Space Cadet

I have heard this book dismissed as "just another space cadet story." Check the date of publication (1948), this is THE first space cadet story. It started the genre. I've also heard it dismissed as a "kid's book." A "kid's book" would not have stuck in my memory for four decades now and provided me with inspiration and a model when I most needed it. A "kid's book" wouldn't have inspired me to stick out high school and college physics and mathematics instead of just throwing in the towel. It was remembering the example of this book, and _Starman Jones_, that got me through Calculus. I just wish the rest of the world would have lived up to the high ideals expressed in these books....

I recently reread this tale after many years. I was amazed at how "nondated" it was. Heinlein has a perfect description of cell phones and cell towers. Something else finally hit me too- this is where Gene Roddenbury got most of his ideas for Star Trek. Heinlein actuallly uses the term "the Federation." His Interplanetary Patrol is obviously the inspiration for Star Fleet with it's noble ideals, multi-cultural make-up (in 1948), it's commitment to keeping the peace, and it's 100 year record of keeping the peace (a phrase right out of Trek.) The importance of the Academy and its naval style of organization came from Heinlein, the Annapolis graduate. The way that the organization is entirely composed of officers and officers in training- that's also pure Star Trek. Heinlein wrote of all this almost 20 years before Star Trek aired....

I am a faculty member at a law school. When we considered revamping our curriculum, I gave the committee members passages from this book to read, where the Academy's approach is made clear. Universally, the response was: "Yeah, that's how we should do things. But we have to pursue a feel-good approach now." Heinlein understands that character matters, and that institutions should encourage responsibility, not undermine it. That, I suppose, is why he was never an administrator.... Nonetheless, this is not only a terrific story, but one -- like all of Heinlein's juniors -- with a point.

I hadn't read this one of Heinlein's in many, many years when I picked it up and was leafing through it in search of an answer to a trivia question. Doing this with any Heinlein novel is dangerous; in short order I was snagged into re-reading the entirety of this one. Heinlein has often been cited by many of today's scientists and engineers as their inspiration for getting into the sciences, and this book is a prime example of why. As the story of Matt Dodson, young man in training to be a Space Patrol officer, it is a very typical adolescent-to-man portrayal. The first half of the book deals with his training, from the rigorous testing to eliminate those who don't have what it takes to descriptions of the myriad of subjects an officer is expected to know. The second half details his experiences and on-the-job training as a school graduate, from long boring hours in space transit, to the finding of a missing Patrol ship, to his experiences in the art of negotiation with Venusian natives. At no point does this book ever become boring; I fully believe Heinlein could have written a twenty page exposition on watching grass grow and kept his readers totally engrossed. Some of the details he presents on the art of astrogation and space flight may go over the heads of some younger readers of this book, but it is precisely such details that will get those readers interested in studying such subjects.

This book was written in 1948, and some allowances must be made for that reason, such as the description of Venus as mainly a hot and very wet but habitable planet (at the time he wrote this, this was one of the main scientific suppositions about conditions on the this planet). At the same time, it is quite incredible just how accurate he was in describing everything from rocket ship design, fuels, space walks, space sickness, space habitats, eating utensils designed for space use, the utility of a global peace-keeping force (such as the U.N., which was just being formed when this was written), and even predicted the use of microwaves for cooking (this prediction is hidden in a throw away one-liner comment, typical for Heinlein, as he quite correctly portrays the inventions of the future as mere commonplaces of their time).

Some have called this a watered-down version of Starship Troopers, and there is some validity to this point, as there is very little of the heavy philosophy that characterized Starship Troopers here (although, like all of his 'juvenile' novels, there are strong threads running throughout on the importance of honesty, duty, personal responsibility, and the proper role of government), but much of the same flavor regarding military organizations.

Other than Matt himself, the characterizations are somewhat one-dimensional, in some cases near caricatures drawn with broad strokes. This is not necessarily bad in a book intended for young readers, who have not yet reached the sophistication to see the world in many shades of gray, but is a little grating for the adult readers. The depiction of Burke, supposedly good enough to survive all the testing and early training for the Space Patrol, but so dunderheaded as to effectively kidnap a local Venusian 'mother' and not see anything wrong with his actions is especially grating.

This book was the basis for an attempt at a TV serial: Tom Corbett, Space Cadet in the early fifties, and is very well suited to this type of treatment. The book is a fun, fast read. Adult readers may be disappointed in its lack of meaty subjects and sketchy characters, but it is near perfect for its intended audience.

---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

This may be the last Heinlein novella written in his 'young boys' Amazing-magazine era, or it may be the first book he wrote as he started aiming for a little older audience. I don't know how to judge - I read Stranger when I was 10 so my views are clouded. Needless to say, this is a truly great piece of science fiction. There is no gibson-esque drug use, no later-Heinlein gratuitous sex, no Neal Stephenson rock and roll... and yet, there is a true innocense to this book. It is like the fabled children's story written for adults, something like what Harry Potter almost accomplished. You read it, you watch Wennie-the-pooh, you listen to that one favorite piece of music... you can't help but smile, can't help but enjoy it. This is the quintessential story of Starship Troopers... except with people fighting with but their wits and their innate charm, not a bazooka and a jumpsuit. THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOU BIG FLYING SHIP XWING FANS! This is for the Hari Seldon fans, the people who read Stranger in a Strange Land and like Jubal Harshaw the best. Ahhh, the innocense of youth!

One of my favorites by Heinlein, this book is a great one kids who are getting interested in Sci-Fi. It contains a pretty good adventure story, with enough military sci-fi flavoring to keep you interested throughout the portion of the book where our hero is being trained. I finished this, and I had to track down the short story "The Long Watch" by Heinlein, to read it again so I fully understood the references contained within Space Cadet. You may also wish to read it first, it can be found in "The Past Through Tomorrow" by Heinlein, as well as several other of his books, I'm sure.

Follow young Matt Dodson as he enters the academy in hopes of becoming a Space Cadet. Matt makes friends with Tex, who always has amusing tales about his Uncle Bodie, and a few others, as lessons are learned ... usually the hard way.

Space Cadets are the elite guard of the solar system. They accept missions others fear, take risks no others dare, and uphold the peace of the solar system for the benefit of all. (Much like the Jedi Order!) This novel will take you from Earth, to Mars, to Venus, and beyond. Matt and his friends are tested in the most severe and extraordinary ways that will change them forever, but still not prepare them for the alien treacheries that await.

**** If you have never read a novel by Robert A. Heinlein, then please keep in mind that this was written in the year 1948. The author renewed the copyright in 1975. I stress this because even though the story begins in July 2075, there are a few references to events that supposably happened in OUR past, such as the notation of the person who created the Patrol's Tradition who lived 1969 - 1996.

The fact that Robert A. Heinlein's novels are still being published today clearly expresses how outstanding readers find his science fiction novels. Once you read this, or any other novel by Heinlein, you will have no doubt as to how the man came about being crowned "The Master of Science Fiction". ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I am in my early twenties and didn't know about Heinlen until I turned 12. He was not on my recommended reading list as my parents knew my tendency, which began around my 8th year, to read everything by an author if I liked one of their titles. I think they were nervous about the compatibility of Stranger In a Strange Land for an 8 - 10 year old. I did not discover Heinlein's juvies until I was in my early twenties, which I still haven't left. I had read much of Heinlen's more mature material in my `teens, some of it before I was ready for it. Therefore, when I read SPACE CADET, I approached it with a mind toward how it would have affected me if I had read it earlier in life. So doing, I was highly impressed with his work.

There seems to be some contention concerning the relation of this book to his better-known STARSHIP TROOPERS. Regardless of other subject matter, I think that there is a legitimate connection between the principles that he was promoting in both. The main difference in the two books is the age group and the times he was writing for, since the adventures that entertained children and older youths in the nineteen-forties or fifties would probably not have held the attention or provided equal entertainment for those more advanced in years and less innocent in outlook.

Heinlen rarely wrote anything without a point, and in SPACE CADET he promoted concepts of personal responsibility to society, spoke against racism (VERY progressive for 1948), warned of the practical disadvantages of drinking, congratulated honoring one's parents in the face of parental ignorance, advocated a strong military defense capability even as he pronounced the lofty goal of a lasting peace, and celebrated study and productive activity over immature destructive behaviors. He did all of this with very little moral grandstanding or preaching, and even the few speeches he included contained enough serious drama and ironic humor to keep almost anyone buried in the story.

What Heinlen achieved, in short, is a remarkable work of juvenile fiction; active, adventurous, fanciful only in its dated depiction of a possible Venus, never slowing down, just utopian enough for those who retain some innocence, just worldly practical enough to encourage thinking and the abandonment of naiveté, as full of turmoil and new things and "what-do-I-want-to-do-with-my-life" questionings as will cause mental weight lifting and big dreams in most brains from 8 to 80. Maybe the story is somewhat old-fashioned, maybe a lot of people would rather watch something mindless than read something that is at all dated. However, I can honestly state my absolute opinion that if anyone picks up this book and, with an open mind, pays attention to it, it will demonstrate to them practical lessons that a lot of people, these days, seem to be in need of learning.

Also, it's just a titanic chunk of fun for anyone who loves, or is being introduced to the love of hard sci-fi.

Matt, along with Tex, Oscar and Pierre, join the Interplanetary Patrol. The four make their way through training and embark upon their first tour of duty.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Originally I was going to dock a few stars for it's rather pedestrian story, rife with simplistic mentalities of the 40s and 50s. Then I found myself remembering my reading adventures when I was 11 or 12. I would have loved this book. Even now, years later, I briefly wished that I too could join the Interplanetary Patrol and zoom around the solar system. Heinlein wrote great escapism for boys (and perhaps a few men).
My main complaint is the truly abominable deus ex machina ending. While it doesn't completely taint the book, it's bad enough that I cannot, in good conscience, give this book 5 stars.

Although Heinlein is now more well known, and will probably be remembered, for his later, more ambitious adult novels (Starship Troopers, Stranger In A Strange Land), his more important contribution to the field of science fiction may well have been his earlier novels intended for teens. These juvenile books - or "juvies", as they were then called - although notably less heavy on the dialogue and philosophy that would come to color later works (as well as being somewhat inevitably dated due to the fact that they were written half a century ago), are more than just your average run-of-the-mill youth fiction, and they have stood the test of time - and were, in fact, major contributions to the field of science fiction. You may well wonder why. The simple fact is that many scientists, engineers, and astronauts working today (just take a poll at NASA) were inspired to enter the field by these works of Robert A. Heinlein. It's no small wondert that NASA gave Heinlein a posthumous Distinguished Public Service Medal - their highest civilian honor. (They also helped pull the field of science fiction out of a mere genre niche into the mainstream: Heinlein, with these works, rose above the "pulp" market which most SF was relegated to, and cracked the "slicks" - the more respectable and well-known papers - the first science fiction writer to do so.) Although his later works may be more respectable as literature, these, indeed, serve to inspire. And they're still doing it today. If you want to get a younger person interested in science fiction, these are the perfect books - just as they always have been. They open the door to Heinlein's later works and the entire field of science fiction. The good thing about them, though, is that, though the books had teens as their target audience, they are just as good of a read for adults. This is because Heinlein knew the way to get teens to like books for teens: to write to them as if they weren't teens. Consequently, these books can be read and enjoyed by people of all ages. (It also works the other way: I read Stranger In A Strange Land at age 15, and my wife read it at 12.) They come very highly reccommended for younger readers, as they all teach many solemn virtues important for anyone - personal responsibility, loyalty, maturity, honesty - that may well make a permanent impression on younger readers. However, the books are also very enjoyable for adults because of the way Heinlein wrote. I decree, this man could make anything, literally anything, entertaining. His writing was always breezy and sardonically funny, and his dialogue among the best and cleverest ever written - as has been well said, "as witty as Oscar Wilde's."
This particular book, Space Cadet, though not the best of them, is another solid, action-packed romp. As with the best of his work of this type (Red Planet, Tunnel In The Sky) the book is exciting and action-packed, and there is never a dull moment. It is also very entertaining and a fun, fast read: the dialogue is great, and it's fun to read and moves along at a brisk, exciting pace. It also has several good moral points and instills some strong values in the reader. The plot of the book concerns a group of young men who are out the join the "Space Cadets", the peace keepers of the "Solar Federation" (sound familar? one begins to see just how influential Heinlein was.) The early part of the book has the characters going through the exams and trials required to join, and the latter half shows them in action. This book, such as it is, says a lot about how such military systems work (both practically and on a more personal, pragmatic level), and as such is kind of a watered-down version of Starship Troopers (although, of course, that book was written later.) I reccommend it very highly for younger readers, or for anyone who liked the basic idea of that book but was turned off by its heavy-handed approach. Another fine Heinlein juvie.

and the book just gets more exciting from there. Matt Dodson and Tex Jarman are candidates for the position of
cadet in the Interplanetary Patrol. What is the Interplanetary
Patrol? It's not a military organization. What?! I said it's not a
military organization. It's repository for weapons too dangerous to be entrusted to the military. Heinlein explains
it better than I can. He says: "Sure you're trained to use weapons but the Patrol isn't a military organization...." He then gets technical with Lieutenant Wong's explanation of the gravity well. The first two chapters are just orientation and the beginnings of the tests. The rest of the book is space-based with the exception of the trip to Venus. The description of Venus is a bit dated but it's still a good read.
It would make a good movie.