Ad Hoc SF read March 2023

I seem to be on a bit of Heinlein kick for some reason, maybe because he was one of the first SF authors I discovered nearly 50 years ago and because his books came out of the boxes first when I set up my new library about 2 months ago. I hadn't read that many of his books for a long time so this has been an enjoyable few months. We shall see if it goes further or I get back to books I promised to read

This is one of my favorite Heinlein Juvies. I first read it when I was about 10 years old. It launched my lifelong interest in space and rockets and wanting to be a spaceman, to get off earth and explore the galaxy. It's about a poor kid making good and becoming the Captain of a spaceship through a series of improbable events.

Whenever, I feel the need to rekindle that feeling of wonder and need to explore or advance, I re-read this book.

Novela entretenida de corte juvenil, protagonizada por el típico héroe heinleniano, joven del medio oeste americano, que a base de memoria se abre paso en la lucha de poderes de una nave espacial. Tiene buen ritmo, algo de inocencia en el planeamiento, y un aspecto técnico de navegación que termina siendo el pilar de la novela.

Quedé con gusto a poco eso sí con los extraterrestres y el espacio profundo. Mucha política interior, cuando las atracciones estaban fuera.

This is one of Heinlein's "juveniles"--that is, what we now call young adult. I tend to prefer quite a few of those to his adult novels such as Stranger in a Strange Land. I wouldn't count this among his best in that category though--of which my favorite is Citizen of the Galaxy. I'd say it's only about average for Heinlein--which still means it's very good indeed. This is the coming of age tale of a boy who goes from dirt between the toes farm boy to the stars.
Yes, some aspects are dated--social aspects such as the relations between the sexes and the technology, especially computer tech seems...quaint. But hey, this was published in 1953, and I'm willing to make allowances--regardless it's still a very entertaining story.