This lack of humility will serve Lorenzo well when he is contracted to play the part of one of the most influential politicians of his day, the progressive John Joseph Bonforte, known as Chief to his coterie of followers. His character development helps propel you through Double Star it’s very appealing, seeing massive growth from a starting point best defined by thoughts that go a little like: “Unfortunately my aristocratic features are entirely too distinguished, too handsome-a regrettable handicap for a character actor.” Our actor is a humble one, alright. Though he was something of a political zig-zagger throughout his life, and a libertarian, he was staunchly anti-racist and of the three Hugo books I’ve read at the time of writing this, his is the most socially progressive sci-fi of the fifties.īut let’s return to Lorenzo for another minute. Subtlety has its time and place, which I would argue is not applicable in combating racism-and that, as it turns out, is a motif near and dear to Heinlein’s heart. Here I’ll freely admit, Heinlein easily won me over, since he turns this character deficiency into criticism-and without any subtlety, which I am fond of. But there was the Treaty, of course, so what could I do? Permitting them in restaurants and bars used by men struck me as outrageous. I’d rather have had a wart hog around me any day. They weren’t even animals to my way of thinking.

But men were men, whereas Martians were things. I didn’t care what a man’s color, race, or religion was. Nobody could accuse me of race prejudice. Self-titled the “Great,” Lorenzo is indeed a most skilled actor, but also a foul human being, racist as anything you’ve ever seen: A good line, yet I can’t help there’s a little something pointed at our fancy thespian. Every man is entitled to elect the time and manner of his own destruction”. Our protagonist is the actor Lorenzo, a man whose narrative voice is immediately appealing partially because of how strongly defined it is, and in part because you can’t help but suspect Heinlein is having a go at a certain class of refined folks who project erudition yet are facile beyond belief take the following quote, upon our protagonist observing a pair of new acquaintances almost come to blows: “I had no thought of interfering. His profession makes him feel like boss of all creation when he sets foot dirtside he is slumming among the peasants. If a man walks in dressed like a hick and acting as if he owned the place, he’s a spaceman. The first sci-fi novel I ever read by Robert A.

Double star robert heinlein