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Have Space Suit, Will Travel [Paperback]

Robert A. Heinlein
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)

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Book Description

February 8, 2005
A classic novel from the mind of the storyteller who captures the imagination of readers from around the world, and across two generations

First prize in the Skyway Soap slogan contest was an all-expenses-paid trip to the Moon. The consolation prize was an authentic space suit, and when scientifically minded high school senior Kip Russell won it, he knew for certain he would use it one day to make a sojourn of his own to the stars. But "one day" comes sooner than he thinks when he tries on the suit in his backyard -- and finds himself worlds away, a prisoner aboard a space pirate's ship, and heading straight for what could be his final destination....


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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-Robert Heinlein's 1958 story comes to life and is still timely almost half a century after it was published.. Teenager Kip Russell, infatuated with the idea of traveling to the Moon, enters a contest to win such an opportunity. However, his dream becomes a nightmareâ€"and a space soap operaâ€"when he comes upon a race of space creatures who have kidnapped a little girl from Earth's Moon Station. Rescuing Pee Wee lands Kip with a traveling companion who is very smart but much in need of protection. Fortunately, or so the kids believe at first, another alien being, whom they call the "Mother Thing," is available as both advisor and space guide. Their travels take them to Pluto, where they escape the clutches of Bronx-gangster humans, and then out to galaxies beyond our own. Eventually, Kip and Pee Wee stand trial in the stead of all humanity, a race charged with its rampant disregard for peace and environmental justice. Bruce Coville's young audiobook company treats this tale handily, with each character well acted by an age-appropriate reader. Pee Wee's childish voice sometimes requires adjustment to the volume level, but she and Kip carry the major portion of the tale between them, with interesting and appropriate musical effects added during chapter breaks and to the voice of the Mother Thing. Heinlein's writing stands the test of time, and contemporary youth will be inspired by the visions of space travel their own grandparents might have had at their age.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Here is superior science fiction."

-- The New York Times


Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books; Reprint edition (February 8, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416505490
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416505495
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars great book March 28, 1999
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was the first science fiction book I ever read, I found it in the public library when I was 12 years old, was intrigued by the title and took it home to read. I enjoyed it immensely and went on to devour Heinlein's other kid's classic, "Podkayne of Mars" which I thought was equally wonderful.

Thirty-five years later, Kip, Peewee and the Mother Thing have lost none of their charm. What I found most interesting about this book, however, was how very much things have changed since this it was first published: the story begins with Kip's attempting to win first prize in a soap slogan contest (he sends in 5,000+ entries) the grand prize for which is a trip to the moon. He doesn't win the trip but he does win Oscar-the-Traveling-Spacesuit, which turns out to be the best prize after all. Back to the contest: Kip can send in the actual contest form included with each bar of soap or he can send in a "reasonable facsimile." He entertains the idea of photographing the form 5,000 times before deciding that's impractical, so he settles instead for collecting the forms from the people who have bought the soap. I kept thinking, so why doesn't he just use the photocopier when it occured to me there weren't any photocopiers when this book was written. There weren't any intergrated circuits either, never mind microprocessors, which would have been necessary to achieve colonization of the moon in the first place. I also found it interesting that although when Kip graduates from high school he is reasonably well-educated in sciences and math (thanks to self-teaching -- and a diatribe from Heinlein on what he considers to be the sorry state of 1950's high school education) because he doesn't get a scholarship, he is faced with having to work while attending the local (read mediocre) state college. This book predates the arrival of college loans and grants as well.

I did like the fact that the other main character in this book is a girl -- it was good of Heinlein to provide his readers such an intelligent and resourceful role model.

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42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A showcase of Heinlein's storytelling prowess February 13, 2002
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Have Space Suit--Will Travel represents Heinlein at his storytelling best. Free of the esoteric themes that would appear in his later writings, this book is pure science fiction seemingly written solely for the enjoyment of the reader. Originally published in 1958, the story stands up well even today and will surely be read and enjoyed by untold generations to come. I am sure that many a young person read this book and yearned to reach the moon in the decade before the Eagle finally landed.

This is generally classified as one of Heinlein's juvenile books, but Heinlein's writing is for all ages. I am sure the book appeals to many young people because its protagonists are themselves young people: Kip is a high school senior, and Peewee is a girl of about twelve. Kip develops an overpowering urge to go to the moon, and he is lucky enough to win a real space suit in a contest. Heinlein's description of the many different features of the suit is fascinating. Resigning himself to selling the suit for college tuition money, Kip goes for one last walk; somewhat playfully calling out on the radio, he is surprised to hear an answer to his call. He is amazed when a space ship soon lands in his backyard and a decidedly alien creature comes out and collapses. A second ship lands, an entity gets out and conks Kip on the head, and the next thing Kip knows he is trapped inside a space ship on his way to the moon, suddenly in the company of a little girl. His captors are "Wormfaces," a species of alien that has been in hiding on the moon, looking at the earth with evil intentions. Peewee introduces Kip to the "Mother thing," a Vegan entity (and interstellar policeman) who radiates love and warmth, effectively communicates with the pair in a bird song type of speech, and inspires undying love and devotion. The book revolves around the youngsters' attempt to rescue the Mother Thing from the Wormfaces and eventually return to earth. Along the way, they endure captivity on Pluto, stare death in the face a few times, and ultimately find themselves representing Earth in an interstellar courtroom, the very future of earth shakily balanced in their own young hands.

There are juvenile elements here, such as Kip's tendency to hold back-and-forth conversations with his space suit (whom he dubs "Oscar"), but Robert Heinlein does throw in several sections full of mathematical formulas, high-level theorizing, and advanced scientific concepts. I dare say that these areas of tecnospeak will turn off some young readers and may well stymie a good number of adults. Aside from the mathematics of the thing, Heinlein can make any kind of scientific notion sound feasible and believable, and that is part of his magic and effectiveness. Most of all, though, Heinlein presents vividly real characters doing exceedingly interesting, heroic things. Heinlein's couple of technical forays may be literary speedbumps, but young readers will revel in and be inspired by this book. Adults who have not yet lost all of their imagination will also relate to the main characters well and delight in a good story line which takes the reader from the earth to the moon to Pluto to another galaxy and back again.

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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Be Fooled By The Intended Age... October 21, 2000
Format:School & Library Binding
This book is good reading for anyone. I reccommend it especially to young science fiction fans, or younger readers who want a good first taste of sci-fi. However, this book is excellent no matter who you are. I am an experienced science fiction reader, and I put this book right up there with anything else by Heinlein. Sure, it doesn't have the free love bits and controversial stuff of RAH's later works, but that's not why you started reading Heinlein in the first place anyway, is it?

This book is a science fiction classic, period.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars How is a hero made?
A good example of Heinlein's way of making a typical boy struggle and reach greatness by being self reliant, brave and sumewhat bullheaded. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Charlotte Souders
4.0 out of 5 stars Old book - a great read.
A great action adventure for any age, but really appropriate for pre-teens and teens.
The story moves along and is detailed with a the writer thinking through the technical... Read more
Published 1 month ago by murcus
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Got halfway through the book, and vaguely remembered reading it about 20 years ago. It was still a great story.
Published 1 month ago by Shooter
5.0 out of 5 stars timeless
I read this book in my school library thirty years ago and finally bought it this year. I remember it being a great story when I was a kid and as an adult I enjoyed it so much... Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. Balcer
2.0 out of 5 stars Will I pay so much
Have not bought the book but Will not pay so much for a kindle edition Please check pricing compared to print and note that it is not acceptable I can probably get this book from a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by lidias kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
This is a great relax and enjoy an adventure story. As with most of Heinlein's story's we get almost every thing you can think of in a fun and exciting adventure, his attention to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Serna
4.0 out of 5 stars Have Heinlein, Will Travel
Virtually all that Robert Heinlein ever wrote (at least that I've read) is always a good read. This is no exception. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. Hemphill
5.0 out of 5 stars The novel that made me love science fiction
I first came across Have Space Suit, Will Travel as a hardback in the Brandon Florida library when I was 8 years old, back in the early 70s. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rick
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Good book I liked the description and drama it built a good picture in my mind. I would rate this book 5 stars n matter what.
Published 3 months ago by Luke Peebler
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, Fast Paced "Heinlein Juvenile" Adventure!
Clifford "Kip" Russell wanted nothing more than to go to the moon. Winning a used space suit in Skyway Soap's slogan contest only encouraged his dream. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Philip P. Giunta
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