Rating: 
Summary: A good starter in science fiction
Review: This book is set quite far into the future - the stars have been explored, whole dynasties of space faring families exist, yet the characters are reassuringly familiar. The premis is that the family pet is just that, a pet that's been in the family for generations. It's a kind of giant, intelligent, talking caterpillar, whose current "owner", Johnnie, plays with him and has all sorts of adventures. Lummox, that's the pet, soon turns out to be more than just a harmless alien, when it starts going through puberty, develops arms, starts acting weird, and whose race come looking for it, threatening total destruction of the earth if its not turned over sharpish! But, wouldn't you know, Lummox has gone missing! Cue dramatic search, adventure, transformation, and resolution! Wow.Typical of many Heinlein books, this one has a fiesty female, a totally misunderstood hero in his teens, dimwitted parents and even dimmer witted authority figures, and lots of clichés like "spacer" and "atomic rockets" and stuff. This is a charming tale, perfectly good for young and old alike, and a really enjoyable read. It's the kind of book you would read again, over the years. Although it is science fiction, the setting in the future isn't really important, it's just a device to allow an unusual situation to arise, and to see how that that situation could be resolved. This story has a love interest, and is really all about growing up, and the trauma that that brings about. For Johnnie, his love for his pet becomes displaced by his love for his girlfriend, while for Lummox, its love for Johnnie becomes...well, you'll have to read it for yourself. My advice is read it and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Heinlein Juvie
Review: This is a quick, funny read about a creature from the stars who raises John Thomas's...at least from his perspective it's fairly accurate as he has been passed down over several generations of John Thomas's as a pet named Lummox. All is well and placid, Lummox usually being content to amuse himself in the backyard and enjoy the company of the latest John Thomas...but alas, the time has come at which the current John Thomas is growing up, and so spending less and less time with Lummox to devote to matters which young men are wont to do. So, Lummox is bored and decides to take a walk outside the yard with disastrous results. Events soon culminate to the point of nearly meeting interstelar war as those of Lummox's species show up wanting thier baby back. Of course, since it's Heinlein, you can still expect some comments tossed in with regards to the role of government, free will and civil rights, politicians and legislature. But, this is far less than many of his books and just tells a good, fun tale of a Lummox and his pet John Thomas.
Rating:
Summary: One of the better Heinlein juveniles
Review: This is another Heinlein juvenile, though I've read this one before (probably repeatedly). Fond memories made me decide to tackle it last night, when I had a headache. Lummox is a strange, large beast that John Thomas Stuart's grandfather brought back from a distant planet. Lummox can and does terrorize the local town without really trying whenever he escapes. The most recent event kicks off this story, leading to a push to destroy or at least expell Lummox. Meanwhile, the government agency responsible for aliens is called in and has to deal with the situation. They eventually find that Lummox is a valued member of a mysterious and powerful alien race. Politics ensues (something I hadn't remembered much of), with many twists and turns and attempts to take advantage of the situation without getting the planet blown up. It all of course turns out well: John Thomas Stuart is made part of the ambassadorial party, marries his girl, and they return to the home planet of Lummox, who turns out to be the hereditary matriarch of her entire civilization - a nice little concluding touch that I did remember.
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