The Cat Who Walks through Walls

By: Robert Heinlein

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Robert A. Heinlein wrote some of the best-selling science-fiction novels of all time, including the beloved classic Stranger in a Strange Land. In The Cat Who Walks through Walls, he created his most compelling character ever: Dr. Richard Ames, ex-military man, sometime writer, and unfortunate victim of mistaken identity.

When a stranger attempting to deliver a cryptic message is shot dead at his dinner table, Ames is thrown headfirst into danger, intrigue, and other dimensions where Lazarus Long still thrives, where Jubal Harshaw lives surrounded by beautiful women, and where a daring plot to rescue the sentient computer called Mike can change the direction of all human history.

©1985 Robert Heinlein (P)2007 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

"Dialogue as witty as Oscar Wilde's, action as rollicking as Edgar Rice Burroughs', and satire as spicy as Jonathan Swift's." ( New York Times)

Heinlein is great as usual.

I'm sorry, but the ending really sucks. It seems like it needs another book to really finish it.

Nice story. Ending is abrupt, much to be desired.

I generally like Heinlein. This is a decent story though it has several confidence - jarring left turns. Unfortunately the ending was written with an abruptness that says to me the author just got tired or lazy after writing the requisite number of words. Still, I've read this audible title twice over the years so I suppose that must mean it's tolerable. Great narration.

Was not expecting a time travel novel.

What made the experience of listening to The Cat Who Walks through Walls the most enjoyable?

The story kept me guessing

Who was your favorite character and why?

The cat

Which scene was your favorite?

the council scene

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

Yes stayed up way to late listining

Very Good, But Not Made For Novices

Where does The Cat Who Walks through Walls rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my favorites.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I could say, "Walker Evans," but that would be cheating! :-)


Heinlein himself turned out to be my favorite character. He was trying to cheat death, and if the place of this book in series is done properly, he actually does it, in a way. I saw one reviewer place the book improperly as part of a "trilogy" when the "set" in which it belongs is actually at least 6 books deep, including Time Enough For Love, Number of the Beast, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset, with a definite nod to Friday and ALL of his other books as well.

Which scene was your favorite?

The ending line, which was in the tradition of Glory Road.

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

One of the Grand Master's main points in this book as in others was that while sex is potentially everywhere, real LOVE takes manners and intelligence. He specifically refers to the book as a comedy of manners....like the Emperor's New Clothes, it was built so that people who don't "get" RAH or what he put between the lines, so to speak, won't enjoy the ride AS MUCH as those who have done their homework.

Any additional comments?

I feel no shame at downgrading the reviews of naysayers...when you can point to a Hugo or a Nebula with your name on it, then I'll listen harder. :-)

Can't Get Past the Narrators Voice

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Tom Weiner?

Anyone would have been a better narrator than this guy. Tom sounds like Zapp Brannigan from Futurama. He totally detracts from the characters and the story. I couldn't finish the audiobook because the image of Zapp's swaggering pantless persona plagued me throughout the listening experience. It's really too bad, because I love Heinlein, and this is one of my favorite books.

Not his best

Too much time spent with the Long family and a tacked on ending. The first half was great.

The Cat Who Walks through Walls

I did not enjoy this book as much as "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". Very much the same era and background. This time there is time travel component and even mentioning "Time Lords". I found the beginning a grabber and it move you along in time and space but it seems to get bogged down since Heinlein needed to set a scene when you shifted to a new place. In addition, Heinlein got involve in the integration and explanation of the group marriages and sexual attitudes. It started good but it dragged for me. The end was a bit of a surprise. The title was a strange choice and I do not know why he chose it since the cat had no impact on the story.

24:56 for a fart ...

words. words. a fly car gnat bus ape sty eye dub toy foy shy nor

Abstract storyline

If you could sum up The Cat Who Walks through Walls in three words, what would they be?

strange, fun, exciting

Who was your favorite character and why?

I honestly loved all the characters with the exception of one, who is a famous character from the "not so series" so ill say who i didn't like instead. Lassie long the annoying.....

What does Tom Weiner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

eh

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

prepare for the sequel

Any additional comments?

Although it strongly relies on other stories to finish its tale. This was a very fun odd book.I enjoyed it very much

a must for all readers of Heinlein!!!

this nook is a must for all readers of R.A. H. it contains a number of Characters from many of his earlier works.