Rating: Summary: Fun, light but leaves an impression Review: I read this book over 10 years ago. I still remember it and I'm still fascinated by the whole theme of pretending to be someone makes you into that person that you were pretending to be. Less heavy handed than Vonnegut's Mother Night with the same theme, this Heinlein book is a delight on many levels. First the main character's smart aleck tone is highly entertaining. "If a guy walks into a bar dressed like a hick acting like he knows the place, you can tell that he's a space man". Heinlein's use of character voices is one of his strengths (like in Podkayne of Mars). Second, the role that this actor is playing becomes him and makes him into a responsible human being which is a nice idea in that a person can change and become a good person despite their best efforts to the contrary.There are problems of course. The Martians aren't that fleshed out. The shift from jerk to statesman seems way too abrupt. Some may find the main character grating. But Heinlein's strength rest in that his storytelling doesn't allow you to dwell too much on his weaknesses.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining audio book performance Review: I was pleased to renew my acquaintance with this book recently via the audio cassette version. The story is read -- or more accurately, performed most excellently -- by Lloyd James. I leave it to the other reviewers to give a synopsis of the plot. It's fun to see what Heinlein "got right" in some of his future predictions and where he "missed" (no mobile phones? -- part of the plot would have collapsed). If you enjoy travelling with an audio book, this should be a fun companion.
Rating: Summary: Old favorite Review: I won't recap the plot because other reviewers have covered it well. All Heinlein fans have their favorite - this is mine.
Rating: Summary: Mmmm.......okay book, not great, but not bad. Review: I'm a big Heinlein fan but the book is not always entertaining. Most of the time though. The book is good, not very hard to put down but it takes alot of work! His Martians in the book are so ridiculous (In a GOOD way). You just have to like this book. This would be more of a cult book, not very but if you hate politics, dont even try reading this book. But I liked it.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable, but too much politics. Review: In this short novel Heinlein tells the story (in first person) of Lorenzo Smythe, a man of the stage, as he stumbles upon the role of a lifetime in a bar over drinks with a pilot. Lorenzo quickly finds himself embroiled in caper too far to turn back from and eventually becomes involved in a political coverup that is way over his head. For the most part I enjoyed Double Star. It started out light and comical, but eventually lost those two elements the more we learn about the political situation...and the more Lorenzo sinks into his role playing a double. Now that I look back there is very little science fiction involved in this book other than trips to Mars and the Moon. Beyond that it is a novel that focuses on politics, acting, and the theatre. There are many references to Shakespeare; elements of which are the main plot of this book (deception and disguise). Not being a fan of politics in general, I thought the heavy political aspects eventually pulled the book down. But that's just my view. There are many people who enjoy this type of narrative. I wish Heinlein would have maintained the light and fun tone throughout. Regardless, it was an enjoyable read on my trek through the Hugo & Nebula winners.
Rating: Summary: Loving Lorenzo Review: Lorenzo Smythe has to be one of the best examples of a character you love to loathe in the beginning, and winding up loving by the middle. The way that Smythe, like so many of Heinlen's first person narrators, reveals things about himself, sometimes inadvertently, is just as interesting as the stories he tells. "Double Star", as far as I'm concerned, is his Heinlen's virtuoso performance of narration, and a terrific plot to go with it.
Rating: Summary: A lesser-known classic Sci-Fi from the Dean. Review: Okay, you've got to step aside one moment when you sit down to this book and remember two things: One, this was not written for adults, but instead teenagers. Two, this book was written FOREVER ago. (Mind you, it's still an enjoyable novel to me now, and I'm almost thirty, living in the 21st century.) My father came to me one day when I was in the seventh grade and said that he thought it was time I read Heinlein. This was the first of the books he gave me, and I literally took it, read the first sentence, sat down where I was, and started reading. Like most of RAH's work, this book provides a pleasant, entertaining narrative while making you think about some of the issues within-- racism, politics, professionalism, and personal responsibility.
Rating: Summary: My Favorite Heinlein Review: On the surface, one might think that Stranger in a Strange Land would be my favorite Heinlein novel. Okay, it was the most influential. However, as a novel, Double Star is far superior. The plot, pacing and characterization are all excellent. Add to this an original (for the time) theme for science fiction: Poltical Intrigue. It is an excellent and entertaining read. Heinlein at his best. I urge you to pick this one up.
Rating: Summary: My Favorite Heinlein Review: On the surface, one might think that Stranger in a Strange Land would be my favorite Heinlein novel. Okay, it was the most influential. However, as a novel, Double Star is far superior. The plot, pacing and characterization are all excellent. Add to this an original (for the time) theme for science fiction: Poltical Intrigue. It is an excellent and entertaining read. Heinlein at his best. I urge you to pick this one up.
Rating: Summary: Amusing sitcom-ish story Review: Reading it from Smythe's point of view was the best part because he's relating his thoughts to the readers as he enters into a bizarre impersonation job. He has to impersonate very convincgly a controversial figure. It's fun to read this light-hearted story although it's clear that Heinlein loves writing about politics in space civilization which gets tedious eventually.
|