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A review by hawkeyegough
The Man Who Sold the Moon by Robert A. Heinlein
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Heinlein's short story The Roads Must Roll was excellent. I'm still somewhat new to Heinlein - I've read Starship Troopers and Let There Be Light - and he continues to impress. He truly seems to be one of those rare folks who gets intuitively both people and complex science. The realistic behavior of his characters (if a little hilarious due to outdated dialogue from the '30s) really meshed well with his ability to imagine, envision, and describe some truly innovative ideas and machines.
This story is narrated from the 3rd person perspective of Director Larry Gaines, who's in charge of an expansive section of "roadtowns" in the American Southwest. He's an engineer who manages a large portion of the mechanical horizon, as well as a large number of employees who maintain the rolling roads which have effectively replaced cars. He encounters a worker uprising led by a charismatic but unhinged man that threatens to endanger the whole country. I was truly impressed by Heinlein's inventive plot events that led to a very satisfying and surprising resolution. Heinlein liberally sprinkles in humor and some great supporting characters, and what felt like exactly the right number of twists to make for a delightful yarn. I recommend this story to all who enjoy sci-fi or the exploration of a Big Idea."
This story is narrated from the 3rd person perspective of Director Larry Gaines, who's in charge of an expansive section of "roadtowns" in the American Southwest. He's an engineer who manages a large portion of the mechanical horizon, as well as a large number of employees who maintain the rolling roads which have effectively replaced cars. He encounters a worker uprising led by a charismatic but unhinged man that threatens to endanger the whole country. I was truly impressed by Heinlein's inventive plot events that led to a very satisfying and surprising resolution. Heinlein liberally sprinkles in humor and some great supporting characters, and what felt like exactly the right number of twists to make for a delightful yarn. I recommend this story to all who enjoy sci-fi or the exploration of a Big Idea."