The Door into Summer
by Robert A. Heinlein · first published 1957
50% recommend45% neutral5% critical
Why HN recommends it
Light, sweet science fiction following an engineer protagonist, a kooky invention, and plenty of cat content. Its engineering insight remains relevant, and it rewards re-reading for enjoyment.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Electronics engineer Dan Davis has finally made the invention of a lifetime: a household robot with extraordinary abilities, destined to dramatically change the landscape of everyday routine. Then, with wild success just within reach, Dan's greedy partner and greedier fiancée trick him into taking the long sleep--suspended animation for thirty years. They never imagine that the future time in which Dan will awaken has mastered time travel, giving him a way to get back to them--and at them .
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2011–2021I Will Fear No Evil
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 144 recommend · 14 mention4 recommend · 144 recommend
2008–2025Double Star
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 105 recommend · 10 mention5 recommend · 105 recommend
2009–2025To sail beyond the sunset
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 134 recommend · 13 mention4 recommend · 134 recommend
2014–2024Influx
Daniel Suarez
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 117 recommend · 11 mention7 recommend · 117 recommend
Have Space Suit Will Travel
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 123 recommend · 12 mention3 recommend · 123 recommend
2008–2026Tunnel in the sky
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 167 recommend · 16 mention7 recommend · 167 recommend
2009–2025''All You Zombies - -''
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 13 · mentioned by 2213 recommend · 22 mention13 recommend · 2213 recommend
2007–2025The Fountains of Paradise
Arthur C. Clarke
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 2312 recommend · 23 mention12 recommend · 2312 recommend
…which together both entertain the reader and lend insight into the qualities of the author. It's not the first book I'd recommend if you're only going to read one Heinlein - that would have to be The Door into Summer. But if you're only going to read two, I'd suggest this be the second one.
on “The Hacker's Manifesto (1986)” ↗> There are similar time-loops and incestuous themes in this Heinlein novel Let's not forget "The Door into Summer".
on “All You Zombies” ↗Even more so... Plus "Door into Summer" is unambiguously a good read. (Actually though I tell people who like Heinlein that Joe Haldeman set out to out-Heinlein Heinlein and was successful with "The Forever War" and "Worlds")
on “All You Zombies” ↗…Mistress remains a classic among classics; The Puppet Masters even more so, to the extent of spawning practically a whole subgenre of second-rate imitations; and, for a lighter entry, his oft-overlooked The Door into Summer is a sweet story in which all's well that ends well and the importance of feline companionship in a well-rounded life is not overlooked.
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗For sheer enjoyment (measured in how many times I've re-read them, at least at various times in my life): Heinlein's _The Door into Summer_. Connie Willis' _Bellwether_ (these can be funny, right?). Ayn Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_ (more in my youth than today, but I can probably still recite passages by heart). Non-fiction: Gerry Weinberg's…
on “Ask YC: favorite books” ↗…books. If you hated the movies, no problem, the books are far better. OR science fiction. Read all of Heinlein's books for young adults. Start with Double Star then read Have Space Suit Will Travel. A Door Into Summer speaks to any engineer. Tunnel In the Sky is the classic survival story. When you are hooked on Heinlein read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress; it only takes a chapter to get used to his interesting take…
on “Ask HN: Are books worth it?” ↗…several distinct time periods. - All You Zombies is a short story that makes use of one of the most ingenious and mind-bending time travel conundrums to reflect on the nature of personal identity. - The Door Into Summer is about the effects of suspended animation on personal relationships. - Anything written by Philip K. Dick.
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗The Door into Summer by Heinlein Has a kooky invention, lots of great cat stuff, talk of money, founder disputes and sci-fi. 10/10.
on “Ask HN: What's some great fiction for founders and entrepreneurs?” ↗My candidates are largely fiction, such as _To Say Nothing of the Dog_ (Connie Willis) and _Door Into Summer_ (Heinlein). But I do re-read Jerry Weinberg's _Secrets of Consulting_ every so often.
on “Ask HN: What books do you re-read every decade?” ↗The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein
on “Ask HN: What are less known hard Sci-Fi books to read?” ↗Dude, there's no way Heinlein designed a house like that. The value and importance of standardized, easily-replaceable parts is a plot point in his book, The Door into Summer (BTW, I strongly recommend everyone here read it. The main character is an engineer, and it's shocking how insightful and relevant you'll still find his observations about businesses and the way engineering…
on “Robert and Virginia Heinlein's Colorado Springs House” ↗This article missed an artful nod to Robert A. Heinlen's "The Door into Summer." This terrific novel not only heavily features the rise and use of home-robots, but has a bunch of cat stuff in it to-boot. I give this a hearty recommend for imaginative cat companion-having, home-robot…
on “What Comes After the Roomba?” ↗Not sure I'd suggest The Door into Summer, it's one of the weakest books from Heinlein imho together with the Number of the Beast and I Will Fear No Evil. I'd usually recommend the Moon is a Harsh Mistress or one of his juveniles as the first…
on “The Hacker's Manifesto (1986)” ↗…apropos for HN. The spectrum of opinions towards emerging technologies is so starkly colored by the eras during which practitioners did their primary work. It reminds me of the Heinlein quote from “A Door into Summer”, “When railroading time comes you can railroad—but not before.”
on “Experts from a world that no longer exists” ↗…potentially overlapping. (I think Heinlein was referring to incest between consenting adults, so 'child' in the sense of 'the adult's adult child' is closer.) Still, that does occur a few times, like in "The Door Into Summer". Quoting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Door_into_Summer#Major_the... : > The early Heinlein biographer and critic Alexei Panshin, in his 1968 biography Heinlein in Dimension, took note of a controversial…
on “Sci-Fi Author Robert Heinlein Was Basically MacGyver” ↗