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Double Star
 
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Double Star (Mass Market Paperback)

by Robert A. Heinlein (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
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Product Details

Product Description

From AudioFile

Lloyd James, a veteran narrator, surpasses himself in his dramatization of this classic science fiction novel. Reading in a clipped, expository style, he presents the story of Lorenzo Smythe, an out-of-work actor impersonating a high-ranking world leader, first on a short-term basis and then perhaps forever. Heinlein's characters are well drawn, and James uses accents, pacing, and diction to present each one as an identifiable individual. Addressing white-black prejudice in the U.S. in the '50s through Lorenzo's aversion to Martians, Heinlein is at his best, and James makes us believe and nearly smell their appalling odor. Will Lorenzo save galactic peace, or will chaos reign? S.C.A. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Product Description

One minute, down and out actor Lorenzo Smythe was -- as usual -- in a bar, drinking away his troubles as he watched his career go down the tubes. Then a space pilot bought him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knew, he was shanghaied to Mars.

Suddenly he found himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who had been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians was at stake -- failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war. And Smythe's own life was on the line -- for if he wasn't assassinated, there was always the possibility that he might be trapped in his new role forever!
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Customer Reviews

38 Reviews
5 star:
 (20)
4 star:
 (10)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (38 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
5.0 out of 5 stars Starring Novel, Feb 24 2009
By Dave_42 "Dave_42" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
Many of Heinlein's early novels are aimed at a younger audience, and those which aren't tend to be more light-hearted. "Double Star" falls into the latter category, with an unlikely premise and an unusual character as the narrator and hero of the story. Although, it is also difficult to call this an early novel considering he had 12 published prior to this one, and that is not counting his first novel which wasn't published until after his death. "Double Star" was published originally in "Astounding Science Fiction" from February to April of 1956, and then in book form later that year.

For me, this is one of his best early novels. He stays within the boundaries of the story, and doesn't rely on a "big surprise" to try to lengthen the plot. The hero is Lorenzo Smythe, an actor who has a rather high opinion of himself. He is engaged by Dak Broadback for a performance, but not a typical performance. Instead he is hired to be John Joseph Bonforte, the former Supreme Minister and leader of the opposition. Lorenzo will need to fool people who have known Bonforte for years, as well as many others, and worse yet he will need to be surrounded by Martians, whom he can't stand the sight or smell of.

The story is cleverly put together, obstacles arise as the result of politics and situations, but they are certainly believable within the context of the story being told. This had been a problem with his earlier novels, at least it was a problem for me. The story is a bit predictable, as Lorenzo is forced to continue the role longer and longer as new situations arise, but that didn't bother me as it was very enjoyable to read. This isn't going to rank as Heinlein's best, but it is a cut above most of his earlier novels. It is a enjoyable light read, and certainly a viable Hugo award winner from 1956. It has also been remembered on some fan polls ranking 44th on the 1987 Locus All-Time Poll for SF novels, and tied for 41st on the 1998 Locus All-Time Poll for SF novels from before 1990.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Loving Lorenzo, Jul 9 2004
By Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Lorenzo Smythe has to be one of the best examples of a character you love to loathe in the beginning, and winding up loving by the middle. The way that Smythe, like so many of Heinlen's first person narrators, reveals things about himself, sometimes inadvertently, is just as interesting as the stories he tells. "Double Star", as far as I'm concerned, is his Heinlen's virtuoso performance of narration, and a terrific plot to go with it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Classic, Jun 15 2004
By Charles J. Rector (Woodstock, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Double Star is a classic science fiction novel. It is about an actor who "fills in" for a kidnapped statesman. It is also a look at what could very well be the politics of our future. An Earth united under one government that grapples with the idea of peacefully merging with alien worlds even if that meant that humans would become a minority. Also, Heinlein's Martians are one of the most memorable races created by a SF author.

Double Star is a great SF novel.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This is why good authors respected RAH
When the book starts you can smell the scuz on Smythe. When it ends, you'll want to give him a statue.
Published on April 13 2004 by Jim-bob Furlbottom

3.0 out of 5 stars good, but...
This is a well-written, well-plotted story, as you would expect from such a respected author.

BUT

Personally, I have a problem with the story. Read more

Published on Dec 11 2003 by JP

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Heinlein's top three
The other two are _The Door into Summer_ and _The moon is a Harsh Mistress_. Heinlein also wrote a handful of near-great novels as well as some third-tier stuff that I don't care... Read more
Published on Sep 15 2003 by John S. Ryan

5.0 out of 5 stars Richly deserved its Hugo award
This is a crisp story, with action and intrigue from start to finish. Lorenzo Smythe is one of Heinlein's most engaging characters, and a real departure from the typical Heinlein... Read more
Published on Aug 4 2003 by Billy Hollis

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Heinlein
On the surface, one might think that Stranger in a Strange Land would be my favorite Heinlein novel. Okay, it was the most influential. Read more
Published on Dec 6 2002 by Noel Lynne Figart

5.0 out of 5 stars What Price, To Play the Boards?
The year is 1956. Eisenhower is in the White House, following a long line of military men to reach that post. Read more
Published on Dec 3 2002 by Patrick Shepherd

4.0 out of 5 stars The actor becomes his charachter
This is a book which I took a while getting around to read. For some reason the subject matter, combined with the cheesy cover picture just didn't do anything for me. Read more
Published on Nov 19 2002 by Rachel Watkins

4.0 out of 5 stars Heinlein's 1956 Hugo Award winning novel
While Double Star did win the Hugo Award for the best science fiction novel of 1956, I would not call it one of Heinlein's most important works, nor would I rate it as highly as a... Read more
Published on Nov 17 2002 by Daniel Jolley

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine and thoughtful novel of future politics
This is one of Heinlein's four Hugo-winning novels. A rather lightweight actor is shanghaied away from Earth and more or less forced to impersonate a kidnapped politician. Read more
Published on Jul 2 2002 by Gary M. Greenbaum

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing sitcom-ish story
Reading it from Smythe's point of view was the best part because he's relating his thoughts to the readers as he enters into a bizarre impersonation job. Read more
Published on Jan 24 2002 by Retesh D. Shah

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