Time for the Stars

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Barrett Whitener

Travel to other planets is now a reality, and with overpopulation stretching the resources of Earth, the necessity of finding habitable worlds is growing ever more urgent. There’s a problem though—because the spaceships are slower than light, any communication between the exploring ships and Earth would take years.

Tom and Pat are identical twin teenagers. As twins they’ve always been close, so close that it seemed like they could read each other’s minds. When they are recruited by the Long Range Foundation, the twins find out that they can, indeed, peer into each other’s thoughts. Along with other telepathic duos, they are enlisted to be the human transmitters and receivers that will keep the ships in contact with Earth. But there’s a catch: one of the twins has to stay behind—and that one will grow old—while the other explores the depths of space and returns as a young man still.

©1956 ; 1983 by Robert A. Heinlein; 2003 by the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“One of the superb Heinlein stories that has excitement, urbanity, humanity, rationality, pace, understanding, and is a joy to read.” ( New York Times)

“Rarely has Heinlein pushed his imagination further…A vivid, stirring experience.” ( Chicago Tribune)

“He showed us where the future is.” (Tom Clancy)

The Twin Paradox Brought to Life.

When I started reading this I had forgotten this was a book intended for younger readers (it was part of Robert Heinlein’s “Juveniles Series”). I can’t pretend to know whether kids these days would still like this sort of sci fi tale, but I’d imagine that they would.

The focus of the book is not interstellar action and derring do, although there is a bit of action towards the end. The book is partly about relationships, primarily twin sibling relationships. It's also about man’s efforts to explore and discover his world/universe.

The ending was somewhat more profound than I had expected it to be. Also interesting, the plot also brings the twin paradox to life.

I recommend this book if you are interested in vintage sci fi or, perhaps, the themes of discovery and sibling relationships.

[Spoiler alert: ] The book is a product of its time, and ends with the main character marrying his great-grandniece. That, I'd suggest, is a bit icky by today’s standards.

Another RAH Classic

This is one of my favorite RAH books and I was so excited to see an audio of it! Now they just need to make an audio of Tunnel in the Sky. But Time for the Stars is one of RAH best books it tells the age old story of two twins separated by the affects of relativistic space flight.

My First Favorite

Any additional comments?

Eons ago when I was a young lad, this was the first Heinlein book I read and it has long been a favorite, even decades later. It doesn't matter than the science it behind the times, it's still a good story and a good adventure. In addition, Barrett Whitner has become one of my favorite Audible narrators and he does an excellent job with this one.

Sci Fi old school

Would you try another book from Robert A. Heinlein and/or Barrett Whitener?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another book from Robert A. Heinlein? Why or why not?

Yes, simple and pleasurable old school science fiction. Boy makes good!

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Slightly dry but not annoying

Was Time for the Stars worth the listening time?

Yes, moved along very fast

Another well-performed Heinlein

Such an easy listen and a story that harkens to Time Enough For Love. I just wish it were longer.

I was disappointed by this audio interpretation.

What did you like best about Time for the Stars? What did you like least?

Robert Heinlein is one of my favorite writers and Time for the Stars was one of my favorite childhood books.

What didn’t you like about Barrett Whitener’s performance?

While his reading was competent enough, Barrett Whitener completely missed Heinlein's voice and made Tom sound like a sad sack through the whole book. Heinlein is known for his smart, sassy, self-reliant characters. I kept finding myself repeating lines in my head with the proper inflection. It was distracting and disappointing.

Classic Science Fiction At It's Best

Heinlein was ahead of his time. He was an extremely inventive and imaginative author. I am not sure what order to read his books, although this one reminded me a lot of Star Man Jones. There wasn't much action for the most part, but there were some exciting parts and twists. This book is about discovery and exploration of planets for colonization in a future society of Earth where space travel is possible. Perspective takes place through the eyes of one character and the story writes like an autobiography over the course of years of his life. The basic premise is that people have discovered that twins can communicate telepathically. To date Earth has had trouble hearing back from long range scout ships that venture off to explore habitable worlds at the speed of light due to the great distances involved. The use of these twins for instantaneous communication may make it possible colonize worlds faster. The concept of space and time are explored in this novel. In addition, the effects of how time ages one twin differently than the other due to traveling at the speed of light is explored. We get a taste of alien worlds, like the Star Man Jones book, and once again I find myself wishing there was more meat to the story. But I do appreciate Time For The Stars for what it is meant to be, a light, stand alone, discovery, science fiction novel.

What a nice little surprise!

Any additional comments?

I thought I'd read all the great Heinlein books when I stumbled across this little juvenile gem on sale. It is such a well written human story comparable with "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".

it didn't age well.

The writing came from nearly sixty years ago. The colloquialisms are not part of today's speech. the scientific story is based on Einstein's theory and it makes a successful structure. The human story around it is acceptable and believable. but try to get it through your library. It's not worth paying for.

If the future is not now, it is pretty soon.

If you could sum up Time for the Stars in three words, what would they be?

Classic Sci Fi

Have you listened to any of Barrett Whitener’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I do not remember listening to Barrett Whitener before, but his read carried me to the stars with the charactors. It does help to have good material but Whitener brought it to life. His voice fit the book.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy true sci fi such as this book.