• Robert Heinlein Radio Dramas

  • By: Robert Heinlein
  • Length: 1 hr and 46 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (236 ratings)

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Robert Heinlein Radio Dramas

By: Robert Heinlein
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Publisher's summary

This collection features four classic, dramatized Robert Heinlein stories:

Universe

Humans occupy the lower decks of a space ark; mutants control the upper decks. But is there life beyond? Based on a story by Robert Heinlein, this episode of Dimension X originally aired on August 2, 1951.

Requiem

A dying tycoon wants to live out his final days on the Moon. Based on a story by Robert Heinlein, this episode of Dimension X originally aired on September 22, 1951.

The Green Hills of Earth

Based on Robert Heinlein's classic story of "Noisy" Rhysling, a blind space-traveling singer who longs to return to Earth, this episode of X Minus One originally aired on July 7, 1955.

The Roads Must Roll

Engineers create conveyor-belt-like roads, the only way to keep the congested future moving. But now a strike is shutting it all down. Based on a story by Robert Heinlein, this episode of X Minus One originally aired on January 4, 1956.

Featuring "adventures in time and space told in future tense", Dimension X aired over NBC from April 8, 1950, through September 29, 1951. The series adapted stories by the modern masters of science fiction, including Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Clifford Simak, Theodore Sturgeon, and many others.

X Minus One premiered in April 1955 on NBC and ran until January 1958. Like its predecessor series, Dimension X, X Minus One featured stories by the greatest names in modern science fiction: Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Clifford Simak, Robert Bloch, and many more.

Want to hear more episodes of X Minus One and Dimension X? Click here.
©2006 Radio Spirits Inc. (P)2006 Radio Spirits Inc.

Critic reviews

"The landmark series was Dimension X, which was broadcast by NBC....It was the first radio series to treat science fiction in an adult way." (Mike Ashley, Transformations: The History of the Science-Fiction Magazine 1950 to 1970)

What listeners say about Robert Heinlein Radio Dramas

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Heinlein at his Best

These Stories have appeared in several anthologies (green hills of earth and revolt in 2100). The Radio Dramas are the Best way to get the feeling of Heinlein's short works. The story of "the Green Hills of Earth" and "Requiem" are quite touching. I would recommend any of Heinlein's radio Dramas to anyone Young or Old. A great ride into the Grand Master's Mind.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A great way to experience Heinlein's short stories

Honestly, I'd never heard a radio drama before hearing this. I doubt many young people have. But it was really fun hearing classic Heinlein stories acted out with actors, music, and sound effects. Now that people have iPods and can listen to this stuff in their car, while exercising, or while pretending to work, there's no reason the radio drama shouldn't be rediscovered.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Radio Drama's Beat Audio Books!

I have read all these stories, but because they were produced with influence of the author, but with dramatic license, the stories came alive! Since driving and texting, or watching videos is not viable, I don't understand why more radio drama doesn't exist. This is enjoyable and such a great set of stories by the Grand Master.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Slightly disappointing

I'm a big fan of Heinlein, but this production really didn't do his work justice. Obviously any radio production has to shorten and eliminate things but I just felt that the stories had become flattened to the point where they were little more than pulp. I also think that the quality of the production is very poor. Yes, they were all obviously produced a long, long time ago (I'm guessing 50s or 60s) but it should have been possible to clean the audio up so that it's more easily understandable.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting sci fi

Pretty good stories overall. A little dated but twilight zone like. Sound quality a little rough but still good

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always love Heinlein!

Heinlein never disappoints you. these are stories from his books. they are quite abbreviated to fit in the time frame so if you have read the book, you might be a little upset if this or that is left out but the "meat" of the story is there. These are dramatized so you feel way more in the story than when it's just someone reading the book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good stories; hard on the ears

It's fun to listen to the old radio theater, but the audio levels are a bit rough. Musical interludes were too loud in relation to the spoken parts, requiring frequent fiddling with the volume control.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Nostalga by the bucket full

I hate,to admit that I heard all of these when they first came out. (You are correct that I am over 21 ). The memory of how good these were the first time around was refreshing.....

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good take on old favorites.

Where does Robert Heinlein Radio Dramas rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top.

What did you like best about this story?

This version of Green Hills of Earth made me smile. We finally get to hear the music, even if it sounds like an old prospector singing to his jackass.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It has four separate stories. I like some time between them.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Highly Entertaining

Back in the 1950s, the radio program Dimension X featured fully dramatized versions of four of Robert A. Heinlein’s stories: Universe, Requiem, The Green Hills of Earth, and The Roads Must Roll. I’m not a big fan of Universe, but the others are outstanding examples of Heinlein’s work. I’ve always enjoyed fully dramatized audio productions and these represent a bit of history. The voice acting quality is slightly subpar by today’s standards, but the power of the stories overcomes any lack there to make for a highly enjoyable listen.

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