Red Planet

Robert Heinlein's vision of life on Mars in this book is, from a scientific standpoint, way off, but the story he tells of two young men fighting to keep that life safe for their family and friends (with help from some of the native Martians along the way) is an interesting, funny, exciting, and wholly enjoyable one. There's even a bit of a mystery along with all the atmosphere and adventure. This is the sort of Heinlein book that one can't help smiling at the thought of.

Heinlein just has such a wonderful way of showing his readers a whole fully-realized world, including the technologies, social structures, culture, and everything else, without ever seeming to have any exposition. It's just all there, and we understand it by watching the story unfold.

This book is a really quick read, both because it's easy and short and because it's so fun and interesting there's just no reason to put it down.

Jim Marlowe lives with his sister and parents on Mars. Jim's life inside the colony and his Martian adventures beyond its borders are the subject of Robert Heinlein's Red Planet.

The 1949 novel is vintage Heinlein. Characters rant about bureaucracy, regulations, and limitations on personal freedom (the unfettered right to bear arms is sacred), themes that reappear often in Heinlein's later work. Although Red Planet is characterized as a "juvenile"--and although I was thoroughly entertained by it when I read it as a teenager--the story retains enormous appeal for adult fans of science fiction. While lacking the complexity of Heinlein's later work, the novel showcases Heinlein's vivid imagination and his stalwart belief in the ability of individuals to meet challenges posed both by hostile environments and by muddle-headed humans. It has aged well. I would give it 4 1/2 stars if the store offered that option.

It is common consensus among sci fi writers that Mars will someday become colonised. It is not a stretch to predict that the first colonists will be soldiers or employees of a multinational corporation, and will take orders from their leaders on Earth. Eventually, however, as the number of settlers grows, they will demand some sort of autonomy. Based on human history, this is a logical train of thought, which various writers have turned into highly successful novels (e.g. Greg Bear and Kim Stanley Robinson). These modern works are linear descendents of this fine early Heinlein work.
Red PLanet follows the story of two teenage boys as they discover a plot by the multinational corporation that runs Mars (an oddly prophetic villain for a book written in 1949!) to restrict the rights of the free settlers. The book then chronicles the settlers' response as they fight for their "historic" rights. There is a subplot surrounding some Martian natives. All in all, it is a fun read, especially compared to Heinlein's other "juvenile" novel.
Of particular interest are the Martians and the politics of the human settlements. The Martians are eerily similar to those in "Stranger in a Strange Land," which is enough to interest any Heinlein fan. The politics are rather broadly painted (as expected for a juvenile book), and the settlers are the usual Heinlein heroes - gun-toting, freedom loving, all-American cowboys - but detailed enough for a modern adult to appreciate the historical analogy. Having said that, the book is heavily dated, especially in its "Leave It to Beaver" portrayal of women (ignoring Heinlein's own country's proud tradition of hardy pioneer women!). However, they are not fatal flaws, and I found myself flipping pages as quickly as I would with any modern Crichton or Clancy novel.

Among many other things, Robert A. Heinlein is the acknowledged master of what was once called "juvenile" science fiction. The books are of course just as enjoyable for adults. That's what's so great about them; they are fun, enjoyable little romps for all, and half a century later, they are still among the genre's best. Red Planet is one of the best. Bearing no relation to the recent (and far inferior) movie of the same name, it is truly original; written when few facts were known about Mars, the Master just let imagination run wild. And we're the better for it. This is one of his more serious juveniles in a way, raising substantial issues including strong morals and associated principles. It also has one of Heinlein's best alter egos -- Doc MaCrae. These issues don't cloud the entertainment as in some later books but give the story a lasting ring and legitimacy lacking in so many similar books by other authors. This is what made Heinlein great, and there are few finer examples of it than this book.

Despite the similarities, this is not a prequel either for Stranger in a Strange Land or for Podkayne of Mars. In the former case, there is an incident in common--the tale of the crew member who dislikes Martians and goes after him out of sight of others, and mysteriously vanishes. In the latter case, there is mentioned in Podkayne a Martian Revolution against Company offices. These are merely common incidents, this is not a prequel/sequel to either.
The plot has been detailed in other reviews, and I won't waste ink on it. It should be noted that after Heinlein's death, certain paragraphs that were stricken by Heinlein's editors at Scribner were reinserted. They don't add much to the plot, but are interesting to read--a discussion of gun rights, in which Heinlein alter-ego Doc MacRae expounds on the right to carry a gun, a short passage at the end in which we are told Willis will remain in pupahood for many years, until long after Jim is an adult, and a few other short passages.
This is a very good adventure book, with the kids showing resourcefulness and spunk to evade capture and/or death. It is less serious than other Heinlein juveniles--no "good guy" dies, for example. We are taught about loyalty, the importance about carrying out one's word and the importance of respect for the community, among many other virtues.
A few quibbles--what is on Mars that makes it profitable to have it run by Earth-bound corporations? Seems like Heinlein's ignoring economics to make his points.

I believe the first time I read this book was in 1957, at age 9. At the time I thought this was a great book, and some of the images that were painted in my mind while reading this stayed with me through all the intervening years. But time and science have marched relentlessly on since then, so I decided to look at this one again here in the 21st century. Alas, this book, unlike so many of Heinlein's other early novels, has not aged well. Revelations about the true conditions on Mars since this book was written push this book into the same fantasy realm as Burrough's Barsoom, and as the conditions on the planet form the underpinnings for all the action of this story, it severely detracts from the reader's willing 'suspension of disbelief'.

This is not to say that this is not a very good story, as it definitely meets all the requirements of a rollicking good read. Jim, his 'pet' Willis, and his friend Frank are two young men sent off to the Company sponsored school. Shortly after arriving there, a new headmaster is installed, who has very distinct ideas about what constitutes proper discipline, decorum, attire, and 'rights' the students should have. Naturally, this includes a 'no pets' rule, and Willis is 'confiscated'. While Willis is held prisoner, he gets to overhear an interesting conversation between the headmaster and the head of the Company. When the boys rescue Willis, due to Willis' ability to repeat verbatim whatever he has heard (complete with exact voice matches) they learn there is a plot afoot to disallow the migration that the colonists normally do each Martian year so they will not have to stay holed up throughout the Martian winter. How they manage to do something about this situation forms a fine adventure, and along the way we are introduced to the 'real' Martians. The Martians shown here are the same ones that later populate his Stranger in a Strange Land, complete with water-ceremonies and 'old ones', and are the most captivating items of this book.

Characterization is not excessively deep - it is very clear who are the good guys and who are not, and Willis makes a cute sidekick who has greater importance than is apparent at first glance. The human colony 'society' is not very well fleshed out (unusual for Heinlein), and in a couple of places this is irritating, with its assumptions of 'Ozzie and Harriet" family structures and the place of women in society.

For a young reader, the dating of this book shouldn't really be a problem - this is still a great adventure in a captivating setting. Adults may have more problems with this, but anyone looking for a little more about the Martians of Stranger in Strange Land should certainly give this book a look.

"Red Planet" By Robert Heinlein is a fun sci fi adventure. One needs to remember that the Mars Heinlein envisions is not the same as what is known from science today, but that is what Science FICTION is about, right? The character Willis is quite entertaining. This novel should be considered in a similar genre to the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars books. The only downside I found in "Red Planet" was the tendency of Heinlein to not write effectively about women. The women in this book are all set as cooks or cleaners, and the character development is lacking for the females in the story.

My free time lately has been greatly taken over by Borderlands - so this was "read" entirely on the treadmill at the gym.

I wouldnt say it was Heinlein's best, but it was still really good. More than once I found myself going past the hour I intended, just to get a little further along in the story
It gave the feeling of an outer space Tom & Huck, not that there were a lot of exact literal transposition, it just had a similar feel.

While listening, I couldnt help thinking that this must be a favorite of Ben Bova, it seemed an easy leap from Red Planet to Bova's Mars Trilogy. Not to say Bova's was derevitive, just easy to spot the inspiration.

All in all, this is a VERY worthwhile read for young and old and all points in between.

great read for teens or anyone interested in early Sci-Fi works from the grand master. Written in the mid fifties, much of what was futuristic may have come to pass already, except we have not made the jump to Mars, other than probes. I read this book in HS, along with any other of his works I could find,as they are GREAT stories. NO bad language, no off color dialogue,and at that time it sparked imagination and interest in science as well as physics. NOT as in-depth as Asimov, not as fanciful as Norton, but clearly in the genre' of classic Sci-Fi. For anyone with interest in writing of this type, it is a must read, and for shear entertainment.....yes.

I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Heinlein's type of science fiction in general. The two books of his that I formerly read, Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers, both were based on interesting concepts, but fell victim to the author's preschoolish philosophies of religion and the military, respectively. While Red Planet is not entirely devoid of this type of analysis, its use is certainly limited in his so called "juvenalle" novel.
My interest in reading this book actually started when I was in sixth grade. Our class had to read Red Planet for an assignment. I think that there was even a cartoon series on Fox based on it. I don't remember liking the book a great deal then, but at that time I can't say that I had read a lot of sophisticated literature in general. I never did finish the book for school, and forgot about it for several years. I didn't know who Robert Heinlein was at the time, nor did I immediately make a connection with his later work that I read.
I guess about two years ago, I had a chance to see the horrible movie Red Planet for free. I was somewhat excited to see it, believing that I might be based on the book of the same title, but was sadly mistaken. I made me remember that I had never actually finished the book. I found it on the store, and later bought a copy.
I was originally surpized that the book was written by Robert Heinlein. After reading Stranger in a Strange Land, I though that his literature was mainly scifi that was used as a tool for this philosophies. Fortunately, this is not as much the case in Red Planet. While the story does contain several right wing message about the right to bear arms, and is obvisously a story about political autonomy, its core still contains and interesting and likable story. In my personal opinion, the book has more actual action and adventure that Starship Troopers, and a lot fewer, drawn out passages about Heinlein's personal beliefs. And there are Martians as well, unlike in Stranger in a Strange Land.
If you are not a fan of Heinlein, this novel is still quite enjoyable. It is somewhat childish compared with his other work, but this aspect adds to its universal appeal to all ages.

Heinlein wrote a number of "juvenile" science fiction novels before he started on the "more serious" work of his later years. "Red Planet" can be thought of as a prequel to Heinlein's first "serious" work, "Stranger in a Strange Land". The Martian society of "Red Planet" is one and the same as the Martian society of "Stranger in a Strange Land". Heinlein's earlier "juvenile" work is far, far better than his later "serious" writings with their turgid stories, pseudo-philosophical musings, and disturbing moral views. Stick to the juveniles: "Red Planet", "Citizen of the Galaxy", "Starman Jones", "Tunnel in the Sky", "Have Spacesuit Will Travel", etc.

Considering this was published in 1949, Heinlein proves yet again that history repeats itself. Ignore the idiosyncratic language of the 40's; better yet, enjoy it for the sake of the evolution of American English. Focus on the concepts that are current in today's political environment...gun control, freedom, government oppression and corporate greed. Add racism to the list and you have a book that could incite a revolution. Heinlein is always a pleasure to read and this novel is perhaps more relevant today than the year it was published.

This is the story of Jim and Willis and their relationship to each other and to the Martians and colonists. It is a story of corporate wrongdoing and a tale of independence. But most of all it is the tale of a boy and his "pet". A Heinlein classic of the first rank. Once again Heinlein interweaves the impossible with the everyday in a way that makes the reader long for a world that will never exist. It is that combination along with the use of average men that rise above themselves as heroes that makes Heinlein appeal to such a wide audience. Also note that this book was written in 1949 yet discusses terraforming.

An early juvenile novel by Heinlein. A solidly written book that has worn relatively well. An enjoyable adventure story set around an Earth colony on a Mars with water, canals, ancient Martians, and an ancient Martian civlization. For Heinlein fans, aspects of this book prefigure 2 of Heinlein's best novels, Stranger in A Strange Land and The Moon is A Harsh Mistress.

Marlow and his strange-looking Martian friend Willis were allowed to travel only so far. But one day Willis unwittingly tuned into a treacherous plot that threatened all the colonists on Mars, and it set Jim off on a terrfying adventure that could save--or destroy--them all!
***** Another one for the Heinlein Collector! A young colonist on Mars befriends a strange round creature called Willis who gets him into trouble when he goes away to school, but whose presence and friendship finally enable the colonials to negotiate a treaty with the Martians. *****

Wow! All I can say is this is a really neat book. Its interesting to see what someone who wrote a book in 1949 thought of the future. This book takes just minutes before you become totally engulfed. The fast moving plot will get you to the end of the book in no time (not that you actually want to get there). The characters are so fascinating and have so much depth, you feel like they are your next-door-neighbor. You'll find yourself wishing you had a little Willis for a pet (he was my favorite part).

Simply put, RAH was the most influential writer on my teenage character development. He had MANY classics!

(But, after "Stranger..", he started to lose it. But that's another story.)

I recently reread "Red Planet" for the umpteenth time, and am AGAIN AWED at how brilliant it is in narrative and concept!

Masquerading as a "juvenile" book, "Red Planet" is superb literature!

Followed up by "Podkayne..." and "Between Planets".

When the Master was good, he was VERY good.

When I was in fourth grade, a few years ago(I'm 11, just out of sixth grade), one of my freinds told me I should read Starship Troopers. I loved it so much that I looked for as many other books as I could find. A few I didn't read, because they looked like romance. The others, including Red Planet, I read. Red Planet was my favorite. It was so good, I read it in two days.(Mind you I was in fourth grade)I loved the Willis so much, everything on the web(e-mail,web page, etc.) that is mine, is named after him. You'll love the book. The best I've ever read.

Marlow and his strange-looking Martian friend Willis were allowed to travel only so far. But one day Willis unwittingly tuned into a treacherous plot that threatened all the colonists on Mars, and it set Jim off on a terrfying adventure that could save--or destroy--them all!
***** Another one for the Heinlein Collector! A young colonist on Mars befriends a strange round creature called Willis who gets him into trouble when he goes away to school, but whose presence and friendship finally enable the colonials to negotiate a treaty with the Martians. *****

Red Planet is classic Heinlein, with interesting characters and a good message, but as a kids book, the plot is pretty thin and doesn't have much development, and the ending is very abrupt.
One gets the impression that Heinlein had a page limit. This would've been a better book if it was longer.

This one novelis most cited by avid science fiction fans as one of their first science fiction books, a book that changed them into readers. Why? They were usually attracted by the bold color of the book in the library, but the master of science fiction was able to paint a very vivid image of an alien planet. If you are ten you can imagin the adventure happening to you, if you are 60 you wish the adventure happend to you. Science fiction at its best.

The first time I read this I was in fourth grade. It was a warm summer day and the library smelled odd. The book had a red hardcover with a gold outline of a boy in a spacesuit. It was dirty, probably dropped by the last kid who took it out. But it was about living on Mars, and we had not even landed on the Moon yet, so this was a true fantasy. I took it home and read it in one sitting, then I read it again. My son looks forward to reading this soon, too! A classic!

Red planet was one of three volumes which introduced the penetrating future visions of Robert Heinlein to my young mind.

In 1967, Red Planet, Have Space Suit Will Travel, and Citizen of the Galaxy, were just the intoxicant, like jasmine & sandel wood

inscense, these short "children's" novels introduced a warm world of 50's sensibility infused with the pungent unknowingness of a post-nuclear world ready to fly in to space.

Like tiny needles, sewing human pathos into the solar system and galaxy, Heinlein constructs worlds of adventure and insight as his young protagonists come of age in each book.

Red Planet is not only most interesting for the exotic setting and archane ritual of Mars and the Martians, but also,becuase it is a natural primer to Heinlein's later semenal work, Stranger in a Strange Land. Red Planet is a great introduction to Heinlein's genious in bites sized portions.

I read this book as a young boy. Not an avid reader at the time and desperately trying to find a book that I could fake-out a book report for school. To my surprise I actually read the whole thing (Since then I have read it several times). This was my first R.A.H book. It holds a special place in my heart. I'm sure RED PLANET can still captivate a young mind as it did me... Realizing that reading isn't such a bad thing after all

In all fairness to Kim Stanley Robinson's beyond excellent Mars trilogy and all the other fine writers who have tackled Mars in a realist fashion, there's that little Golden Age part of me that prefers romps like this one, where the story isn't as much as slave to science and fun rules the day. In Heinlein's day nobody really knew anything about Mars so a story like this where Mars is fairly run over with creatures (including the adorable ball of fur Willis) didn't cause anyone to bat an eye. And it shouldn't cause today's readers to put it aside either, its a fun and fast read that hits all the right notes and will entertain you throughout. Young adult Jim is going to school on Mars with his pet Willis when they discover something that might harm his fellow colonists back home, he and his friend Frank go through what seems like a million adventures, each one more fantastic than the last, before eventually saving the day. Yes, it's a book for the young adult in you, but Heinlein sticks plenty of stuff in here to appeal to us older folk. Granted he also loves to stick in his politics, there's plenty of "Guns make you a man" arguments running around (which I can stomach here moreso than the "letting the army kick the crap out of you makes you a man" argument in later novels) along with other issues like that but they don't get in the way of the book at all. The good guys are good the bad guys are bad and Heinlein's imagination is in full force, even the obligatory cutesy alien that winds up being far more than a cutesy alien is used to good effect here and while Jim indulges in that overly breezy dialogue we've come to know and love, none of the characters strike me as annoying (unlike the Star Beast where they all annoyed me), which is a good thing. The Martians are extremely well done, coming off as both human and alien at the same time, blessed with a culture we can barely strike the tip of. The cover of my edition trumpets that it's the "complete, uncut novel" and while that may have had some relevance for Stranger in a Strange Land, what the heck could they have cut out, it's not that long a book in the first place. Those looking for sophisticated examinations of complex issues aren't going to find that here but those who just want a fun time and a good read can do worse with this, that's for sure. There's a reason why people considered him a master before Stranger in a Strange Land.

Red Planet is a very good book. I really enjoyed reading it. It was very complicated and exciting. Half of the plot is kept from you untill the last 4th of the book. That's when it gets really exciting! You discover that many secrets have been kept from you, and you meet many new characters. All in all this book is one of the very best books I have ever read, and I suggest it to everyone in the world!

The Red Planet is a fantastic youth fiction science fiction work. If anything, it explores the differences between tribes (in this case, Earthlings and Martians) and how they can relate to each other. A great starter drug for Science Fiction addicts.

I read this first when I was in 6th grade. Mr. Heinlein's sci-if adventures captivated me then and re-reading them a half century later brings back a wonderful mix of nostalgia and pleasure. My grandchildren will be reading his works soon!

This book a 10??? Probably not with all things considered, but this was one of the two books that got me into SF back when I was a teenager. (The other was The Stars are Ours by Andre Norton). This is fun and will spark the imagination even though Pathfinder has yet to find a canal or a "willis." Do your kids a favor, get them this book to read

Learn about the native life and what going away to school means to a couple of boys on Mars. Heinlein makes life on Mars seem real and quiet normal - in a Martian sort of way. This is an less edited version than the one I loved as a child and just as exciting.

The book is the original text as it was written before it was edited (censored) for a 1950s audience. It was interesting to see the exapmle of the edit at the end of the book. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the story.

I thought this book was so cool! I loved Willis and I liked how he and his 'boy' got into so many problems and back out. How robert Heinlein descriebed living in bubbles on mars made it sound realistic and interesting. I really recomend this book for anyone who likes to read.

I'm not impressed with this book. It was written quite a while ago. It's not as true to life as most of Heinlein's work... this is just low-brow work for him...

Don't read it. It's not worth your time.