A never-before-published masterpiece from science fiction’s greatest writer, rediscovered after more than half a century.When Joel Johnston first met Jinny Hamilton, it seemed like a dream come true. And when she finally agreed to marry him, he felt like the luckiest man in the universe.There was just one small problem. He was broke. His only goal in life was to become a composer, and he knew it … composer, and he knew it would take years before he was earning enough to support a family.
But Jinny wasn’t willing to wait. And when Joel asked her what they were going to do for money, she gave him a most unexpected answer. She told him that her name wasn’t really Jinny Hamilton—it was Jinny Conrad, and she was the granddaughter of Richard Conrad, the wealthiest man in the solar system.
And now that she was sure that Joel loved her for herself, not for her wealth, she revealed her family’s plans for him—he would be groomed for a place in the vast Conrad empire and sire a dynasty to carry on the family business.
Most men would have jumped at the opportunity. But Joel Johnston wasn’t most men. To Jinny’s surprise, and even his own, he turned down her generous offer and then set off on the mother of all benders. And woke up on a colony ship heading out into space, torn between regret over his rash decision and his determination to forget Jinny and make a life for himself among the stars.
He was on his way to succeeding when his plans–and the plans of billions of others–were shattered by a cosmic cataclysm so devastating it would take all of humanity’s strength and ingenuity just to survive.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Not even close to Heinlein.
It had the flavor of Heinlein, but lacked the substance of his best work. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Spider has talent…but that was never in doubt. A very great challenge well met
Only for completists. Not really a finished book, and parts were mined for other books.
It did remind me of “Time for the Stars” in style. It was set in the same universe. But it didn’t feel like the former 50’s novel, so it felt like a modern SF story.
I definitely enjoyed this one. Admittedly, I’m a Heinlein fan, already. I’d like to think I can be objective enough to judge this one on its own merits. Robinson, apparently took a set of comprehensive notes, and with them, conjured up a ghost. It actually read like one of Heinleins’ transitional juvenile-to-adult novels. The characters were …
Amazing to find a blend of Robert A Heinlein and Spider Robinson. Two of my all-time favorites. Best of the best!
Spider Robinson did an amazing job with this book. It reads just like earlier Robert Heinlein.
Heinlien is the greatest sci-fi writer of all time.
I have read and enjoyed many books by Spider Robinson, and I have read (and re-read countless times) everything that Robert Heinlein ever wrote. This is NOT a Heinlein book even though Robinson used Heinlein’s notes and outline,
To associate this book with Heinlein’s name is a travesty.
Finding an unpublished novel based on a plot outline by Robert Heinlein is a rare occurrence. The book was excellent.
The best of Heinlein and Robinson in one!
What I expected of from “Heinlein” story.
disappointing
never read a RAH I didn’t love and this hits it even with someone else putting it to finish.
Actually reminded me of Heinlein novels, with some clever references woven into the story. Not a top ten, but quite enjoyable
I like any book Heinlein writes
Not his best or worst
Hey, anything by Robert Heinlein at this point is better than many author’s best work. Pretty high praise considering he’s been dead for a quarter of a century.
This was a hard book for me to read. Not that the story was difficult to follow; it wasn’t. I had a hard time with it because I thought this was, the last new book I’d ever read written by R. A. H.
Spider Robinson did such a fantastic job blending his contributions, that I was unable to discern what were his words and what were original.