The Rolling Stones

Rating:
Summary: Coming-of-age in Space!
Review: "The Rolling Stones" is a wonderful coming-of-age novel inside a family space romp. It has a loose-knit plot that mimicks an endless space adventure serial. The best part of the story is the rich set of characters in the Stone family: the red-headed, precocious teenage twins called Castor and Pollux, their older sister Meade, their younger brother Lowell , their grandmother Hazel (who carries a cough-drop dispensing sidearm), their mother Dr. Edith Stone and their father Roger Stone. The twins are the primary focus of the story but only because they get into the most trouble and do the most growing; however, the heart of the story is the family dynamics and some of the most enjoyable scenes occur when they all get into the act. The banter, wit and quips among this highly intelligent group are hilarious. Heinlein weaves this deftly with the hard science he is famous for. The novel instructs us on the details of space travel, navigation vectors, gravity wells and much more. Lastly, this short novella contains some classic gems of wisdom like the three stages of technology, the best way to earn money, who gets rich in a gold rush and what's more important than money. By far, the most well known quote is on the three stages of technology:

"Every technology goes through three stages: first a crudely simple and quite unsatisfactory gadget; second, an enormously complicated group of gadgets designed to overcome the short comings of the original and achieving thereby somewhat satisfactory performance through extremely complex compromise; third, a final proper design therefrom."

In conclusion, this short novel makes you wish you were aboard the ship called the "Rolling Stone" heading out with the Stone family towards adventure in the outer reaches of our solar system! Remember, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

Rating:
Summary: Coming-of-age in Space!
Review: "The Rolling Stones" is a wonderful coming-of-age novel inside a family space romp. It has a loose-knit plot that mimicks an endless space adventure serial. The best part of the story is the rich set of characters in the Stone family: the red-headed, precocious teenage twins called Castor and Pollux, their older sister Meade, their younger brother Lowell , their grandmother Hazel (who carries a cough-drop dispensing sidearm), their mother Dr. Edith Stone and their father Roger Stone. The twins are the primary focus of the story but only because they get into the most trouble and do the most growing; however, the heart of the story is the family dynamics and some of the most enjoyable scenes occur when they all get into the act. The banter, wit and quips among this highly intelligent group are hilarious. Heinlein weaves this deftly with the hard science he is famous for. The novel instructs us on the details of space travel, navigation vectors, gravity wells and much more. Lastly, this short novella contains some classic gems of wisdom like the three stages of technology, the best way to earn money, who gets rich in a gold rush and what's more important than money. By far, the most well known quote is on the three stages of technology:

"Every technology goes through three stages: first a crudely simple and quite unsatisfactory gadget; second, an enormously complicated group of gadgets designed to overcome the short comings of the original and achieving thereby somewhat satisfactory performance through extremely complex compromise; third, a final proper design therefrom."

In conclusion, this short novel makes you wish you were aboard the ship called the "Rolling Stone" heading out with the Stone family towards adventure in the outer reaches of our solar system! Remember, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

Rating:
Summary: Coming-of-age in Space!
Review: "The Rolling Stones" is a wonderful coming-of-age novel inside a family space romp. It has a loose-knit plot that mimicks an endless space adventure serial. The best part of the story is the rich set of characters in the Stone family: the red-headed, precocious teenage twins called Castor and Pollux, their older sister Meade, their younger brother Lowell , their grandmother Hazel (who carries a cough-drop dispensing sidearm), their mother Dr. Edith Stone and their father Roger Stone. The twins are the primary focus of the story but only because they get into the most trouble and do the most growing; however, the heart of the story is the family dynamics and some of the most enjoyable scenes occur when they all get into the act. The banter, wit and quips among this highly intelligent group are hilarious. Heinlein weaves this deftly with the hard science he is famous for. The novel instructs us on the details of space travel, navigation vectors, gravity wells and much more. Lastly, this short novella contains some classic gems of wisdom like the three stages of technology, the best way to earn money, who gets rich in a gold rush and what's more important than money. By far, the most well known quote is on the three stages of technology:

"Every technology goes through three stages: first a crudely simple and quite unsatisfactory gadget; second, an enormously complicated group of gadgets designed to overcome the short comings of the original and achieving thereby somewhat satisfactory performance through extremely complex compromise; third, a final proper design therefrom."

In conclusion, this short novel makes you wish you were aboard the ship called the "Rolling Stone" heading out with the Stone family towards adventure in the outer reaches of our solar system! Remember, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

Rating:
Summary: Heinlein was having fun with this one.
Review:

The Rolling Stones is one of Heinlein's most lighthearted novels. It was written primarily for young adults, but it's a good read at any age. The book is about a middle class family, living on the moon as the story begins, in a time when middle class families can buy spaceships about as easily as you or I could buy a large recreational vehicle or a small yacht.

Briefly, the story involves a family--a mother and father, their four children (the twins Castor and Pollux, their annoying elder sister and usually underfoot younger brother), and grandmother Hazel Meade Stone. The twins had the idea of buying a spaceship and flying out to the asteroid belt to make their fortune in space mining ventures. Their father rejected this plan, preferring to send them to Earth for a formal university education. But Grandma Hazel prevailed with more ambitious counsel, and the whole family ended up buying a spaceship and becoming an adventurously nomadic collection of rugged individualists. They flew first to Mars, then to the asteroids, then, as the book ends, further onward.

The Rolling Stones is Heinlein's "family values" novel, with the highest virtue held to be loyalty to one's kin. Grandma Hazel Meade lies under oath and practically vamps a Martian judge, at one point, to save her two grandsons from doing hard time as punishment for trying to sidestep Martian import taxes. Earlier in the family's travels, the usually self-oriented Stone twins endorse the idea that the family should return to the moon, rather than go on toward Mars, because their younger brother (Lowell) seemed to be incurably space-sick. Even father Roger Stone's decision to override the computer and force a launch from the moon in the event of a mechanical glitch is explained as loyalty to the family honor, rather than being a petty manifestation of his own egoism.

The quality of the writing in The Rolling Stones is par for Heinlein--which is another way of saying it would be a masterwork for many another writer. If you want Heinlein without the aspiring sexual scenarios and political red flags, then The Rolling Stones is about as good as you're going to get.

Jerry Neil Abbott
([e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: A MUST for introducing someone to SciFi
Review: A great introduction to Heinlein's Universe, set after "Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", this is one of the many books Heinlein wrote for children. Which isn't to say it is a "cutesy" story, but it IS written to catch the imagination and hold it.

Rating:
Summary: Breezy wonders
Review: A typical Heinlein book for young adults and yet one of the better ones. There are so many of them out there that a new reader probably won't know where to start . . . well this should be one of them. Heinlein manages to keep the action and dialogue moving fast enough so you don't think about the lack of a plot (it's more episodic than anything else) or how annoying the characters are to anyone but themselves. This ones about the Stone family, father and mother Stone, grandmother Hazel, sister Meade, baby Lowell, and twins Castor and Pollux. The twins always have ideas and this time they figure that they'll buy a spaceship, fix it up and go sell stuff out in the solar system. Except the entire family decides to go along and the fun of the story lies in the many weird things that they run across in their attempts to see the system and make a few bucks along the way. You get to see Mars (but not any Martians, darn) and Luna and the asteroid belt and all sorts of things, it's not a very deep book but you can't fault it for not being entertaining. The entire Stone family is entirely super-competant (even the baby can beat anyone in chess!) which can lead to some rather smug dialogue as everyone tries to outsmart each other in that typical Heinlein fashion but old readers should be used to that and new readers better just get used to it quickly or you're not going to get anywhere. Still the interactions between family members are rather fun, the sights are something to see and they just don't make books this fun anymore. Don't let the fact that it's a young adult book stop you, if you want some decent entertainment and a fast read, you don't have to look much farther than this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Breezy wonders
Review: A typical Heinlein book for young adults and yet one of the better ones. There are so many of them out there that a new reader probably won't know where to start . . . well this should be one of them. Heinlein manages to keep the action and dialogue moving fast enough so you don't think about the lack of a plot (it's more episodic than anything else) or how annoying the characters are to anyone but themselves. This ones about the Stone family, father and mother Stone, grandmother Hazel, sister Meade, baby Lowell, and twins Castor and Pollux. The twins always have ideas and this time they figure that they'll buy a spaceship, fix it up and go sell stuff out in the solar system. Except the entire family decides to go along and the fun of the story lies in the many weird things that they run across in their attempts to see the system and make a few bucks along the way. You get to see Mars (but not any Martians, darn) and Luna and the asteroid belt and all sorts of things, it's not a very deep book but you can't fault it for not being entertaining. The entire Stone family is entirely super-competant (even the baby can beat anyone in chess!) which can lead to some rather smug dialogue as everyone tries to outsmart each other in that typical Heinlein fashion but old readers should be used to that and new readers better just get used to it quickly or you're not going to get anywhere. Still the interactions between family members are rather fun, the sights are something to see and they just don't make books this fun anymore. Don't let the fact that it's a young adult book stop you, if you want some decent entertainment and a fast read, you don't have to look much farther than this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Another classic for the sci-fi primer
Review: Anyone new to sci-fi should read the Rolling Stones as one of their first ten books; they won't be disappointed. It's such a marvelous work that any sci-fi buff would feel proud to have it in their collection.

Simply put, this book is high adventure, following a family from the moon to Mars and to the asteroid belts, and beyond. Blending the novelty of a space ride with father-knows-best sensibilities--which at times seem dated but are all the more charming for it--he shows us a strong family full of independent thinkers and people willing to forge their own road.

Fans of "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" (another excellent Heinlein for any primer) will note that the grandmother of the Stone family was Hazel Meade, the hard fighting kid from the Lunar revolution; this book takes place about two and a half generations later. And of course it's obvious that Star Trek's tribbles are literary descendants of Heinlein's flat cats, though I think Heinlein got more mileage with them.

What's really most wonderful about this book, though, is how it touches the imagination. The concept of running an interplanetary shipping business bringing luxury items to asteroid miners and sight-seeing bikes to Mars strikes a chord, as do the little things like home life aboard a space ship and the grandmother's caustic sense of humor. Whether you're a long-time sci-fi reader or new to the genre, don't pass this one up.

Rating:
Summary: One of Heinlein's better juveniles
Review: Heinlein has a lot to answer for. The dialogue and character interaction throughout this book is the breezy, all-too-clever style that corrupts many an Analog story. Heinlein, at least, is a master at it, and it's not as grating as his imitators. Still, it took me quite a few pages to get used to it.

It's actually (I think) a Heinlein I've never read before, though I've heard about it. Its claim to fame in my memory is the "flat cats" episode, where a Martian animal is taken on board and begins multiplying like, well, tribbles. Star Trek writer David Gerrold, according to his book about writing his classic episode, was aghast when he realized his near-plagiarism. Heinlein, reasonably, took it in stride.

The story focuses on the usual supercompetent Heinlein family, who take off in a spaceship and visit Mars and the asteroids, having assorted adventures and getting into trouble along the way. It's very much a "sense of wonder" book, keeping interest through a series of events and marvels rather than an organized plot. A nice, relaxing read, and probably one of Heinlein's better juveniles, along with Citizen of the Galaxy.

Rating:
Summary: One of his best juveniles
Review: Heinlein wrote a lot of books for young adults ("juvies", as they were called then), and, throughout the years, they have done much to introduce many a teenager to science fiction. And it's easy to see why. The books are great. Sure, they were written for that target audience, but they can be enjoyed just as readily (and just as much) by anyone of any age. Since Heinlein has so many of these books, the newbie to him may have difficulty deciding which ones to pick up first... well, this one, to my mind, is one of the very best (along with Citizen of The Galaxy and Tunnel In The Sky), and should definately be picked up early. It's a fun, breezy, highly enjoyable romp of a book, and a great read for anyone of any age. Some reviewers have pointed out that, unlike most Heinlein (from the early short stories to the juveniles and the later adult novels), this book had no major overarching theme or message. And this is true, in a way, there is no real theme, or even a nominally tight plot in the usual sense (it's an episodic book, unusual for Heinlein.) However, there is one thing that he portrays very well here, and this is domestic family life. Now, I'm not saying that the Stone family is in any way typical of that great mythological "normal" family (they're Heinlein's usual, and always lovable, maverick motley crew of genius, smart-aleck minions who spout out whit as if it were second-nature), but there are some good family values and situations put across here. There are many examples in this book that give a strong moral foundation and thinking grounds for the readers it was intended for. Older readers will not be "charmed" (a horrible term that is so often applied to so-called kids' books that adults will like), but enlightened as well. And it doesn't skimp on the science (another good thing for both age groups, particularly the former, and it keeps the latter from sticking it with that dreaded "unsophisticated" tag.) All in all, certainly a very good book. Another Heinlein that you should definately pick up.