Variable Star

By: Robert A. Heinlein, Spider Robinson

Narrated by: Spider Robinson

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

At 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.

©2006 The Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust and Spider Robinson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"I'd nominate Spider Robinson as the new Robert Heinlein." ( New York Times)

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.

Variable quality

Spider Robinson speaks way too fast. I had trouble following the story because of the breakneck speed of the narration. Parts of the story seemed familiar, containing many puns and phrases RAH used in other novels. Not sorry I bought it, and I want to thank Nr Robinson for completing it for us.

Wondefull story but...

Spider does a wonderful job of building great a science fiction tale, very thought provoking, which brings me to the one flaw in the story. If you were going to send some people off on a 44+ year trip to colonize a far off planet, you would assure the success of the venture by excluding members that are solely homosexual as non-breeders. Spider gives in to political correctness by not doing so.

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.

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

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.

Anger is Fear in Disguise

The first six chapters are very funny and sound a lot like something written in 1955. RH's very conservative values really come through and he takes a stab at nepotism which I really like. The whole book is an internal monologue of the main character.

When the main character leaves Earth the book take a drastic change in style, mood and values. There is no more laughing, the language becomes crude, and it becomes a soap opera. There still are some good parts but it is no where near as good as the beginning.

I am not a big fan of publishing material in an authors' name after he is gone. RH started this in 1955, yet he never finished it and he never tried to publish it. There had to be a reason. Maybe he did not want his name on something until he was happy with it. He also never in his life had a co author and there was probably a reason for that. Robert A. Heinlein means something when it is on the cover of a book and RH may have not wanted that soiled in any way.

I did give the book four stars, because of the first six chapters and chapters 17 and 18.

My favorite Heinlein books are: The Green Hills of Earth, Starman Jones, Double Star, Have Spacesuit Will Travel and Starship Trooper.

Re-cycled? Pre-cycled? It's definitely unique.

I've been reading Heinlein since I was a kid in the 60s, so a chance to listen to this book again and hear Spider's reading of it was something I looked forward to. The thing is, authors are not voice actors, so you have to take that into account and grade them on a curve. His singing was enthusiastic - after all, he did get David Crosby to write that song for him - but it was the vocal equivalent of Elaine's dancing in "Seinfeld." Hence, a drop of one star.

Something interesting to note. The idea of the meet-cute between hero and heroine on the dance floor followed by them whisking away to a secret home is the opening of a different Heinlein novel - The Number of the Beast. Authors will recycle ideas and use them elsewhere. I seem to remember a time-dilation love story as well in the Future History anthology.

Overall, I liked it. The plot was Heinlein-lite, but the writing style was definitely Spider. As expected, one part adventure, and then three parts hemming and hawing over why and whether that was a good idea. It's definitely an acquired taste - like fruit on pizza (pineapples and jalapenos - trust me on this). If you can get past that singing early on, it's definitely worth a listen.

Not Heinlein, but a great tribute

If you listen to this as a Heinlein book (as I started doing) you'll likely be disappointed. If you listen to it as what it is, a Spider Robinson book based on Heinlein's notes, (as I ended up doing) you'll probably love it.

Spider Robinson and the Heinlein Foundation didn't intend this to be a Heinlein book, so don't blame either if you try to make it that - it's pure Spider Robinson; however, I think he captures the the spirit of Heinlein throughout.

And yeah, he sings a bit, but come on it's not THAT terrible. Suck it up and just deal with the minute or two and enjoy the overall story. And yeah, there are the terrible Spider Robinson puns, but the same goes for those.

I did find one lengthy and very out of context current cultural reference extremely annoying. Almost to the point I stopped listening (I love what it is based on, but if you recognize it, you'll know what I mean); however, upon finding out Spider is now a Canadian citizen, I forgave him as the item in question should be a Canadian national treasure.

Bottom line, keep in mind what it really is and it's a great book.

enjoyable easy book

Heinlein's name drove the decision to purchase this book even though I knew that it was really written by Spider Robinson. The story is simple. The ending is happy, so to speak. All in all - I enjoyed listening to the story but it's not something I would go back again and again, like some other Heinlein's books.