The Rolling Stones: Amazon.ca: Robert A. Heinlein: Books

Product Description

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8–Long before interplanetary exploration and a certain rock group, Robert A. Heinlein wrote this science fiction classic (Random, 1977). Mischievous teen twins Castor and Pollux Stone set the story in motion with a plan to make their fortune as space traders. Soon they are waving goodbye to their home on the Earth's moon and they're headed for Mars with their parents, sister, younger brother, and grandmother. The Stones are an intelligent, strong-willed clan, so there are squabbles during their months of weightless flight. Everyone pulls together when mother Edith's doctoring skills are needed for a nearby ship's epidemic and when grandmother and little brother are lost in the asteroid belt. In between emergencies, the twins' entrepreneurial skill help them sell the bikes they reconditioned while floating outside their spaceship and unload a horde of fertile felines called flat cats. The Stones end up headed for new destinations in the universe with renewed love and respect for each other. A well-chosen cast of 21 actors turns this half-century-old novel into a lively romp. Standouts in this pleasant company are Bill Molesky as the blustery dad and Caroline Fitzgerald as the feisty, but caring grandmother. Original music adds to the fine sound quality. Twenty-first century listeners can compare current information with Heinlein's speculation, or just enjoy this humorous family adventure. An additional purchase, but one that will be most welcome by science fiction fans in elementary, middle school, and public libraries.–Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Book Description

When the Stone twins made up their minds to leave Lunar City in a secondhand spaceship, they hadn't planned on having their whole family accompany them. But the Stones were not your ordinary Lunar family -- no way! -- and their voyage through the solar system sure proved it.

What began as a simple business expedition to Mars soon mushroomed into a dangerous situation when Grandma Stone was lost in space. Then, just when everything seemed to be getting better, a Martian flatcat came aboard and fouled up the works.

But the real trouble didn't get underway until the Stones headed for the asteroid belt to take up a mining proposition they, somehow, couldn't refuse . . .

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Coming-of-age in Space!, Sep 16 2003

By

Michael Daconta (Sierra Vista, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rolling Stones (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Rolling Stones" is a wonderful coming-of-age novel inside a family space romp. It has a loose-knit plot that mimicks an endless space adventure serial. The best part of the story is the rich set of characters in the Stone family: the red-headed, precocious teenage twins called Castor and Pollux, their older sister Meade, their younger brother Lowell , their grandmother Hazel (who carries a cough-drop dispensing sidearm), their mother Dr. Edith Stone and their father Roger Stone. The twins are the primary focus of the story but only because they get into the most trouble and do the most growing; however, the heart of the story is the family dynamics and some of the most enjoyable scenes occur when they all get into the act. The banter, wit and quips among this highly intelligent group are hilarious. Heinlein weaves this deftly with the hard science he is famous for. The novel instructs us on the details of space travel, navigation vectors, gravity wells and much more. Lastly, this short novella contains some classic gems of wisdom like the three stages of technology, the best way to earn money, who gets rich in a gold rush and what's more important than money. By far, the most well known quote is on the three stages of technology:

"Every technology goes through three stages: first a crudely simple and quite unsatisfactory gadget; second, an enormously complicated group of gadgets designed to overcome the short comings of the original and achieving thereby somewhat satisfactory performance through extremely complex compromise; third, a final proper design therefrom."

In conclusion, this short novel makes you wish you were aboard the ship called the "Rolling Stone" heading out with the Stone family towards adventure in the outer reaches of our solar system! Remember, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars There is just something about this book, Feb 7 2003

By

James H. McDuffie (Huntsville, Alabama United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Rolling Stones (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to admit this is just about my favorite Heinlein. It is about a family that does some really cool things together like visit Mars and the asteroid belt. They suffer some mishaps and adventures and have a generally great time. I like to think this will be possible one of these days. Too bad I won't live to see it. Like in the Tom Swift series, the family is able to buy supplies and craft that would put NASA under a strain. This juxtaposition of the impossible with the everyday possible is what makes this book both appealing and typically Heinlein. Although a Heinlein "juvenile" book I seem to enjoy it now as much as when I first read it many many years ago.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful adventure, July 16 2002

By

danakate "danakate" (Centreville, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rolling Stones (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been a Heinlein fan for years and although some of his work tends to be erratic, I thought this one was very fun. Heinlein manages to mix good, old-fashioned, science fiction with a smattering of galactic politics, family politics, basic physics, and just plain fun in a way that makes you think that the Stones would really exist in a not so distant future.

Each of the characters have distinct personalities (my favorite is Grandma Hazel) and Heinlein writes them so they play off and learn from each other. Some readers may find the technical aspects of how a ship works or the appropriate method to achieve an orbit tedious, but I think it adds a hint of reality. It's not so outlandish as to be totally unbelievable. Often, Heinlein will explain why something must be done in a particular way, and he also explains what happens if you don't. You know you're reading something fictional, but it's nice when the author tries to make you live in that fictional world, if only for a short while.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 17 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 41 reviews 4.5 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Fun
This novel is yet another Robert Anson Heinlein juvenile, whichw was written to target the young adult audience, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Read more

Published on Jun 29 2002 by rzaster

4.0 out of 5 stars One of his best juveniles
Heinlein wrote a lot of books for young adults ("juvies", as they were called then), and, throughout the years, they have done much to introduce many a teenager to... Read more

Published on Dec 19 2001 by Bill R. Moore