Rocket Ship Galileo (1947)

Robert A. Heinlein

Del Rey, New York; ISBN: 0-345-26068-6; Pages: 187

This is RAH's first published novel and although it does foreshadow what is to come, it is one of the weaker juveniles, both in terms of plot and execution. The story is quite linear---three boys adept at engineering experiment with rockets without much success until an uncle shows up with a huge offer. Dr. Cargraves, the uncle, a nuclear physicist wants to go to the Moon but needs help with the project. The unlikely story unfolds as the three kids help the scientist built a rocket ship on a non-existent budget. Several strange accidents and sabotage later they finally blast off and make it to the Moon. Their stay there is quite happy until they are discovered by... the Nazis, who (as usual) plot world domination. Some cowboy shenanigans later the four have the entire Nazi base destroyed and foil the infernal plot.

One has to admire RAH's fantasy. Even though I am sure we will be able to build space ships in our backyards at some point in the future, it sure won't be the way he describes it; certainly not like you would tweak a hot rod today. Pushing aside the unlikely knowledge and skill of the youngsters, one has to question the hare-brained scheme altogether. The flight itself is choke-full of tedious technical (and not entirely correct) detail, but that is normal for RAH. What isn't, however, is the way it is presented---one cannot help but detect a note of superiority in his tone. I don't think RAH wrote down to readers after this one ever again. This is only mildly annoying in comparison with the didactic prose that depicts the events after the Nazis bomb "Galileo" into oblivion.

One must understand where RAH is coming from but even this is too much. He describes the Germans as not simply evil, or even crazy, but also perverse (the remark about the pictures they find in the barracks). Then there's the wholesome all-American behavior of Dr. Cargraves and even the boys. Even though one is certainly free to agree with RAH, the propaganda tone does not help at all. One also should be fully aware of the irony: the Nazis make it to the Moon full three months before the brave crew of "Galileo." So much for the technical superiority of the system. Incidentally, the recent Hollywood rip-off of "Das Boot" is also victim of this irony: the American submarine barely manages to go six feet under (no pun intended) before it springs leaks, while the captured Nazi sub braves depths of 200 feet with hardly a hesitation. But then again, the Germans always had superior engineering.

June 24, 2000. BLS