Rating: 
Summary: Classic juvenile by Heinlein
Review: A classic adventure novel, early Heinlein. While the technology and morality are dated by modern standards, the plot is straight forward and as with all Heinlein, the story-telling is absorbing. May not be the best first novel for a young sci-fi fan to be Ñ due to most youngsters knowledge of modern technology Ñ but the story still has a lot to offer.
Rating: 
Summary: Dated, but still fine
Review: A hillbilly from the Ozarks who didn't strike oil, Max Jones lives on an Earth where professions are controlled by guilds--entry is, for the most part, hereditary. Still, his late, childless uncle, Chester Jones, was an astrogator aboard a starship, and Max suspects he might have been designated as heir. Such is not the case, but Max sneaks aboard as a crewman anyway, with the help of a dishonest rascal, Sam Anderson. Max moves ahead with good luck, merit, and a series of deaths, and eventually becomes captain on that first trip, and leads his crew and passengers back from an unknown planet. The Max who is willing to lie and cheat to get onboard near the start of the book is not the Max of the end of the book, who is not willing to do so to protect himself. He is matured by role models such as Astrogator Hendrix, and, surprisingly, by the rascal Sam. Yet he has effects on those around them. Max's influence changes Sam from rascal to hero. The dated elements, such as the '50s style computers that can do little more than simple calculations and cannot even store logarithms and the like (the characters must use bound log tables and other references) do not detract. I should note that it's a bit strange that Astrogator Chester Jones (who no doubt inherited his position from a father or other close relative) would have a brother who is a hardscrabble farmer. At least, the question should have been explained.
Rating: 
Summary: Very well writen adventure book.
Review: An excellent story of a young boy on the verge of manhood, who teams up with a tough, experienced space traveller with a heart of gold. Excellent reading for people of all ages
Rating:
Summary: SF classic
Review: Every so often, I like to come back to this book and give it a quick read. I first read it when I was about 10-11 years old (back in the late 50's - I'm dating myself). Yes, there are a few things that today seem rather dated, but even now I am amazed how plausible Heinlein makes everything seem (especially in 1953)! The notion of accelerating to light speed and finding a pre-calculated "short-cut" in space (black hole?) is still intriguing. This is a solid entry in the Heinlein canon of great stories.
Rating:
Summary: SF classic
Review: Every so often, I like to come back to this book and give it a quick read. I first read it when I was about 10-11 years old (back in the late 50's - I'm dating myself). Yes, there are a few things that today seem rather dated, but even now I am amazed how plausible Heinlein makes everything seem (especially in 1953)! The notion of accelerating to light speed and finding a pre-calculated "short-cut" in space (black hole?) is still intriguing. This is a solid entry in the Heinlein canon of great stories.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing SF
Review: Follow the adventures of Max Jones, and his friend sam as they travel through known (and not so well known :-) systems. A space stowaway story with everything you can imagine, from love to action and drama. From farmer to Captain, you can't help but find yourself completely engrossed in this story
Rating:
Summary: A great read, regardless of age
Review: Heinlein's series of juveniles has never been matched by any other series writer for teenagers, with the possible exception of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, which has much the same narrative drive and interest for both young people and adults. "Starman Jones" grabs the reader by the neck on the first page, and never lets you go. Although the science has become badly dated (NO science fiction writer predicted what computers would be like by the end of the twentieth century), the situations and surprises still ring true. Max Jones is a great Heinlein character, full of the grit and intelligence that so often marked his protagonists. Yet the character's humility and innocence also come through to the reader. I read this in high school, and loved it; I just reread it, and felt even stronger about this book. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: Once again after so many years... Starman Jones
Review: I happened upon this book quite by accident, and it brought back to life a memory from over 40 years ago of experiencing the distant future first-hand by reading Heinlein's "Tunnel in the Sky." As a thirteen year-old, I lost myself in the futuristic yet believable world he created in that book. The same is true of "Starman." Heinlein is at the top of his craft when he can weave snapshots of incredible technological developments into a personalized storyline that could occur to anyone in any age. Almost as incredible is the offhand way he causes the reader to contemplate a 'reality' that could be just beyond our current understanding of physics - like "Starman's" routine use of discontinuities in space-time to enable travel to distant parts of the galaxy with cruise-ship efficiency. I now view Heinlein's work through the filter of age and way too much education, but I can truly say that getting lost in one of his fictional worlds still holds a certain fascination that lingers long after you finish the book. His work leaves a feeling that the world of tomorrow will be exciting, new and challenging, but ultimately it can be understood and even conquered by ordinary people. This book still seems fresh and plausible, even after all these years. I highly recommend "Starman Jones."
Rating: 
Summary: Heinlein wrote many better than this
Review: I literally picked up a copy of this book because I was stranded on a tropical island and it was one of the few available in English. As such, I must admit reading it was more enjoyable than counting grains of sand or staring at my toes. Higher praise than that I am unable to dispense. I am an occasional Heinlein enthusiast (loved The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Stranger in a Strange Land but detested The Cat Who Walked Through Walls and The Number of the Beast) and this book seemed to distill all of the very worst of Heinlein's writing (a two dimensional, unbelievable hero, a sexist view of women etc.) Perhaps I am just too old to enjoy Starman Jones but I suspect that most adolescents are a lot smarter than this book is.
Rating:
Summary: Heinlein wrote many better than this
Review: I literally picked up a copy of this book because I was stranded on a tropical island and it was one of the few available in English. As such, I must admit reading it was more enjoyable than counting grains of sand or staring at my toes. Higher praise than that I am unable to dispense. I am an occasional Heinlein enthusiast (loved The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Stranger in a Strange Land but detested The Cat Who Walked Through Walls and The Number of the Beast) and this book seemed to distill all of the very worst of Heinlein's writing (a two dimensional, unbelievable hero, a sexist view of women etc.) Perhaps I am just too old to enjoy Starman Jones but I suspect that most adolescents are a lot smarter than this book is.
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