Status
Available
Collections
Publication
New York : Berkley Publishing Corporation, 1971.
Berkley Medallion edition
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML: Lost in Space Hugh had been taught that, according to the ancient sacred writings, the Ship was on a voyage to faraway Centaurus. But he also understood this was just allegory for a voyage to spiritual perfection. Indeed, how could the Ship move, since its miles and miles of metal corridors were all there was of creation? Science knew that the Ship was all the universe, and as long as the sacred Converter was fed, the lights would continue to glow, the air would flow, and the Creator's Plan would be fulfilled. Of course, there were the muties, grotesquely deformed parodies of humans, who lurked in the upper reaches of the Ship, where gravity was weaker. Were they evil incarnate, or merely a divine check on the population, keeping humanity from expanding past the capacity of the Ship to support? Then Hugh was captured by the muties and met their leader (or leaders)�??Joe-Jim, with two heads on one body�??and learned the true nature of the Ship and its mission between the stars. But could he make his people believe him before it was too late? Could he make them believe that he must be allowed to fly the Ship… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
For the most part its hard to believe this was written in 1941. In most ways, this reads as much more 'modern' than numerous SF novels written decades afterwards. This is a story about a generation ship - huge starships that take generations to cross the gulf between space and reach their
This kind of idea has become a common trope in Science Fiction, being used by countless authors since, which shows just how much depth and power Heinlein's original idea had on the genre. The story is about a small group of passengers who break away from the stifling conventions of their tribe and discover the truth about the world they live in. It is generally entertaining, with the main flaw for me being the treatment of women in the book. One can understand that Heinlein is showing a primitive culture which treats women as chattel, but for the purpose of the story, Heinlein seems to treat them no better. They are utterly characterless and almost ridiculous is their helplessness and brainlessness. The ending seems to suggest that for Heinlein the main function they serve is as breeders of the human race. So this was a rather annoying aspect of what is otherwise a groundbreaking SF classic.
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destination. except something went wrong on this one and it has been adrift for hundreds of years, with the ships crew and passengers losing knowledge of their past and reverting to a primitive form of tribal civilization.This kind of idea has become a common trope in Science Fiction, being used by countless authors since, which shows just how much depth and power Heinlein's original idea had on the genre. The story is about a small group of passengers who break away from the stifling conventions of their tribe and discover the truth about the world they live in. It is generally entertaining, with the main flaw for me being the treatment of women in the book. One can understand that Heinlein is showing a primitive culture which treats women as chattel, but for the purpose of the story, Heinlein seems to treat them no better. They are utterly characterless and almost ridiculous is their helplessness and brainlessness. The ending seems to suggest that for Heinlein the main function they serve is as breeders of the human race. So this was a rather annoying aspect of what is otherwise a groundbreaking SF classic.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This novel is about a generation ship traveling to another star--one where they've forgotten they're even on a ship. Due to an early mutiny, the ship is divided, with barbarian mutants still rampaging centuries later. Scientist Hugh Hoyland rediscovers the truth and sets out to restore the original
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mission--helped byJoe-Jim the two-headed mutant, also a memorable character. Yes, this was written in 1941, and social aspects date this even more than the scientific--how Heinlein treated women characters for instance. But if you can ignore that, the book is a quick, absorbing read, fast-paced, action packed and witty. And not just action-packed. This is basically a generation-ship retelling of Galileo and the Copernican Revolution, and the battle between orthodoxy and science, told in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
I was due for a sci-fi classic and this slim little novel sure did the trick.
Set far into the future, Hugh Hoyland starts exploring "the ship" a 5 mile long (2,000 feet across) steel expanse that is the only known world to its inhabitants. The people on board the ship have no concept of anything
One day while exploring, Hugh ventures too far up and is captured by a dwarf (Bobo) and a 2 headed man (Joe-Jim). His captors are intrigued by him and decide to "educate him" and take him on as his slave. Hugh doesn't mind and soon discovers a forgotten room on the upper decks. With the help of Joe-Jim, Hugh begins to understand that the universe is bigger than the ship and for the first time he sees the stars. The question is, what is he going to do about it, can he make the ship move again?
I thought that this book was quite original and the concept was very intriguing. Hugh's world is literally turned around when he realizes that everything he was taught and believed is false. It's a fast read and has an interesting conclusion. Disclaimer, it's quite sexist (the women are subjected as slave wives, and cannot speak up. they are often beaten and not one of the main characters is female) but if you read past it (hey, it was the sixties) you'll be sure to enjoy it.
Set far into the future, Hugh Hoyland starts exploring "the ship" a 5 mile long (2,000 feet across) steel expanse that is the only known world to its inhabitants. The people on board the ship have no concept of anything
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outside the ship, the idea that anything could exist beyond its steel walls is inconcevable. The lower decks are inhabited by the citizens and the largely unexplored upper decks are inhabited by the "muties," deformed creatures that attack anyone who ventures up.One day while exploring, Hugh ventures too far up and is captured by a dwarf (Bobo) and a 2 headed man (Joe-Jim). His captors are intrigued by him and decide to "educate him" and take him on as his slave. Hugh doesn't mind and soon discovers a forgotten room on the upper decks. With the help of Joe-Jim, Hugh begins to understand that the universe is bigger than the ship and for the first time he sees the stars. The question is, what is he going to do about it, can he make the ship move again?
I thought that this book was quite original and the concept was very intriguing. Hugh's world is literally turned around when he realizes that everything he was taught and believed is false. It's a fast read and has an interesting conclusion. Disclaimer, it's quite sexist (the women are subjected as slave wives, and cannot speak up. they are often beaten and not one of the main characters is female) but if you read past it (hey, it was the sixties) you'll be sure to enjoy it.
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LibraryThing member themulhern
The women exist only so that they can be beaten by their menfolk. They have faces so that they can be broken, and teeth so that they can be knocked out. It seems like the Ship has no draft animals to abuse, so women must fill that void. I assume that they are unnecessary to procreation, though,
If this book plopped by accident into an Ursula LeGuin universe the moon colonized by the escapees would be well known to the Hainish as a tragic awful mess and dire warning. However, I think Heinlein expect us to consider the ending a victory. LeGuin's Ship would have been a lot stranger and more interesting, too.
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because taking them along on the great escape was a definite afterthought. Babies must come from the mass converter.If this book plopped by accident into an Ursula LeGuin universe the moon colonized by the escapees would be well known to the Hainish as a tragic awful mess and dire warning. However, I think Heinlein expect us to consider the ending a victory. LeGuin's Ship would have been a lot stranger and more interesting, too.
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LibraryThing member RandyStafford
This may not be the first generation starship tale, but it's probably the first where the passengers have forgotten that they're in a ship and that its corridors and rooms are not the universe.
This novel combines the story of Galileo with political intrigue and military conquest, all aboard a
Scientist novitiate Hugh Hoyland plays the Galileo role. He is captured by two-headed mutant Joe-Jim and, when he's not playing checkers with either of the twins, has the run of their library and the benefit of their intellects. It's from that unlikely source that Hoyland learns the truth about the ship and the world outside.
And he begins to form a plan to complete the mission.
First published in 1941 as two short stories, "Universe" and "Common Sense", this story still entertains with its heroism, intrigue, and action. They are, chronologically, also the last short stories in Heinlein's Future History.
This novel combines the story of Galileo with political intrigue and military conquest, all aboard a
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starship that has lapsed into feudalism after a mutiny in the crew long ago. After the mutiny, people forgot not only their mission to travel to Far Centaurus but that there was a universe outside the ship's hull. Books are still around, but physics and astronomy are treated like elaborate allegories by the "scientists" and not realities. Barbaric muties roam the upper decks, and cannibalism is not unknown, infantcide a common practice. Scientist novitiate Hugh Hoyland plays the Galileo role. He is captured by two-headed mutant Joe-Jim and, when he's not playing checkers with either of the twins, has the run of their library and the benefit of their intellects. It's from that unlikely source that Hoyland learns the truth about the ship and the world outside.
And he begins to form a plan to complete the mission.
First published in 1941 as two short stories, "Universe" and "Common Sense", this story still entertains with its heroism, intrigue, and action. They are, chronologically, also the last short stories in Heinlein's Future History.
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LibraryThing member fuzzi
Started good, progressed to very interesting, then became predictable with a Deus ex machina type ending. The women characters had subservient, non-speaking roles. A fan of this author would probably enjoy this book, despite its faults.
LibraryThing member VVilliam
A very quick read about a space shuttle drifting endlessly in space for many generations. There are many interesting analogies to religion and coming of age. Joe-Jim is also an excellent character, although many of the other characters are flat. Overall Heinlein does an excellent job coming up with
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an intriguing scenario and following it through to all the consequences of it. Show Less
LibraryThing member szarka
Quite a radical little story, in 1941 and now.
LibraryThing member RBeffa
I've been trying to read/re-read a number of the early Heinlein books. This "golden age" short novel was first published in two parts in Astounding in 1941, and for that time it feels very groundbreaking. Keeping in mind when it was written, I thoroughly enjoyed this depiction of a feudal society
This is one of those stories where our protagonist, a young man apprenticed to become a scientist, comes to realize that just about everything he has been told about history and his life simply isn't true. His discoveries are revolutionary for the starship society who have forgotten who they were and their purpose. There are parallels to our own civilization's history. 3 - 3 1/2 stars
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on a generation ship that have forgotten their mission. There are criticisms of the role of women in books such as this, but for the devolved society that Heinlein has here it shouldn't surprise. The peasant farmer is also scarcely able to speak. Still, the gratuitous roughness at the end was completely unnecessary and offensive.This is one of those stories where our protagonist, a young man apprenticed to become a scientist, comes to realize that just about everything he has been told about history and his life simply isn't true. His discoveries are revolutionary for the starship society who have forgotten who they were and their purpose. There are parallels to our own civilization's history. 3 - 3 1/2 stars
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LibraryThing member shelbel100
Imagination and the ability to believe the impossible. This is what it takes to find out that the world you grew up in, believed in as unchanging, is something much, much more.
Many generations ago, a great Ship was built in orbit around Earth’s moon and its engineers made it so friction, time,
Hugh Hoyland is a young “scientist” who believes, like the rest of his kind, that The Ship is all there ever has been and ever will be. There is no knowledge of Time or Space. The word and concept of Stars has no meaning. Until Hugh is kidnapped by the “muties” and learns the truth.
Orphans of the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein is a story about what happens after the truth is learned. Can people of The Ship change their way of thinking? Can they accept the fact their life has been spent inside a large vessel? Or will they reject the idea and keep on going the way they have for generations? More than being a science fiction short story, it examines how belief can blind and stagnate an entire world. Given the time in which it was written, 1941, it has valid social implications.
Although a bit dry to read, Orphans of the Sky piques the imagination, makes one think. And, after all, isn't that what good fiction should do?
Many generations ago, a great Ship was built in orbit around Earth’s moon and its engineers made it so friction, time,
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tear and wear, would make it last, virtually, forever. The Ship was populated with crew and passengers who set off for a 30 year, one way trip to a new planet. After a mutiny, the crew was killed, the mutineers took off in the life boats, leaving the passengers to fend for themselves. After only two generations the passengers forgot they were on a ship, forgot about Earth, and went on living their day to day lives.Hugh Hoyland is a young “scientist” who believes, like the rest of his kind, that The Ship is all there ever has been and ever will be. There is no knowledge of Time or Space. The word and concept of Stars has no meaning. Until Hugh is kidnapped by the “muties” and learns the truth.
Orphans of the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein is a story about what happens after the truth is learned. Can people of The Ship change their way of thinking? Can they accept the fact their life has been spent inside a large vessel? Or will they reject the idea and keep on going the way they have for generations? More than being a science fiction short story, it examines how belief can blind and stagnate an entire world. Given the time in which it was written, 1941, it has valid social implications.
Although a bit dry to read, Orphans of the Sky piques the imagination, makes one think. And, after all, isn't that what good fiction should do?
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LibraryThing member burningtodd
Robert Heinlein at his best. This man was a genius and I hate that he is dead. A book about a group of people on a spaceship that believe the space ship is the end all be all of reality.
LibraryThing member MaowangVater
Hugh Hoyland loved to read the ancient books, even though some of the things in them were quite strange and fantastic. For example, the “law of gravitation,” He knew when you ascended to the higher decks you got lighter, and when you came down you felt heavier, so what was this odd formula that
Hugh is about to learn that his village Scientist is very wrong is as most of humanity, and the Ship is not the Universe, but the Starship Vanguard, adrift for generations, and that the primitive patriarchy he inhabits is the degenerate remnant of a crew of pioneer space explorers who have lapsed into a state of ignorance, unaware of the universe through which they travel.
Having finished rereading this old favorite, as is often the case, some scenes that I remembered vividly were not quite as I remembered them. This made what was somewhat familiar new and delightful.
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the ancients attached to it? When he went to the village Scientist he told Hugh that it was a poetic metaphor for human love, and not to worry about it, lest he wander into heresy, and endanger himself and the rest of humanity on the Ship. Hugh is about to learn that his village Scientist is very wrong is as most of humanity, and the Ship is not the Universe, but the Starship Vanguard, adrift for generations, and that the primitive patriarchy he inhabits is the degenerate remnant of a crew of pioneer space explorers who have lapsed into a state of ignorance, unaware of the universe through which they travel.
Having finished rereading this old favorite, as is often the case, some scenes that I remembered vividly were not quite as I remembered them. This made what was somewhat familiar new and delightful.
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LibraryThing member jmourgos
First Impressions:
The book reads rather rapidly and well for a young adult novel, originally appearing in Astounding Science Fiction back in the 1940s. Heinlein's writing and plotting had improved since those days, but there's something fun and unique about his early writings such as Space Cadet,
Plots:
I may be wrong but this may be one of the first stories of a multi-generational ship that had some kind of catastrophe where everyone forgot they lived on a ship and thought the Ship was all there was! I've seen this idea played out in the original Star Trek episode "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" and the television series "Star Lost."
The main character Hugh Hoyland lives on a Ship where scientists are reverred as holy and the Captain of the ship is near godhood. There are farms going on, and a Converter that is used to create energy from mass (and occasionally from dead bodies). There is an internal struggle with mutants in the upper levels. It's very dictatorial and people know their places. To question is to court death.
But Hugh questions. And he ends up with the mutants, a two headed guy called Joe-Jim and his sidekick Bobo. This small unassuming trio are the vanguard of a major change where the Ship is headed for a star -- but the inhabitants don't even know what space is.
Fascinating scenario, but not enough time is spent on the whole religious aspect of the scientists. They do mention a few scientific facts but have decided its all allegory and ancient myths -- such as the law of gravity!
The part where we move into rebellion, assassination and betrayal towards the end of the book is really fascinating. The end is a bit rushed, but Heinlein acknowledges that as a string of amazing coincidences! Ha!
Overall a great read and highly recommended to fans of early Heinlein.
The book reads rather rapidly and well for a young adult novel, originally appearing in Astounding Science Fiction back in the 1940s. Heinlein's writing and plotting had improved since those days, but there's something fun and unique about his early writings such as Space Cadet,
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or Starship Troopers, contemporary stories that involved a strong lead character and lots of plot points.Plots:
I may be wrong but this may be one of the first stories of a multi-generational ship that had some kind of catastrophe where everyone forgot they lived on a ship and thought the Ship was all there was! I've seen this idea played out in the original Star Trek episode "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" and the television series "Star Lost."
The main character Hugh Hoyland lives on a Ship where scientists are reverred as holy and the Captain of the ship is near godhood. There are farms going on, and a Converter that is used to create energy from mass (and occasionally from dead bodies). There is an internal struggle with mutants in the upper levels. It's very dictatorial and people know their places. To question is to court death.
But Hugh questions. And he ends up with the mutants, a two headed guy called Joe-Jim and his sidekick Bobo. This small unassuming trio are the vanguard of a major change where the Ship is headed for a star -- but the inhabitants don't even know what space is.
Fascinating scenario, but not enough time is spent on the whole religious aspect of the scientists. They do mention a few scientific facts but have decided its all allegory and ancient myths -- such as the law of gravity!
The part where we move into rebellion, assassination and betrayal towards the end of the book is really fascinating. The end is a bit rushed, but Heinlein acknowledges that as a string of amazing coincidences! Ha!
Overall a great read and highly recommended to fans of early Heinlein.
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LibraryThing member bobholt
What happens when a ship full of colonists on a long voyage forgets their past? Seems like an old trope now, but probably wan't in 1941...
LibraryThing member JRCornell
The ship Vanguard, originally destined for Proxima Centauri, is cruising pilotless through the interstellar medium as a result of a failed mutiny that killed all of the piloting officers. The descendants of the surviving crew have forgotten the purpose and nature of their ship over time
LibraryThing member kslade
Science fiction novel that really impressed me at the time. Giant starship with later generations in separate areas finally get together as a planet is approached.
LibraryThing member JBarringer
Would have been a better book without the misogynist bits.
LibraryThing member Course8
This early Heinlein tale of a generation ship is quite interesting given that it was published in 1941. The ship has suffered a disaster as a result of a mutiny many generations ago. The mutiny resulted in death of 90% of the ship's population. The subsequent struggle for survival has produced a
This story is very harsh with lots of weapons, violence and betrayals. There is cannabalism and infanticide. ButiIt also features the awe on the part of the protagonist at seeing the stars for the first time and beginning to understand that there is something outside of the Ship and the the Trip is an actually journey to a destination and not a metaphor for the end of life.
The rating would have been much higher had it not been for how Heinlein treats the women in this story. Only three women are mentioned, only two of those three are given names and none of them have any dialogue or agency. The women are treated as chattel and brutalized by the men. That treatment makes this book one that I will not read again.
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bifurcated population. The first group is an illiterate peasant society with barely literate technocrats maintaining the crucial power systems and sages keeping a very distorted history alive. Parts of the history that are not understandable have morphed into a sort of religion. The population seems to have become mentally degenerate with some of the peasants barely able to speak. The second population group consists of mutated humans who dwell in the upper levels of the ship and are feared and hunted by the first group. This story is very harsh with lots of weapons, violence and betrayals. There is cannabalism and infanticide. ButiIt also features the awe on the part of the protagonist at seeing the stars for the first time and beginning to understand that there is something outside of the Ship and the the Trip is an actually journey to a destination and not a metaphor for the end of life.
The rating would have been much higher had it not been for how Heinlein treats the women in this story. Only three women are mentioned, only two of those three are given names and none of them have any dialogue or agency. The women are treated as chattel and brutalized by the men. That treatment makes this book one that I will not read again.
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LibraryThing member lyssrose
Not being a big fan of "hard" sci-fi, when I originally received this as part of a "rescuing books from the trash" project, I figured I'd just give it to someone else to read. However, I was looking for something short to take with me on an overnight trip, and this seemed thin enough to read in an
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evening. So, with some hesitation, I started reading...and didn't come up for air until I was done - this was just that good. Originally written in 1941 as a two part serial, I had to keep reminding myself that when Heinlein was writing this, space travel simply wasn't, and yet, he seems to adequately portray life on a giant ship which, to it's inhabitants, is all there is, and then their reactions (both good and bad) to the discovery of a whole new universe outside of the ship. Show Less
LibraryThing member majackson
An early Heinlein, written in 1955, this is a lost-colony spaceship with a short-cut ending; it looses impact because of brevity, but is cute nonetheless.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1963
1941 (Common Sense)
1941 (Universe)
Physical description
128 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
042501908X / 9780425019085
Local notes
Originally published as a two-part serial in Astounding science fiction in 1941, under the titles: Universe and Common sense.
Other editions
Orphans of the sky by Robert A. Heinlein (Paperback)
Similar in this library
Pages
128