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Robert Heinlein

Citizen of the Galaxy MP3 CD – Unabridged, December 15, 2013

by Robert A. Heinlein (Author)

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[MP3-CD audiobook format in Vinyl case. NOTE: The MP3-CD format requires a compatible audio CD player.]

[Read by Grover Gardner]

Citizen of the Galaxy is a suspenseful tale of adventure, coming of age, and interstellar conflict by science fiction's Grand Master.

In a distant galaxy of colonized planets, the atrocity of slavery is alive and well. Young Thorby was just another bedraggled orphan boy sold at auction, but his new owner, Baslim, is not the disabled beggar he appears to be. Adopting Thorby as his son, Baslim fights relentlessly as an abolitionist spy. When the authorities close in on Baslim, Thorby must find his own way in a hostile galaxy. Joining with the Free Traders, a league of merchant princes, Thorby must find the courage to live by his wits and fight his way up from society's lowest rung. But Thorby's destiny will be forever changed when he discovers the truth about his own identity.

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English
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Blackstone Audio
Publication date

December 15, 2013
Dimensions

5.3 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches
ISBN-10

1482947218
ISBN-13

978-1482947212
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Editorial Reviews

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''Science, mystery, and strong ethical concepts give the book sure appeal to devotees of science fiction.'' --Saturday Review

''Sometimes satirical, probingly provocative, this is a characteristic Heinlein off-the-ground mirage, with the protagonist encountering the values of a free society, weighing the worth of the individual.'' --Kirkus Reviews

''Absorbing, convincing, and well written combination of science fiction and mystery.'' --School Library Journal

About the Author

ROBERT ANSON HEINLEIN (1907-1988) was born in Missouri. He served five years in the US Navy, then attended graduate classes in mathematics and physics at UCLA, took a variety of jobs, and owned a silver mine before beginning to write science fiction in 1939. His novels have won the Hugo Award, and in 1975 he was named the first recipient of the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. His worldwide bestsellers have been translated into twenty-two languages.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blackstone Audio; Unabridged MP3CD edition (December 15, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1482947218
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1482947212
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,546,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10,063 in Books on CD
- #20,892 in Space Operas
- #33,635 in Science Fiction Adventures

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Robert Heinlein

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Robert Heinlein was an American novelist and the grand master of science fiction in the twentieth century. Often called 'the dean of science fiction writers', he is one of the most popular, influential and controversial authors of 'hard science fiction'.

Over the course of his long career he won numerous awards and wrote 32 novels, 59 short stories and 16 collections, many of which have cemented their place in history as science fiction classics, including STARSHIP TROOPERS, THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS and the beloved STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND.

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836 global ratings

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C.B.E.

Hardly "juvenile," this is one of Heinlein's best novels

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 4, 2016

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I've never been a huge Heinlein fan. "Stranger in a Strange Land" is, in my opinion, wildly overrated, a cheesy novel absolutely stuck in its own time, while virtually everything he wrote after "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" (a very good book) is just self-indulgent, hectoring and consequently dull.
The Future History stories are pretty interesting, as are "Starship Troopers," "Double Star," and other earlier works, despite whiffs of sexism and racism that go deeper than the expected prejudices of the time ("Orphans of the Sky" treats women like disposable livestock).

But there is absolutely no question that Heinlein brought a snappy, writerly sensibility to the field, and his writing and characters (pre-"Mistress," for the most part, at any rate) are lively, richly textured and clever. Like Hemingway and The Beatles, one may not like Heinlein, but one has to acknowledge that he utterly revolutionized his chosen field of artistic endeavor. In that, he was brilliant.

I'd never sampled the juveniles as a kid, instead weaning on Clarke, Bradbury and Le Guin. But I've read a handful of them as an adult and honestly, they may constitute the best work Heinlein ever did. I've just finished "Citizen of the Galaxy" and I place it at the head of the class of the juveniles.

Where in his latter career Heinlein lectured and badgered the reader with his insistence on the correctness of his ideas, "Citizen" is a deeply moral, adventurous, fast-paced and appealing exploration of the broad idea of freedom, seen through various lenses. We see the protagonist, Thorby, as a downtrodden slave; then slave to a more-than-benevolent, if hard-driving, master, Baslim the Cripple; then member of a family of interstellar Free Traders, who live within strictures of their own imposing; a member of the military (a life Heinlein, a Navy veteran, clearly sees as something of an ideal); and finally, living a "dream" life as an impossibly wealthy — but not powerful — heir who is willing to put his comfort and privilege on the line to fight for the freedom of people he does not know.

It seems clear today that faster-than-light travel lies beyond the realm of possibility, but Heinlein offers a shorthand — "rational" and "irrational" space — that, while never explained, just has the feel of plausibility. He is, nearly two decades on from "Orphans," willing to present strong, smart female characters, such as Thorby's cousin Leda and the matriarch of the Free Trader ship, with only the occasional, and slight, resort to sexism.

And while there is a pretty convincing case to be made that some of Heinlein's works, notably "The Sixth Column" and "Farnham's Freehold," are noxiously racist, "Citizen of the Galaxy" is a full-throated, unreserved condemnation of slavery of all kinds. Where "Starship Troopers" begins to verge on late-Heinlein-style lecturing about the military and the duties of citizens, "Citizen" presents an argument against pacifism and a case for ethics and sacrifice with much less bluster, making them far less dyspeptic — and consequently, more thought-provoking.

This is a great book. Although it's considered a "juvenile," perhaps by virtue of its young protagonist, it's a smart, mature book — it even hints at sex! — that is far less "young adult" than many alleged SF classics (think "Ender's Game").

It's too bad Heinlein went down the road he did. Had he progressed, instead, along the lines of "Citizen of the Galaxy," there's no telling what classics he might have penned.

10 people found this helpful

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Dannan Tavona

Still Holds Up

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 21, 2020

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YA SF
I first read this book when I was in grade school. When I was much older, I added it to my growing collection of SF and fantasy books. And, now, once again it's in my possession.
It's a good read. Heinlein is a good story-teller. He does have some biases. Women are seen as distractions, and so there are no women in the Hegemonic Guard. Except perhaps as secretaries posted planet-side. Heinlein was a man of his times, and during WW2, and in his world (and opinion) women didn't serve.
Except they did. Like the nurses of Corrigidor. Or the unit of all-black women mail couriers serving on the front. Or the many examples of women in the Soviet Union - as snipers, pilots, etc. Unit 1077 Air Regiment outside Stalingrad was almost entirely women, five batteries of 60 anti-aircraft artillery. They didn't even have the right kind of shells. They used them against the tanks and mechanized infantry, and fought until all were killed, no survivors, many still in their teens and many barely trained; their actions allowed the exposed defenders the time to retreat into the city, and for reinforcements to arrive. They gave their lives allowing the defenders time to dig in, preventing a German victory. The notion that can't be brave and fight needs to put to rest, and it's not a fantasy that there were women warriors worthy enough to stand beside men. But, I digress.
This book was published in 1957, so his fix to identify the MC, Thorby, is less believable with DNA testing available in the modern world. Not all place even do baby footprints. But it's a minor quibble.
Still, for all that, it's a good read, even in 2020. It begs for a sequel, but Heinlein never followed it up. Which is a shame. Recommended, even for adults.

9 people found this helpful

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Erik Bloom

One of Heinlein's best

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 20, 2013

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It is common to classify Heinlein's fiction into his "juvenile" phase, when he was writing space operas for teenagers and his "mature" phase. wi ould say that his book, along with Starship Troopers and Farnham's Freehold are transition novels that fit in both categories. All three of these novels reflect an aspect of Heinlein's political beliefs. To my mind (and probably to your's as well), this book is the most attractive of the three in political terms. Starship Troopers outlines a military culture (only ex-soldiers can vote) and Farnham's Freehold some of sort of survivalist creed combined with an interesting (given the time that he wrote the book) philosophy about race and racism. In contrast, Citizen of the Galaxy focuses on the struggle to break out of slavery and the inalienable right to be free.

The main character, Thorby, starts out as a slave in the cruel and decadent Nine Worlds, an empire far from Earth. He is adopted by a beggar, Baslim, who turns out to be much more than meets the eye. Baslim teaches Thorby and installs in him a desire to break the chains of slavery. Without going into the details, Thorby flees the Nine Worlds as a free man. He comes to learn that there are many other forms of "slavery" where a person gives up part of his personal freedom to a bigger cause...be it a clan, an oath, or a family. The book, with its unlikely twists and turns, makes you think. Although Heinlein preaches a lot, it is much more pleasant than in Starship Troopers. The preacher is quite direct, with lessons about linguistics, family relations, anthropology, and just about anything that strikes Heinlein's fancy. If the story were not so good, it would annoying. In this case, it adds to the story and gives the reader (at least this reader) a sense that they are learning something.

While the story is good, the book really moves around its interesting characters. Thorby is the only character that is in the book from the first page to the last page. Other characters enter and leave the story as necessary. They are all quite interesting and well done. It is also a science fiction, with lots of faster than light ships, futuristic technology (at least as imagined in the early sixties), and space pirates. As a juvenile, it is appropriate for any audience interested in science fiction. And I am sure that it would get even kids thinking about the big themes. I first read this book in 7th grade and I have returned to several times since, each time picking up something new. I have read both the paper version and listened to audiobook. Either way, you won't go wrong.

4 people found this helpful

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mad_mushroom

Superlative Science-Fiction.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 8, 2008

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I read this book when I was about 10. One of the first I bought myself. Soon afterwards I was mystified to discover it had gone missing. I was even more mystified when it turned up amongst my pile of Christmas presents the following December.

Still, I digress.

This is one of Heinlein's most accessible books. Read it as a child, come back to it as an adult. Unlike a lot of Heinlein's more famous works it isn't tacky, doesn't advocate the promiscuous, hippy lifestyle or glorify war and right-wing fantasies (Friday, Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers all spring to mind).

Instead it's a touching story about a young slave boy, Thorby. The book starts with an auction: Thorby is rescued from servitude at the heart of the Sargon's Empire by an old beggar, Pop Baslim. When Baslim is killed by the Sargon's security forces Thorby is forced to seek help from the Free Traders and escape offworld. Heinlein's attempt to describe the peculiarly restrictive lifestyle of the Free Traders is excellent, and you really find yourself drawn into it. But just when Thorby has found acceptance he is forced to choose between his new, adoptive family, or to go further in his quest to discover who he is, and who his parents were. The third phase of the book then begins with Thorby's induction into Earth's Hegemonic Guard, and it ends with Thorby wresting his father's business empire from the hands of his treacherous Uncle, and discovering the fate of his parents.

All three phases of the book are brilliantly realised, and I found life aboard the Free Trader Sisu to be particularly compelling. In addition, Heinlein manages to keep his latent misogyny under control throughout the book, which is a plus.

If you enjoy this, you'll also enjoy Heinlein's The Green Hills of Earth.

6 people found this helpful

Sue Bentley

Stunningly good story of a frog who turns out to be ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 9, 2014

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Stunningly good story of a frog who turns out to be an interstellar prince. Despite the over-used cliche of the plot, the setting of a galaxy of different races and civilisations, the rich variety and depth of the characters and the way the story moves through time and space make this a really wonderful and compelling read. The only slightly jarring part for me was the character of Leda, who I distrusted from the moment Heinlein brought her onto his stage. I still think she was much too good to be true.

The hero of the book is a young boy called Thorby, a slave at the start of the story who is bought by a local beggarman and finds a father figure who educates and cares for him. Thorby moves from one father figure to another until eventually finding out who he really is.

F. Gamble

one of the all time greats

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 9, 2013

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I must have read this 10 times over the years and it never palls. A classic Heinlein tale of space opera, politics, passion honour and drama, easily read and satisfying. The hero is again typical Heinlein, slightly bemused, stumbles from success to success but maintains his decency right the way through despite being taken advantage of from time to time. The plot is simple, rich boy taken as a slave in childhood, doesn't know who he, is adopted on a far flung planet by a overachieving commando spy, escapes and is adopted again by space traders (with an interesting aside into cultural differences) gets back to Earth and recovers his heritage and uses it to DO GOOD. Read it in a sitting it turns the pages easily.

One person found this helpful

nick martin

A Good Old Classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 13, 2013

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Heinlein wrote good old American novels predicated on 1950's science and technology and the fact that USA would go on to dominate Galaxy culture. Once you get over that fact his novels are great fun to read and you can learn a lot about 50's culture and Modern American Mid West culture today. Citizen of the Galaxy is prabably one of the few Heinlein novels that you could film , unless you count Star Beast which was stolen by Spielberg for ET! This is a pre-Star Wars book . well written , even if it ignores some of the basic scientific tenets of the 20th century - Relativity didn't get in the way of Star Wars, Star Trek, etc , and it doesn't here either. The characters are well written though, and the plot is realistic once you switch off your bad science radar.

Jagon

Imaginative narrative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 19, 2019

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Fantastic as always. Heinlein plots the path of the narrative and characters with expert ease. When I read his books I stare into the abyss of infinity

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