Farnham's Freehold

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Hugh Farnham is a practical, self-made man, and when he sees the clouds of nuclear war gathering, he builds a bomb shelter under his house, hoping for peace and preparing for war. But when the apocalypse comes, something happens that he did not expect. A thermonuclear blast tears apart the fabric of time and hurls his shelter into a world with no sign of other human beings.

Farnham and his family have barely settled down to the backbreaking business of low-tech survival when they find that they are not alone after all. The same nuclear war that catapaulted Farnham 2,000 years into the future has destroyed all civilization in the northern hemisphere, leaving Africans as the dominant surviving people.

In the new world order, Farnham and his family, being members of the race that nearly destroyed the world, are fit only to be slaves. After surviving a nuclear war, Farnham has no intention of being anyone’s slave, but the tyrannical power of the Chosen race reaches throughout the world. Even if he manages to escape, where can he run to?

©1964 Robert A. Heinlein, 1992 by Mrs. Virginia Heinlein (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Heinlein’s story is as engrossing now as it was in its original form decades ago.” ( Midwest Book Review)

this is one of those I just can't stop listening

what a masterpiece of work this is, hard to put down and sad to get to the end

Fabulous story telling by the undisputed master!

The perfect enunciation of Heinlein’s ultimate vision of what it means to be fully human, almost Jeffersonian in scope, and coupled with wit and wry humor.

Awesome classic

Any additional comments?

This is standard Heinlein but that means top drawer Science Fiction. The racism topic may seem a bit old or corny but Heinlein is so good at making interesting stories that at their core are just morality parables.

Awesome story from a great author

First Prepper book ? Maybe. Takes a cold look at humanities weakness and with Racism turned upside down. Read years ago and enjoyed even more as an "old man".

Yet another Masterpiece

Heinlien’s books have a common theme, strong independent nature of multi skilled people can change the world. He makes a case for the ability to learn as the most important skill in life. Great story good twist.

Racist but good

It was an interesting look into slavery from another prospective. Not what I was expecting but a good listen. The narrator could narrate my life if he wanted to.

Second time through

I first read this book in the 80’s as a teenager. Have looked for last couple of decades for it until I finally found it in audio version. It’s a very interesting work of fiction that wiggles your mind with thoughts of what could be!

10/10

Wow just wow this is easily one of the greatest books I’ve read in a very long time

classic Heinlein style

the story dragged along at times, other times jumping ahead. good story line, characters, but perhaps a bit more of the philosophy behind the scenes could be explained directly, or in conversations, etc. well narrated, good development, bit of a bland ending, though I suppose if it were me, I would be very appreciative of it.

great novel tells of a time long ago

a message that we need to remember it's mistakes. learn from the past. RAH forever.y