Customer Reviews

Farmer in the Sky

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Farmer in the Sky revolves around the colonization of Ganymede, which is being terraformed to accommodate human life. Most of the first colonists are homestead farmers who are offered land in exchange for their efforts to make the land productive. Young Bill Lerner is the key player in Heinlein's story; through his eyes the reader learns about his father's decision to take a new wife and to become a colonist. The colony struggles with hardship and Bill often wonders whether he'll be able to continue his farming life or whether he'll have to return to Earth.

I enjoyed Heinlein's juveniles when I was a teenager, and again upon rereading them in adulthood. Heinlein's juveniles offer an education in science that is too basic to be horribly outdated, always written in language us non-scientists can comprehend: in Farmer in the Sky, the reader learns lessons of physics, agronomy, ecology, even "population bionomics" (although Heinlein's take on the inevitability of population growth outpacing food supplies might not be well grounded in modern experience, at least as applied to human populations). At least equally interesting, I think, are the Heinlein values that shine through in his novels, and this one is no exception: his distrust of government and bureaucratic institutions; his fierce belief in individualism, coupled with a corresponding belief in the need for individuals to work cooperatively as friends and neighbors and families.

The plot of Farmer in the Sky unfolds a bit more slowly than the stories in some of Heinlein's other juveniles. Frequently mentioned is Bill Lerner's joy in being an Eagle Scout and his love of scouting in general. A shorter version of the book was originally serialized in Boy's Life magazine--perhaps Heinlein included the scouting references to enhance his chance of selling the story, but since they continue to appear (often) in the novel, I suspect Heinlein simply placed great value in scouting. The scouting references don't contribute much to the story (unless you're a real scouting fanatic), but they don't detract from it either.

In short, Farmer in the Sky is fun, educational, but a bit less exciting than some of the other Heinlein juveniles. For the Heinlein completist it's an essential read, but readers seeking the furious action of Starship Troopers might be disappointed.

Farmer in the Sky, A very good story, Covering, " Action, Adventure, Survival & Romance. This well laid-out story takes place on another world, But could have taken place on earth. In fact, Most of the ideas found between these pages could really take place in some of the Wildernesses of, North America or along the Amazon River in South America. This book questions the reader, " How would you Act & React & Survive, Under These Environments.
Well worth the time to read every word. Enjoyed by Children & Adults alike, Personally; I've read it when it first came out & at " 55 Years of age ", am reading it again.

Farmer In The Sky is a story about an early attempt at extra-terrestrial colonization, which was a common science fiction theme in the 1950s. Heinlein writes a story that is usually compellingly inspirational about mankind moving beyond Earth.

Unfortunately, at least through the view of a more modern teenager, the main character is hopelessly immature, throwing 8 year-old hissy fits when he is supposed to be in his late teens.

Also, as this novel was originally (I believe) written for serialization in Boy's Life, it has a very strong Boy Scouts component. This is neither bad nor good, but it could have been written without it.

As I said in my title, Farmer In The Sky is generally my favorite of Heinlein's juvenile. I read it as a teen and still enjoy it. But you do have to ignore the protagonist's immaturity.

First, I should say that, although Farmer in the Sky is one of Heinlein's "juvenile" works, I still enjoyed it a great deal as an adult reader. The plot was satisfying, the writing was succinct and the emphasis on personal responsibility is as helpful to an adult as to a teenager.

That being said, I do wish that I had read this when I was younger. Too much of the young adult literature that I remember was built around intrigue, destruction and escapism so that, while it may have been entertaining, it wasn't particularly useful. The self-improving example of Heinlein's protagonist is one that any young person could benefit from seeing in print.

Heinlein's protagonist provides a real example to younger readers and his focus on personal growth as well as tangible accomplishments struck me as very healthy and positive. It was simply nice to read a well-written book about an ordinary young person who creates something through sheer dint of personal effort rather than a protagonist who is only noteworthy through accident of birth or the freak acquisition of superpowers.

Also, kudos to Baen for including a very informative and understandable essay at the end of the book explaining the science involved.

I loved this book when I was a boy. I'm sure young readers today will like it just as well.

This book should be read for the first time only by juveniles, people reading to establish a base for Heinlein's later novels or people that have read a lot of period juveniles. The science is far outdated and the characters are straight out of a comic book, which makes it a good example of the genre. It is not his best juvenile, but it is a readable novel for a rainy day.

Imagine it is 1950 and you are a (male) teenager. After reading Farmer in the Sky, you would probably go on and do one of the two following things:

1. Invent the microwave oven, portrayed amazingly accurately in chapter I.

2. Reach out for the stars.

Thanx for 2 and Sputnik, generations with a space vision grew up and paved the way for the stars. Alas, not exactly the stars and not the way Heinlein and all the other pioneers envisioned it (first manned mission to Ganymede in 1985?) but still with enough impetus to take humans to Luna.

So, thank you Dean for the vision, which is enough to forgive plot holes like the discrepancy between terraforming a planet and using 14th century science to farm. 3 1/2 stars.

Are you a SF lover and have not yet read this one? You will finish it quickly and with a smile on your face.

Are you are a (male or female) teenager? You `d probably find the Farmer naive and look elsewhere for space motivation. Where? I don't have a clue.

I read this years ago and loved it. I got this copy for my son and he enjoyed it just as much as I did.