Variable Star

De: Robert A. Heinlein, Spider Robinson

Narrado por: Spider Robinson

Upon his death in 1988, Robert A. Heinlein left a legacy of novels and short stories that almost single-handedly defined modern science fiction. But one of Heinlein's masterpieces was never finished. In 1955, he began work on Variable Star, a powerful and passionate tale of two young lovers driven apart by pride, power, and the vastness of interstellar time and space. Then he set it aside to focus on other novellas.

The detailed outline and notes he created for this project lay forgotten for decades, only to be rediscovered almost a half-century later. Now the Heinlein estate has authorized award-winning author Spider Robinson to expand that outline into a full-length novel. The result is vintage Heinlein, faithful in style and spirit to the Grand Master's original vision.

When Joel Johnston first met Jinny Hamilton, it seemed like a dream come true. And when she finally agreed to marry him, he felt like the luckiest man in the universe. There was just one small problem—he was broke. His only goal in life was to become a composer, and he knew it would take years before he was earning enough to support a family.

But Jinny wasn't willing to wait, and when Joel asked her what they were going to do for money, she gave him a most unexpected answer. She told him that her name wasn't really Jinny Hamilton—it was Jinny Conrad, and she was the granddaughter of Richard Conrad, the wealthiest man in the solar system.

Now that she was sure Joel loved her for more than just her wealth, she revealed her family's plans for him: he would be groomed for a place in the vast Conrad empire and sire a dynasty to carry on the family business.

Most men would have jumped at the opportunity. But Joel Johnston wasn't most men. To Jinny's surprise, and even his own, he turned down her generous offer and then set off on the mother of all benders—and woke up on a colony ship heading out into space. There he found himself torn between regret over his rash decision and his determination to forget Jinny and make a life for himself among the stars.

He was on his way to succeeding when his plans—and the plans of billions of others—were shattered by a cosmic cataclysm so devastating it would take all of humanity's strength and ingenuity just to survive.

©2006 the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust and Spider Robinson. The song “On the Way to the Stars” © 2006 by Spider Robinson and David Crosby (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“His narration feel like a friend telling you the most incredible story about where he’s been the last few years…Spider Robinson is a top-notch narrator, and this audiobook is a whole lot of fun. Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award.”

(AudioFile)

“The trademark Heinlein quips, space-travel motifs…are all here in a faithful, if technologically updated, pastiche of the late master’s style and storytelling genius.”

(Booklist)

“This book is a delight and I love you for doing it. I love you even more for doing it so damned well. Thank you.”

(David Crosby, member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash)

“Robert A. Heinlein apparently isn’t really dead. He was obviously standing at the side of Spider Robinson as he wrote this book, guiding his hand. Variable Star will delight the fans of the greatest science-fiction writer who ever lived.”

(John Varley, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author)

Comfort book

The first time I read this book over 10 years ago, I thought I was a little goofy. Throughout the years I always found myself randomly remembering little snippets and going back over to reread the novel more than 18 times. This has become my go to book whenever I just want to relax and know I’m going to enjoy the story. Glad it’s now part of my Audible collection and will not leave my library. I’m sure others will not feel the way I do about this book, but all I can say is that it is one of my most favorites and cannot recommend it enough.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Finally an author I enjoy as much as Robert Heinlein

I had not discovered Spider Robinson until searching for a Heinlein I didn’t know like the back of my hand yielded this masterpiece. I am so happy I now have 32 new books to look forward too. Thank You Mr Robinson.

Old-Timey Scifi feel.

This book feels like it was written in the 1950s, which was when it had its plot skeleton made so that makes sense. Its an interesting concept and has some very well fleshed out characters.

Feels authentic.

One author finished the outline from a more famous, dead author doesn’t always turn out well. But Spider did a great job at capturing the tone of a Heinlein.

Not a great effort...not awful either.

I have two issues with this novel. Let's get the narration out of the way first. Spider Robinson is a fun writer most times. He is however quite lacking as a narrator. Perhaps it is simply I do not take to his habit of speaking with an odd and inconsistent cadence. to me his speaking lacks real rhythm. I simply find myself distracted because I am spending more time thinking "...this guy needs to have three less pots coffee's before reading and to SLOW DOWN..." So, basically the narration style is distracting...for me.

Now, the second part is...the story is plodding and very predictable. It is not even to the level of a RAH junior novel. The basic story line is not much different than Citizen of the Galaxy. Maybe because it was likely the work Heinlein used to write Citizen. This story seemed to lack any real focus or, strangely enough, no character development. If anything Heinlein was a master at developing humanist SF. And, sure this is not RAH's work really. But for me it was simply Spider Robinson piggy backing the RAH name. A valiant effort for certain. It simply feel far short of a solid novel for me.

And Spider, please slow down and enunciate...you know your works...give us that not some that feels, well, in a hurry to get back to the bar where you can cash the extra check for doing the narration.

I just feel badly for writing such a negative review...but I was greatly disappointed in this audiobook and story. I do think it is worth a listen if you lower your expectations somewhat.