Podkayne of Mars

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Emily Janice Card

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

From the author of Friday and Rocketship Galileo comes this classic tale featuring the Grand Master of science fiction's most remarkable heroine.

Podkayne Fries, a smart and determined maid of Mars, has just one goal in life: to become the first female starship pilot and rise through the ranks to command deep-space explorations. So when she is offered a chance to join her diplomatic uncle on an interstellar journey to distant Earth via Venus, it's a dream come true - even if her only experience with diplomacy is handling her brilliant but pesky younger brother, Clark.

But she's about to learn some things about war and peace, because Uncle Tom, the ambassador plenipotentiary from Mars to the Three Planets Conference, is traveling not quite incognito enough - and certain parties will stop at nothing to sabotage negotiations between the three worlds.

©2003 The Robert A. & Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good story, rushed ending.

I enjoyed this story right up until the end when it seems like the producer walked in and said "You have 5 minutes. Wrap it up." It left me confused, surprised and a little mad. If not for the ending I would give the story 5 stars. Otherwise, it is a good listen and I will consider other books by Robert Heinlein. I did see other reviews where readers complained about the attitude towards women. I thought the author was pointing out social injustice, not endorsing it.

The narration was easy to understand but the different voices were hard to distinguish. That is why I only gave the performance three stars.

Recommend book

My only complaint is that the story ended sooner than I expected. But enjoyed the storyline and plot.

A lifetime favorite

Any additional comments?

This was the first SF book I read, when I was 11. I wanted to BE Podkayne. As a young adult, I was embarrassed to like the book. But over the years, especially when I look back unflinchingly at my teenaged years, I can admit that 15-year-old (in Earth years) girls really are like that. Podkayne is intelligent but naive, courageous but reckless, ambitious but unsure of what she really wants. I love her, and I love the "classic SF" in this book: human settlements on Mars and Venus, space travel, the human constants of personalities and politics.

Great

This is especially good for a book about teenagers. Story is good. Does not turn out exactly the way you might think.

A good reading!

Podkayne of Mars by Robert A. Heinlein recieves 4 stars from me.

I enjoyed the future world that Heinlein builds through this 15 year old girl from Mars. Heinlein gets a lot packed in a short novel. Parenting, family bonds, vices, virtue, dreams and aspirations. It's all there. I felt that the book felt much like a YA reader, but I"m unsure if it is truly one. The language seems to be at that target.

Recommended: I do. There is some controversy over the ending as it seems the publisher wanted one and Heinlein wanted another. The version I listened to was the former. I don't have any comments about that. I have my own issues with the ending, feeling that it just happens.

This was an audio book, so a comment on the reader. She was Emily Janice Card. I enjoyed her voices and her interpretation of Podkayne. She has a good tone, and good understanding of the characters. I would get a book read by her again.

would be 5 stars IF it was longer

good narrator, witty author..but so very short !!!!
its like a teaser of a great book

The life and trials of a young Lady!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes as it shows the results of the out come of dreams coming partly true!

What other book might you compare Podkayne of Mars to and why?

The Rolling Stones and Have Space will Travel which show Heinline's ability to bring a world to life into the here and now.

Which scene was your favorite?

Where Clark is doing the postscript at the end of the book while taking care of the Fairy for Poddy!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The politics of three worlds and how they can pull in innocents into harms way!

Any additional comments?

Heinline makes fiction so real!

This was an enjoyable tale and a good narrator...

I love Heinlein stories and this one was very enjoyable. I also appreciated the quality of the narration by Emily Janice Card.

A decent story, just not what the reviews had me expecting.

A classic book, has all of the authors normal skill in in world building, but also has the hints of his normal works perversions, a bit to much family care, young women or at leas women who sound young doing adult things.
Overall an ok book, not the authors best.
The narrator did a great job, and I would be happy to listen to more by her.

A Smart Kid

Just reading a description of the story doesn't leave one excited to read it, but when you start listening, you find it hard to stop.

Podkayne is a girl who would be around 17 or 18 earth years old. See is very world-wise and people-wise for her age. She plans her long term goals and goes after them.

I'm a 64 year old man. I tend to think of Podkayne as a terrific daughter or granddaughter that I would be very proud of. If I did have a teenage or even pre-teenage granddaughter, I would see to it that she listened to this at least once, and hopefully more than once. Podkayne would be a very good roll model for any girl.

This starts as a very pleasant story that builds to a very exciting story. I think that if you got this book, you would be glad you did.