The Juvenile Novels of Robert A Heinlein – A Short Discussion

I had so much fun with the Heinlein short stories that I’m rolling into the Heinlein juveniles.  I think many people understandably feel that the juvenile novels may be Heinlein’s best work.  I confess I’m of two minds about that.  They have different properties and leave room for adult novels to show their quality in a different way.

But let’s see where we can go with these stories.  I think I’ll rank them best to worst according to my incredibly sensitive literary faculty.

Have Space Suit—Will Travel (1958)

The Rolling Stones (1952)

Farmer in the Sky (1950)

Starman Jones (1953)

Citizen of the Galaxy (1957)

Tunnel in the Sky (1955)

Red Planet (1949)

The Star Beast (1954)

Space Cadet (1948)

Time for the Stars (1956)

Between Planets (1951)

Rocket Ship Galileo (1947)

I’ve left out Starship Troopers (1959) because although Heinlein included it in his juvenile series.  I think it’s actually one of his adult stories.

Now my order is obviously idiosyncratic and to be perfectly honest most of the stories are fairly equally good so it’s a very rough sorting.  I did put Rocket Ship Galileo last because now, space nazis do seem a bit silly to me.  But at the time the story seemed just fine to adolescent me.  Maybe depending on the day “Tunnel in the Sky” and “Citizen of the Galaxy” could switch places on the list.  And maybe a few other ones too.  But let’s go with this.

The only story that I think I can objectively hold up as accurately ranked is my first choice, “Have Space Suit—Will Travel.”  I think Heinlein did excel his usual juvenile story here.  The protagonist, characters and plot devices are especially enjoyable and I can say even now, a sequel or two in this universe might be a fun read.  Who knows, maybe one day I’ll contact the Heinlein estate to find out if they have any provisions for making that part of his intellectual property available to “respectful” collaborators.

I gave copies of all these books to my grandsons as soon as they were old enough to read.  I consider them excellent company for growing boys.  Just looking at that list of names makes me think of picking up “Starman Jones” or “The Rolling Stones” just to relive the feeling of reading them for the first time.  They are each a touchstone to a very happy time in my life when the local library had a whole shelf of these Heinlein stories just waiting for me to read them and move onto the next one.

One other word on these books.  Of all the books, I think “Between Planets” was the only one I never reread.  I remember it took place on a Venus that was tropical in climate.  There was a Venusian named Sir Isaac Newton, I believe, but I don’t remember very much else about the plot other than some kind of interplanetary political intrigue.

So, what is your order of excellence?  And what is your rationale?  And where exactly do you stand on the “Starship Troopers” question?  And what is your opinion on space nazis.  Leave your comments in the comments section below.