Citizen of the Galaxy

De: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrado por: Grover Gardner

In a distant galaxy of colonized planets, the atrocity of slavery is alive and well. Young Thorby was just another bedraggled orphan boy sold at auction, but his new owner, Baslim, is not the disabled beggar he appears to be. Adopting Thorby as his son, Baslim fights relentlessly as an abolitionist spy. When the authorities close in on Baslim, Thorby must find his own way in a hostile galaxy. Joining with the Free Traders, a league of merchant princes, Thorby must find the courage to live by his wits and fight his way up from society's lowest rung. But Thorby's destiny will be forever changed when he discovers the truth about his own identity.

Citizen of the Galaxy is a suspenseful tale of adventure, coming of age, and interstellar conflict by science fiction's Grand Master.

©2003 The Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

love the story

loved it listened to it a bunch of times
would recommend it to anyone. a++

30 years between readings

The last time I read this book I was in the US Navy and deployed to Lebanon. I fell in love with his story telling, but the ship had a limited library and I never returned to his books.

So the story is fairly simple and does reflect a difference in substance of sixty years. But it was a good listen and the narrator was exceptional.

Interesting story for a family trip

We listened to this story during our family trip to visit relatives. It was enjoyed by all nine of us from 6 to 53.

There are a couple of slow technical chapters around 1/3 of the way through but story picked up again.

Heinlein at the top of his game

An excellent Heinlein tale, and one of my favorites. I wish there was a sequel.

Wonderful Golden Age Adventure

This classic Heinlein novel has it all; prirates. slaves, Galaxy spanning mega-corprations, space based trading families and rip-roaring adventures for the young hero. Heinlein is a master at deft plotting. The settings include the decadent Sargonese empire and the board rooms of Terran corporations. This isn't quite a young adult novel but does follow the conventions of the Golden Age. In other words, it's purely delightful.

a fantastic touching journey

this book touches on important social narratives and shows how far ahead of his time Heinlein was, in most areas. it's hard to imagine that this was written in the year it was and that someone at that time was imagining all of this. the one glaring exception how highline projected a 1950s view of women into the far distant future near the end of the book, although in the middle he lived in a matriarchal culture so there's that. but definitely a trend scene with authors of that era, I'm looking at you Asimov. outside of this though it is a very touching and very well written and well read read, highly recommended

Great character development

Such a great story only feels like the ending was rushed. And so missed the opportunity to end with a great ending.

Oliver Twist Through the Universe

The immortal Dean of Science Fiction crafts worlds and societies with simple but deft strokes of his pen. Thorbie moves from the bottom of society at the far edge of the galaxy to the pinnacle of power - discovering how insidious slavery is at every level.

The projections of cultural assumptions and science from 1956 are (of course) a bit quaint - but the characters and plot are timeless. Heinlein's didactic explanations invite the reader to think. And that is what Science Fiction is all about.

I was surprised

I had low expectations for this book, but it was part of a 2 for 1 sale and I had the credits. By the end I was looking for sequels and other materials in this universe. Great story of a coming of age young man who overcame a lot of obstacles to become a leader. The story was great, the voice acting was great, and I wish there was a series, movie, or book sequel to continue this universe.

nice listing

it was a good story. it was well written and well read. I will definitely be looking up more from this author.