I found the conclusion of The Star Beast anticlimactic and am disinclined to reread any more Heinlein Juveniles - although I have found yet another cover illustration.
The concluding chapters reminded me of James Blish's The Star Dwellers in which teenagers make a treaty between Earth and powerful aliens. Young protagonists interact with other species in some of Poul Anderson's Technic History instalments.
The wind plays tricks which remind us of its frequent role in Anderson's works:
"Wind sweeping across the miles-wide field forced [Mr. Kiku] to clutch his hat. 'I do not like wind,' he complained to Dr. Ftaeml. 'It is disorderly.'
"'There is a stronger wind ahead,' the Rargyllian answered soberly."
-CHAPTER XVI, p. 165.
A stronger wind ahead - a good description of where we are at right now. Sf prepares us for the future which starts immediately after the present.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Even if I have not read them for far too many years I was pleased enough by Heinlein's juveniles to keep them. And his pre-STRANGER books, like DOUBLE STAR, are definitely worth keeping.
Merry Christmas! Sean
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