Rating: 
Summary: Close and Distant Brothers
Review: A standard illustration of the time-distorting effects predicted by Einstein's relativity equations is the traveling twin problem, where one twin remains on Earth while the other travels at near-light speed to some distant destination. Heinlein takes this textbook concept and adds two other ingredients to the mix: the twins are telepathic, and they are real people, in concocting this nice blend of great adventure and hard science.Tom and Pat are the twins in question, targeted by the Long Range Foundation as a potential communications pair on the first exploratory star-ships due to their telepathic ability to communicate over any distance at (truly) instantaneous speeds. Which one will go and which will stay forms the initial conflict of this story, and how the decision is made provides a strong base for filling in the character of each, along with some interesting psychological insights into the problems that face close siblings. While still on Earth, this section also allows Heinlein to throw in some of his typical comments about bureaucracies, government meddling, taxes, population control, and the non-democratic nature of families, all deftly folded into and directly contributing to the story line. Once the starship takes off, we find something of a more traditional adventure story, as we follow Pat on the starship and his meeting with the duties and responsibilities of ship-board life and the unforeseen hazards that the ship encounters at each of the stars it explores. In the meantime, Tom is rapidly aging on Earth, the link between the two becomes very fragile, and eventually Pat manages to establish a new telepathic link with his niece (and later his grand and great-grand niece). All necessary in order to continue the starship mission, for without being able to report the findings of the explorations, there is little point in continuing. As we move further and further out in time and space, we can see Pat grow as person, melded both by these external events and his own musings on the purpose of life and humanity, and it is this very growth that really provides the best portion of the 'entertainment'. Heinlein fully recognized that positing instantaneous communications (of any nature) was a violation of Einstein's basic theory, and rather than ignore it, he used it as a springboard to a new science that forms the basis for the ending of this book. It also allowed him to neatly finish off the story line of the two twins, but I found the ending not quite satisfying, a little too pat and quickly done (and with some gender-roles that would be considered decidedly non-politically correct today). Still, this is one of the best of his so-called 'juvenile' novels, both due to its great science and very solid characterization, couched in his typical, unforced American prose, and with enough 'meat' on its bones to engross any reader.
Rating:
Summary: Heinlein Goes Psychological
Review: Action-lovers beware, Time for the Stars is the most deeply psychological of Heinlein's young adult novels, and may not be the best choice for those new to Heinlein. It follows the space travels of Tom Bartlett, a young man who (much to his own surprise) shares a telepathic bond with his earth-bound twin brother Pat. Tom is a very realistic character, for Heinlein, a quiet, practical person, who has spent most of his life passively allowing his brother to manipulate him. Tom's gradual comprehension of the nature of their relationship, and his subsequent attempts to develop his own personality, make this an engaging story without getting too intense for younger readers. As might be expected of so psychological a novel, the pace is rather slow and very uneven. Heinlein concentrates primarily on episodes that show Tom's emotional development, rather than the "landfall" scenes which would be the focus of a more traditional "science fiction adventure" novel. The first few chapters give ample opportunity to see Pat in action; he gleefully manipulates his parents, some helpful scientists, a major research foundation, and of course, his brother Tom. Once Tom sets off to explore the galaxy, he has to shake off his dependence on Pat, and become a man in his own right. Fortunately, he gets plenty of help from various members of the crew, including the ship's doctor, and manages to learn from his mistakes. As the expedition runs into its own difficulties, Tom has to take on more and more responsibility. Only by recognizing the sacrifices others have made for human progress, and resolving to make the best of his own situation,is he able to throw off the dead weight of the past, and find hope for a brighter future. The later chapters seem rather rushed, but Heinlein's endings are not always the strongest part of his novels, and this one at least stands up as well as most. Most importantly, Heinlein loves to pontificate, and as Tom travels the stars in search of himself, Heinlein takes the opportunity to expound on such diverse topics as relativity, communications theory, the principles of space exploration and ship's organization, and the uncertain nature of scientific fact in an ever-changing universe. His ability to make such material fascinating has always been his real genius, and under-playing the action leaves him plenty of room to go with his strength. If you don't especially like reading Heinlein's opinions on scientific and quasi-scientific subjects, you're probably not a particular fan of his, and this novel won't change your mind, but Heinlein's fans should find this a very enjoyable book.
Rating:
Summary: Heinlein Goes Psychological
Review: Action-lovers beware, Time for the Stars is the most deeply psychological of Heinlein's young adult novels, and may not be the best choice for those new to Heinlein. It follows the space travels of Tom Bartlett, a young man who (much to his own surprise) shares a telepathic bond with his earth-bound twin brother Pat. Tom is a very realistic character, for Heinlein, a quiet, practical person, who has spent most of his life passively allowing his brother to manipulate him. Tom's gradual comprehension of the nature of their relationship, and his subsequent attempts to develop his own personality, make this an engaging story without getting too intense for younger readers. As might be expected of so psychological a novel, the pace is rather slow and very uneven. Heinlein concentrates primarily on episodes that show Tom's emotional development, rather than the "landfall" scenes which would be the focus of a more traditional "science fiction adventure" novel. The first few chapters give ample opportunity to see Pat in action; he gleefully manipulates his parents, some helpful scientists, a major research foundation, and of course, his brother Tom. Once Tom sets off to explore the galaxy, he has to shake off his dependence on Pat, and become a man in his own right. Fortunately, he gets plenty of help from various members of the crew, including the ship's doctor, and manages to learn from his mistakes. As the expedition runs into its own difficulties, Tom has to take on more and more responsibility. Only by recognizing the sacrifices others have made for human progress, and resolving to make the best of his own situation,is he able to throw off the dead weight of the past, and find hope for a brighter future. The later chapters seem rather rushed, but Heinlein's endings are not always the strongest part of his novels, and this one at least stands up as well as most. Most importantly, Heinlein loves to pontificate, and as Tom travels the stars in search of himself, Heinlein takes the opportunity to expound on such diverse topics as relativity, communications theory, the principles of space exploration and ship's organization, and the uncertain nature of scientific fact in an ever-changing universe. His ability to make such material fascinating has always been his real genius, and under-playing the action leaves him plenty of room to go with his strength. If you don't especially like reading Heinlein's opinions on scientific and quasi-scientific subjects, you're probably not a particular fan of his, and this novel won't change your mind, but Heinlein's fans should find this a very enjoyable book.
Rating: 
Summary: Time for the stars, one of my favorite
Review: I'm not a great reviewer, but I love the book, I've read it many times. It reminds me of "Flowers for Algernon", where it is bends your mind and keeps you reading with out a lot of action.
Rating:
Summary: Time for the stars, one of my favorite
Review: I'm not a great reviewer, but I love the book, I've read it many times. It reminds me of "Flowers for Algernon", where it is bends your mind and keeps you reading with out a lot of action.
Rating:
Summary: Great Heinlein Book
Review: Im not a good review writer but it was a great book.Not to much action but very detailed and exciteing still.It just grabs your interst.
Rating:
Summary: One of Heinlein's very best.
Review: In this story of telepathic twins, Heinlein does better than usual at balancing characters, logic, sentiment, science, and suspense. Each aspect of the novel is fascinating, from the revelation of the twins' telepathy to their ultimate separation by 63 light years of space and some 80 years time. Heinlein carefully makes future society and star travel seem real, all while making his characters live. I've read this book twice, and again found I could not put it down.
Rating:
Summary: One of Heinlein's very best.
Review: In this story of telepathic twins, Heinlein does better than usual at balancing characters, logic, sentiment, science, and suspense. Each aspect of the novel is fascinating, from the revelation of the twins' telepathy to their ultimate separation by 63 light years of space and some 80 years time. Heinlein carefully makes future society and star travel seem real, all while making his characters live. I've read this book twice, and again found I could not put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Heinlein's most intellectually elegant novel
Review: No action whatsoever, but superb craftsmanship. A superb exploration of what it means to be an identical twin, combined with speculations on the nature of time and value of impractical scientific research that somehow all ties together at the end. A little Swiss watch of a novel from a man better known for the rambling self-indulgent books he tended to write from Stranger in a Strange Land onward. Until somebody reissues this book, the full range of Heinlein's spectacular talent won't be understood. Steve Sailer stevesailer.com
Rating:
Summary: very good.
Review: Telepathic comunication exceeds the speed of light. While one of two twins remains on earth, the remaining twin travelles between the stars, and thus keeping the ship in contact with the earth. Follow a boys adventures and his realtionship with the remaining brother. I could hardly drop the book, it is great
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