The Roads Must Roll

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Peter Coates

The Roads Must Roll is a 1940 science fiction short story by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. It was selected for The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929–1964 anthology in 1970.

The story is set in the near future, when "roadtowns" (wide rapidly moving passenger platforms similar to moving sidewalks, but reaching speeds of 100 mph) have replaced highways and railways as the dominant transportation method in the United States.

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one of Robert Heinlein's best

This is a uniquely fascinating story. Robert Heinlein had a prolific imagination and this story is really one of his very best.

I have to throw a heavily negative critique onto the 'new' cover picture for this single story- it is unbelievably out of context ridiculous! The cover picture is a beautiful muscle car on Route 66. This fabulous Heinlein story is not about cars! The subject of this story are the 'Rolling Roads', NOT the roads that cars drive on. Whomever was in charge of choosing this cover has not read this book and is not a Heinlein enthusiast at all. it is so out of context.

I also must mention how disappointing it was that the narrator was English. This story is uniquely American and it seems out a place. However, one can get used to it after a while as the narrator does a fine job.

A fun reading of a classic.

The unapologetic use of English accents. It was fun and interesting. This is a good story highlighting Heinlein’s military background with mission driven and hierarchical leadership.

A key story of the “future history,” but what’s with that cover?

Story has no muscle cars and was set no where near Route 66.

Seriously, WTF?