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)

Great book, presentation was disappointing

I love this book, and decided to try it as an audiobook. I have to say, I was somewhat disappointed from a production standpoint. When reading the book, the dialogue sounds witty and bantering, yet very literate - when read aloud, it often sounds stilted (In fairness, I have not heard another reader attempt this, so cannot say whether this is the writing not translating to spoken word or poor presentation on the part of the narrator). I was somewhat underwhelmed by the emotional range shown by the narrator. Additionally, anyone who has read Heinlein knows that he comments on the "tall corn, rusty Midwest" accents. Unfortunately, the narrator takes this to extreme, with most character's voices representing some variant of "hick accent". Having listened to Lloyd James' presentation of "Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", I wished he had been available for this one as well.

I didn't care for it

You might find it tremendously funny. I didn't. I found the relentless banter tedious, but that's just me.

Typical Heinlein Story

As with a lot of Robert Heinlein's books he puts too much in to the sexual background

Classic Heinlein. Reader droll and monotonous.

Great book. Read Stranger in a Strange Land first. Performer a bit dull even with the voices.

Disappointing

I have recently reread Heinlein's "Stranger In A Strange Land" and "The Puppet Masters" and enjoyed them very much.

I simply could not get interested in this book. I gave up at Chapter 12. The dialogue seemed stilted and old fashioned, like the script from a mediocre 1940's film. In fact I did an internet search to see when this book was written, thinking that it might be an early effort. I was surprised to learn that the book was published in the 1980's (if the information on Wikipedia is correct).

Perhaps one day I'll try to finish the book. I just can't listen to anymore of it right now.

ripped off

Is there anything you would change about this book?

finished the story

What about Tom Weiner’s performance did you like?

Tom was great, he has a great voice

Was The Cat Who Walks through Walls worth the listening time?

no it was a waste

Any additional comments?

Heinlein seemed to start out with a purpose and then left off the last half of the book. Set the reader up for a sequel but never delivered. Lost his mind, died?

Not RAH's best

Some good chapters and vignettes, but not a strong story. Main characters recover and develop a strong relationship through repeated adversity. The book brings to gather story lines from many of the latter Heinlein books: Lazarus Long, Maureen Long, Gay Deceiver and Pankara adventurers, the Moon is a Harsh Mistress crew and characters, and the Free Luna minor character cast. The story revolves around trying to time travel to save and recover the essence of Mycroft. Mike is the self-aware computer that was key to the Lunar Revolution success some 15 or so years before the setting of this book.
The adversaries are never identified or resolved, but repeatedly appear as viscious attackers. Our heroes mostly survive (damaged) and continue. We never know if the mission re. Mycroft succeeded or not. The last assault wrecked damage, but character survival was not resolved or disclosed. Great beginning, interesting middle, no ending.

One of the best scifi novels around

Action, imagination, great ideas, great story telling, thrilling, full of twists. All you want is there. Heinlein excels in the The Cat Who Walks through Walls. More over the character interaction is not only interesting, it is flammable! The dramatic exchanges between the lead pair are so enjoyable. Author is not scared to include a few spicy twists, which are just rendering the novel more interesting. Don't listen to those religious purists who get red because of that, this novel is excellent. I have read this novel many times and always coming back. Full 5 stars well deserved.

Not the best reader for Robert Heinlein

I was very disappointed that Scott Brick did not read this one. The book is great, through the years I have read it 3 times, you can never go wrong with any Heinlein…ever.

Good, strong masculine voice, well read

Weiner is a little weak on the female voices, but his baritone for Richard is spot on, so I didn't mind it much. His Russian accents tend to sound too much the same, and they were attached to characters that I never envisioned as Russian. His French accent was a little off-putting as well (Rev. Schultz). However, I enjoyed his narration much more than Lloyd James' interpretations of "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and "Time Enough for Love." Highly recommended.