Have Spacesuit--Will Travel
by Robert A. Heinlein · first published 1958
60% recommend40% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Young-adult Heinlein juvenile that works as a first real science fiction novel for kids and teens. Fans praise its science, its capable, smart characters, and its message about getting where you want in life.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A science fiction novel for young readers by American writer Robert A. Heinlein, originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (August, September, October 1958) and published by Scribner's in hardcover in 1958. It is the last of the Heinlein juveniles. Plot summary: Clifford "Kip" Russell, enters an advertising jingle writing contest, hoping to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Moon. He instead gets a used space suit. Kip puts the suit (which he dubs "Oscar") back into working condition. Kip reluctantly decides to return his space suit for a cash prize to help pay
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…to see the fourth origin story of Spiderman, Superman or Batman. However, I have to concede with a good script and director, these sometimes work. I wish I could see more more Heinlein on film, e.g. Have Spacesuit, Will Travel and Stranger in a Strange Land. Partial treatments were in The Last Starfigher and Star Treks What of Charlie.
on “Apple is making a show based on Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ books” ↗…might have some good suggestions too. Will he do fantasy? If so try: The Hobbit Narnia Artimis Fowl Discworld (by Terry Pratchett) Sci-Fi: D.A. Jumper A Wrinkle in Time Heinlein's Y/A stuff (Have spacesuit will travel) Akiko Little Brother City of Ember The Eye, the Ear and the Arm Uglies The Giver Try some Manga too, if you're not opposed.
on “Ask HN: Good Sci-Fi/Geek-Lit For School-Age Kids?” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/Have-Space-Suit-Heinleins-Juveniles-eb... http://www.amazon.com/Starman-Jones-Robert-A-Heinlein/dp/145... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_of_the_Galaxy That's the set I remember most at least. "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" has some good stuff on getting where you want to be in life.
on “Ask HN: Any movies that changed your life?” ↗Have Spacesuit Will Travel is another story that makes the case for Heinlein's female characters being exceptionally smart and capable.
on “In the Strange Land of Robert Heinlein (1984)” ↗Nearly every other one? I'd recommend The Moon is a Harsh Mistress which is a romp imho, and also happens to be a better insight into his personal politics. Also, Have Spacesuit Will Travel, Farmer in the Sky, Stranger in a Strange Land and mostly everything by Heinlein, though there was arguably a bit of a drop in quality towards the late end of his career.
on “We have jetpacks and we do not care” ↗"Have Spacesuit, Will Travel", Robert A. Heinlein. "Citizen of the Galaxy", Robert A. Heinlein. "The Rolling Stones", Robert A. Heinlein. "A Wrinkle in Time", Madeleine L'Engle. Any of the ones skmurphy recommended.
on “Science fiction for the young” ↗…through my EE degree at MIT. It was a yellow Pickett model N4 (http://www.sliderule.ca/pickett.htm). The slide rule was a wonderful thing for me. I got the idea that I would like having one from the book Have Spacesuit--Will Travel, by Robert Heinlein, a book I read when I was around twelve. The paper route a couple of years later gave me enough money that I could buy one. Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, there were no computers…
on “Ask HN: Allowance for kids?” ↗The renderings look like the cover of a Young Adult Sci Fi novel by Robert H. Heinlein. Have Spacesuit, Will Travel comes to mind. Probably the first true Science Fiction I have ever read!
on “Tesla: Failure of the FSD's degradation detection system [pdf]” ↗Early Heinlein e.g. Have Spacesuit - Will Travel, Farmer In The Sky, The Rolling Stones or for non-juveniles, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress have lots of science. Later works, less so.
on “Isaac Asimov: The Last Question” ↗…and immediately wrote "The Number of the Beast" (1980) -- four lubricious characters on a romp through various universes -- "to see if my brain would work." (Many critics said No.) As a kid, I loved Have Spacesuit Will Travel. But even as a 14-15 year old I understood Number Of The Beast was not the same...
on “In the Strange Land of Robert Heinlein (1984)” ↗Some others I'd recommend: Have Spacesuit, Will Travel. Loved it. Flatland. o.O Isacc Asimov short stories collection (specially "Jokester" "The Golden Man" and "The Last Question")
on “The Best Science Fiction Books (According to Reddit)” ↗>As a kid, I loved Have Spacesuit Will Travel. But even as a 14-15 year old I understood Number Of The Beast was not the same... One is a Scribner's juvenile, and the other is a novel written for adults. Anyway, Friday is a post-carotid artery…
on “In the Strange Land of Robert Heinlein (1984)” ↗…sense. Some old people love to grouse about how Things Were Better Then, and how Children Used To Respect Authority. It's been that way for millennia. You ever read Heinlein? Back in the 1950s, his "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" complained about how schools were too touchy-feely, intent more on having students feel good than providing a good education.
on “France to ban mobile phones in primary, junior and middle schools” ↗I think my dad did the same thing. The two books I remember him recommending were: Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Heinlein and Ivanhoe but Sir Walter Scott. If you don't mind sharing what books did your dad recommend?
on “The challenges, and hypocrisies, of raising kids in a gaming house” ↗FWIW, newspaper was the traditional wrapping for fish and chips in the UK. Many still use wraps printed to look like a newspaper. The practice was common enough that it occurs in Heinlein's "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel" (p14 in my copy), which was written in 1958. The line is "I had the Centerville Clarion but it's only fit for wrapping salami."
on “Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers” ↗