Starman Jones

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Paul Michael Garcia

It was a desperate time, when one's next meal and the comforts of home couldn't be taken for granted. Max Jones, a practical, hard-working young man, found his escape in his beloved astronomy books. But when reality comes crashing in and his troubled home life forces him out on the road, Max finds himself adrift in a downtrodden land - until an unexpected, ultimate adventure carries him away as a stowaway aboard an intergalactic spaceship.

But to where? And when? And how can he ever get back? With the ship's pilot dead and his charts and tables all destroyed, Max must call upon all of his untested knowledge and skills in order to survive.

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

Delightful

There were many times listening to this story that I could "feel" the influence of Heinlein on the Star Wars stories. Loved the characters ... marvelous addition t the genre.

Overcomming the Odds; Unexpected Story Results

Starman Jones, written by: Robert A. Heinlein, narrated by: Paul Michael Garcia. The story of a mistreated boy, Max Jones, dreaming of becoming an astrogator (as was his beloved uncle). An astrogator is a starship navigator and perhaps starship captain.

The odds are overwhelming against his interests. To increase the odds against his dream, and to start his first opportunity to go into space he cheats the system. (The cheat is necessary because the legal process to reach his goal negated his opportunity). It seems that is beloved uncle, may have concluded that his nephew may not have had the stuff to be an astrsogator. The story is an examination of whether Max has the right stuff or not.

Of course, much happens to provide him with prospect to meet his grandest dreams. Like all Heinlein, that overriding plot is filled with a dozen and a half unexpected happenings that either create impediment or fortuitously bring about the overall design of the story and ethical communication that Heinlein always has as his purposeful goal for writing the novel. The twists and turns in Starman Jones keep one’s interest alive throughout the audio.

Heinlein’s genius, I believe, is the numerous misdirections he provides in telling his story. His tales are always involving and worth the reading effort. This story is such and its outcomes are totally unexpected. Heinlein stories always have an overall ethical communication and here we learn that even a pure heart may win out someday; and then again may not.

Starman Jones is a good read. Worth the time to relax into a SciFi. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, was a great novel. This one is just a good wayside stopover.

Great classic

This story has always been my favorite from Heinlein and the audio was very well done. Paul Michael Garcia was enjoyable to listen to. I felt that for being written in the fifties that the story still holds up very well.

I didn't expect a book this good

Started like a book for early teens. Then took off. Very good ending. Written 67 years ago. Loved it.

First rate!

Heinlein at his best, I only wish they could have had the "Full Cast Audio" make a rendition of this! It would have been great, but this is good too.