Citizen of the Galaxy

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

nice listing

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

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.

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

Classic

Still a classic and Grover brought it to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I still think it should be a movie.

From slave to master of the universe

Robert A Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy is another offering in his juvenile series. A young boy whose whole short life has been as a slave is purchased by a beggar (due to his perceived lack of value) on a backwater planet at the edge of the galaxy. He receives a rather mixed and enriched education along with implanted hypnotic suggestions should anything happen to his adopted father. Eventually, he is taken on by a family of free traders and then by the hegemonic military who discover that his actual identity is the son of one of the galaxy's richest families. Along the way, he has many experiences and adventures eventually to come full circle and set as his life's work where he began.

Heinlein produces a fitting pulp fiction tale for 50's era teenagers. In the course of the tale, he relates quite a bit of science, but throws in anthropology and business, along with legal shenanigans. There's sufficient detail to flesh out some serious worldbuilding along with plenty of action as Thorby keeps moving up the chain to make it home.

Gardner's narration is superb with excellent character distinction and a relaxed pacing that makes for a sit back and enjoy experience.