A Heinlein Trio

by Robert A. Heinlein

The Puppet Masters (1951)
Double Star (1956)
The Door into Summer (1957)

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

502 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains three science-fiction books, all written before I was born, but they are great books, and not dated at all, though the author did not get all of his suppositions right about what the future might hold. And I love having read this volume.

The first book, The Puppet Masters (1951) is set in 2007; the narrator is part of a very secret intelligence book, and finds that the alleged flying saucer that landed in Iowa was not a hoax, but instead was the first book bringing alien beings with the goal of one by one controlling all humans. The second book, Double Star (1956) has an actor in the future shanghaied into making himself into the double for a very, very important politician – who has been kidnapped at a very important point in the Solar System’s history. The third book, The Door Into Summer, starts with a talented engineer in 1970 deciding, after being shafted by his best friend (with whom he created a company to market his inventions) and his fiancé (who marries his best friend), to take the Long Sleep – being held in stasis for thirty years – with his cat Pete. He wakes up in 2000, without Pete, but finds that certain inventions were invented by and patented by him in 1970 – but he has no memory of having done so.

This was a wonderful volume, and I am glad that we own it.

[Cuauhtemoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good anthology of three novelettes by A. Heinlein: The Puppet Masters, Double Star, and The Door Into Summer. Being stories written in 1957 I would say that they have probably aged more or less well. However, you need to be prepared for submissive women, a world were EVERYONE smokes, even in hospitals and gas stations, and some exaggerations of the mankind future (where are our flying cars!). Out of the three novels, I enjoyed the most "Double Star" and "The Door into Summer". I would recommend this book to others given that they are aware of the misconceptions of the age when this book was written. I read that Heinlein is informally known as one of the "Big Three" science fiction authors, alongside Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. However, having read the three of them, Heinlein work is not at the same level. Out of the three, Arthur C. Clarke is the one that more accurately predicted the future; and as for Asimov, I find his writing style much more engaging.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of three of Heinlein’s stories. All three are rather enjoyable. I personally liked The Puppet Masters the most. My one issue with this book is that it does feel dated in some ways (both the inevitable overly optimistic projections of humanity’s existence in the 21st century and the more problematic takes on female characters) but overall an enjoyable read

[Rob Crisp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three fun, exciting, and humorous sci-fi stories.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed all three stories . Love Heinlein’s humor and thought provoking situations

[David Hillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read this in 50 years (actually each of the stories it contains). Heinlein is a certifiable genius. What's amazing is how well the stories hold up after being written over 70 years ago.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read Door into Summer and Have Spacesuit Will Travel as a elementary school kid and only got this edition for Puppet Masters and to replace paperbacks with a hardcover. Door into Summer, Have Spacesuit, Starship Troopers and other Heinlein novels were the summum bonum of science fiction when I was little. My attitudes, and the genre itself, had changed by the time I got to college. My opinion of Heinlein now is rather low.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains The Puppet Masters, Double Star, and A Door Into Summer. In the Puppet Masters we encounter a parasitic alien race that enslaves the human race. In Double Star an actor is called upon to impersonate an important political figure in his dealings with Martians. A Door Into Summer sends a man thirty years into the future.

[Robyn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Door to Summer was a favorite and The Puppet Masters was more relevant now then when it was written~creepy. Never read any Heinlein before that I can recall~yes, agreed, I was LONG overdue for his brilliant works!!

[Ari Zelanko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage sci-fi adventures. Wonderful.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought it was a pretty good read on the whole if you like science fiction. I enjoyed it.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 great stories from 1 great author

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read July 23, 1981.

[Austin Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Puppet Masters (1951)
Double Star (1956)
The Door into Summer (1957)