Citizen of the Galaxy (Heinlein's Juveniles Book 11)

What can I say.
I've loved this book since high school when I first read it.
I really is a good look at the society we live in and how many thing that seem like they're disparate are really all part of a much larger web.
A good read for anyone that like science fiction or insight into how the world operates.

When I first read this as a young man in the late 1970s, it immediately became one of my favorite stories. What's not to like for a 13-year-old? A penniless young man battling his way to prominence by force of his will and his wits - and a large helping of luck.

In a fit of nostalgia, I re-read the novel recently. The first half is still as good as I remember, but the second half suffers a bit with time. Most notably, the way the author paints one of the lead female characters is dated - think "Mad Men" with it's "women are pretty airheads without a head for business but great at entertaining". That was the reality of the world when Heinlein wrote the story, so I cut him enormous slack.

Anyway, still a great read!

This is my favorite book of all time. I believe it to be Heilein's best work of Science Fiction. He developes a very interesting story that is never boring for a minute. It contains a lot of Heinlein's views of morality. I leaves you with hope that good will triumph in the end. This is the fifth copy of this book that I have bought. This book is never returned when I lend it out.

FIRST OFF: I LEAVE NO SPOILERS!!!. As of yet, what I've read of Heinlein has been more adventure Sci-Fi, and this is, but it is also a very dark story even for the 'juveniles' series. It has it's sorrow,hope,disgust,and the responsibility of a young man who is so determined to do what Pop says. 'Pop', is Baslim the cripple,our protagonists(Thorby)master, bought as a slave and taught the ways of the beggar lifestyle on planet Jubbul and that being a slave doesn't mean you can't be free. The most prominent trait I read in this book is the ability to become a 'man' so to speak and how far you will take that opportunity when given. Thorby,our main character is magnificently brought to life through Heinlein's writing, so much so that you really care for him and his adventures. From his change from caste to caste and his journey through the galaxy on the family ship 'Sisu',to outlandish planets which put him through many changes in social status and his desire to become a free man. A great journey and another classic for Heinlein. The reasoning behind my 3 and a half rating is that the younger fans of his work may find it to dark and somewhat lacking in its flow of other Heinlein 'juveniles'. Although it deserves a read as it it gives us a look into the mind of a slave,a outlaw and perhaps a citizen of the galaxy.

Though the ending disappoints me (to be fair, it'd take another book to end it properly) this is an excellent read. It's interesting to note how much of Spider Robinson's "Variable Star" (a collaboration between Robinson and Heinlein's notes) comes from this book.
I think nearly all of Heinlein's work is available digitally, and I'm so happy about that. I re-read nearly every Heinlein from time to time, and having them available any time, any where, is terrific, not to mention opening them to new readers.

Robert Heinlein has been my Hero since around 1970 something, . Since I first discovered him. He was my introduction to this genre of reading and I havent ever been disappointed in anything of his that I have read. All his books are absolutely superb in my opinion.

Jack Smith

In an age where freedom and liberty are taken for granted, this book is more relevant then ever.

Thought provoking and approachable, it should be required reading for all members of a free society so they can understand the value of their citizenship

Heinlein is a sci fi classic author and it has taken me until now to make time for this wonderful story. A young protagonist who is both talented and relatively innocent who plans to stay that way. Those who love an underdog story will find this one fits the bill. I have heard complaints from other readers about the ending but with out making this into a space opera and then scaring away the young people it seems to call to, this ending fits. I won't say more. I really enjoyed this easy to read story by the master.

This was one of Heinlein’s juvenile books from the 1950s. It’s the tale of a young slave, Thorby, rise from the very bottom of society – a beggar’s slave – to the pinnacle of corporate wealth and power. I confess my motivation for reading this was that someone compared a bit of my own work to it, so I thought I would go check it out. I hadn’t read any Heinlein in perhaps 20 years, so I figured it was time to look again.

It was okay. Mostly, it simply didn’t age well. Maybe it was that it had been written as juvenile, which back in the 1950s was aimed quite a bit lower than today’s Young Adult fiction, or maybe it was merely that SF and narrative styles have changed a lot in 60 years. There were a number of sociological ideas that were belabored in a “Hey, look at my cool idea” way. That was fairly common in the early love affair between science fiction and libertarianism, but it’s kind of dated now. Also, the narrative style was a somewhat clutzy omniscient POV, which has fallen out of favor in the last few decades. As such, it robbed the story of the kind of punch-in-the-gut immediacy that I’ve come to enjoy in current fiction.

Nonetheless, it painted a broad canvas for humanity, and took our young Thorby through quite a bit of it. It did, however, end on something of a cliffhanger. Sure, things are more or less resolved, but there’s this big, fat challenge sitting out in front of our hero, and then the tale ends. As far as I know, he did not write a sequel, so it’s just left hanging.

So, I think that for its intended audience of kids in the 1950s, it was spot-on. Today, less so.

I've enjoyed Citizen since I was a kid, and I ordered this because it's very rare to see Heinlein's works in hardback. In fact, I have about 30 Heinlein books, and only one in hardback (well, 2 now). BUT, this edition is essentially the normal paperback with a different cover; it's the same size as the paperback and the same pulpy paper (and the type goes too close to the binding). If you're buying this just to replace your paperback version, it's probably not worth it.
Update: the store has now changed the description from "Hardcover" to "Library Binding"

I found the majority of the book very entertaining, but the ending took a twist I found both surprising and unsatisfying. Let me just say, had Mr. Heinlein written a sequel I would have gone for it immediately to find out what my character had become and how he took advantage of his incredible good fortune (literally).

A good read and typical Heinlein. Characters are great, the setting is believable, and the plot moves quickly. My only gripe would be the pace is almost too quick. Still, the character moves along as Heinlein examinines the relationship of the individual and society in the context of larger organizations such as empires, neighborhoods, and families.

I've read an awful lot of science fiction over the years, including my share of Robert Heinlein. This book, which follows the life of a former child slave from the tutelage of a kindly "beggar" to the pinnacle of society, is pretty standard fare. Nothing really to distinguish it from hundreds of others. It is relatively short and moderately entertaining. You can buy it at an airport bookstore and consume it over the course of 4-5 hours in flight.

After starting, I realized that I had read this novel as a kid, decades ago. I enjoyed this revisit to my childhood. It is classic gentle science fiction from the 1960's. This novel is about an orphan who was sold on a distant planet as a slave. He is freed and adopted, and travels to different worlds as a young adult. I most recommend this to young adults who enjoy science fiction. This is dated, but that is part of the fun of this novel. I remember when I read this, making the connection between that sci-fi world and issues of classism and racism in the real world. Those themes remain relevant. Heinlein was not wise enough to see the sexism in his world, and it remains in his vision of the future. Some of the technology pieces are amusing, too, with spaceship pilots using a slide rule and checking answers with a calculator. Heinlein writes appealing characters, and the dialog is good. This is a sweet story that still has some appeal. I listened to the audiobook, and the reader was perfect for this novel.

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

Robert A. Heinlein’s best books are those he wrote for kids, and Citizen of the Galaxy is one of the best of those. Originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction in 1957, this is an anthropological adventure story with strong libertarian and anti-slavery themes.

We first meet Thorby, a young belligerent orphaned slave boy, as he has just landed on an unfamiliar planet and is on the auction block. Nobody wants him — he’s too feisty — but he is eventually sold for a pittance to Baslim, a man who appears to be a crippled beggar. Despite Baslim’s kind treatment, it takes a while for Thorby to warm up, but once he does he discovers that Baslim is more than he seems. Under Baslim’s tutorage, Thorby becomes an accomplished and very well educated beggar.
Eventually Thorby must leave his new home, but the knowledge and connections he received from Baslim serve him well. After much travel, adventure, contact with many diverse cultures and customs, and after several changes in status and lifestyle which allow him to experience the entire spectrum of class, Thorby would seem to be a completely different person than the boy we met on page one. But Thorby never forgot that auction block and, realizing that this is what education and freedom are for, he sets out to make the world a better place for future orphaned slave boys.

As with so many of his “Juveniles,” Heinlein’s Citizen of the Galaxy captures the reader’s imagination from the very first page with characters, setting, and circumstances that are totally compelling and a plot that races along. Heinlein’s young protagonists are delightful kids (why can’t he write such delightful protagonists in his adult novels?) and their problems feel so real. Thorby deals with abandonment, loneliness, distrust, bullying, lack of identity, and the feeling that there is no place in the universe where he belongs.

Heinlein’s Juveniles feel less dated to me than his adult novels do. I think that’s because in his stories for kids, Heinlein seems to always include strong women in leadership positions, despite the fact that he probably knew very few, if any, back in the 1940s and 50s. However in his novels for adults, most of his women are bimbos. I suppose that’s because he was writing those novels for adult men (surely his biggest audience) and, therefore, these women are filling sexual roles. In contrast, the women, even those in high power positions, all have a motherly cast in his Juveniles. I’m pretty sure this is the main reason I dislike so many of Heinlein’s adult novels but still love the ones I read when I was a kid.

I listened to Blackstone Audio’s version of Citizen of the Galaxy which was read by Grover Gardner. He’s become one of my favorite readers since listening to him narrate all the MILES VORKOSIGAN books last year. I love his voice and he’s a great storyteller, using the perfect inflections and cadence to make the story flow quickly and effortlessly along. I highly recommend Citizen of the Galaxy in this format.

This is one of Robert Heinlein Juvenile Science Fiction novels written in 1957. The fact that is 58 years old and the fact that it was written for young boys are two facts I had a hard time believing as I read this complex, but highly entertaining story of one boys journey from slave to one of the most important men in the universe.

Thorby the lead protagonist boyhood is told as he lives among four completely different cultures. When the book opens he is slave . He is sold to a crippled beggar who is secretly much more. Next he boards a spaceship and becomes a part of a trader society. Then he becomes part of military organization. Finally he returns to Earth to find out that he is an important member of a powerful giant corporation.

The book deals with Economics, Poltics, Morality, Freedom and many complex issues that might not be easily digested by adults let alone minors.

I listened to Blackstone Audio version which is excellently narrated by Grover Gardner . The only jarring problem I found is he uses many multinational accents to represent different alien races. So you might here an alien with a middle eastern accent or an extraterrestrial with a southern drawl.

Highly Recommended

Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein (1957)

Heinlein give us yet another terrific yarn with “Citizen of the Galaxy”. He introduces us to one of his most enduring characters, Baslim the Cripple, even though Baslim leaves the story half way through. Thorby, a dirty, skinny and ill used, can't be much passed six or seven. His exact age can't be determined, he doesn't know and starvation and hardship have stunted him. Nevertheless, Balsim buys the boy at a slave auction for a pittance.
Balsim of course has more to him than anyone might guess. He raises Thorby and teaches him the beggars trade. And much more. In his hideout deep in the ruins of Jubblpore, capital of the Nine Planets. By the time Thorby is pretty much too big, too healthy and too fit to be a successful beggar, he knows a surprising amount of math and a handful of languages. He is a good boy, smart and with a grasp of the rarity of opportunity and the advisability of taking advantage of such when the time arrives.
Heinlein wrote this first as a serial in Astounding Science Fiction and immediately afterward it came out as one of the periodic juveniles published by Scribner. We would call this kind of book a Young Adult book today.
Heinlein teaches his young readers to be suspicious of government, a common thread of his books. He also teaches that relying on one's own skills, knowledge and determination comes out far ahead of depending on anyone else to advance one's place in life. Hard work, brain sweat over school books and a drive to succeed are the components to a happy life.
I liked “Citizen of the Galaxy” a lot. Buy one for any youngster on young gift list and another for the library at the local middle school.

Citizen of the Galaxy (1957) is the eleventh SF story in the Juvenile series, following Time for the Stars. It is set in the mid future, centuries from now. Humanity has long ago spread to stars.

The Hegemony stretches almost five hundred lightyears from Earth in every direction. At the periphery, the Hegemonic Guard fights piracy and slavery, but at the center few know of these social ills. The Exotic Corps spends lives in hope of abolishing slavery within the next two centuries.

In this novel, Thorby is a slave newly shipped to Jubbal in the Nine Worlds. He doesn't know where he is and doesn't really care. He just wonders who his next master will be.

Baslim the Cripple is a beggar in Jubbalpore, the capitol of Jubbal and the Nine Worlds. He has only one eye and one leg, but is reputed to be the wisest man in the city.

In this story, Baslim is present when Thorby is put on the block. The previous item -- two young and pretty girls who might have been twins -- had stimulated a brisk bidding war. But Thorby is nothing special and the customers are encouraging the auctioneer to get on with it. He tries to get some bids, but nobody is interested in Thorby.

The auctioneer finally asks for any bid and Baslim offers two minims. The auctioneer is offended at the very small bid, but other customers remind him of his words. Since the auction cannot proceed without at least three bids, a small spurt of offers runs the price up to nine minims. Tax on the sale is more than the final bid.

Though Thorby tries to run away, Baslim keeps a hold on him until they reach Baslim's apartment under the old arena. Once there, Baslim dons a prosthetic leg and makes supper. Thorby tries to run again, but the door is securely locked.

Baslim seats Thorby and serves supper, but the boy is too busy eyeing the door to eat. So Baslim opens the door and tells Thorby that he can leave if he desires. Thorby bolts out the door while Baslim is eating. After a while, Thorby reappears at the door; where else can he go in this strange and hostile environment?

Baslim invites him back in and serves him a heaping plate of food. After Baslim cleans up the mess from the overfull boy, he gives him a more frugal meal appropriate for the half-starved youth. Baslim leaves the door unlocked when they lie down to sleep in the single bed.

Baslim teaches Thorby many things about Jubbalpore. He also teaches the boy mathematics, history and other academic subjects. More important, he teaches Thorby how to observe and retain information.

Thorby runs errands for Baslim all over the city. Later he sees Baslim dressed as a noble, with both eyes and legs. Thorby soon suspects that something is different about his master, but he also understands that others are not to be told about Baslim's affairs.

This tale eventually takes Thorby away from Jubbal. He travels with Baslim's Free Trader friends and joins the Hegemonic Guard. Then he finds out whom he had been before becoming a slave.

This story is much further down the timeline than the other Juvenile novels, which are usually set in the near future. Many of Earth's colony worlds are now independent polities and have been for centuries. Also, the Hegemony has established treaty relationships with many alien cultures.

Highly recommended for Heinlein fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of future societies, exotic cultures, and the development of an innocent young male. For those who have not previously read this series, the initial volume is The Rocketship Galileo.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Robert A Heinlein was not called the "Dean of Science Fiction Writers" for nothing: like most (if not all) of his other books, in "Citizen of the Galaxy" he takes a concept - in this case slavery: deconstructs and analyzes it in many different ways, and presents his thoughts on each aspect of it to us in the context of a compelling and entertaining story.

The story centers on Thorby: a boy perhaps in his early teens, and of unknown parentage, who enters the story as a rebellious and angry young slave on the auction block. We follow his life through several major transitions as he is bought, then educated and finally freed by "Baslim the Cripple", a beggar with mysterious and very un-beggar-like qualities; through his escape from Baslim's murderers to live with the galaxy-roving "Free Traders". Then, after a brief stint in the military, he returns to Earth where he learns of his own origins and heritage, and eventually how and perhaps why he was sold into slavery. He also learns who Baslim really was, and finally takes on what he learns was Baslim's true mission as his own.

To me, like most of his books, one of the most interesting aspects of this story is how Heinlein illustrates and expands upon his central theme in so many different ways: At first we see Thorby in the role of a classic slave, with a master - Baslim, but with a twist, as Baslim is a man who bought Thorby purely because he detests slavery - and teaches Thorby that what makes a man free is his mind, not whether another claims to own and control his body in a physical sense.

Then, when Thorby finds his way to the Free Traders, we see a society that claims to be freer than any other in history - which is true in that they roam the entire galaxy at will - going where they want, when they want, without constraint. But, their life-long and crowded existence onboard their spaceships has created a society where tradition, familial, and social constraints limit them in ways more profound and limiting then Thorby had ever experienced before.

When he finally returns to Earth, Thorby finds that his place is at the pinnacle of power, wealth and fame - yet his wealth and power present new challenges: constraining his freedom in new and even more difficult to challenge ways.

In each of these situations, we see how Thorby uses the talents, skills and freedom he finds within himself, which Baslim had nurtured and trained, to overcome the challenges he is faced with: we also see how those around him are enslaved in ways both more subtle and more profound than Thorby had been when he had been "owned" by Baslim.

Heinlein presents slavery as a great evil that must be conquered and eliminated, and as a societal disease that can and will take root and flourish in many ways, in almost any society. He also shows us that slavery is less about the physical constraints and more about the enslavement of one's mind and spirit.

Through the experiences of Thorby, Heinlein shows us that true freedom exists only when a person is able to free their mind and rise above the shackles and constraints their day to day existence places upon them. That slavery is not just about the physical enslavement and exploitation of one person by another, but about enslavement of the mind and spirit.

As a teen, I did not find this particular book as appealing as I did most of the other works of young adult fiction written by Heinlein in the 1950's, such as "Between Planets", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", and "The Rolling Stones". Yet, now that I have re-read "Citizen of the Galaxy" as an adult, I find it to be a more mature, richer, thoughtful, subtle and thought-provoking work than many of his earlier work: I highly recommend it.

This novel is one of Heinlein's early works (one of the so-called juvenile novels) and presents a study of personal freedom. The main character, Thorby, begins the story as a slave on a distant world. As a boy, Thorby is sold to a crippled beggar, Baslim, who teaches him the ways of the street and also does his best to give Thorby a more formal education. Baslim is much more than he seems though as we slowly find out as the story develops. He (Baslim) has an unusual interest in the comings and goings of various spacecraft, and this interest ultimately gets him killed. He has setup an escape route for Thorby who uses it to get off planet, which is when his adventure really begins. Thorby travels through the galaxy ultimately returning to Earth to discover his true past.

The main theme of this book (besides being an entertaining adventure story on its own) is freedom. Thorby starts as a slave, but throughout the story he spends time in various situations in which his economic position is greatly improved, but in which he is does not really have more freedom. After escaping from Sargon, he becomes a crewmember of a ship that travels form planet to planet buying and selling merchandise. Thorby's lot in life has certainly improved, but the laws and customs aboard the Sisu are very restrictive in his own right. It later turns out that Thorby is actually the heir to a vast fortune, but even this is not all that it is cracked up to be as now he must fight scheming relatives to retain control of it, and he is a practical slave again to the business to maintain it. Like most of Heinlein's juveniles, this story can be read on several levels. At its simplest level, this story is a decent adventure/sci-fi story about a young boy becoming a man and finding his place in the world. On a deeper level, my personal view is that Heinlein was trying to express that there are many forms of servitude, and great wealth doesn't necessarily make one free. Freedom to choose and taking responsibility for one's decisions are themes that run throughout Heinlein's work. Oftentimes we must choose to sacrifice our freedom for the greater good (i.e. in military service or providing for a family), but the individual has the right to choose when and how and under what conditions he will voluntarily sacrifice his/her freedom.

This is one of Heinlein's better novels, but certainly not in the same category as `Starship Troopers' or `Tunnel in the Sky'. Given that this is a juvenile, the discussions of the basic theme of freedom in this book has been watered down (certainly in comparison to some of his later works). The story/plot itself is only just OK, the story is initially very compelling, but becomes unimaginative and falls apart at the end (maybe RAH got tired of this and wanted to work on something else?). Definitely worth a look though.

In a slavery auction a young boy is offered for sale. He has no manners, he has been slave for all of his life and has whip scars to remind him of his previous masters. At first possible chance, the boy has already decided, he will escape. None of the nobility caste is willing to make offers for this rugged boy. At outskirts, an old beggar makes ridiculously small offer and the boy gets finally sold. The beggar takes the boy under his wings and educates him little by little. But the boy starts to see that the beggar is not quite what meets the eye. But he doesn't yet comprehend the connections and the complexity of events involved.

Meet Thorby (the slave boy), Balsim (the beggar who adopted the boy), the Space Traders clan empire which will be the boy's next escape route after Balsim's violent death and the Space Guard where he learn military code and Terra, where his roots are finally revealed.

It is said that this book is one of the Heinlein's early (1957) juvenile books. The story is a conventional adventure in space where boy has no control of his destiny. Things happen, he is forced to follow path shown in front of him; escape from one situation to another (one 3-star reviewer didn't like him depicted as pinball bouncing in the Galaxy). We follow how young boy becomes a man, we follow how he clashes from one culture to another. He needs to unlearn old ways and replace them with another system. The Space Traders depict wonderful example of matriarchal domination, where each space ship is its own clan: clans', the ships', heads are all woman. At the same time Heinlein binds the adventure to bigger issues like debating slavery; is it inevitable, is strict trader code form of slavery in disguise, is it possible to decide yourself to break into freedom and take control of your own life? There also topics like individuality, community, role models and their strong influence at early age.

Five (5) stars. No doubt this book is for juveniles, language is no master literature, women are fairly typical and in supporting roles. Characters are what you would expect for juvenile novel (thin), space ships are big atom kilns and weapon systems simply big calculators; but it all works. The story flows, the anthropologist societies are varied, the rightness of the mission feels good, the growth pain of this young man is present. The ending in a little flat but it hits the coming-of-age cycle just at right moment. Anyone would have loved to read the sequel (which never appeared).

As the story opens a frightened young boy is on the auction block waiting to be sold again. He is on a planet that is unfamiliar to him, people are speaking a language he does not understand. He would be homesick but since he has no idea where 'home' is that would be rather pointless. All he knows is that he is called 'Thorby' and soon he will have another new owner. He is soon purchased by a crippled begger and taken to his new home, a lain in an abdandoned amphitheatre. Thorby learns the new family business - begging and comes to realize that his new owner is much more than just a begger. For one thing he insists that Thorby call him 'Pop' not 'Master', and requires Thorby to learn, learn to read, learn math, learn several languages and most importantly to learn how to learn. By the time the skinny little boy becomes a tall adolescent he also realizes that Pop has some decidedly nonbegger activities. Then one day Thorby's life ends and a new one, arranged by Pop, begins.

Thorby's new life is abroad a Trader ship and he discovers that he must begin again to learn the rules of this new society and carve a place for himself within it. Just as he begins to find his place Thorby finds himself once again in a whole new world and once again must learn the rules from the bottom, this time in the army. That too does not last very long and Thorby, now a young man finds himself in the strangest and perhaps most dangerous situation in his life, wealthy heir to a vast business empire.

This 1957 novel is one of Heinlein's 'juvenile' stories, but just as RAH did not underestimate his audience this book should not be dismissed as a 'children's story'. CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY can be read and enjoyed as an adventure story with a happy ending but in typical RAH fashion there is much more to be discovered. Thorby is forced to define himself and his role in his world several times in his short life. Each time he understands how things work and what his role is circumstances change and he must begin again. Those things that he 'knows' are true must be re-evaluated each time, perhaps causing the reader to do the same.

This is definitely one of those books that will stay with the reader for sometime and think about the meaning of freedom, duty, family and just how a society is run to name a few. That is not to say that this book is without flaws. While Thorby and some of the other characters spring to life, others remain just cardboard figures that state their business and then move along.

To be sold as a slave must be the most humiliating experience that a self-aware being can face, and Thorby is sold on the auction block to a beggar by the name of Baslim. Baslim has barely purchased Thorby when Thorby attempts to escape. Fortunately for Thorby, Thorby does not escape. Being purchased by Baslim turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to Thorby.

Baslim is more than he appears to be. Though Thorby questions little about Baslim, whom he calls Pop, Thorby learns over time that Baslim has deep secrets that he has never revealed to Thorby, secrets that he will take to the grave.

Thorby is forced to leave the home Baslim has made for him and journey into the galaxy, chased by people for reasons he does not fully understand. But Thorby will learn that there are many kinds of families in the galaxy, with varying degrees of sincerity and complexity. Thorby will ultimately try to claim the heritage that is rightfully his as a citizen of the galaxy.

Heinlein was called the Dean of Science Fiction because he mastered the art of telling a story simply and easily, as though he were talking about a trip to the grocery store. Heinlein created this wonderful masterpiece in 1957, one of a string of books that drew many people into reading science fiction in the 50's and 60's, me included. Though this novel is slightly dated, it holds up reasonably well. Some portions may be more conceivable and believable today than when Heinlein first published the novel, as technology has made strides in some of the directions suggested in the novel.

This book is a classic that will intrigue fans of hard science fiction that enjoy a solid and interesting story. The characters are well formed and believable, and Thorby is such a powerful individual that most readers will like him instantly, with all his faults. This book is a good read time and again, and one that many readers will want for their personal library.

Enjoy!

Citizen explores just what freedom really is as it follows a young man, Thorby, as he matures from boy to man. Starting as a slave sold to a most unusual beggar, Baslim, we see the first aspect that many equate with the absolute opposite of freedom, though we see that in fact 'slaves' sometimes have more freedom of choice than 'free men'. The society he paints here is vivid and believable (though the economics of slavery in a star-travelling culture has always seemed a little dubious to me). Baslim is far more than he appears to be, and puts Thorby through a rigorous education, both academic and practical. How do you become a really good beggar? Here Heinlein falls in with Ayn Rand - whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability, from begging to juggling. Also there are several comments included here about the integrity of the self - lies to others and misleading yourself both come in for some dictums. These are items that may pass over young readers' heads, but perhaps planting seeds that all assumptions should be examined, nothing should be accepted on 'faith', that personal integrity is more important than 'success', that consequences of actions should be examined carefully before committing to that action.

Later, Baslim calls in some favors and sends Thorby to live with the Free Traders, a group of space merchants that keep to themselves with their own unique culture. Here Thorby discovers another aspect of freedom: a person's ability to do as he wishes is severely constrained by the culture in which he lives. The Free Trader society (which owes much to Margaret Mead's seminal ideas, and highlighted by an anthropologist character named Margaret Mader - Heinlein was not usually so obvious with his names) of rigid matriarchal domination and separation into moieties provides security, peace of mind, and the ability through rigid rules of formalism to allow a small group of people to live together for extended periods without breaking any heads, but has as its downside great limitations on freedom of choice. This section of the book may be the best part, as the society is so different from today's American culture that it becomes fascinating in its own right, apart from its effects on Thorby. Thorby himself grows and changes significantly in this part of the book, from first love to determining just how he must balance the demands of duty and personal desires.

The last section deals with Thorby back on Earth, within a society not much different from our own, and shows a third aspect of freedom: the internal courageousness to make your own decisions and act upon them. Freedom is just as constrained by internal timidity and/or defining decisions as by external forces. As this last section offers little in terms of new or different views of society (though it is a good mirror of some of the flaws of a capitalistic/lawyer dominated one), it isn't as engrossing as the first two sections, but is highly important in terms of completing Heinlein's thematic investigation of all aspects of freedom.

Characterization other than Thorby and Baslim is pretty thin, especially for the females that appear in supporting roles. This was fairly typical for his juveniles, as they were basically strong adventure novels with their primary focus on their central character. But the thematic line on slavery/freedom is much stronger here than most of his messages in other books, and as this particular position is also stated in some of those other works (most especially Farnham's Freehold), has to be seen as one of Heinlein's personal beliefs (unlike some other positions he proposes in his books that seem mainly designed to stir up debate).

This book is not Heinlein's absolute best, nor even the best of his so-called 'juveniles' (which are typically better reading than most 'adult' mainstream bestsellers), but still provides an engrossing, fun, and illuminating read. Recommended for all readers willing to look at life styles different from their own.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

This is undoubtedly one of Heinlein's finest 'juvenile' novels (and anyone who thinks there were no female characters in it must not have read more than 10% of it).
I usually list _Tunnel in the Sky_ as my favorite of Heinlein's young-adult novels of the 1950s, and I still think it belongs at the top of the list. But this one is very close.
As I'm sure you know already, it's the tale of a young fellow named Thorby, a slave on the planet Sargon who comes under the protection of one Baslim the Cripple. A sort of outer-space version of Kipling's _Kim_, the novel traces Thorby's life and development through several changes of venue -- and ends on Earth, where Thorby finds out who he really is and takes on some heavy, adult-sized responsibilities.
It's a very well handled coming-of-age novel, and it expresses Heinlein's own remarkable take on maturity very nearly as well as _Tunnel_ (in some ways arguably better). And like _Tunnel_, it devotes _just a little_ space, toward the end, to preaching against straw men. (Here, it's a couple of custard-headed pacifists whose sole literary function is to mouth inane slogans that Heinlein wants to show up as irresponsible nonsense. There was _loads_ of such stuff in _Starship Troopers_ but in this one it's kept to a minimum.)
It also shares part of its 'skeleton' with _Stranger in a Strange Land_ (on which Heinlein was also working at about the same time, still under its provisional title 'A Martian Named Smith'). Why, there's even a climactic courtroom battle, with Thorby represented by a crusty lawyer not terribly unlike Jubal Harshaw. (In general lawyers don't come off well in Heinlein's novels; in the final analysis the sharklike Garsch is no exception, although Harshaw fares somewhat better.)
At any rate, the anthropological insights come fast and furious here (aided in part by a character who may remind you of Margaret Mead). One nice touch is revealed in Thorby's time with the Traders; like every other people in history, they call themselves 'the People' and everybody else subhuman ('fraki').
No s-e-x, though. At this time Heinlein was still publishing under the watchful eye of Alice Dalgliesh and Thorby's interactions with the opposite camp are as chaste as melting snow.
I credit Heinlein with three absolutely magisterial works -- _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_, _Double Star_, and _The Door into Summer_. This one belongs to the second tier of near-magisterial material, well worth reading and rereading despite a few warts.

In yet another rags to riches tale, we follow the fortunes of Thorby, a young slave who is purchased by a beneficent beggar who calls himself Baslim, the Cripple. But as longtime Heinlein readers must already suspect, Baslim has capabilities that far outweigh his physical infirmities. While teaching Thorby his own profession, he sets a plan in motion to find Thorby's real family. After a thrilling escape from the slave planet, Thorby finds a new family in a merchant trader ship, where the duties and customs are unlike anything he has ever seen. Next he joins the Guards, where still further efforts are made to find Thorby's origins. When he is finally restored to his nearest relatives, Thorby finds himself facing still more challenges, as things are not what they seem at the Rudbek household. Will Thorby ever find happiness? And is it possible to ever be truly free?
Heinlein's extensive firsthand knowledge of military science and shipboard routine serves him in good stead once again in this fascinating juvenile. He is somewhat less entertaining when trying to discuss big business dealings in the second half of the novel, but there is still a sufficiently subversive element to keep us interested in Thorby's fate. And while Thorby grows up quite a bit during the course of the story, this is still a boys' book. Numerous girls get thrown in Thorby's path at various stages, but he remains wholly oblivious, focused as he is own his own problems. And as is typical of Heinlein, these young women are not just hapless victims - some of them exercise real power within their respective realms. So young women interested in social sci-fi may find this book entertaining as well.
Heinlein's heroes are often super-smart under-achievers who find themselves thrown into new environments where they doesn't understand the rules, and Thorby is no exception. Here the process is repeated several times, and we spend more pages adjusting to the next new social situation than we do studying scientific principles, so devotees of hard science may find this one rather light fare. But for those who love to look at alternate social structures, and try to understand the logic underlying each, this book is an entertaining exercise in cultural relativity, and easily ranks among the best of Heinlein's juveniles.

I read this book because an ancient, hardback copy was in my local library.

What's to love about this book? The possibility that there might actually be people in the world like the character Baslim the Cripple, people who care that much about the freedom of others, when the others would consider it no disgrace if he just walked (or limped) away. A vision of humankind's successful entrance into the Galaxy. A recognition that with said entrance, there are bad guys out there who would take your freedom, and that being good just isn't enough to be free, you have to be strong and agile. Being good isn't enough to be free, you have to do the job handed to you if you really want to be free. Paradoxical, ain't it?

What's not to love about this book? I found it to be like four little stories, as opposed to one story. Thorby's time on Jubblepore would be one story, his time with the Sisu would be another, etc. I wanted to hear more about why the Sisu were in such a debt to Baslim. I wanted Thorby and Leda to marry at the end, but that was a minor detail. I want there to be a sequel called Project Porcupine.

But all in all, I was still highly entertained and encouraged, and would consider it a worthy investment of the time I spent reading it. This is Heinlein that kids could and should read. Children readily grasp the evil of slavery, and this presents the issue from another angle.

I've only read a few books by Heinlein, but the more of his stories I read the more I see two trends. First, he likes to take an idea, and then run with it through every possible effect and ramification it could have. Secondly, he seems to (unless I miss my guess) be writing his adventure stories from the dual perspective of himself as a youth, and himself as an older world-weary traveler (in his own eyes anyway). Reading this book I got the same feeling from Starship Troopers and Tunnel in the sky, that our protagonist is struggling to learn the essential life lessons that he will one day be in a position to hand down. But that's just Heinlein...

In this story, our master of sci-fi take the idea of freedom to it's absolute philosophical limits. First, he shows us the world of a person who is an actual slave and has no rights whatsoever. Then, he takes that individual, and shoves them into situation after situation that leave us wondering what exactly freedom is. When Thorby is taught by his adoptive father how to think, he is freed mentally. When he is adopted by space-traders he is almost totally free in a physical sense (the traders travel all of space), but he finds himself enslaved to a way of life, a series of traditions, and many many rules. As part of the intergalactic space police force (or its equivalent), he finds himself fighting for freedom, yet again a slave to the ideals and way of life (and organization) behind it. The real kicker though, is when Thorby finds himself in a position of super-powerful financial might, with literally the world at his fingertips, yet enslaved to that power and all the responsibilities that it implies.

Perhaps the real message of the story though, (to me anyway), is that freedom really is in the mind of the beholder, and helping others to overcome enslavements of a hateful, evil sort (like literal slavery) is a very good thing indeed. And no matter where you go, you will always be enslaved to something. So you'd better learn to survive, to be happy, and to make the most of what you have. And forget about the limits others try to impose upon you. A person with a mind that is free...is a Citizen of the Galaxy.

Besides all the great philosophy and ideas that Heinlein is famous for is of course a great adventure that really captures the imagination. I love every Heinlein story I've read so far, for the characters, the slick dialog (especially for it's time

), and the amazing universes he always manages to have up his sleeve. This book is DEFINITELY an enjoyable read for sci-fi fans.

Thorby's beginings are shrouded in mystery, lost somewhere on the long road seared into him by many masters, and many lashes. He knows only that he is about to be brought to yet another problem in a long road of problems, as he is on the slavers selling block once again. An old beggar takes notice of him, and since no one else wants to bid on the beaten and bedraggled youth, the price is [reasonable] enough that even a beggar can purchace him.
This is a change in his fourtune which will take him on a long road of knowledge and a raise in status. His new master adopts him as a son, and does his best to care for him. Thorby learns the trade of a beggar, and runs errands for 'pop' who isn't quite like other beggars.....teaching Thorby to speak and read in several languages, advanced mathmetics, basic history, and what morals can be passed on while living as a poor beggar.
Until pop's death, at which time he delivers a message to a ship in port which Baslim the Cripple has instructed him to do in case of his death. He is adopted by this ship's family, and becomes on of them...a tribe of people, proud of thier heritage and elitist freedom. But, once again he must loose all which has become dear to him and move on to another fate, to find his true heritage.
Many lessons are contained within Citizen of the Galaxy. Learning to become one with the culture you are in, what 'family' can mean, learning to fight for what is right, and finally, learning that fighting for what is right may not nessicarily be on the front lines in the battle against slavery, but can be far away, buried in legal mazes of businesses who's leaders may not be aware of what evils are burried in the depths of thier empire.
Now, in our current age of a battle against terrorism, this lesson is espically apparent. The evils which lurk across the globe can have connections to us at home, through finantial ties, and levels upon hiden levels of business fronts and drug cartels. All levels, from executive office to the streets to forign lands must have those who are vigilant against a threat.

I cannot believe I did not read this as a teenager. Perhaps I did, and it just escaped me. in any event, this ranks up with the best of the Heinlein juveniles in my opinion. The only drawback is the same with many of his novels - intentional, in many cases - in that he seems to 'run out of steam' at the end and has a tough time just wrapping it up. I think that is because by definition a juvenile novel should not be the size and breadth of War and Peace - which with the richness of the 'Galaxy' in this novel could easily happen. This is a drawback because the reader does not want the story to end - you want to know if the protagonist can, in fact, impact the social issues he is struggling with near the end of the book.

This is not only the best sci-fi novel written for "juveniles", but one of the best in the entire genre. The hero, Thorby, is a social outcast who has to stay on the move; Heinlein uses this is an opportunity to portray 4 different societies ( a decadent monarchy, a clan of migrants in space, an ideal military unit, and Earth). Thorby is able to judge each from outside. He has a mentor in each case (Baslim the Beggar, a sociologist, the military commander, an heiress) but they are of decreasing importance as Thorby matures and is able to make decisions for himself.

The book has Heinlein's usual obsessions about weapons and vigilantism, but here they are put in a context where they fit, a war against slave-traders. You even cheer for Thorby when he shocks some sheltered millionaires by saying that "The proudest thing I ever did was kill a slaver".

My main complaint is that the last of the four sections is rather anti-climactic. All this stuff going on in the galaxy, yet Earth is basically twentieth-century Earth. The plot involves a corrupt CEO, heroic lawyer, an heiress who develops a social conscience -- it's dramatic enough in itself, but wouldn't society have changed somehow over the centuries? There's not even noticable changes in technology. But by that time you already know that you have read a sci-fi masterpiece.

We are introduced to Thorby as a scruffy young boy, being auctioned off as a slave on the planet Jubbelpore. He is so unpromising-looking that he ends up as the property of a one-legged resident of the Plaza and licensed mendicant (read, beggar) Baslim the Wise. Baslim drags Thorby home to his dwelling in the maze under the Plaze arena and thus begin the surprises in this very well-drawn novel.
Baslim feeds, then teaches the young boy, who is pig-ignorant, dirty and starving. He learns to read, then learns other surprising skills from Baslim the Wise, who is not only a beggar and wise man on the Plaza, but something more. Just how much more we don't find out til much later in the novel.
Thorby soaks up the rich lessons of the street and Baslim's teachings until one day he must flee for his life. He is assisted by the Free Traders, a society of space-faring traders who live on their ships and pay allegiance to no planet. This is a huge adjustment for Thorby--he must become a member of this insular group and follow their rigid customs and laws. Thorby does adjust and is so well accepted he is about to be given (mostly without his knowledge) a bride, until....it's time for him again to move on.
Where Thorby does end up, and who he really is and how he finds out is the underlying story, but the real enjoyment is reading each distinct section of the book and savoring the different societies that Heinlein creates for us. This is rather like a sci-fi version of a "Bildungsroman" --the genre of novel where a young man comes of age and finds himself, but in a really imaginative and touching way.

"Citizen of the Galaxy" is a good to very good read, but the plot twists are sharp. As the book starts, Thorby is a slave. Heinlein does a very good job of giving us a world that appears to be Arabic. Baslim the Beggar is a particularly interesting character. However, when the time comes to move on in Thorby's story, the author uses a couple of very sharp changes in the plot. If the reader is a total stranger to Heinlein's writing, this is disturbing.

In turn, the Free Trader part of the story is another fascinating depiction of a different culture, with some interesting characters. Next comes the Hegemonic Guard portion of the story, which always seems, to me, to need more padding. However, the author wants to move along quickly.

Finally, Thorby reaches Earth and finds an interesting way of becoming an adult as Thor, the name with which he was born. Again, Heinlein writes an interesting, adventurous, story with details of a sort of confidence game played on Thor. For me, the ending is satisfactory enough. However, after reading it, I always find myself wondering what a sequel might have been like.

On the whole, the book is very good reading. However, the sharp turns and twists of the plot and a slightly week third part are regretable.

I recommend this book.

Heinlein is an amazing writer, he literally changed my life. I learned to read because of him and now I teach reading! This story is one of my all time favorites, along with Glory Road, Farmer in the Sky, Farnham's Freehold and Red Planet.

I've read the other reviews and the most important topics and story lines have been well covered. This was an AMAZING book when I read it as a child. I could place myself there with Baslim and Thorby in the plaza as beggars. I was with Thorby as a Free Trader on the ship as a member of the Family. I had a hard time being there when Thor took over the family business BUT still the story was wonderful, a place to escape to, where someone's life was so different. Heinlein makes it real, he covers details, he builds his characters so realistically they are living entities who become your friends and family.

If you've read RAH you understand, if you haven't then take time and start reading his novels. You won't be sorry. The story is as much fantasy as science fiction, but the message it contains and the moral lessons it teaches make it one of Heinlein's most important and enjoyable novels.

One of the things I do like about Heinlein novels, especially the shorter ones is the apparent sprawl, a story can start out one way and then out of nowhere start going somewhere else entirely, so by the end you're nowhere near where you started. This would be one of those books. Thorby is a slave who doesn't know who is parents are and winds up getting sold to a one eyed, one legged beggar who isn't exactly what he seems. From there Thorby starts to begin rediscovering where he came from and who he is and by the time the story finishes you're going to have a hard time believing it's the same person. Actually, Heinlein does manage to convince you the Thorby you start with is the Thorby you end with but that's because he's a tad . . . boring. That's right, reading it reminded me of reading the adventures of an eager puppy, perhaps it's Heinlein's comment on what slavery does to you but Thorby for most of the story is basically looking for someone to tell him what to do it's pathetic. And even when he seems to be getting more initiative, it's only to go find someone else to give him better orders. So don't read it for the dazzling character study (the best character is probably Baslim the beggar, but he doesn't last long anyway . . .) read it for the plethora of ideas Heinlein splatters all over the page. From the slave trade and beggar existence to the Free Traders and beyond that, he crams in stuff that lesser writers would need entire series to tackle. He just tosses it off in a few pages and it feels like it has some actual depth to it. That's talent, folks. Here he has a knack for making the situations seem plausible and even likely, and the hard part about SF is making the reader believe. He convinced me here. The only other complaint with the book is that he falls in love with his ideas a bit too much and some parts of the book drag a bit, the fact that Thorby isn't all that interesting doesn't help and in parts the book has little drive whatsoever, it just sort of drifts. But if you've got the patience (and the book's not that long) and just keep plowing forward, it turns out to be fairly rewarding. Yeah, the ending is kind of "eh" but getting there is half the fun. Not his best, but still enjoyable.

"Citizen of the Galaxy" is another fine addition to Robert A. Heinlein's series of `juveniles' he wrote for Charles Scribners Sons primarily in the 1950s.

We never find out what motivated the beggar, Baslim the Cripple, to buy the slave boy Thorby. In this distant future, mankind has spread out among the stars. The Nine Worlds do not even acknowledge any relationship to Earth and are not members of the Terran Hegemony.

Anyway on this frontier world, there exists the institution of slavery.

One thing becomes immediately apparent, Baslim is a lot more than a beggar. As their father/son develops, it is obvious Baslim is highly educated with a wide range of skills. It is also obvious, he is some sort of spy. Thorby doesn't care. Pops business was Pops business. Baslim raises and home schools his son.

Things come to a head years later when Baslim is found to be a spy. Thorby must flee for his life. However Baslim has foreseen this day and has prepared Thorby. Thorby is smuggled offworld and begins his quest for his true identity and completion of Baslim's mission.

The central theme of this book is the variation in human culture and the adaptability of man. Each group Thorby finds himself has it's own rituals and customs. Our hero is constantly required change, adapt and in the process grow as a man.

Heinlein was a master of the noncondescending juvenile SF novel, and this is, in my informed opinion, the very best of the dozen or so he wrote during the 1950s. In fact, it's one of his two or three best novels, period. Thorby starts out a slave, purchased on a distant world by an old beggar (who, of course, is more than he seems) and becomes intimate with the underworld -- then finds himself aboard a Free Trader vessel with an extremely complex social structure, where he's adopted in and makes a new life for himself -- then finds himself a very junior enlisted man on a "space patrol" ship, where he makes another new life -- then finds himself the long-lost heir to an enormous fortune back on Earth, where the various plotlines come together and (yes) he has to try to make a new life for himself. Thorby is nothing if not adaptable. The narrative is straightforward, moving along at a nice pace, and there's very little of the overwritten preachifying RAH was prone to in his later work. The characters are based on `50s archetypes, so today's kids will undoubtedly be amused by the state of gender relations, and they've probably never seen a slide rule, but, hey -- read and enjoy.

Why do I call Citizen of the Galaxy a cautionary tale? Because at its heart is the concept, often overlooked in sci-fi, that slavery--arguably the greatest evil of which mankind is capable--follows any fronteir. Anywhere human beings are free to oppress each other, it seems we generally will; yet the other side of that coin is that there are also people who will risk their lives to fight such oppression.
Baslim the Beggar, a little more than what he seems, is a character who proves that some of us will fight for justice even at great cost to themselves. One of Heinlein's best mentor characters, he begins the story with a simple but great act of kindness and ends it as a legend. Thorby is no less special, maturing from a mere slave into the person best suited to thwarting slavers in the future.
If we ever make it to the stars, we'd better keep this story in mind to remind us what's possible. When I started reading sci-fi this book was recommended to me; I recommend it to anyone else in turn.

Capsule Description: A young orphan with no memory of his past is sold as a slave, and becomes embroiled in more and more complex situations while travelling from world to world. One of Heinlein's "Juveniles", possibly the best of that category, and a fun read.
Review: Often described as a space-age version of "Kim", Citizen of the Galaxy introduces us to the already world-weary and cynical, animalistically-paranoid Thorby, a boy of maybe ten years of age, who is being put on the auction block and sold. Through an odd sequence of events, the boy ends up being purchased by a beggar... who may be more than he appears. Subsequent events end up propelling him through the Galaxy as a number of things -- refugee, trader, military man -- while searching for the truth behind his unknown past.
Heinlein wrote several "juvenile" books, ones targeted at what today would be called the Young Adult market (mostly teenagers), but despite the label his stories were always written in a mature manner that assumed his readers were as intelligent as he was. This is one of the very best of the juveniles, all of which were good SF reads. An excellent "starter" book for a young person who'd like to try some classic SF but is daunted by the prospect of either larger books or ones so old that the language itself becomes a barrier.

I have a complex attitude towards Robert Heinlein. I absolutely love his juvenile novels while I generally find his adult, more serious novels offputting. Heinlein's politics became increasingly marginal as he aged, becoming more and more of a sexist and a crank. But his juvenile novels contained virtually none of his political preoccupations and the stories are consistently delightful. I recently reread HAVE SPACESUIT WILL TRAVEL and have now reread CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY and found both of them completely delightful experiences. While I find Heinlein's politics and gender attitudes (at least of the mature Heinlein) repulsive, when he isn't on a soapbox I often love him. But even then I never know for sure until I read him. STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND is simultaneously one of the popular and critically reviled SF novels ever written (it is laced with serious literary errors and marks of bad writing, yet in the sixties it struck a common chord with many in the counterculture). On the other hand, I love THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS and even yarns like GLORY ROAD, despite its leering attitude towards women, is fun.

What I like about Heinlein in contrast with Asimov and Clarke, the other two members of the Big Three writers of the late pulp era, is his narrative tone and his excellently rendered characters. If you read a novel by Asimov, you encounter some of the most poorly concocted characters imaginable. Clarke's novels have some spectacular ideas and marvelous metaphysical moments, but even his best characters are as cardboardish as can be conceived. You read Asimov and Clarke for ideas and not for the people, but Heinlein you can read for the characters.

CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY is a fairy tale disguised as a SF novel. The roots lie in the countless fairy tale in which a prince is raised by peasants without anyone knowing his identity, especially the prince himself. In this one a young child named Thorby is bought by a beggar at a slave auction. Only the beggar isn't really a beggar and the slave boy isn't really a slave boy. On the one hand it is all terribly formulaic, but on the other it is all so magnificently well done that part of the joy in the reading comes from seeing Heinlein breath new life into the story. Seeing Thorby progress through his various adventures is delightful form beginning to end.

Although these were intended for kids, I have always thought that they were as easily enjoyed by adults. Heck, for adults with problems with Heinlein's politics, these are fun for adults in ways that many of the others are not.

Citizen of the Galaxy is probably Heinlein's most mature juvenile novel and is certainly one of his most inspirational. It contains a sweeping indictment of slavery and provides a stirring message about citizenship and civic responsibility. Thorby is a slave; the only memories he has are a tangled morass of mistreatment spread among faceless men on nameless worlds; all he brings with him to Sargon are a filthy piece of clothing and an ugly assortment of scars and sores. On the block, no one values him enough to even bid on him, all except for the beggar Baslim. He takes him home (a hole beneath the abandoned amphitheatre) and raises him as a son rather than a slave. Thorby learns the art of begging from his new Pop and enjoys the happiest years of his life with him. Then Baslim, whom Thorby eventually learned was much more than a simple beggar, is arrested as a spy. Thorby satisfies his Pop's wishes by evading capture himself and taking a message to a certain ship's captain. Captain Krausa adopts Thorby as his own son and makes him a member of the Free Trader family on the ship Sisu. Here Thorby learns the complexities of Free Trader family life, makes real friends, and assumes a pivotal job protecting the huge spacecraft from raiders. Then Thorby is displaced once again, as Krausa takes him to the first ship of the Hegemonic Empire he comes in contact with. While Thorby hates to leave his new family, he does it to satisfy Baslim's ultimate wish for him to find his true family. Thorby soon learns that wealth does not make you rich as he strives to fight slavery in the galaxy and become the son his birth parents wanted him to be
Heinlein gives us three strikingly different looks at family life. While Thorby is happy as a part of the immensely complicated Free Trader family on Sisu, he looks back at his days with the beggar Baslim as the happiest of his life. On the ship, one is barely acknowledged as existing if he/she is not a part of the family. The only person who talks to Thorby at first is an anthropologist, and she gives a poignant explanation of this type of society. The family is free, yet each individual in that family is in some way a slave; Thorby is told what to do and when and where to do it. The ultimate lesson is learned on Terra, where the prescripts of Baslim continue to guide Thorby's actions. He is determined to fight against the slave trade, which is something most Terrans don't even believe exists because it is taking place far, far away. For Thorby, it is personal and he devotes his life to fighting against it. The ultimate responsibility he learns is to fully devote himself to the noble cause, to be willing to give us his own freedom, even to become a beggar as Baslim did, in order to work for the freedom of others. The story is as much fantasy as science fiction, but the message it contains and the moral lessons it teaches make it one of Heinlein's most important and enjoyable novels.

I love Heinlein's juvenile books (I call them his juvies). This is one of my top three favorites (along with "Podkayne of Mars" and "Tunnel in the Sky"). When I saw the larger paperback recently I was very excited, till I read into it a few pages. This edition has not only horrible typographic errors, but whole paragraphs are placed where they do not belong. If you are reading this for the first time, I would suggest you find an older edition on the store, via an independent seller. I've been reading this book for many years, since a young teen, and I don't recall ever seeing a single typo let alone one in almost every paragraph. I'm a grammar and spelling geek, I notice these things. The story itself is wonderful and well thought-out, moves along quickly and has some great surprises toward the end.

This is my favorite Heinlein juvenile novel. Through the experiences of Thorby's life Heinlein defines slavery. Another reviewer complained that Thorby was too passive as a character, but after all, a slave would be more likely to be passive than someone who had never lost his freedom.

Reading this as a Christian, I noticed how it started with a strong redemptive theme with Thorby's purchase by a good master who treats him as a son, but the story has a very ironic ending making the reader question the whole nature of slavery. This thought provoking novel is one of Heinlein's best. (From what I've read Heinlein's juvenile fiction has fewer objectionable elements and tighter plots than his adult fiction.) For another sci-fi story on the nature of freedom read The Giver by Lois Lowry.

As Heinlein used to say, many great stories draw from others, with "the serial numbers filed off". At various conventions, he acknowledged his debt to Rudyard Kipling, but this, I believe, is Kim done better.

It occurs to me that the protagonist's chief adoptive father believed in Robert E. Lee's observation "Duty is the sublimest word in the language. You can never do more than your duty. You should never wish to do less." That character lived by his conception of duty to mankind (side reference: think of the final pages in Failsafe), and managed to convey it to his protege, even as he experienced the Japanese proverb "Duty is heavier than a mountain; death is lighter than a feather."

I don't mean to suggest this is oppressive and preachy. The protagonist, in the best tradition of Star Trek, explores new cultures, and learns from each. Some of those cultures, such as the Free Traders, cried out for Heinlein to write more about them.

Absolutely the best Heinlein to start a juvenile reading him -- and I still get value reading it perhaps a half-century later.

The story starts as an alien with pointy ears becomes insulted as the slave auctioneer on a distant planet extolls the virtues of the slave boy's "round ears". In retaliation, alien helps a poor human beggar (Baslim the Cripple)buy the boy by keeping the auction going while dropping coins into beggar's bowl. Beggar takes boy home, cleans him up, gives him hypnotic suggestions not to have nightmares, and trains him to beg and learn things quickly through hypnosis. In addition to begging, boy sometimes delivers messages to crews of space ships. Beggar hypnotizes boy to recite message to one of five space ship captain should beggar die. When boy is sent to deliver message to certain spaceship crew member who is replaced by another man, beggar's cover is blown, he gets captured & bites poison tooth. Boy returns home to find empty lodgings, everything smashed, sees artificial leg left behind, realizes begger's in trouble. Boy then runs from authorities, over walls and roofs until he breaks into roof of acquaintance, who smuggles him onto a space ship where one of the five captains hears his message, which requests the boy be cared for until he can be joined with an Earth ship, which consequently does an identity search, identifying the boy, aka Rudbek, as the heir of a wealthy family. The captain of the ship also discovers Rudbek was sleep-trained by the beggar to memorize very important data, because the beggar was actually a spy against the slave traders. After joining his wealthy family on earth, Rudbek discovers his parents were attacked by pirates in a zone where the slave traders operated, and that his wealthy family owned interests connected to the slave trade, selling slavers ships, for one thing. Rudbek vows to take down the slave trade, using his wealth to help him.

This is not the only book Heinlein's written about wealthy people traveling on space liners who get embroiled in political intrigue. Just wish it had been made into a movie-Disney could do wonders with this story. It is ripe for a sequel.

This book rates as one of my favorite Heinlein books to be read and re-read. In it, a child made a slave is bought by an old beggar in the slave market. However, neither the child who has so far survived a harsh childhood nor the old beggar are what they seem to be to the other dwellers in the poverty area adjoining the space port. After Pop is executed, Thorby must get to a certain stranger with a message from Pop, plus a headful of messages he doesn't know he's carrying. This dumps him into a Free Trader culture totally different from what he knows and in another language on a starship. Eventually Thorby is sent off to go with the equivalent of space cops. Who Thorby really is and the "warm" reception from relatives he never dreamed of lead up to the climax of the book. Like other Heinlein books, the Grand Master sneaks in his view of humans, moral behavior, and doing the right thing for the right reason. Makes me wish that dear Mr. Heinlein were still alive and well enough for visitors. One learns something on a gut level in all of his books.

I have what I believe to be a hardback first edition of this book, library version, published by Scribners. Can't know for certain as someone removed the copyright page from the book when it was removed from service. I read it about once a year or so, every time as I finish, wishing Mr. Heinlein had continued with a sequel. Excellent, well written, engrossing story.

Heinlein's "Citizen of the Galaxy" made me consistetly uncomfortable because I could never quite rid myself of the impression that the author was advancing the idea of the government as a benevolent, motherly institution. The main character's time about the Sisu, a veritable space city of the clannish Free Traders, is an excellent chance for the author to preach: he justifies excessive nationalism by trying to differentiate narrow-mindedness from ignorance; Heinlein depicts personal conflict in terms of a machine component in need of an oiling; and tradition ("no matter how pig-headed") is just the casing necessary to keep the parts from spilling; in several places Heinlein ridicules pacifism and admonishes that youth are best suited for war. The rest of the book provides further continual discourse on balancing the individual and the community. The Losians are a clear parody of communism. The character's time on the Hegemonic vessel is a spoof on bureaucracy. Heinlein's Engineers are in actuality lucid scientists - but try as they might arguing with Grandmother Sam, no one will pay attention to them.
The under(over?)lying plot didn't really interest me except at the outset, where we find the child protagonist, Thorby, bought at a slaver's auction by an unseemly beggar, Buslim the Wise. Baslim happens to be more than he seems - he teaches Thorby various feats of memory, and how to be a proper, humane person. Baslim is also puzzled by Thorby's enigmatic parentage. The rest of the book details Thorby's journey to find his kin, picking up whatever lessons life teaches him on the way. Nevertheless, as a main character Thorby just isn't interesting. Despite having slaved for many different masters on several planets, he lacks an exotic psychological flavor. He also says "uh..." a great deal, and overall he is an archetypal teenager of the fifties.
Similarly, despite being short on the science, the fictional aspect of this book hasn't aged gracefully: Heinlein's spaceships are just big battle cruisers, and his computers are simply big calculators.
I'm not one to judge, but heed my words: this just doesn't seem the inspiring classic it is said to be. The lessons it offers are heavy-handed and questionable at best.

In a distant galaxy where slavery is still alive and well young Thorby, just another orphaned boy, is sold at auction. But his new owner, Baslim, is not the disabled beggar he appears to be. Adopting Thorby as his son, Baslim fights relentlessly as an abolitionist spy. When the authorities shorten Baslim, Thorby must ride with galatic Free Traders, a league of merchant princes, throughout the worlds of a hostile galaxy. But Thorby's destiny changes forever when he discovers the truth about his own identity.

Citizen of the Galaxy is a great book. I enjoyed the different phases of Thorby's journey has he discovers his origins. Heinlein is an excellent writer. He really draws you into the story with amazing imagery and character development.

My son is a big fan of Heinlein's, and he gave me this book to read knowing that I had never read Heinlein before. After reading it, I too am hooked on Heinlein. The book was a pleasant surprise with an interesting well written story. The characters were well developed from Pop, to Uncle Jack to Leda and finally to Thorby himself. This was such a good read that I hated to see the book end.

I first read this book when I was 15, and ever since I have remembered it as one of the best books I had ever read. I recently moved and unpacked my copy. Curious, I reread it and found that the passing time has not dimmed it at all. I still believe it is one of the best books I have ever read. This breaks from the stereotypical pattern of Robert Heinlein and all science fiction. It covers such borad topics as racism, slavery, corporate corruption, and the people who are willing to sacrifice everything they have to change the world.
The book opens at a slave auction,in a far away galaxy, where a young boy is up for sale. It doesn't take long for the reader to get caught up in the many twists and turns this story takes. Not one of the characters in this book is who he first appears to be. Thorby (the boy for sale) is bought by an old, crippled beggar man and ends up travelling throughout the universe. His observations on life are truly insightful. This may just change the way you see the world around you.

"Citizen of the Galaxy" is an exposition of Robert Heinlein's Libertarian belief in freedom, liberty and self reliance before there was ever a movement in America. It is as much a philosophical treatise as it is science fiction. Take it on those terms. While I do not agree with its premises nor its implications, along with "Double Star", it is the best of his writings--combining challenging ideas with an interesting story. That said, it was written in 1957. Computers, smart phones, DNA testing are all missing from the story. Space travel is almost 1930ish in its depiction. Women are portrayed through a 50s lens--but that was typical of even later Heinlein stories. Business, lawyers and government are all engaged in nefarious activities--TeaParty conspiracies. Finally, like the Horatio Alger fables of rags to riches, Thorby's (his protagonist) success is less a testament to his individual strengths than to the contributions of others who aided him along the way. In reality, even John Wayne needed his friends. I did enjoy the book anew--after 45 years.

Have loved the book for 40 years, and read it many times. The audio was good, but some words are wrong or mispronounced. Technically, often words are repeated on page changes, and the last few lines of the book are missing from the audio, which is annoying. If these were fixed, it would absolutely rate 5 stars.

Although less straightforwardly political as Starship Troopers, still Heinlein insinuates his ideology into every page. As his view is not one I take in many instances, his over-the-top rhetoric can get tiresome quickly.
That being said, the book was a quick, fun read, and certainly transported me away from upstate New York for a little while. The author research and thoroughness shine throughout the novel, and his extrapolations (i.e. the Sargonese from Sanskrit transformation) are simply wonderful.
One other complaint, however, Heinlein tries to do too much in such a short book. It's almost as if they are 3 novels in 1; which is fine for anthologies, but a little difficult to swallow in this setting.
Overall, it was fun, but I doubt I'll re-read it.

Sorry I can't agree with the enthusiastic reviews of "Citizen of the Galaxy." The protagonist, Thorby, is altogether too much of a "passive hero": he never actually seems to _do_ anything, he just bounces around the galaxy like a pinball. If the story goes anywhere at all, it's because others do things to him or for him.
After the story first appeared, as a serial in Astounding Science Fiction, editor John W. Campbell admitted that, in hindsight, he considered the characterization a major flaw and wished he had discussed it with the author.
Of course, if you're a Heinlein fan, you should definitely add "Citizen of the Galaxy" to your collection. Even if Heinlein's writing is uneven, his strong point is in developing fascinating ideas and situations.

One has to read Citizen of the Galaxy to understand the development of Heinlein's cultural themes and of his fascination with various forms of kinship and marriage as well as other aspects of social structure. Your first clue is that the anthropologist aboard the Sisu is named Margaret Mader.

Heinlein also takes on slavery in this book. And white collar crime. Plus there is a rapscallionesque lawyer who describes himself as "middlin honest". Coupled with a charming protagonist, ethical mentors and the Space Navy, all the elements of a great Heinlein adventure come together in Citizen of the Galaxy.

"Good Business".

Inspired by Kipling's "Kim," it's not Kim's equivalent as a literary masterpiece because Heinlein wasn't quite a wizard with language like Kipling, but it might be a more enjoyable read. Less technological than most of Heinlein's novels, it's set in a distant, vaguely medieval future of empires, aristocrats, and slaves. Yet, the last section of the book changes gears exhiliaratingly when the poor slave boy Thorby arrives on Earth and plunges into a proxy fight to take control of a major corporation

Personally, I believe this is the type of book we should have on the required reading lists at our schools - a book that is fun and fascinating to read, that introduces creative concepts about society, technology, and people...and a book that makes you think. It makes you think about the importance of freedom, about the slipperiness of the concept of freedom...about the choices that we make, and the choices that are made for us...about how people may have more to them than we suspect based on first impressions or based on their chosen profession. The first time I read the book, I was disappointed in the ending. In rereading it, I realized that Heinlein was showing one more aspect of freedom - and, in having his character give up what many people would consider an almost ideal life, in being rich with no responsibilities --- and choosing to take on the burden of those responsibilities...Heinlein was showing even more about the importance of values, of character, over superficial fun.

As Thorby goes from slave to son to stranger in, then member of a trading society, to enlisted man in a space navy, to galactic magnate, he finds that each position brings him freedoms he barely dreamed of, yet each has obligations as strong as steel.
Heinlein took risks in this juvenile--almost every juvenile hero is your average, bright, well-adjusted kid, sometimes with a special talent. Thorby is damaged goods, psychologically, and the anger within from unresolved and repeated traumas never far from the surface. Yet we can identify with this boy, because we see in him what we all know to be true--you can never go back. Thorby repeatedly finds acceptance in the four society he experiences--as beggar, crew member on a Trader, crew member on a military vessel, and as a playboy on Earth. Three times he is forced to move on by events beyond his control. The final time, he chooses to fight those who would control him and take on the job of corporate magnate. He is not satisfied with the result-- he wants to go back into the military, or follow in Baslim's footsteps--but we know (and, in his heart, he knows) he will never have that opportunity, and will have to find peace where he is. The ending makes it clear he is moving in that direction.
Some have complained about Heinlein glorifying tribalism by making Sisu, a ship where if you are not of the people, you are filth, seem like such a nice place. I think he's using an extreme example to make kids think about their own tribe--nation, religion, whatever--and how they and their family members treat non-members of that tribe.
A fine, fine book about the growth of a boy into manhood.

This's one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read! It's incredibly fast-paced. I mean,don't YOU hate it when an author takes 50 pages to explain how said person grew up? And another thing...this is one of the most "realistic" sci-fi books I've ever read. Although I haven't read nearly half of it,I can see from all the other reviews that there're some interesting plot-twists. And isn't that what life is all about? People are always changing,moving,adapting to their "new life." And I hear,next to the writers of books like "Mists of Avalon," that this is one of the most hardcore sci-fi authors ever to have lived!

Robert Heinlein has been accused of sexism and preaching in his science fiction: charges I think are well deserved. Here in "Citizen of the Galaxy" though there was enough interesting and plausible interaction that you could work your way through in the hopes that his preaching wouldn't get too loud. Not many female characters but I can't see that those there are particularly negative either. I read the first half, then stop when the slave gets his freedom, that is when the preaching begins in earnst.

It's hard to choose among the Heinlein juveniles, all of which should be required reading for adults, but I think this may be my favorite. While the relationship between Thorby and Baslim is only sketched in -- I wish Heinlein had had the time to explore it more fully -- it enlightens and informs the rest of the book.
In the final analysis, it's about family. Not genetics, but the vastly more important question of who is that we have responsibilities to and for.
And if the ending doesn't make you cry, you'd better see your priest, as your soul is vastly in need of repair.

Without a doubt, this book helped shape my life as an adult. I first read this book as a young teen, and imagined myself in the roll of Thorby. As I grew I realized just how important a roll model and father Baslim was to Thorby. While taking Thorby into his life, by purchasing him as a slave, Baslim always treated him as a son. Teaching him right from wrong and impressing his values upon him. Baslim gave his life for his son and in doing so, set him free.
Thorby was again adopted by the Captain of a free trader ship, the Sisu. While there he grew and matured, becoming part of another larger family. But a message that Thorby carried from his father, delivered to the Captain required that Thorby be delivered to the Hegemonic Guard. Baslim's hope is that they could identify Thorby and deliver him to his real family. Little known to anyone that Thorby is really the only survivor of one of Earth's richest most powerful families.
When identified he is returned to Earth, only to find that he is more a slave there than he was as a child living with Baslim... Thor(by) now realizes that his own company is deeply involved in the slave trade and works undercover with the Guard to help distroy the slave trade, all the while becoming a slave to his company, power and wealth.

Except for asomewhat slow middle section, this is an extremely fast-paced read and more emotional than perhaps any other Heinlein work. It's a touching story that will stay with you for a while. This is in contrast to much of Heinlein's work, which is often called preachy and heavy-handed. It is top-notch stuff: invigorating, touching, fast-paced, thought-provoking, and memorable. I recommend it to both youths and adults.

It was fun to read everything that happens to Thorby because he's seeing everything for the first time. There are basically 3 segments to the story. I think the best story was his time on Sisu, but you learn about the culture of the Family. But the ending was not so great. Believe it or not, the last 50 pages were about .... bureaucracy! That ruined a sense of mystique about the book, but it had a point since Thorby experienced life in different cultures. It was still weird, though.

This is a book that Hollywood has overlooked (or has failed to steal)... yet.

With all of the craptacular movies out there, maybe someone in Hollywood will read Citizen and make a movie out of it.

After a piece of garbage like Skyline was made, anything would be better and this classic is a story that deserves to be told.

Heinlein wrote a number of juvenile novels, meant to appeal to the barely-teenager set. Citizen of the Galaxy is often listed as a juvenile by his fans (as is Starship Troopers occasionally), but I would not consider it so. The book's interest is not in its one-dimensional characters. The interest is sustained in the number of new social and political entities that Heinlein invents, all of which are plausible. The hero, Thorby, starts the book on a planet with three "castes" - the nobility, the poor but free non-nobles, and slaves (which is how Thorby starts out). He then moves into the Free Trader society where all members of a trade ship are related (in name, at least) and have both a military rank and a familial hierarchy that is painfully exclusive. Finally, Thorby ends up on Earth ("Terra"), which is not as well developed fictionally; it is revered as the birthplace of mankind with where day-to-day life similar to our own.
Naturally, these societies are painted with Heinlein's broad brush. There are a number of things that make you scratch your head, especially since it was written in 1957. While there are strong female characters, including the leader of the Free Trader ship, there's still that underlying Heinlein chauvenism ("You know women - they have no head for business"). Perhaps these statements are tongue-in-cheek, but it doesn't sound like it. More disturbing is his pessimism about slavery - numerous times he mentions the "inevitability" of slavery - and his apparent glorification of tribalism (the Traders call themselves "people" and everyone else are untermenschen). His condemnation of slavery and glorification of racism are incompatible to a modern ear, but it is thought-provoking and brings the story out of its potential mundacity.
Flashes of Heinlein's future are included as well - Thorby's lawyer on Terra is eerily similar to Jubal Harshaw of "Stranger in a Strange Land". So, overall, I enjoyed the book. It was thought-provoking, interesting for its depiction of possible future civilisations, and you didn't know what was going to happen next so wanted to keep reading.

I've loaned my copy to a number of people who don't normally read much science fiction and every one of them has loved this book. There is so much going on it is really just an incredible work of fiction, timeless due to the great writing and issues explored. This is one solid and extremely accessible example of why RAH is one of the best ever.

Heinlein is one of my favourite authors, and I would certainly recommend this book to any one first reading him. It was a book I read as a teen-ager, re-read as a young adult and read again as I got older. It does what many of Heinlein's books do for you - they tansfer you to another place full of rich tapestries, worlds and people. You root for the character, feel sad for him and wish the best for him. After you read enough of his works, you see and hear many things that come from other books. Can be read alone, but serves as treats for loyal readers. Gret book by a great author.

How many times have we heard this story? Boy is bought as slave, boy becomes beggar, boy loses mentor, boy honors mentors final wish and seeks out the people who will give him the skills to survive in a harsh uncaring galaxy a rather peculiar and heavily armed bunch called "the people".

From that point on the book gets very interesting basically its about freedom and the choices we have in life, no one can decide your destiny you have to arrive at the conclusion on your own.

While it is not Heinlein's absolute best it is not his absolute worst either. Te only thing that killed the book for me was the last 40 pages totally took away from the sprit of the book.

This story starts really good. A slave-panhandler grows up on the streets on a very distant from earth world with his adopted-father-owner. The boy ends up on a spaceship where everyone is family. Both times, heinlein is exploring these different cultures. But, the book finishes with this attmpt to make the happy ending. Even, heinlein in the end, makes the ending messy. If you're a fan, include this book. If you're just starting pick up another story.

I have enjoyed this book quite a bit. Specially the relationship between the boy and the beggar. I absolutely love the feel of old science fiction. The ending was not what I expected but it has to end at some point.

I have no problems recommending this book.

This is Heinlein at his best: a science fiction novel that explores the meaning of freedom and responsibility both for individuals and for cultures. Many of Heinlein's best novels were written for a young audience, but with levels of subtlety for all ages. "Citizen of the Galaxy" does this through the story of Thorby, a young boy found in a slave market on a human planet that had long since split off from Earth.
Without giving away too much of the plot, Thorby moves through four different cultures, in each case playing a very different role in society and becoming part of a different "family." Thorby's dilemmas and decisions make this a proper text for any college ethics class. "Citizen of the Galaxy" was certainly an important influence in my adolescence.

This has to be one of Heinlein's best books. It's the ultimate rags-to-riches story but hangs together and keeps your interest. It's a book for young boys but that doesn't stop it from being interesting to an adult.

Mentor improvement.

A young boy is bought as a slave by a beggar, who is your eccentric old bloke type.

Here here is taught a few things as Heinlein decides to take a look at the hard work will get you anywhere story versus the not much I can do because of where I am stuck situation, as the boy grows up and gets out of the slave life to move to a trader society.

3.5 out of 5

Citizen of the Galaxy is a very good classic science fiction work. It is the third Heinlein novel which I have finished. While it is in Heinlein's juvenile stories, the novel is a great adventure saga. I enjoyed following the main character Thorby through his life education and experiences. Unfortunately, the ending comes much too quickly and in too "neat" of a 1950's manner. It is suitable for readers spanning ages 11 to decades beyond.

This is one of those books that stays with you, and bears re-reading 20 years later. Accessible to youth, and quite worth reading by adults who come across it for the first time - adventurous, enlightening and sometimes emotional.

With this book, Heinlein's started hitting his stride with story line and character development. Technology also was starting to catch up to science fiction and there are no glaring discrepancies to kill the buzz. From this point in his writing on every book is a winner.

From the first word I loved this book. It was captavating and itruiging for the first 200 pages, and then it crashes. The lovable book I just knew a couple pages ago turned a slave boy learning to be free into a business man suing a relative over stocks! At the end, I wasn't sure if I was reading Heinlein or a bad Clancy book! The ending was pointless, uninteresting, and just plain bad. If you want to read this book, stop at page 200 (I liked it a lot until then), because the rest is pure garbage.

I was very disappointed with this novel; my first foray into Heinlein. Heinlein's prose in Citizen of the Galaxy is atrocious. Massive uses of semicolons; just like I am doing in this review. Very annoying; I had to stop on page 55; also lots and lots of cliches; and the dialogue is sophomoric and clumsy, for someone used to reading Malamud and Updike. (For comparison purposes, though:Asimov's fiction prose: I like; Alan Edward Nourse's fiction prose for both juveniles and adults: I love)

I am currently reading and immensely enjoying Grumbles from the Grave; so I know that Heinlein can write well.

I will now try my hand at Starship Troopers; which according to Grumbles, Heinlein considered an adult novel in the guise of a juvenile fiction.

It has been many years since I last read this book, but I am still reminded of it from time to time. Heinlein writes in such a way that you can really immerse yourself in the story and count the journey as one of your own. I loved it. The only complaint that I have is that it could have gone into more depth about each stage of Thorby's life.

I like coming of age stories. Heinlein is great at these, and this is one of his best. It's a believable story with good character development and an interesting thesis. The story has some unexpected twists, and the usual subtle humor.

Nice to read a book without the too-often obligatory profanity. Citizen Of The Galaxy is a bit slow to grab you (took me until around chapter 7) but then it has it's hold on you. A keeper in my collection and I have already read it twice. A truly galactic spanning epic.

This Is no doubt one of Heinlein's best. I have read the book thouroughly 3 times through and loved every second. If you read this book you'll find your hands glues to the cover and your eyes rusted open. If you don't read this, you don't know what your missin. Not one of the worlds best literary novels but sure is a good book.

RAH is grandmaster - no doubt for that. And Citizen of the Galaxy is one of his best (close circle - JOB, Number of the Beast, Strangeer in a Strange Land - hard to position those)...SF, espionage, adventure, sociology essay, thriller - you name it, it's everything.

I'm a HUGE fan of Heinlein. Despite my love for the author's writing, this book was not anything special. There are SO many clichés that made me cringe and say "Oh, GOD... I can't believe he's writing THAT!" that it makes the book difficult to take seriously. He covers many, many topics in much, much better ways in his other books.
If you're into Heinlein (or not), choose another book.

If you have Kids or Grandkids, who think about politics & like "SF"; give them this book!

It was One of the many Heinlein Works that helped ME grow up.

It is the BEST & MOST IMPORTANT of his "for KIDS novels".

I ment to give it 5 Stars!!!!!