Book #32: Rocket Ship Galileo,
by Robert A. Heinlein. Unabridged audio.
This is first of Henlein’s “juvenile
stories,” a successful series short novels that would fit today somewhere between
the “middle grade” and “young adult” categories. The story was published in
1947, and served as a loose inspiration for the 1950 film “Destination Moon.
A few years after the end of WW2,
three teenagers have dubbed themselves the “Galileo Club,” and manage an almost
successful backyard rocket launch. One of the boy’s uncle is a physicist who
had worked on the Manhattan Project, and he like the boys’ attitude and ideas.
They convert a “mail rocket” into a vehicle that takes them to the Moon, the
rocket ship Galileo.
As soon as the four arrive on the
Moon, they attempt communication with Earth. But the first contact they make is
with another ship that is already there, and has been for some time. In hiding.
After this secretive crew attacks them, the four Americans learn that they have
stumbled onto a secret Nazi moon base, who still plan to being the Reich to
Earth.
Yes, “Space Nazis” have become a
bit of a trope over the last few decades, but I imagine it was a fresher idea
when Heinlein first developed this story. And after the drama of the Moon
flight itself, readers are as unprepared for this attack as the astronauts are.
The tension is high as the Americans struggle to defeat the Nazis, much less
return home.
Heinlein does a good job keeping
the proposed science of his novel within the realm of the reasonable. Or at
least within the realm of “that sounds reasonable.” And each of the boys is
given enough of a different personality to make the book an enjoyable adventure
yarn.
Note: Science fiction writer
Spider Robinson narrates this audio version of this novel. He was a longtime
friend and supporter of Heinlein, and the pair collaborated on a series of
novels. Robinson’s does a good job bringing a sense of youthful exuberance to
his narration.
Source: HOOPLA.
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