes and portals that can get you from one side of the city to the other in a manner of minutes.Just good old fashioned sci fi nothing more nothing less.Oh yeh and the parts that take place on the other planet are fun too. enjoy, all you fun loving adventurers out there. =)