By: Robert A. Heinlein Publisher: Del Rey Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Number of Items: 1 Publication Date: February 12, 1986 Release Date: February 12, 1986 Studio: Del Rey
Product Description: They called themselves the Galileo Club -- not a bad name for a group of space-minded young men who had high hopes of putting one of their homemade rocket ships in orbit. But it wasn't until they teamed up with Doc Cargraves that their impossible dream became an incredible reality. Suddenly the three Earthbound youths and their mentor were hurtling through space, heading for the barren wasteland of the Moon. Or so they thought. They were totally unaware that the dark crater shadows concealed a threat beyond their wildest imaginings . . . a threat from which only a mircale could save them!
Golly! I wish Heinlein had not used Nazies as his bad guys. ^ "Rocket Ship Galileo" was the first of Robert Heinlein's 'juvewniles'. I guess it was the mid-1950's when I first read it as a kid. The first 2/3 or 3/4 went great. But, even then, I wished Heinlein had not used Nazies as his bad guys. The Germans had been so crushed by the end of WWII that even a young kid felt that such a quick turn back to power-seeking was unlikely. Thus, minus one star.
But that beginning was terrific! It was a great adventure story. Fortunately, I had read one of Heinlein's other juveniles first. Also, I had read two of his short story collections. So, I was already hooked on Heinlein.
In the first two years I belonged to the library, I guess I read four or five dozen kids' books and eight to ten were Heinlein books. I still remember the Heinlein books but have almost entirely forgotten most of the other books. I think that says something about Heinlein. He did and still does make an impression!
This book is, now, very dated in language, customs, science, and other stuff. So, why don't I subtract a second star? Examine the propulsive system for this moon rocket. Have you seen anything like it in today's rockets? Yet, it is, still, a possibility! Also, the story is very realistic in many respects and does keep the reader's attention.
If I or a modern-day writer rewrote this novel for today's audience. I am not sure that there would be more than a bunch of minimal cosmetic changes. That ain't too bad for science fiction written sixty years ago!
Fabulous book, great audio CDs! ^ I've been a fan of Heinlein for most of my life... This audiobook hooked both 8-year-old and husband! :-)
The reader is highly competent and pleasant to listen to. Nice job on the character voices.
This book is holding up well, even though it was written a million years ago. Enjoyable dialog. Promotes math / physics / science to kids.
Dated but excellent effort from a great SF Author ^ Rocketship Galileo was the first novel in Robert A Heinlein's "Juvenile" series of science fiction books, which were his bread and butter from the late 1940's through the 1950's.
While not as polished in terms of narrative as his later works, and definitely reeking of strong Anti-Nazi / Anti-Totalitarian feelings on the part of the Author, this book really benefits from Mr. Heinleins' attention to details and his strong knowledge of celestial mechanics, physics, and astronomy.
Like all of his "juvenile" series of books, this story narrates the experiences of its teenage protaganoist(s) - in this case three rocket enthusiasts who, through the mentoring of the Uncle of one of the boys - Dr. Cargraves, build and pilot a Rocket to the moon, where they encounter and seek to overcome a nest of Nazi refugees bent upon reconquering the world.
I can't say that the plot is as mature, well-crafted, or subtle as is seen in the stories he wrote only a couple of years later, but it is a good story, fun to read, draws you in, and well illustrates the themes Heinlein consistently promoted in almost all of his works: how intelligence, self-reliance, and dedication can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Although I rate most of Heinlein's works as 5 stars, I feel that, given the strong feelings on then-current issues that Heinlein very explicitly allows to creep into the story (a fault he studiously avoids in later years), combined with his still maturing writing skills, I must give this book a rating of 4 stars - as an indication of the quality of the read, as well as an indicator of the greatness to come.
Those of you interested in the evolution of Robert Heinlein as an author should consider reading For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs, which was his first work: it was rejected by several publishing houses when he first wrote it in the late 1930's, and did not get published until several years after his death. In it you'll see the seeds of the themes and style you see in this book - which can be seen in most of the works he wrote throughout his career.
A Good Start...... ^ "Rocketship Galileo" by Robert A. Heinlein is his first novel. At the time it was written he had established himself as the arguably the foremost science fiction writer of his generation. This was done primarily through short stories and novellas. It was also the first in the series of novels he wrote for Charles Scribners Sons.
The Galileo Club, Art Mueller, Ross Jenkins and Morrie Abrams are high school seniors experimenting in rocketry. There latest experiment explodes and in the process of investigating the failure, they find a man injured and unconscious. Art realizes this is his Uncle, Dr. Donald Cargraves, Phd.
Dr. Cargraves is a nuclear physicist and veteran of the Manhattan Project. He realizes these precocious teenagers will be ideal assistants for his secretly planned trip to the moon. The details of how these juveniles and Dr. Cargraves convince their parents to allow their participation in this enterprise as well as the details of how they do it and their adventures on the moon is best left to the reader.
It certainly isn't the best of the Scribner series. It's not even close. But it is significant in his career none the less. It differs from the other novels in the series a number of ways. First it is the least speculative of the novels. It was actually set in the near future of when it was written - 1947. Also there is no single juvenile protagonist.
This book was the basis of the George Pal film "Destination Moon". Of course the movie doesn't resemble the book except for the Cargraves character and the rocket is nuclear.
This is an excellent example of what I call retro-science fiction. The future the way the author thought it might be. If you can, get an older version with cover, end papers and illustrations by Thomas Voter. Heinlein did his best to ensure things were as accurate as possible and it shows in illustrations and the story.
Rocket Ship Galileo ^ Although dated (and what isn't dated today), this is a great book by Heinlein. I remember finding this book in the school library when I was a kid and never forgot reading it from cover to cover. Now I am sharing it with my kids. Great adventure! Great times with my kids!
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