This is one of the classic titles originally know as the "Heinlein Juveniles," written in the 1950 and published for the young adult market. It ha...
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Aug 23, 2011
The basic reason for writing this book seems to have been to introduce the idea of a 'long range foundation', which ignores the short term, and pumps resources into things that (probably) won't show results for decades or centuries. An interesting idea, but there don't seem to have been any takers.
The premise of the telepathic twins is interesting, but it's basically a McGuffin to allow Heinlein to send a juvenile (several, really) on a starfaring mission, Really, however, the mi More...
The premise of the telepathic twins is interesting, but it's basically a McGuffin to allow Heinlein to send a juvenile (several, really) on a starfaring mission, Really, however, the mi More...
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Feb 26, 2009
Joshua
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My second Heinlein this year and another fun adventure that I would have really loved if I'd read this when I was in my teens. More young adults at the center of the story--this time a pair of twins who go on a mission of space exploration and use telepathic skills to communicate since telepathy is faster than the speed of light. At least according to Heinlein.
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Apr 25, 2011
Manny
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- Good afternoon, may I talk with Professor Einstein?
- Speaking.
- Ah, I just wonder if I could have a few minutes of your time sir, this won't take long...
- And who are you, young man?
- Oh, I'm sorry, I should have said. My name's Bob Heinlein. You wouldn't have heard of me...
- On the contrary, I know exactly who you are. I bought a copy of your novel Space Cadet for my godson's eleventh birthday, and he was most complimentary. In More...
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Jun 24, 2010
Judy
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Earth is over-populated, families are only allowed three children and the Long Range Foundation is a non-profit with the goal of finding planets that could support human life so some of Earth's population can be exported. The Bartlett family had decided to pay the tax for having an extra child but the fourth birth produced twins. With the tax and two extra mouths to feed, money was tight.
Pat and Tom, the twins, are smart, inseparable but competitive (they share a girlfriend More...
Jul 01, 2009
Clay
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Pop culture is often dismissed as simply low culture – in contrast to the high art of opera or classical music or abstract expressionism. And there’s good reason: As long-ago scifi author Theodore Sturgeon once pointed out, “Ninety percent of everything is trash.”
A simple tour through the cable channels, or spin of the radio dial, will prove Sturgeon right, and in the mass of modern pop culture it’s much harder to filter out the signal from the noise. In classical music, for example, t More...
A simple tour through the cable channels, or spin of the radio dial, will prove Sturgeon right, and in the mass of modern pop culture it’s much harder to filter out the signal from the noise. In classical music, for example, t More...
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May 09, 2009
Glenn
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Plot summary:
Young twins Tom & Pat are called by an institute called the Long Range Foundation (LRF). Testing reveals that, like many twins, they are telepathic and are ths perfect candidates for the space program. One goes on board the ship, communicating their discoveries back to the one on earth in real-time.
When they get to the Tau Ceti system, which had a placid Earth-type planet on it they called Constance. They then went to Beta Hydri, where many dies from a plague. More...
Young twins Tom & Pat are called by an institute called the Long Range Foundation (LRF). Testing reveals that, like many twins, they are telepathic and are ths perfect candidates for the space program. One goes on board the ship, communicating their discoveries back to the one on earth in real-time.
When they get to the Tau Ceti system, which had a placid Earth-type planet on it they called Constance. They then went to Beta Hydri, where many dies from a plague. More...
Mar 30, 2009
Mary JL
rated it: 
The review above pretty much says it all. This books has been reprinted time and time again for over fifty years. It is one of Heinlein's better juveniles.
I recommend Heinlein's "juveniles" for every sf reader--I personally feel they represent some of his best work. They can be read and enjoyed by adults; except for the age of the main characters, this books is as good as many adult novels published today.
I recommend Heinlein's "juveniles" for every sf reader--I personally feel they represent some of his best work. They can be read and enjoyed by adults; except for the age of the main characters, this books is as good as many adult novels published today.
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Nov 05, 2009
People tend to focus on the twins: natural enough, since the narrator is a twin. But several of the telepaths are NOT twins, and this is critical to the story. The ships stay in touch with each other through triplets, for example, and if not for the discovery that people can transfer to other telepathic partners, the effects of time dilation would have scuttled the trip. And that discovery was made by a pair who were not even closely related.
I have to say that I didn't find the d More...
I have to say that I didn't find the d More...
Apr 04, 2009
TQM
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This is another fantastic book where Heinlein explores the relativistic effects of traveling near the speed of light. Time for the Stars examines the part of Einstein’s theory of relativity relating to the varying rates of the passage of time. His unique story introduces a third element of irrelevance from the perspective of mind reads whose mind speaking occur outsides Einsteinian physics; mind speaking is faster than light.
Heinlein explores two engaging questions in Time for the St More...
Heinlein explores two engaging questions in Time for the St More...
Mar 07, 2009
Sara
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Telepathic twins Tom & Pat help humans discover & colonize other planets in the galaxy after it is discovered that telepathy occurs instantly & with almost no matter the distance. We get the story, told from the a very psychological perspective, of how one twin ends up on a spaceship while the other remains on Earth as a news contact. The story of how the lots work out is an interesting one but what is more intriguing is how the story develops as the Earth-bound twin ages naturally, while thro
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Jul 07, 2011
Melissa
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This novella was obviously geared toward juvenile readers, and is dated now in so many ways - but it is a fun read nonetheless.
Tom and Pat Bartlett are (illegal) bratty identical twins on an overcrowded Earth of the future. When testing reveals psychic abillities, they are hired for a space exploration program which utilizes their special talent to allow simultaneous communication between space craft and Earth. Tom travels through space at near light speed, having many adventures; m More...
Tom and Pat Bartlett are (illegal) bratty identical twins on an overcrowded Earth of the future. When testing reveals psychic abillities, they are hired for a space exploration program which utilizes their special talent to allow simultaneous communication between space craft and Earth. Tom travels through space at near light speed, having many adventures; m More...
Apr 21, 2011
Jeff
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I had forgotten about this Heinlein juvenile completely thinking I was reading it for the first time, but part way in I realized that I had read it before. The human race has finally created a source of propulsion for ships that can offer constant boost and carry its fuel. That means it's "time for the stars." Population pressure and the sort of intrepid adventurousness Heinlein always so brilliantly portrays drives our heroes out in ships pushing the speed of light knowing that rel
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Feb 13, 2010
Neil
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It seems odd I haven't read this one until now. I started this because I needed a book to take on tour, and didn't feel like carrying the heavy hardback I'm in the middle of reading.
The Long Range Foundation funds unlikely ventures, one of which is space travel to distant stars. One issue with this is communication with ships light-years away, and they scramble a project to find telepairs - mostly identical twins - after the discovery that telepathy is instantaneous breaks quietly.
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The Long Range Foundation funds unlikely ventures, one of which is space travel to distant stars. One issue with this is communication with ships light-years away, and they scramble a project to find telepairs - mostly identical twins - after the discovery that telepathy is instantaneous breaks quietly.
More...
Dec 16, 2007
Fred D
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This was THE book that introduced me when I was young to the concept of Time Dilation, first discovered by Albert Einstein in his Theory of Relativity. That is, as an object accelerates to near-light speeds, time slows down in relation to other objects in the universe. Heinlein explored what the consequences of this would be for human relationships in the future when humanity starts engaging in interstellar travel. Tom & Pat were identical twins, and one stayed behind on Earth while the other ex
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Dec 27, 2011
Yougo
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An interesting story about the nature of relationships, of friendship and intriguing scientific principles. What happens when you can communicate over infinite distances using telapathy, without any delays? Now what happens when you are traveling nearly the speed of light and time's relativity is different between the two communicators? A very interesting and well written book, I quite enjoyed it.
May 18, 2011
Brian
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Heinlein at his very best! Though Spider Robinson may be "the new Robert A. Heinlein", there is no one like the original. This book is not quite completely in the juvenile Heinlein group and yet not in the adult Heinlein group. As one reviewer (Manny) put it: "an important novel, marking the transition from juvenile-Heinlein to proto-dirty-old-man-Heinlein." It is a quick thoroughly enjoyable read.
Jul 15, 2009
Sara
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 09, 2011
Sam
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One of the classics. This book is about twins who are telepathic. As radio connection gets distorted when going long distances, many pairs of twins are taken along on exploratory journeys to keep in touch with the home planet. This is one of Heilein's classics. I strongly suggest reading any book by him, if you are a science fiction fan or not (I wasn't one, but he turned me into one!)
Dec 15, 2008
Colby
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This is another of those classic sci-fi books that I have trouble reviewing as the central concept is one we take for granted now. "Time for the Stars" explores the practical effects of relativity on near lightspeed space travel. Mainly it would render exploration useless were there not a method of FTL communication.
Enter the telepathic twins. Stationed as part of the crew on exploration vessels, a twin is able to stay in instantaneous contact with their twin back on ear More...
Enter the telepathic twins. Stationed as part of the crew on exploration vessels, a twin is able to stay in instantaneous contact with their twin back on ear More...
Feb 16, 2009
Noa
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This is the book that started it all. Because my dad made me read this, I got interested in science fiction. Because I got interested in science fiction, I started watching Star Trek. Because I started watching Star Trek, I started playing Star Trek at school. Because I played it at school, I made a best friend who is my best friend to this day. Yay!
Nov 11, 2011
"One of the superb Heinlein stories that has excitement, urbanity, humanity, rationality, pace, understanding, and is a joy to read."-New York Times
Listen to Time for the Stars on your smartphone.
Listen to Time for the Stars on your smartphone.
Feb 13, 2011
Gary
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Instead of writing a blurb and calling it a "review", I'd rather say that this book started out simple enough with a good story to tell. The way it ended was a total surprise. Without spoiling anything, I can say that what happened on their last visited planet was a shock and Heinlein was even able to surprise me on the very last page.
Jul 22, 2011
Scott
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This one stands out in my memory as one of his best books. Using twins to telepathically communicate across light years while slower-than-light spacecraft explore for new planets, I loved this book. So much so, I think I need to get it for my Kindle...
Nov 03, 2009
Amy
rated it:
I love Robert Heinlein! But this one was just okay. A really fun
idea though: scientists discover that some identical twins are
telepathically linked, so they send one half of each pair out on
a faster-than-light spaceship to explore the stars. Very short
and fun to read, as most of his books are.
idea though: scientists discover that some identical twins are
telepathically linked, so they send one half of each pair out on
a faster-than-light spaceship to explore the stars. Very short
and fun to read, as most of his books are.
Dec 05, 2010
Garland Coulson
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 15, 2011
KR
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I thought it was well written, interesting, and kept me wanting to finish it. So I did.
Good idea for a sci-fi, used physics well, and gave an idea of what a future in space might be like with the rules.
Good idea for a sci-fi, used physics well, and gave an idea of what a future in space might be like with the rules.
Dec 09, 2009
Johnny
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Heinlein is a genius. Why? Because it takes a genius to turn a complicated physics theory into a compelling story. I'm not too sure if all the theories in this story have actually been proven but, man, is the story a good one.
I just found me a new favourite author!
I just found me a new favourite author!
Jan 19, 2009
Lacey
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My first ever Sci-Fi book. I LOVE IT. I have re-read it several times. If you are looking for an introduction into Sci-Fi, I would highly recommend this book.
Jul 28, 2011
Deborah
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The story of how telepathy helps man explore the far reaches of space.
Overall I enjoyed this,although it did get a bit too scientifically technical at times.
Heinlein seems to like to tell stories of very intelligent teenagers exploring space. The last 3 books I have read of his were all variations on that theme.
Overall I enjoyed this,although it did get a bit too scientifically technical at times.
Heinlein seems to like to tell stories of very intelligent teenagers exploring space. The last 3 books I have read of his were all variations on that theme.
Dec 11, 2011
Ann
rated it:
Reading for our Mother Daughter Book Club. I don't usually pick up Science Fiction but I think they have such value in helping us to think about what we value today.
