During the month of January I have had the pleasure of experiencing the work of Full Cast Audio for the first time, in their performance of two of Robert A. Heinlein’s juvenile novels, The Rolling Stones and The Star Beast. Both novels shine as examples of entertaining yet intelligent fiction that Heinlein wrote for young people in the 1950’s. I have mentioned in previous reviews that Robert A. Heinlein did not talk down to his audience. Because of this fact, I was rewarded with two rich reading experiences, narrated and performed by a talented and professional cast.
For the following reviews I will first discuss the story itself and then share some thoughts on the performance.
Please, read on.
The Rolling Stones ~Robert A. Heinlein
–Publication Date: 1952
–Scribner’s
–Audio Copyright Date: 2005
–7 hrs, 17 min.
–8/10
The Book:
The Rolling Stones was originally published in a condensed format in Boy’s Life before being collected and expanded for the Scribner’s novel. Castor and Pollux Stone are twin brothers, not quite of adult age, who decide they are going to make their fortune by investing their trust fund in a used spaceship to get into the transport business. Cocky, smart, and perhaps over-confident, the twins set their plan in motion only to be vetoed by the man in charge, their father, Roger Stone. There is no way that the senior Stone is going to let his sons skip past their education to go gallivanting off among the stars…at least not without proper supervision. And so a series of family “discussions” leads Roger Stone to purchase a used ship to take the entire family (Caster and Pollux, younger sister Meade, younger brother Buster, Dr. Edith Stone and Gramma Hazel) on a trip from their home in Luna City on Earth’s moon to the planet Mars. Along the way the boys will get an education and perhaps a chance to put their much talked about sales acumen to the test.
At first glance, The Rolling Stones could be written off as nothing more than a sweet 1950’s young adult book about a family’s vacation in space. Writing off Heinlein, especially his juvenile books, tends to be a mistake. For one thing that Heinlein does well in any book that he writes is to expect more from his readers. The Rolling Stones is a really fun story, to be sure, but it is also a story filled with scientific exploration and discovery that makes me wish that Heinlein had written my science textbooks when I was a kid. Robert A. Heinlein is one of the few science fiction authors I have discovered who can go on at length in the realm of science, physics, etc. (in this case astrogation) and not have it feel like an info-dump. The entire Stone family is hard-working and smart, with an emphasis on those smarts being improved and honed by education and experience.
In spite of moments that are steeped in 1950’s sexual politics (the women do all the cooking and care taking for young Buster), Robert A. Heinlein succeeds in pushing the boundaries of the expected roles of women by his treatment of them in The Rolling Stones. Gramma Hazel is a fire-ball. She is a brilliant engineer in her own right, takes no guff from anyone, and dishes it out liberally to anyone who gets in her way. Edith Stone is not only a wife and mother but is also a skilled doctor who is called upon to make decisions at the risk of great personal sacrifice. At one point in the story she pointedly stands up to her husband and will not let him control her decisions, as she knows that she has a course of action to take that must be taken. Even Meade is shown to not just be a soppy, romance-seeking teenage girl but instead is an intelligent and integral part of the family unit. While he did not shatter the mold of female stereotypes in this book, I did feel that he gave them a darn good whack and The Rolling Stones is better for it.
You would expect a book that started as a serialized story in a Boy Scout magazine to preach the ideals inherent in the Scouting philosophy–and it does. But it does so in a manner that is so skillful that it cannot simply be dismissed as a moralizing, saccharine story. The virtues of hard work, team work, self-sacrifice and family love are present in abundance, but along with that
The Star Beast ~Robert A. Heinlein
–Publication Date: 1954
–Scribner’s
–Audio Copyright Date: 2007
–8 hrs, 18 min.
–8/10
The Book:
Originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Star Beast tells the story of what happens when a domesticated alien outgrows the patience of his neighbors. John Thomas Stuart XI is the owner and caretaker of a sentient alien known affectionately as Lummox. Lummox was acquired by one of John Thomas’ ancestors on a space flight into uncharted territory many, many years ago. Lummox, now the size of a tank (and growing), has been passed down from one John Thomas Stuart to another. Lummox’s latest adventure, resulting in a great deal of property damage and a general panic in the community, results in a court hearing and the intervention of The Department of Space. Orders for the summary execution of the virtually indestructible Lummox from one quarter coincide with the arrival of a previously unknown race, the Hroshii, demanding the release of one of their citizens who they believe is being enslaved by humanity.
As John Thomas and his spunky friend Betty Sorensen connive and scheme to keep Lummox safe, a potentially destructive political game is being waged by one Henry Gladstone Kiku, Permanent Undersecretary of Spatial Affairs, a government official who just may be too smart for his own good.
In The Star Beast, Robert A. Heinlein alternates between a plucky, suspenseful boy-and-his-dog adventure tale and a fascinating political shell game with characters in both story lines intersecting in ways that keep the story fresh and exciting. John Thomas Stuart and Betty Sorensen are engaging teenage protagonists who do not easily fit into the stereotypical molds of a 1950’s boy and girl. While authentically displaying the narcissism common to the typical American teenager, they also show a range of emotion, ingenuity, and occasionally move beyond assigned gender roles. Mr. Kiku, a Kenyan who fills the role of Undersecretary but is clearly the power behind the throne, so to speak, is an absolute corker of a character. His dry wit and consummate skill at verbal fencing once again proves that a “Heinlein juvenile” is not light after-school-special material. While I enjoyed the entirety of this novel, the political maneuvering and posturing and gamesmanship of Mr. Kiku was by far the most entertaining part of the story. Readers young and old can come away from The Star Beast with a greater sense of the workings of diplomacy on top of a satisfied smile over time well spent.
The Audio Production:
After two experiences with their work, I am convinced that Full Cast Audio can do no wrong. The cast choices were once again pitch-perfect. Even Lummox, with his “little girl” voice, was so well done that you wanted him to be real so you could give him a big ol’ hug. It will not surprise anyone that my favorite character voice was that of Mr. Kiku. The actor, Rodney Hudson, gave him an interesting accent, particularly emphasizing the fact that Mr. Kiku was not a native English speaker. At first I was lulled into an impression that Mr. Kiku was going to be the comic relief character only to find that Mr. Kiku was brilliant and funny and was truly master of his domain, bending the Department to his will in order to get things done and get them done right. It is hard for me to know if it was solely Heinlein’s writing or the performance of Rodney Hudson, but as the story progressed I saw a lot of Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in Mr. Kiku.
If you have not allowed yourself the experience of reading (or listening to) one of Robert A. Heinlein’s “juveniles”, then you are truly missing out on something special. Considering the time period they were written (mostly the 1950’s) and the audience they ostensibly targeted (young adolescent males), these stories have a broad appeal and many layers of text and subtext that hold up well today and successfully engage readers of all ages. Robert A. Heinlein wrote intelligent novels meant to inspire, educate and entertain and in these arenas he triumphs. If you get a chance to listen to the Full Cast Audio versions of these novels I trust you will find them to be a rewarding experience. As would simply picking up the book and giving them a read.
Do yourself a favor and find some space for Heinlein’s juveniles on your To Be Read list.
Next up on my audio list: Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein. This Full Cast Audio production just arrived on inter library loan.
The Rolling Stones was the novel that hooked me on Heinlein, especially his juvenille’s. It was only he 2nd Heinlein book I had ever read after Starship Troopers over a decade earlier. I listened to this audio recorded version as well and loved the voice casting choices especially the grandmother.
I have now read 5 of the 12 Heinlein juveniles ( The Rolling Stones, Red Planet, Have Space Suit – Will Travel, and Space Cadet ) and have to say I have greatly enjoyed them as 40 year old male even though they were written for a male YA audience. I am amazaed not only in how Heinlein did not talk down to his audience but additionally how many different ideas he brought up in all the novels I’ve read of his so far. He seemed very diverse in the ideas he wanted to get young people thinking about.
Another thing I enjoy about the Heinlein books of yesteryear is how they are not so dark as so much fiction is today. It seems like the trend right now it dark scifi-fantasy which one of the reasons I think I enjoy Heinlein so much.
Nice reviews Carl. I hope you enjoy Red Planet. I read that one out loud to my kids two years ago and all three of us gave it a big thumbs up. I was amazed how much my son who was nine or ten at the time grasped the ideas Heinlein brought up. It was proof to me in action just how much Heinlein did not write down to his audience. 🙂
Full Cast Audio has three more Heinlein juveniles lined up, including my #2 favorite of the 12, Tunnel in the Sky. The other two are Between Planets and Space Cadet. Blackstone Audio is about the roll out my #3 favorite, Time for the Stars. I think after that all 12 of the Heinlein juveniles will be in print in audio. BTW, my #1 favorite is Have Space Suit-Will Travel, also from Full Cast Audio. The Rolling Stones is my #4 favorite.
Jim: After I finish Red Planet I plan to try to interlibrary loan Have Space Suit. Didn’t want to do them both at the same time as my luck would have them both come and the loan time for these is very short, just 7 days after pick up. Glad to hear that the others are coming out too.
Jeff: Glad to know that I have another good experience coming up with Red Planet. Not sure if the weather will allow me to go snag it tomorrow or not. May have to wait until Wed. to pick it up.
You are right in that these are much more positive. It isn’t that they don’t have their tense moments, but they are very positive books, showing a future that is not devoid of problems but is at least capable of good things and full of adventure if you look for it. That is a vision of the future that I like, one filled with hope.
I’m very curious as to what I would have thought about these two novels had I read them. I’m sure I would have enjoyed them, but I wonder if I would have enjoyed them as much. Kind of a pointless question since there is no way to have both experiences in a vacuum. I do know that both of these audio stories (and thanks for the loan of each) made my driving around the last few weeks much, much more pleasurable. Both novels have that special something that reminds me why I enjoy science fiction so very, very much.
I’m very excited about hearing about the books Jim mentions are coming out as well.
I’ve had the same audio vs reading thoughts as well but as I think of them more and more over time I think my reaction would be the same. I dont think it really matters.
Now that I’ve read Starman Jones (my favorite of the juveniles thus far) I would love to listen to a Full Cast Audio production of that one! Wouldn’t mind a Podkayne of Mars one either, even though that isn’t a juvenile.
I need to get to both of those soon. Along with 50 other books. 🙂
Probably Starman first as their is a version of Podkayne of Mars out now with cover I’ve seen that I really, really want to read. Aren’t we just suckers for certain covers of books. 🙂
You realize you are talking to the guy who has 3 different versions of Podkayne, because I like all the covers, and want to get a copy of the one I found for you as well. 😉
Yup. It’s funny the version I love is the one that just came out. It’s a picture of her from behind looking out at a planet or the Stars. I just dig it. I like the one you gave me as well. I may feel totally different after I read the book though. Do you want want the one back you gave me? I hate for you to go out and buy it again if the cover I want is now a different one. I hope I don’t sound like an ass right here offering you back the book you gave me as a gift but we are both trying to save money and it would be foolish for me not to try and help you out after you went out of your way for me if now I want a different cover. Ok. I’ll stop rambling now. 🙂
If you ever track down the other copy and don’t want yours then sure, bring it my way. And you are an ass!!! Ha, not at all, I appreciate the offer.
LOL 🙂
Will do buddy.
I listened to the Full Cast audio version of “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” a couple of years ago and it was absolutely amazing!
John G: Glad to hear it. 🙂 I hadn’t even let the whole Full Cast Audio thing register until SF Signal did a post recently where someone mentioned how impressed they were with the Red Planet production. Now I’m hooked.
I just found an old books I read list, and now can say with accuracy that I finished reading THE ROLLING STONES on August 21, 1978. I was 33 at the time. I think I’d read it once fifteen years or so before that, but have no recall of that now. Your description evaluation of the plot-line and characters rings true, and it should be noted that much of the mold-breaking you mention was in most of Heinlein’s work, though STRANGER and TIME ENOUGH were called sexist at the time by hard core feminists who seemed to want – in fiction of the day – all women characters to be strong and men to be weak minded, overbearing louts.
These are both very enjoyable books and I add my recommendation that anyone who has not read them give them a try, in either format. I’ve not tried the Full Cast Audio recordings, and don’t know if they are available at the library. I’ll have to check on that.
… later… yes they have them, available for digital download with an expiration date on the files (DRM, then) but they won’t load to a Mac. More of the same ol’ Windows world stuff. Bah.
RkR: I hate all the proprietary BS when it comes to digital downloads, software, etc. Sorry to hear that. They are very well done and I think you would enjoy listening to them.
How very cool that you found that old book list. I was just thinking earlier this morning, in relation to Among Others, that I wish I had kept lists/notes on what I read when I was a kid. I would love to go back and review the stuff I don’t recall and not just those handful of books that I remember vividly. Time Enough for Love was actually my second Heinlein read ever, just after reading Friday. Although there are many things in the book that make me reticent to recommend it to those who don’t know me well, I would have to say it remains my favorite Heinlein thus far. I really enjoyed Lazurus Long.
These sound awesome. Granted, I’m just barely out of this age territory (and many, many, many years away from this decade…), but it’d be fascinating to see another aspect of Heinlein’s writing. Seems like this is a good place to start!
These would both be great places to start, and if you can track down these audio versions I think you’d really enjoy them.
FCA titles are available on Audible.com
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=pd_rsp_3?asin=B002V5H0P0
Just FYI . . . there are six Heinlein titles in the FullCast Audio collection. So far.
They include:
Have Space Suit, Will Travel
The Star Beast
The Rolling Stones
The Red Planet
Tunnel in the Sky
Between Planets (just released)
Space Cadet is on the horizon.
Also FYI … I’m the guy who did the cover art [and package design]
for all the Full Cast Audio Heinlein titles.
[shameless plug] 🙂
JR
No problem, plug away! They are fun covers. I’m looking forward to the production of Space Cadet, and I need to check out the others too.
Hi Carl,
I was just doing some recon on my Heinlein work, and found this post from a couple years ago. I was wondering if you ever got to see/listen to Full Cast Audio’s Between Planets or Space Cadet. They were both published in mid-late 2012. I did the covers for both, as well as all other FCA Heinlein titles, and some others as well. I see that you appreciate cover art, so … here are some of mine I did for Full Cast, for your perusal.
http://jerryrussell.com/fullcast.htm
Regards,
Jerry
Nice to hear from you again, Jerry. I haven’t gotten around to Between Planets or Space Cadets. The only Full Cast Audio of his I’ve listened to since these is Have Space Suit. The art is really fun on those covers. I’m most fond of The Rolling Stones.