Sixth Column

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s six against six million in a brilliantly waged near-future war for nothing less than liberty and justice for all. The totalitarian East has triumphed in a massive invasion, and the United States has fallen to a dictatorial superpower bent on total domination. That power is consolidating its grip through concentration camps, police state tactics, and a total monopoly upon the very thoughts of the conquered populace. A tiny enclave of scientists and soldiers survives, unbeknownst to America’s new rulers. It’s six against six million - but those six happen to include a scientific genius, a master of subterfuge and disguise who learned his trade as a lawyer-turned-hobo, and a tough-minded commander who knows how to get the best out of his ragtag assortment of American discontents, wily operators, and geniuses. It’s going to take technological savvy and a propaganda campaign that would leave Madison Avenue aghast, but the US will rise again. The counterinsurgency for freedom is on, and defeat is not an option.

Robert A. 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 received the first Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement.

©1949 Robert A. Heinlein (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Outstanding Book

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

Yes. I thought that the plot was well developed and supported.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sixth Column?

When the priests confronted the Chinese police who were controlling the USA.

Have you listened to any of Tom Weiner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. He did a good job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I appreciated the moment when the Major had to face being overwhelmed by the magnitude of his job.

A Good Tale But a Relic of Post WWII Mentality

This story, first published four years after a terribly murderous war in the south Pacific and east Asia, is often criticized for its overt racism against "the asiatics." I would suggest that it is the product of its time and to examine it anachronistically over seventy years later seems a little disingenuous and naive.

Nevertheless, I have no love of the bigotry of the era of The Yellow Peril, which I recognize whenever I see/hear it. Heinlein's story is representative of its time and we need to appreciate its melodramatic action at the same time we hold our noses at the parts we cannot accept.

Tom Weiner does an excellent job narrating this action tale.

An entertaining yarn steeped in difficult topics..

Overall 4 because the experience is a solid one with a creative exercise from “the grand master” that is either dated or futuristic.. the listener can decide. There is an OBVIOUS issue contemporary people apply over this story and somehow judge with their own experience/bias and miss completely that this is a work of fiction.. science fiction. The idea that a fictional asian super-nation with technological and idealogical superiority goes conquering is.. racist? Not historically. Any culture/race can do that.. and has done that countless times in history, so by being offended by the mere idea of a fictional asian super-baddy is and of itself naive and well… racist. Also most gloss over the fact that one of the key protagonists is a Japanese-American demonstrating that the race is not the key factor, its the idealogy. Lets get beyond that. I can’t rate this above 3 stars because its a fairly short and simple story. Most heinlein books get more character development and dialogue which is usually epic. The story is creative and fun but falls short in the genre.

SOCK IT TO EM

MAN 1: I AM UNWORTHY
MAN 2: I DO NOT DISPUTE THAT
Kind of like Man In a High Castle, only different. Heinlein discovers that if you want to start a revolution, start a new religion. A look at several Middle Eastern Countries, show that this is very plausible. This was written before Heinlein's horny phase and is a half way decent reading.

There has been some talk about it being racist. Heinlein calls the Asians, Flat Faces, Monkeys and Apes. On the other hand the Asians look at Americans as being barbarians. The names did not bother me. This was war and the Asians are the invaders. They are going to be called names. What struck me was the lack of black people. The Americans set up these temples that only white people can enter. If someone of Asian blood enters, he can die. Never is it mentioned that blacks even exist.

I prefer Heinlein's young adult books, but this is more readable than some of his others.

TAKE A SLEEPING PILL, THAT'S AN ORDER

Disgusting, racist crap but I love it anyway

I have no idea why I've always liked this story. It is anti-Asian racist garbage, I recall reading that Heinlein once said he was ashamed of this stuff. But it flows so well and is one of those good defeating evil stories that even if the bad guys had been my own ethnic group I'd still step outside of my feelings and enjoy the book. Don't know why but...

Excellent

It's set in the future but the language and style is pure 1950's america

Enjoyed it a lot.

Heinlein at his Best

Where does Sixth Column rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Sixth Column ranks in the top 10 audiobooks I have listened to

What did you like best about this story?

I like the action most

Which character – as performed by Tom Weiner – was your favorite?

The Leader. Major Ardmore

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me proud of America

Any additional comments?

I read this story when I was a kid. I was glad that I was able to find it at Audible. I enjoyed it more the second time around.

Wow, I love Heinlein!!

The science in this one isn't very developed but the ideas of what they do with the scientific breakthroughs are cool. Definitely worth a couple hours of your time.

RAH is always entertaining

this book was written in the late 1940s so you will need to pardon some of the descriptions and remember ww2 had just ended, lighten up and don't be so easily offended and you will enjoy a fun story

Pulp - But Heinlein

If you could sum up Sixth Column in three words, what would they be?

This is pulp science fiction, but it is Heilein; i.e. extremely well written. The plot is unrealistic. But I enjoyed reading one of the few Heinlein books that had escaped me. I have loved so many of his works that reading one I had missed was moving for me.

What other book might you compare Sixth Column to and why?

Rocket Ship Galelio
Similar style, not as juvenile but also not as engaging.

What about Tom Weiner???s performance did you like?

He did many voices very well, even the gravely voiced one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No