Time for the Stars (1956)

Robert A. Heinlein

Scribner's, New York; Pages: 192

Serendipity

This is a curious novel. Although it is written in witty language and has a lively narrative, and despite its intriguing plot and excellent character development, TFTS cannot really be classified with Heinlein's best works. I am still not sure why, perhaps

Let me start by mentioning several of the more interesting technological aspects of this novel. First, even though space travel is done in torch ships at speeds near the speed of light, the communication method is ingenious, even if it does smack of the paranormal. It would appear that (not necessarily) identical twins possess a telepathic ability whereby they can communicate with each other instantaneously, regardless of distance. Thus, putting one of them on a survey ship and keeping the other home would enable Earth to be in constant contact with the starship regardless of how far it is. Although RAH eventually gets around to making this discovery a part of the new physics (with all the attending inventions, such as the null-field generators that make instantaneous space travel possible), it is not convincing, which is why it never made an appearance in another novel.

Another fascinating part of the novel has to do with character development. Of his juvies, TFTS is perhaps one of RAH's best in that respect. Tom's relationship with his brother Pat is explored in detail in what must have been a shocking sincerity at the time the novel was published. The tension between the societal precept of "love your sibling" and the true feelings that nearly led Tom to psychosis are bared, with the politically incorrect conclusion that it is ok to dislike your brother naturally following. Other leads in character development are left unexplored, like Tom's relationships (or lack thereof) with girls. This, of course, is hardly surprising for a juvenile. There was a minor surprise at the very end where Tom marries a not-so-distant relative of his. I do not know how this got past Heinlein's neurotic editor.

Finally, one has to mention the Long Range Foundation, which has to be the most curious not-for-profit entity that has ever existed. Set up to finance projects without immediate (or even foreseeable) commercial viability, the LRF seems to be responsible for just about any major advance, such as space flight, not to mention the accidental discovery of the new physics. I am probably not the only one whose mouth waters at the thought of such a corporation. Naturally, this is the most fantastic element of this novel.

The story is fairly straightforward. Following the discovery of telepathic abilities in twins, the LRF sends out several scout ships to survey the stars in the neighboring 100 light years. The aim, as usual, is to find planets suitable for colonization so that the ever increasing population pressure on Earth could be eased. RAH works through some really interesting wrinkles, such as the time discrepancy, what he calls "slippage," which occurs when the ship travels near the speed of light. In essence, time on the ship passes much slower relative to the observer on Earth. Thus, barely four years on board the "Lewis and Clark" equals about 70 years back home. In a somewhat contrived manner, Heinlein "discovers" the ability of telepaths to link to the offspring of their siblings, thus solving the ageing problem. The ship on which Tom is one of the communicator "freaks" discovers three planets, two of the suitable for settling. Each of these, however, takes its toll on the ship as plague and hostile natives manage to exterminate 80 per cent of the 200 hundred people on board. Eventually, technological advances spurred by the results of research on telepathy enable instantaneous space travel and the ship is "saved" by what Gifford rightly terms a classic "deus ex machina" at the end of the novel (this refers to a note in Gifford's "RAH: A Reader's Companion").

Despite its obvious shortcomings, the novel is worth reading for Heinlein's vivid portrayal of human conflict and cooperation on a long trip in confined space. The emphasis that he usually puts on discipline is ever present, even though some characters entertain mutinous thoughts once in a while. In what is very rare for RAH, a lot of really likeable people are killed off unceremoniously. Thankfully, he decided to give up on that practice as it certainly irks the sucker for a happy story in me.

June 25, 2000. BLS