Double Star (Robert A. Heinlein, 1957)I hate Robert A. Heinlein. This is the third book of his I am reading, and it is yet another book of his that is below average. Obviously, I would not normally read books by an author that I do not like, but I have decided to read every single science-fiction book that has received the Hugo Award, and unfortunately, Heinlein’s books keep getting the award. I checked the list, and it seems I have one more book of his list that has won the annual award.
Why is this? Is the science-fiction genre so bad that the best is Heinlein’s works? Or is it that Heinlein just has a secret, futuristic blow-job method that he uses on the Hugo judges to get the award. I’m guessing the judges are all nerds, so getting head from Heinlein is probably the best head they have ever received.
“Double Star” is the story of a third-rate actor that is hired by a government organization that wants him to disguise himself as a political leader. The leader has been kidnapped and he will most likely be the next president, and they need the actor to take his place to ensure the party does not get affected, until they get the politician back.
The story consists of the actor being reluctant at every step, being pushed by the party, succeeding in one event, and then the same being repeated throughout the book. And to make matters worse, it is written in Heinlein’s usual pulp style. The writing style of Heinlein is so generic and lifeless, with awful dialogue and character development, that it blows my mind that the Hugo science-fiction judges decide THIS is the best that certain year has to offer. Although in all fairness, this got the award in 1956, maybe there really wasn’t anything better then.
2/5
