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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fords Make Tasty Meals, September 4, 2001
Lummox, The Star Beast, is the star of this book. A three-ton overgrown caterpillar who just loves to munch on the neighbor's prize rose bushes, add a few pieces of tasty metal cars, and raise John Thomases. Of course, John Thomas doesn't quite see things the same way as Lummox. When Lummox goes on a little trip through downtown, with the expectable result of absolute mayhem, John Thomas finds himself in trouble with his mother and the law with only his girlfriend to help him. . How John's problems are resolved is an exposition in a teenager's maturation along with a very different (for Heinlein) portrayal of a truly competent and efficient government bureaucrat (for a completely opposed view of civil servants see his Friday or Stranger in a Strange Land). Along the way, Heinlein makes points about child rearing, the sometimes ridiculous workings of the law (along with some hilarious courtroom proceedings), prejudice, advertising/political campaigns, the shortcomings of making unfounded assumptions, self-blinded egotists, and the right of self-determination, all buried inside a fun and very good adventure story. . Heinlein never wrote 'down' to his readers, one of the aspects that make his so-called juveniles so enjoyable for readers of all ages. Some younger readers may have a little trouble with the vocabulary he uses, though the meanings of his word choices are almost always inferable from the context. My 12 year old, who is currently reading this, runs into an unknown word about every two pages. While this is slowing him down a little, it is not detracting from his enjoyment of the story (and whether he knows it or not, he is learning a considerable amount from this book). . Character development is a little sparse and the story line is comparatively simple. This is not the best of Heinlein's young adult books, but is a very entertaining and enjoyable book.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An adult book, cleverly disguised as a book for kids!, June 24, 1999
"The Star Beast" is the first science fiction book I read, when I was twelve years old...I even remember where I was sitting on a bench outside my building in New York while I was reading it. I recently bought it for my twelve-year old daughter, to "get her started," and on my way home from a business trip, I read it again myself. I am amazed to think I was able to read this book when I was a kid, and how much I must have missed. It is sophisticated, gently satirical, often very funny, and often wise; the usual warm characters and ear for speech that one expects from Heinlein, but with a no-nonsense intolerance for racial bigotry, and a feisty, competant teen-age girl who's got wit and courage. All told, to my considerable surprise, it's one of the better books I've read in the last few years! My highest recommendation.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It all depends on your point of view, May 4, 2006
John Thomas Stuart was a young man with alot of on his mind. He would be going off to college in the fall, his best friend Betty would be at a different school, his mother was still insisting that she knew what was best for him - about everything, and he would be forced to leave behind the pet he had had his entire life. 'Lummox', in fact had also been his father's before that, and his father's before....Lummox was an ET that great grandfather had brought home from one of the first deep space explorations a century before. At that time Lummox had been about the size of a puppy but had grown considerably over the years and now was about the size of a car, which added to John Thomas' problems keeping him out of trouble.
Lummox went out for a walk one afternoon and caused enough destruction that he came to the attention of the Department of Spatial Affairs. As John Thomas and Betty attempt to sort out this mess the situation continued to escalate to truly astonishing situations. Everyone involved had a different point of view about the relationship between John Thomas and Lummox and corresponding opinion on what should be done.
This 1954 entry is one of the 'juvenile' novels that RAH was writing at the time. As always with his work it is an exciting and funny novel that could be thoroughly enjoyed on that level alone. Also as always with RAH's work some rather sophisticated ideas are hidden inside that will stay with the reader long after the book has been put down.
This also marks a change in RAH's portrayal of women. In his earlier works women are usually rarely mentioned and when they are it is in a sexist and/or unsympathetic manner. In his later years women are often the main characters of his works and shown as the equals of men in every way. In THE STAR BEAST this change has begun, Betty is every bit as smart as John Thomas. The two of them are equal partners in taking care of Lummox who has more than a few surprises of his own.
This would be a good place for someone to begin reading RAH's works, it is also a 'must read' for any long time fans.
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