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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I think I originally read this around age 10. Sort of like Starship Troopers for kids, without the combat. Really fun story. Emphasis on character.
This was a pleasure to re-read, 36 years after I first read it and 72 years after it was published. It suffers neither from the long and pointless dialogs of Heinlein’s later work, nor the weak writing issues of other earlier works (like Beyond This Horizon). The narrative moves quickly, the dialog feels natural (for the 1940s), and the exposition almost feels like it isn’t there because it’s fit in so naturally.
(I published a longer review on my website.)
Space Cadet is the classic boy’s boarding school juvenile dressed up as a training camp for an elite force of Peacekeepers. It’s also a picture of how to train the ideal individual, if that person also has to be a spaceman and a peacekeeper.
The first half of the novel covers the basic training of the protagonist Matt Dodson and his friends, with special attention paid to those psychological moments that set out the change from civilian mindset to that of the committed patrolman, and more importantly, the spaceman. This is something common to Heinlein’s writing about living in space - the idea that there is a kind of psychological distinction between the spacing outlook on life and the ‘groundhog’ outlook.
Once Matt and his friends are truly cadets, the action begins. On their first cadet mission, their ship locates a lost vessel, carrying information indicative of an ancient civilisation. They then encounter a nasty confrontation brewing between humans and indigenous Venusians that only the Patrol can resolve, proving that after everything they’ve been through, they are true members of the Patrol.
The first half of the novel covers the basic training of the protagonist Matt Dodson and his friends, with special attention paid to those psychological moments that set out the change from civilian mindset to that of the committed patrolman, and more importantly, the spaceman. This is something common to Heinlein’s writing about living in space - the idea that there is a kind of psychological distinction between the spacing outlook on life and the ‘groundhog’ outlook.
Once Matt and his friends are truly cadets, the action begins. On their first cadet mission, their ship locates a lost vessel, carrying information indicative of an ancient civilisation. They then encounter a nasty confrontation brewing between humans and indigenous Venusians that only the Patrol can resolve, proving that after everything they’ve been through, they are true members of the Patrol.
Mini-Review:
A more concise & polished book. It had a nice balance of young recruit training and gaining actual experience on the training grounds. Without pushing the matter too hard, the differences between those who grew up in space, live on Earth and the life of a space patrolman are shown throughout the story. Overall tone made me think of the old Star Trek shows and themes. A fun book that was made more enjoyable by great narration.
A more concise & polished book. It had a nice balance of young recruit training and gaining actual experience on the training grounds. Without pushing the matter too hard, the differences between those who grew up in space, live on Earth and the life of a space patrolman are shown throughout the story. Overall tone made me think of the old Star Trek shows and themes. A fun book that was made more enjoyable by great narration.
I don't know if someone not interested in sci-fi would find this book terribly captivating. I was skeptical that I would like it, but found that even the parts in sci-fi that I find tedious and boring -- describing the technology, how it works and relates to the characters -- were so well written that I enjoyed them as well.
The first Heinlein novel I've ever read, but I'm sure going to find another one soon.
The first Heinlein novel I've ever read, but I'm sure going to find another one soon.
Great juvenile book and perfect for an intro into science fiction by a master of the genre. What is amazing is to read a book written in the 1940's and almost miss scientific "predictions" that are actually commonplace for us now, like cell phones.
inspiring