Orphans of the Sky, Robert A Heinlein, G P Putnam's Sons, 1963, 187 pp
I can hardly stand it that the last book I read from my 1963 list was by Heinlein, but it just worked out that way. Finishing the reading list for a year of My Big Fat Reading Project is such a milestone, such an accomplishment for me. Heinlein does not fit the solemnity of the moment but there you have it.
At least Orphans of the Sky was one of his good space yarns. A huge spaceship became lost between earth and its far away destination. It has been drifting for generations and the current inhabitants have never been anywhere else. They haven't even looked outside. The ship is their entire world while Earth and the ship's mission is just a myth to these people.
You can see why that is a brilliant concept for a plot and how he could work in all kinds of ideas about society, religion and government. It is thought provoking and entertaining because a couple people figure out how to restart the ship on its intended path.
I read three books by Heinlein for 1963. Two of them, Glory Road and this one, were great. Podkayne of Mars was the loser.
So thanks Bob for the good times. I will see you again in 1964, a year when you only published one book; a year when Philip K Dick published six! I will be careful not to end that list with a PKD book.
I've never read Heinlein, perhaps a great oversight that I will rectify at some point. This one certainly sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis one stood the test of time. I could see it as a modern space travel movie.
DeleteI don't think it was a bad way to end your list for 1963. Did you like it? The concept is not profound for today, but certainly it was for 1963. What do I say?! It is intriguing even by today's standards. The movie Passengers, from last year, or the year prior, has that same concept. Did you see it? With Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence? It wasn't great but it was entertaining enough.
ReplyDeleteWell good. I feel better now;) That is a good comparison. I really liked Passengers but I had not thought of the connection.
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