Double Star

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Every stand-in dreamed of the starring role - but what actor would risk his life for the chance?

One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe is, as usual, in a bar, drinking away his troubles while watching his career circle the drain. Then a space pilot buys him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knows, he’s shanghaied to Mars. Smythe suddenly finds himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who has been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians is at stake, and failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war.

Smythe knows nothing of the issues concerning free interplanetary trade and equal rights for aliens and cares even less, but the handsome compensation is impossible to refuse. He soon realizes, however, that he faces a lifetime masquerade if the real politician never shows up.

©1956, 1984 by Robert A. Heinlein. © 2003 by the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust (P)2020 by Blackstone Publishing

it has a dated futuristic feel that is so good

This is of course a great book! it is of space but it has a flow and a feel that roots it in the era it was written .

Very good read

My love affair with Robert Heinlein goes back to the 1980's My favorite would be , The Moon is a harsh mistress. I know he had many great works but that story was just fun to read. Re-education myself after years was a double pleasure

still a very good book

This book was very well written. The reading is excellently done and well acted too. enjoy

Many will recognize the movie that was made

A good performance, Bronson Pinchot, much better than I was expecting. Good story, and many will recognize it as the original basis for the movie “Dave”. And debatable about which one was better.

great story, narrator is excellent

great work by Heinlein, but the narrator really brings his all and ties it together

Excellent story and superb reading.

I absolutely recommend reading it and this is my second time through this story and I love it

Science Fiction?

Double Star is an extremely well written novel. Is it science fiction? Yes and no. It has the background of a science fiction story; rockets, ray guns(Life Wand), E.T.s, futuristic medicine(?), moon scenery, etc. However, this story could have happened in any time period. Heinlein is a very technical writer; his engineering and concepts of future life is engaging. But he is also very technical in politics. He ran and lost for some office; I can't remember which one. With Heinlein, you get great fiction, but also his beliefs in how a person should behave and think according to Heinlein. He lays it thick in all areas of his writing. I've come to expect an optimistic 'solution' to whatever problem he creates.

The narrator does an admirable job. I really admire a narrator who 'wears' many hats and faces. It's amazing how many characters differentiated themselves out of one narrator. The only hiccup may be Penny's. He made her 'feel' (to me) as if she only had one tone. Other than that, it was fine acting.

I didn't expect the 'solution' Heinlein chose. An actor who must 'act' a role for the rest of his life has to feel as if he is in prison. But we all have a role to play!

Solid entertaining SF

Good story and characters. A few surprises. Heinlein writes for everyone. Pinchot always reads well and this book is no exception. Well worth a listen.

A true gem of a novel and audiobook...

I was quite impressed by this audio edition. The narrator does an excellent job on it.

A Great Recording of a Classic

This is one of my favorite Heinlein books, read by one of the top narrators in the business. I almost felt sorry for Pinchot as he strained to create a unique Martian accent. It was worth the effort.