“Rarely has Heinlein pushed his imagination further…a vivid, stirring experience.”—Chicago Tribune“One of the superb Heinlein stories that has excitement, urbanity, humanity, rationality, pace, understanding, and is a joy to read.”—The New York TimesWith over-population stretching the resources of Earth, the need to find and colonize other Terra-type planets is becoming crucial to the survival of … colonize other Terra-type planets is becoming crucial to the survival of the human race. But finding these planets is time-consuming and very costly.
With a seemingly inexhaustible budget, the scientists at the Long Range Foundation create the remarkable Torchships, which are able to traverse to different Star Systems within the matter of months. However, communication between Earth and these ships would still take countless years—even decades. How would they alert Earth of the planets they find?
Tom and Pat are recruited by LRF to become the human transmitters and receivers for the mission. Growing up together they had felt like they were so similar, so in sync, that it was almost as if they read each other’s minds…. Only to discover, that was indeed what they could do. Along with other telepathic pairings, their abilities are tested, and it is discovered that time nor distance impedes their connection; communication between Earth and the Torchships would be instantaneous.
But there is a catch: during the course of the mission, while one of them stays behind and grows old, on Earth, the other will be traversing the stars, and—if he survives—will return a young man.
“The word that comes to mind for him is essential. As a writer—eloquent, impassioned, technically innovative—he reshaped science fiction in the way that defined it for every writer who followed him…. He was the most significant science fiction writer since H. G. Wells.”—Robert Silverberg
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Heinlein is the best! This is an enjoyable read.
I read this as a teenager- Heinlein was one of my “hero’s” in my formative years. I still kind of lean toward his philosophy of life. “An armed society is a polite society.” and ” Pure science research pays off and surprising ways.”
Cool look to the future and what could be…
Robert A Heinlein is the greatest science fiction writer I have ever read. I seriously doubt that anyone will ever be better than he was. This book tels the story of twins who are telepathic between themselves, and how one of them goes into space while the other stays on Earth. They are the communicators for the ship. One of Heinleins better young adult stories. Heinlein is always worth the cost of admission.
OK, I first read this book many years ago and I think it has stood the test of time fairly well. Still a very enjoyable book. I also picked up on more of the subtle meanings and “pokes” that I missed as a younger reader.
I thought it was a classic Heinlein full of great characters and action.
It is by Heinlein. That alone should tell you to buy it. It is one of his “juveniles,” supposedly meant for teens. I a nearly 70, and I still enjoyed it. So,if you retain a sense of wonder, should you. It is a space adventure – and, in some sense, a time travel story. There is adventure. There is sadness. A bit of romance, some 1950’s science that holds up well, some telepathy ( that’s the maguffin) ( or is it?), even a bit of thought provoking – “what choices would I, myself, make?” Heinlein knew how to tell a story,
Classic Heinlein.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t extremely exciting, but it was still a page-turner. I loved learning about the relationship between twins and how distance changed their relationship.
Holds up against time.
If you like science-fiction and John Scalzi, you’ll like this book.
A classic from the Master….
Time for the Stars is classic Heinlein before he became so obtuse.
One of his juvenile series books. One of the first stories to consider the time contrast of near light speed travel. Pure fun!
I have always been a big fan of Heinlein and have read and reread probably every book he wrote. If you haven’t read any Heilein then you are missing one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.