x dismiss this message
Did you know you can edit this page?
-
Sign Into Shelfari
-
Choose something to edit
-
Save your contributions
see page history
Description edit
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... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
One minute Kip Russell is walking around his own backyard, testing out an old space suit and dreaming about going to the moon. As he was playing around with his spacesuit radio, he receives a Mayday call from outer space. Upon giving his coordinates a flying saucer lands practically on him.... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Clifford "Kip" Russel: Main character - wants desperately to go to the moon.
- Mr. Charton: An old widower and pharmacist, owner of Charton's Pharmacy, where Kip works as a soda jerk.
- Patricia Wynant "Peewee" Reisfeld: Impetuous genius daughter of famous Professor Reisfeld.
- "Mother Thing": a mother-like alien creature.
- Wormface: A nasty alien with unfortunate appetites and seriously creepy eyes.
Quotes edit
-
“"Find out what you want to do, then do it. Never talk yourself into doing something you don't want."”
-
“"There is no such thing as luck; there is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe."”
-
“"the more you learn, the more you need to learn."”
- Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
-
‘good luck’ follows careful preparation; ‘bad luck’ comes from sloppiness.
Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers -
Find out what you want to do, then do it. Never talk yourself into doing something you don’t want.
Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers -
“There is no such thing as luck; there is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe.
Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers -
To what extent civilization is retarded by the laughing jackasses, the empty-minded belitters?
Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers -
But I don’t hold with the idea that to understand all is to forgive all; you follow that and first thing you know you’re sentimental over murderers and rapists and kidnappers and forgetting their victims. That’s wrong. I’ll weep over the likes of Peewee, not over criminals whose victims they are.
Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers -
don’t plead with it to be a good little spider and please stop poisoning people. A black widow spider can’t help it—but that’s the point.
Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers -
We’re simply trying to survive—and the first principle of survival is not to worry about the impossible and concentrate on what’s possible.
Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers -
“Some people insist that ‘mediocre’ is better than ‘best.’ They delight in clipping wings because they themselves can’t fly. They despise brains because they have none. Pfah!”
Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers -
You’re in bad shape when your emotions force you into acts which you know are foolish.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers -
(“I told Orville and I told Wilbur and now I’m telling you—that contraption will never work!”)
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
Setting & Locations edit
- Centerville: Town where Kip lives
- Lanador: Planet in the Lesser Magellanic Cloud where the tribunal was held
- Pluto: Solar-system base of the invading aliens
Organizations edit
- Federation Space Corps: Government agency that established a lunar colony during Kip Russell's lifetime.
- Federated Free Nations: Successor to the United Nations
- Three Galaxies: The advanced worlds of the Lesser Magellanic Cloud, Greater Magellanic Cloud, and Milky Way comprised a quasi-political "police" force to protect themselves against "uncivilized" worlds that might develop dangerous technology and cause trouble for the more advanced worlds.
First Sentence edit
You see, I had this space suit.
Table of Contents edit
None
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Being Human: This theme is climaxed when the heroes face a galactic tribunal. They together with a Roman legionnaire and a Neanderthal, face a multitude of galactic races to defend their race.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 12 of 12 in Heinlein Juveniles. (publisher edition list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Robert A. Heinlein (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Scribner's
Country: United States
Publication Date: 1958
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Scribner's
Country: United States
Publication Date: 1958
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 288
Awards edit
- Hugo Award (Finalist, 1959: Best Novel)
- Locus Best SF Novels of All Time (1998, #49)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PZ7.H368 Hav
- Dewey: 813.54
Popular Tags
See all 50 tags
More Books Like This edit
We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.
You were just viewing this book on B.R. Kingsolver’s shelf.
