Space Cadet

by Robert A. Heinlein

This is the seminal novel of a young man's education as a member of the Solar patrol, an elite, paternalistic non-military organization dedicated to preserving human civilization. Space Cadet is a provocative parallel to Heinlein's famous later novel, Starship Troopers (which is about the military). Only the best and brightest, the strongest and most courageous ever become Space Cadets. At the Space Academy, they train to become part of the elite guard of the solar system. The patrol accepts missions others fear, takes risks no others dare, and upholds the peace of the solar system for the benefit of all. Before Matt Dodson can earn his rightful place in the ranks, his mettle will be tested in the most severe and extraordinary waysways that change him forever, from a midwestern American boy into a man of the Solar Patrol.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adventure, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Space Cadet by Robert A. Heinlein begins, a candidate for a space program takes a phone out of his bag and calls his father. Modern readers may pass by this communication with little notice, but describing a cell phone in 1948, the year this was first published, was at the time the height of science fiction.

The second published of his Scribner’s juvenile works, this very early Heinlein displays his talent for telling a good, hard science fiction story. One cannot read this without noticing a similarity to his later book Starship Troopers and what must have been an influence on Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game.

Astute readers will pick up on early traces of his later libertarianism, though with a paternalistic twist. Heinlein also explores issues of idealism, militarism and even (16 years before Farnham's Freehold and the Civil Rights Act) racism.

This is good for RAH fans as well as a good read for readers just getting to know Heinlein; a very good example of the charisma of his juvenile novels.

[Ivana Books Are Magic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was exactly what I expected it to be and in that sense I certainly wasn't disappointed. Space Cadet is not as complex as some of other Heinlein's works I read, but that is hardly surprising taken that it is basically a YA novel targeted at boys. I didn't expect too much from Space Cadet, and the main reason why I picked it up was because it was written by Heinlein. There was nothing surprising about the book itself, it was a simple moralistic YA story with a bit of science and food for the thought thrown in. I ended up enjoying it as the concept of Space Cadets and Space Patrol proved interesting enough and it kept my interest. In many ways this book reminded me of Spaceship Troopers, but it felt a bit more juvenile in tone.

How would I describe this novel? Space Cadet is a lovely vintage SF book that has aged well. It is quite typical of Heinlein's writing of the time. It follows the adventures of young Matt who decided to join a prestigious space organization that is military in organization but is more a scientific/peacemaking organization. Matt didn't interest me too much as a protagonist (neither did the other characters, I guess the whole story was too YA to keep me on my toes), but I was fascinated by the concepts of the above mentioned Space Patrol and I enjoyed reading about it. This novel was written for a young audience, so it might be boring to some adults. I didn't find it boring at all, but that is probably because I have grown up loving SF, so for me personally these kind of books are classics of a kind and make me feel nostalgic. I would primarily recommend Space Cadet to fans of Heinlein and to younger readers of SF.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is '48 Heinlein at his most usual for the time-period. I can't say I love it, but I can appreciate what it IS.

It's YA, folks. Moral, ethical, scientifically accurate adventure for BOYS. First, into what seems to be the military for space, our intrepid idiots, (I mean, promising young men,) get in over their heads after a prolonged training period and head to Venus. Where they get inveigled in cultural misunderstandings and get out by the skin of their teeth.

This is 40's youth claptrap, folks. It has a sell-by-date on the cover. It's not even courageous enough to let loose with Heinlein's real opinions, complex reductions, or moral ambiguities. Let's face it. He wrote this for a very particular kind of paycheck. One with real money, playing off all his connections with the Boy's Life serials.

I can, however, still praise the biggest contribution he made to SF at the time.

Science. Real science, even ACCURATE science. And very decent writing.

I can't really blame him for being dull in this particular novel. It was written to spec. lol

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've promised to read more classical scifi authors this year and Heinlein is one of them. This is the second juvenile story of his and the third of his books overall for me. And it was ... OK, I guess.

The MC, Matt Dodson, is enlisting to become a Space Cadet at the Space Academy. Space Cadets are contestants to become members of the famous Solar Patrol. This organization (apparently non-military) is an elite guard tasked with preserving humanity throughout the Solar System. Only the best and brightest, the strongest and most courageous ever become space cadets and only the best and brightest, the strongest and most courageous amongst those ever become officers. Basically, they take boys and make them become men. And yes, I know how that sounds. *lol*

Yes, there are one hell of a lot of parallels to Heinlein's later novel, Starship Troopers but the edges are filed off to make it more suitable to the younger audience.

Keeping in mind that this was indeed for young readers, I guess I still have a slight problem with the simplicity. The characters are bland cardboard cut-outs, the competition is always challenging but friendly, the Solar Patrol is this wonderful organization consisting only of good guys that embody every virtue humanity can come up with while having none of the dark sides.
Maybe life really was simpler back then (for young boys) but I don't know. There are other stories for young readers that go deeper, have more complex characters and conflicts. Not so here. It's fun enough as a simple adventure in space and I liked that the author used the story to convey some scientific facts (always good, especially for young readers), but other than that ...

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book over 35 years ago and recently came across a 2nd hand copy at a book sale so decided to delve into it again.
Other reviewers have given précis of the story so I won't go there, suffice to say it is a classic of Heinlein's early work.
Yes it is "simple" but never condescending, the plot as ever moving along at a rapid pace, dragging us through an alternate future history.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and for a couple of days was there with Matt, Tex and Oscar wondering what the patrol was going to challenge them with next.

Having now read 4 of Heinlein's books in a row (this book, Past through tomorrow, both volumes and the best of) I remember why I used to have so many Heinlein's paperbacks in the early 70s (where did they go? ). So onto the next, now which shall it be ????

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Matt Dodson, an all-American 18-year-old from Iowa, joins the Space Academy. Their key task is to ensure world peace by dropping nuclear weapons on anyone who tries to do anything bad.

I know what you're going to say. But many of Matt's classmates come from outside the US! Not only that, they even have a sign up on the wall saying Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

So that's alright then.

[César Bustíos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 but I don't really feel like rounding up to 4 Heinleins.

[R.a. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars.

At first perusal, Robert Heinlein’s Space Cadet seems a strange novel. But, upon reflection . . .

October 29, 1929:
The United States Stock Market undergoes its final “crash.” Only a few months prior, a hopeful, young man, Robert A. Heinlein, 22-years-old, graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Naval Engineering.

August 1934:
Five years later, in the midst of the Great Depression, Lieutenant Heinlein, 27-years-old, still a young man, spends weeks in a hospital—then to be discharged from military service due to tuberculosis.

September 1, 1939:
Mr. Heinlein turns 32-years-old; and, across the Atlantic, Adolph Hitler’s tanks cross over into Poland thereby starting officially World War II, the world’s second “total war.”

December 7, 1941:
Japan attacks the United States Naval Base, Pearl Harbor. Robert Heinlein, then 34 years-old, sees the installations of his previous military branch devastated and subsequently, his country enter the war.

September 8, 1944:
Germany puts into action the “retribution” or “vengeance” weapon; and the V-2 rocket attacks begin. Robert is then 37-years-old.

From his naval academy graduation and commissioning forward, from the beginning of his adult life to the dawn of his middle-age, Robert A. Heinlein, like his contemporaries, experienced an entire world’s furious descent into total war and destruction.

Amidst this, Robert Heinlein begins writing, his then fourth career. And, as he turns 40-years-old, two years after the war’s end, his “strange” novel Space Cadet heads to the publisher, then appears.


The novel’s “strangeness” comes from the incongruity between its genre, (science fiction adventure), its then intended audience, (“juveniles”), and the serious and very mature ideas which the novel presents. But then, this author writing of some fictional future world apparently decided to write for some real future people.

And so, given the events that pervaded his entire adult life, Heinlein, in Space Cadet pens a possible future where Peace is the way. Indeed, given the “atomic arsenal” described in the novel, Peace is the only way. And, following this, his young characters, (boys / young men), thereby achieve excellence through selflessness, (care), continual learning / study, and “right” moral action.

This main idea of “peace,” the author reinforces by exploring war, (annihilation) and peace, the many and the one, (sacrifice), the self and the other, (racism), and private interest and glory-seeking opposed to the good, the noble, and the just. And, underlying these, Heinlein obliquely lays a foundation of the outward contest aspect of males in relief against the “domestic,” familial, and caring aspect of females. Additionally, this early novel seems, in some ways, to be a precursor to the worlds Heinlein later builds.

Given the novel’s various accompanying artwork, plot summary, and blurb, a reader may expect a fast-paced adventure story with all the accompanying sci-fi gadgets. Unfortunately or fortunately, the reader learns that Heinlein “weighs down” both with extensive reinforcement of his ideas and technical explications.

Yet, Heinlein’s novel still captivates. The dynamic between the Patrol’s ideals and the self-interest of the Federation’s citizenry becomes not only timeless, but especially today, prescient. The very deliberate creation of Venerian society as matriarchal and “bisexual,” (in today’s discourse, Heinlein’s meaning translates to “asexual”), coupled with dialogue about race and recognition of “a people,” anticipates a changing United States, and hopefully, a “better” society and culture. Lastly, Heinlein presents an indictment against human nature itself, describing man, (human), -kind as innately possessing “a cussedness.” And, this surprising statement provides an even greater motivation to present and explain the Patrol’s inspiring philosophy of excellence.

Despite all the accomplishments, Space Cadet still has obstacles for the reader. The author’s obscuring of the cadets’ ages for over half the novel becomes a most frustrating experience, though finally, he does provides an anchoring clue.

Though many readers may enjoy a novel in which the first two-thirds of the narrative follow a character through a military course, some military or veteran readers may find this incredibly boring. The author saves himself and the reader, though, by providing somewhat detailed explanations of the science behind the workable ships and gadgetry.

Additionally, though a sci-fi adventure novel, the author nevertheless stretches believability with a particular major event and the “super-trooper fix-it” abilities of some of the characters. Lastly, Heinlein’s cadet characters suffer from a lack of development. Even a sentence or two more for each cadet could have further distinguished each from the other.

Because he writes “in layers,” Heinlein “saves” his novel from its worn “military coming-of-age” plot structure by giving attention to actual science, creating a specific and prescient political landscape, and balancing the adventure with serious, and even dark, ideas. And, through his “world building,” he suggests a positive future, one hopeful—despite a history of such devastation.

For such a “little young adult,” adventure narrative, Heinlein presents very big, fundamental, and pressing ideas: “What is civilization,” for example. And so, despite frustrations, Space Cadet makes quite an impression.

And, given the recent popularity of Collins’ The Hunger Games series, Space Cadet could return to the bookshelves, then land into the hands of young people, once again. Perhaps then, this novel will not seem so “strange.”

Out of a seemingly driving curiosity, I could not help but check on this novel’s Lexile Level. Unfortunately, those reviewers apparently have not yet “scored” it.

Hmmm.

That is strange.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books written about the future inevitably at some point become alternate histories. First published in 1948, "Space Cadet" builds a post-2100 solar system where Venus is not only habitable, but inhabited, where Mars and Ganymede are colonisable, and spaceships are rocket-shaped and can take a couple of years to travel between planets.

Military academy stories share many of the same beats and cadences of boarding school and wizard school stories: newcomer arrives at school, gains an antagonist, builds lifelong friendships, hovers between overwhelmed and over-achiever, increases in competence and then usually encounters a challenge "out of their pay scale", something which adults would normally deal with, but which circumstances mean that the student and his or her plucky band of friends must deal with themselves.

"Space Cadet" hits these notes without any really surprising turns. Our plucky newcomer, Matt, is a sample of a fine and upstanding young man – modest, enquiring, honest to a fault. And that's fortunate indeed because he's trying to qualify for an organisation which emphasises intellectual exceptionalism as a means of creating people of higher moral fibre – people who have the responsibility of keeping the peace in a post-nuclear war world, and who are entrusted with the maintenance and control of a large number of nuclear weapons, ready to enforce that peace in a nuke-the-site-from-orbit fashion (which fortunately hasn't been necessary for many years). The science, the quest for knowledge and understanding while living up to a valorous tradition, is the meat of the story.

There's a strong emphasis in the story on not being racist – with careful displays of the multicultural nature of the Patrol, as well as a need to respect local customs, including the customs of the inhabitants of Venus, who become tangled in the end-game of the story. On the whole, for its time, "Space Cadet" is quite a forward-thinking novel in its intentions. At the same time, this is a multiculturalism filtered through a very American channel. The values of the Patrol are extremely American, the academy is based in the US, the universal language 'Basic' is a simplified variant of English.

And then, of course, there are the women.

The blurb of my edition of this book (published in 1969) tells us "The story is about the young men who are training to be officers in the Interplanetary Patrol … and reaffirms the glorious interplanetary traditions of bravery, resourcefulness and revolutionary brotherhood."

There are no women in the Patrol. None in the Academy. Indeed, for a while I thought there'd be no women in the book, beyond a couple of glimpses of attractive females not relevant to the story, and given the way early Heinlein talks about women I considered this not necessarily a bad thing. [The Patrol is not primarily a combat organisation - there's Space Marines for that kind of ass-kicking. Qualifying for the Patrol requires smarts, nerve and morals, not physical strength.]

When our young hero goes for a home visit, about a year into his training, we glimpse the women in this universe and perhaps understand why they aren't in the Patrol. The purpose of the visit is the "you can't go home because you are no longer the same" message often encountered in bildungsromans – with an emphasis on the intellectual and general superiority of people in the Patrol.

Then we meet Matt's former not-quite-girlfriend, and learn that she appears to have moved on from him romantically, but Matt considers that no real loss because "Marianne was the sort of girl who never would get clearly fixed in her mind the distinction between a planet and a star."

Indeed. A girl who can't be brought to understand the difference between "like the Earth" and "like the Sun" is probably not life-mate material. One would wonder if she would even be able to tie her shoelaces.

We then move on to Matt's mother, who is apparently incapable of understanding just what it is her son has gone off to join, let alone grasp the concept of "orbit", and displays the nervous temperament and intellectual capacity of a flustered chicken. [Matt's brother and father fare only slightly better – they are Earth-bound and non-exceptional.]

There are better females to meet later, however. The Venusians are a female-dominated society with a highly advanced chemical-based technology, and who become part of the book's message of honouring local customs and cultures. Of course, they're also peace-loving "Little People" who outwardly appear primitive, are incapable of understanding the concept of war, don't actually believe that stars exist (because of the clouds on Venus, y'know) and are kind of nags ("they don't fight; they just argue until somebody gives in". They're still given considerably more respect than any human female in the book, so it's not all bad in Lady-Land.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Heinlein's classic juveniles, this book chronicles the adventures of a young man training to become a "Space Cadet" of the Space Patrol, a world wide force keeping peace in the solar system. from arrival at the training facility forward, Heinlein presents many sophisticated ideas while never talking down to his readers. Concepts like world government, a solution to the threat of nuclear war, as well as prognostications of technology such as cell phones. Not the only author to do so but in 1948? Surely one of the first. Last but certainly not least, the actual science behind space travel and space operations is presented in an exciting and understandable manner. In this book you will see the uncredited inspiration for Starfleet Command, in addition to a sprinkling of military psychology. Further, as a Navy man, Heinlein had an intimate understanding of the ideal conduct of interactions between A ship's commander, officers and crew. This is a subtle self correcting culture (bad commanders generally kill themselves along with thier crews) that has evolved over the centuries and is extremely difficult to depict correctly. As a former Navy man myself, my opinion is that Heinlein captures this ideal perfectly. There is a reason a number of Heinlein novels are on the required reading lists of the various United States uniformed services. Read it.

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in 1969 or so, and reread probably a dozen times in the 70s. Haven't read it since. I loved it, and always went back to my homework feeling energized and determined after reading it.

[Graeme Rodaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Space Patrol Needs You!"Yeah, well, I read the poster and what the hell. I may as well aim for the stars."

Heinlein demonstrates mastery with writing stories for adolescents.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siempre he sido de la opinión que cuando lees al gran maestro de maestros, no debes quedarte con la “aparente línea narrativa que te expone” en cada una de sus obras, pues las lecturas de Heinlein tienen muchas capas, cual la cebolla. Y dicho esto, con ‘Cadete del espacio’ me ratifico en ello una vez más, pues al re leer ésta ,a priori, narración acerca del reclutamiento, entrenamiento y un par de misiones de los cadetes novatos, el lector adulto, y especializado en Heinlein sobretodo, vislumbrará metáforas asiduas en su obra, y se sorprenderá con otras que no había tenido en cuenta en su anterior lectura......

‘Cadete del espacio’ parte con un protagonista en especial; Matt Donso, que va a pasar las pruebas para poder formar parte de éste esencial y especial cuerpo estelar, que son los patrulleros de la Galaxia, y por ende, los controladores para que la paz se siga manteniendo en el año 2075. Ya que en ésa actualidad lejana, los habitantes desconocen, afortunadamente, el significado de la palabra Guerra (una utopía que todos quisiéramos, por cierto..y Heinlein el que más a pesar que lo tildaran siempre de pro militar, xd). Allí conocerá a parte de los que serán el trío protagonista de la historia: él, Tex y Oscar, con la añadidura de un antagonista en la ecuación: Burke, y un mini alter ego de Heinlein: su teniente instructor, Wong.
Cómo os habréis fijado, aquí, y casi excepcionalmente, no hay mujeres por medio, y no es porqué no puedan ser reclutadas cómo cadetes (pues no se especifica ésa información), sino porqué el autor tenía otro propósito narrativo en mente....( después lo explico).
Así pues, y con ésta triada, además de dos secundarios importantes a nivel argumental, y para el desarrollo crítico de la obra, encontraremos tres principales divisiones o partes en ésta:

La primera parte (que establece las premisas de los principios narrativos del autor) se basa en el reclutamiento y pruebas de los aspirante a cadetes. Aquí se nos plantea y presenta (y escanea) a todos los personajes principales a la perfección, de manera práctica y mediante sus acciones, haciéndonos ver los que ‘pueden aportar valores inherentemente positivos’ a la patrulla y los que son de base malos, codiciosos y por lo tanto, no aptos. Heinlein critica el poder por el poder, y su fanatismo, expone un futuro en el cual, más que las aptitudes específicas para obtener la plaza, es de vital importancia, la bondad del aspirante: “ no basta con que sean expertos, inteligentes y valientes...los depositarios de éste enorme poder deben tener, cada uno, un estricto sentido del honor, autodisciplina por encima de toda ambición[...] respeto por todas las libertades y la dignidad de todas las criaturas ...”
Y por lo tanto, es también un mensaje acerca del respeto por la pluralidad y la empatía con los demás: ‘cuando vayas a Roma, haz como los Romanos’. Ya que los cadetes pueden ser, además, de cualquier parte del universo.
Un dato curioso: en 1948 el maestro escribió acerca de reconocimiento por huella digital y de telefonía móvil..ahí lo dejo.

En su segunda parte, (la más filosófica, y en dónde comienza la crítica Heinleiniana) que abarca la disciplina de la enseñanza (física, matemáticas, historia del universo, valores humanos...) y entrenamiento de pruebas específicas en el exterior (astronavegación, volar por el espacio libre con propulsores...), conoceremos que hubo una revuelta de Coroneles y golpe de estado, previa a la inserción de los Cadetes espaciales como cuerpo disciplinar de la patrulla del espacio, que afortunadamente desmantelaron el arsenal que tenían en poder los militares de cabezas atómicas y que ahora están en manos , y supervisión, de los Cadetes.
Heinlein aquí critica abiertamente al militarismo llevado a todos los campos (cómo ya lo hiciera con la famosa ‘Tropas del espacio’; una casi siempre malinterpretada obra, que no hace más que satirizar ,ácidamente, lo que sería un futuro en el cual sólo fuera válido una ciudadanía militar, y los demás la plebe, sin beneficios ni apenas recursos), que bajo su opinión, es necesario tener de reserva, pero en casos excepcionales.
Wong hace una descripción exhaustiva de las diferencias entre Cadetes e Infantería:
“Toda jerarquía militar estimula la conducta conservadora [...] tiende a penalizar el pensamiento original e imaginativo”
Si bien, cabe mencionar, el auto despido de uno de los miembros más antiguos del cuerpo, a la espera de una misión, por darse cuenta que, al fin de cuentas, su oficio es un arma de doble filo..¿realmente es necesario cubrir un arsenal atómico y utilizarlo en casos mayores, llegado el momento (aún siendo un cuerpo defensivo y no ofensivo como el de los militares) ¿ no es posible la paz por la paz?
Pero no sólo tenemos crítica, ya el maestro nos describe la monotonía del espacio, y compara y equipara, el trabajo e inmersión de éste cuerpo especial, al de los pescadores de alta mar, que siempre han sido fundamentales para traer prosperidad a los suyos, pero que deben ser ‘de otra raza’ para fundirse y aguantar en ésa gran ‘ cárcel’ que es el infinito horizonte, que los absorbe hasta hacerles añorar su ‘espacio vital’ en las pequeños permisos que puedan disponer, cómo se ve reflejado en un pasaje con la vuelta temporal de Matt a su antiguo hogar.
En éste tramo narrativo hay cabida para el apartado más técnico de la obra (con bastante física de por medio) y algo de Química e ingeniería, pero como siempre al servicio del argumento y no al revés. También para la parte más Space opera: con un tramo espectacularmente visual; cuando los Cadetes en ciernes aprenden a volar en el espacio.
Datos curiosos: tienen un lector vocal como el Google voz, además de un ordenador que se activa por ésta y en el cual puedes estudiar sin los dedos, haciendo anotaciones cuando hablas que quedan registradas ..¿el ordenador del futuro?. Y las sesiones principales de estudio se hacen mediante hipnosis y no hay aulas ni horarios que cubrir sino tramos de conocimiento que absorber. ¿La universidad Online en 1948?...ahí lo dejo...:
“ tu verdadera tarea es la de aprender a pensar” [...]“ La idea básica de la escuela es que un hombre piense correctamente, automáticamente se comportará bien moralmente”

En la tercera parte, la triada protagonista (Matt: el instintivo, leal, sensible y disciplinado, Tex: el valiente y enérgico, y Oscar: el diplomático y más inteligente) es enviada a su primera misión a bordo de la Aex Triplex en búsqueda de una nave pérdida. Sin embargo, ésa no es la misión importante de éste último tramo narrativo, ya que son avisados de un SOS de una nave en Venus, debido a una revuelta local contra unos mercaderes a bordo de la Gary.
Aquí, ni más ni menos Heinlein plantea una metáfora acerca de la devastación de los auténticos Nativos Americanos por parte de los Pioneros que poblaron sus tierras y los mataron. Sus descendientes. Y con ésta, crítica el abuso de los humanos contra otros seres, y su gusto por el exterminio y la colonización..cuando no los han llamado a la fiesta, especialmente.
En el aspecto técnico se nos habla de Química Catalizadora, y en el más polémico y futurible, acerca de la posibilidad de la auto destrucción de un planeta por fusión nuclear.

Otro punto a analizar, y no cuestionar cómo raro, es que el pueblo Venusiano es básicamente un Matriarcado, en dónde la voz general es en femenino, y dónde el varón es escaso, débil y debe ser protegido. El autor siempre ha defendido la supremacía y superioridad de las mujeres.
Cosa distinta es que éstas, las Venusianas en la obra, sean un pueblo bisexual...sí, cómo lo leéis, y que además, a los Cadetes les parezca estupendo o no les importe...y es aquí es cuando viene mi autentico descubrimiento en su re lectura . Y es que es en la consecución de la aventura, cuando se ‘cuaja’ todo lo que Heinlein va cociendo a fuego lento durante el libro, y no es ni más ni menos que: la atracción sexual entre dos de los integrantes de la triada...por descontado, es todo sumamente sutil (quizá en ésa época pensó que se lo vetarían si lo exponía abiertamente), ya que en todo momento no hay un ‘acercamiento’ visible, pero, por un lado, ves la fanfarronería de los integrantes de los Cadetes, pero que no tienen novias ni ligan (¿militares gays que ocultan sus propósitos dándoselas de machos?), y las características de éstos dos integrantes, y su inmediata ‘camaradería’, con un pasaje especialmente escandaloso metafóricamente hablando: cuando uno le comenta al otro que está guapo, aún sin serlo...o sea. Me gustas y no sé porqué, hay química entre nosotros!). Y su ya consecución, con los planes de pasar juntos su permiso extraordinario y presentarse mutuamente a las familias, xd.

Así pues, Cadete del espacio resulta una de las obras más metafóricas de Heinlein ( que ya es mucho decir), que hay que ir rascando conforme lees para captar sus diversos mensajes, inteligentemente recubierta de una historieta Space para los más jóvenes, y en la que logró comenzar a integrar su aspecto narrativo liberal, sexualmente hablando, en una época en la que era impensable encontrar una ‘voz escrita’ que proclamase las libertades sexuales de las personas, y más en éste género.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1948, this book begins in Colorado in 2075 at the space academy there. Readers follow Matt, Tex, Oscar and Pete as they study for various exams, are sent to a space station for additional training, and assigned to their first mission that goes haywire and turns survival.

A little technical at times and written like a TV show from the 50s, it’s no less fun and worth a read for your sci-fi lover.

Also, it’s not purely fictional; Heinlein works off of theories and advancements discovered during the 20s and 30s and drops several leading scientist’s names of his day.

Ages: 12+

Content Considerations: there’s a couple d*mns. A couple of comments about pretty girls. A teen goes up to a beautiful woman, tries flirting, but she says she’s married. A man is describing a space move and mentions it’s similar to a circus move that a man and woman make who are wearing hardly anything. Boys are working naked in a scene because it’s hot - not descriptive.

[Onírica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una obra de ciencia-ficción dura, con mucha jerga académica. Es una historia de aprendizaje, compañerismo, superación, adversidades técnicas y sociológicas y acción. Se presta perfectamente a una transformación en película para el gran público, y así vives el desarrollo de la novela en tu mente.

[M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the year 1948 and set in the year 2075, this is the second of Heinlein's juvenile fiction, so it has a different feel from other books such as the World as Myth/Lazarus Long books.

I actually enjoy Heinlein's juvenile fiction, and it's really neat to see the author display his scientific knowledge in these books. Another thing to think about is that this book came out two decades before man landed on the moon, old-school science fiction is super-fun like that as many of the things that authors from the 1930's-1960's predicted have actually come true in the ensuing decades.

One complaint I do have - although given the time period this was written in, this is par on the course - is the lack of strong female lead characters. So the Venusian matriarch here is a welcome character.

[Nikola Pavlovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knjiga je napisana 1948. i prevedena u Srbiji 1952. SVAKA CAST!
Sto se samog dela tice mislim da je sjajno za osobe koje su u srednjoj skoli, ali ni ostali ne bi trebalo da se libe da ga procitaju. Prva polovina knjige podseca na Enderovu igru (Orson Skot Kard). Naucice vas pomalo o moralu i etici, sta je to tezak rad i kako on dovodi do uspeha. A u drugoj polovini videcete kako i zasto treba postovati razlicitosti. Sobzirom da je pisana 1948. odusevljavaju i pisceve zamisli kako bi tehnologija u buducnosti trebala da izgleda. Samo cu naglasiti da svi poseduju privatne mobilne telefone, fin detalj zar ne :)

[Mary Mimouna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this young man's story of getting into the space academy, navigating a bully roommate, and a long successful space voyage with two major adventures. I enjoyed the details of how daily functions were handled in the spaceship. I thought the military conversations between officers and subordinates over-the-top, and should have been somewhat shortened. However, it appears the author was in the military himself and really enjoyed writing about this aspect.

[Jeff Yoak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a solid and enjoyable Heinlein juvenile, typical of his novels in that genre. It was a joy to discover one I hadn't yet read.

2017: This one was another hit with the kids!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had been a long time since I had read this and after the last few books I had read requiring a lot of concentration I wanted something light and fun. This is classic Heinlein and while it's not spectacular it is exactly what I wanted as a palate cleanser between some SF that required a great deal of attention and the book on the evolution of language that will follow this one.

Yes, it's clearly aimed at young teenage boys from several decades ago and there isn't a major female character in the book but it's still a fun read.

[Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of Heinlein's Juveniles. It's strong evidence in support of the saying "The golden age of science fiction is 12." The science is authentic (except for Venus being hospitable for human habitation and having its own intelligent native species), the characters are simplistic, the story is a little sappy. (Sappy is a word that probably was in the popular vernacular when Space Cadet was written in 1948). It's good old fashioned science fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Chris Gager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated now but still interesting. There are scenes in this that indicate that the writers of the newest "Star Trek" movie might have read it.

[Valerie]

This is one of the earlier of Heinlein's works. Some of the assumptions in this book are found in many of the others. The notion of stopping wars by militarizing space was shot down first, because one of the few things all parties could agree to was that they didn't want nuclear weapons in orbit. The fear that one group or another would put them there played a major part in Cold War maneuvering, but the general result was to prevent any such union as Heinlein described from materializing.

Other assumptions have largely been forgotten. The notion that the asteroid belt was the remnants of a fragmented planet proved untenable. There's little evidence of gravitational assortment in asteroids. The 'core material' Heinlein posits is simply not found in any asteroids that make it down to the surface of the Earth. Though there's evidence of differential survival of meteorites (the ones with lower melting temperatures rarely make it to the ground, unless they're VERY large), most asteroids are nevertheless not layered--heavy, dense materials tend to be mixed freely with lighter, less dense ones, after allowing for attrition, ablation, etc.

Examination of asteroids in situ is still in its infancy, but there seems no evidence of the massy objects Heinlein posits for bodies such as Ceres, which he claims in The Rolling Stones are so dense that they have nearly as large a gravitational pull as Earth. This seems unlikely on the face of it, because it would have a substantial impact on asteroid movements within the Asteroid Belt. Furthermore, there simply isn't enough mass in the Asteroid Belt to add up to a body of any significant size--it would be necessary to suppose that a lot of the mass was lost from the Solar System entirely--but that still wouldn't explain where it'd all gone--or by what mechanism. And given the evidence from Miranda (which was evidently shattered, but recomposed itself, a tad askew), it seems unlikely that the posited 'Lost Planet' wouldn't have at least made a start at reforming itself.

Several of Heinlein's educational theories are odd at best. In The Far Side of Evil, Sylvia Louise Engdahl points out that citizens in Cold War societies, though they seem to have become cynical about everything else, retain an almost childlike faith in the efficacy of drugs for whatever ails you. Heinlein was definitely one of the proponents of this belief. The characters in his books ingest a phenomenal quantity of drugs, for all kinds of purposes, not least of which is rendering military troops suicidally stupid (fearlessness is NOT an asset in heavily-armed people. They make STUPID decisions, which not only lead to losses among themselves, but also among those they're attacking, and innocent bystanders.)

In this case, there's not as much of the 'learning through drugs' motif--but there is a strong tendency to assume a certain amount of sleep-learning, especially through hypnosis. Hypnosis may have its value in teaching, but there's no real evidence that it will speed up learning of academic subjects. Languages, especially, have not proved especially susceptible to dribbling the lessons directly into the subconscious.

The other stuff the cadets are expected to learn is often subject to Heinlein's quite conscious biases. I'm as opposed to innumeracy as the next person--but the mathematical disciplines are quite irrationally privileged over the liberal arts in Heinlein's works. Everybody should learn statistics, to be sure--if only to learn to be quite heartily skeptical of the claims of 'experts'. But tensor calculus is not particularly likely to be of use to spacefarers, if they aren't playing (quite recklessly) with nuclear fires. An argument might even be made that it's not necessary to learn tensor calculus even so. As a person who has old notebooks filled with equations that I wrote and now can't read, I can argue pretty persuasively that a lot of the advanced mathematics are useful only if you mean to work in advanced physics or some such--and, if the physicists abandon jargon, it's quite possible to read and understand physics without needing to parse the equations.

I did enjoy reading the parts about free-fall maneuvers, and the cultural discussions of the imaginary nonhumans are interesting (who knew there were people who considered eating in public indelicate? Got ME thinking, to be sure). But the first time I read the book, I didn't really think of Shevek's question ("Where are women?"). If I thought about it, I suppose I postulated a seperate women's Academy for female members of the Patrol. Seems a little elaborate, but given the alternative (no women in the Patrol at ALL? Really?), I just didn't consider that Heinlein seriously thought he could create a successful space cadet corps without ANY female members.

Since that first reading, I've learned of the shameful treatment of the first women applicants to be NASA astronauts (in the late 50s). I've heard how they aced the tests (did better than many of the men, indeed, on things like reistance to high accelerations)--and then were simply elbowed aside on the principle of 'No women need apply'. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that the survivors who were denied a career as an astronaut are a tad too gracious about how they were treated. Heinlein's tendency to accept sexual segregation in public institutions with only very light questioning might seem typical of people of his time, especially given the fact that his attitude did change--somewhat, and grudgingly. The problem with that is that contemporaries of his never DID fall into this default assumption. When, for example, Major O'Mara in one of the early Sector General books comments that 'misogyny is an acceptable pathology', he's not saying that he thinks Conway would be allowed to avoid WORKING with women of his own species. What he means is that he doesn't care that Conway doesn't have a sex and social life with those same women (at the time).

Heinlein seems to have been afflicted with a different sort of genuine misogyny, in which he had no problem with single-sex workplaces...but did expect his characters to have a social and sexual life with women--on their days off, in carefully chaperoned conditions.

I have to say that I would have liked more information about the seminar on Doubt. The suggested arguments are not particularly original, nor are any of the actual arguments given verbatim. I'd like to have heard at least one transcript of what people actually said. And what preparations are they given for these debates? I've never had much use for debate as a tool to get at truth. It seems to me far too likely to degenerate into manichean dualism, with people coming up with persuasive arguments for positions they don't hold to score points. For example, the notion that an increase in mutations would be valuable as submissions to the 'inexorable laws of evolution' seems incompatible with both Darwinian models and alternate forms like those of Kropotkin. One hopes that these works are available in the library. Increases or decreases in mutation rates are strictly irrelevant in most evolutionary theories, since they simply assume that mutations exist, and don't argue, generally, that 'hopeful monsters' are preferentially produced in crises--just that they're more likely to survive in crises--IF the counterargument that crises are nothing more than a simple lottery is not true, instead. Or as well, maybe.

[Chan Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasure to re-read, 36 years after I first read it and 72 years after it was published. It suffers neither from the long and pointless dialogs of Heinlein’s later work, nor the weak writing issues of other earlier works (like Beyond This Horizon). The narrative moves quickly, the dialog feels natural (for the 1940s), and the exposition almost feels like it isn’t there because it’s fit in so naturally.

(I published a longer review on my website.)

[Fishie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this! Very different from Heinlein's other books that I've read. The second half was super interesting, tbh I kind of wish there was more about (avoiding spoilers) the events that happen in the last quarter of the book. The ending almost feels a little rushed and a lot of details are skipped that I would have liked to know more about.

[Khari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little book, I picked it up from the free book exchanges that have been popping up all over Colorado since COVID started. I've gotten a couple of good ones out of it: Mrs. Pollifax volumes, a tome on the second world war, Cervantes. I just picked this one up because it's a Heinlein I hadn't yet read and I'm a bit tired of kindle books right now.

Anyway. Fun. It reminded me a bit of The Hardy Boys, it had that old-school flair. The men are full of camaraderie, the women are sheltered, simpering idiots who needed to be defended from not only physical threat but mental stress. Gag. It actually didn't bother me as much as Elric of Melnibone, at least there was only one scene where there was a woman at all so I didn't have to deal with the emotional idiocy for long. In Heinlein's defense, the book was written in 1948 so the societal standards and customs were quite different then. In further defense, he combatted those stereotypes by creating a whole matriarchal society on Venus that was quite entertaining to read about. Quite frankly, he was bored with prudish 1940s society so he pretty much elided the whole thing and created something else through his fiction. I can get that while simultaneously decrying the obvious sexism. It's possible to do both.

I feel like this was one of the pre-cursors to hard science fiction. There was more about astronavigation and math than there was about alien creatures and their societal standards. I admit that I kind of just skimmed over the explanations of torque and jets and angles and orbits and ellipticals. I like the story parts, not the explanations. I mean, he even cited a scientific paper in a fiction book! Who does that?! But there was also a lot of fantastical elements. I felt like Heinlein was trying to create a utopia for himself in his writing. A world where people truly cared for and mentored each other. Where men raised up men to be the best that they could be, and lifted up examples of true heroism to each other, a vision of hope rather than cynicism. I can see why he would do that. I think his writing was his form of escaping the world.

On the other hand, it hasn't really aged well. If ever you are to write science fiction, don't put a real date in it. According to this we achieved space travel by 1969 and colonized other worlds by 1996...if you are going to put dates in it, at least create your own dating system instead of using A.D. Then you can place your story in some unknowable point in the future and it won't be quite so out of touch to future readers.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another Heinlein I had fond memories of from childhood reading. However, this one held up better than my last Heinlein title (Red Planet). Since there were almost no women in this story at all, except for a nonhuman "woman", there was not much sexism. And there wasn't much racism, if any. It did drag a bit in some locations, and I felt it left a crisis without definite resolution. Matt was wondering why he should stay in the Patrol when the Marines were so much flashier and exciting. While answers were given, there was no real indication except perhaps at the very end of the story, whether Matt was satisfied by the answers. There was also a very abrupt transition from being in school to being on a mission. Maybe I missed some kind of transition there. Nonetheless, I thought this one held up pretty well for over the time, if you disregard the dates Heinlein should have left out of the book anyway. Matt is a pretty likable character and so are his friends. His enemy was rather one dimensional nasty entitled selfish guy without any redeeming characteristics. The story is pretty interesting and a good read. I still recommend this title. I'll be keeping this one.

2025. I just reread in an effort to get a break from the world. I am quite impressed with the slogan: Who will watch the watchers? That is pretty pertinent at the moment with an administration trying its best to drown government in a bathtub. I do not think Heinlein, as conservative as he was, would have agreed with this administration’s approach. Actually, the administration would be best represented by the villain Burke family. Incompetent and knowing their way is best but yelling for the Patrol when they get into trouble. And never comprehending they caused the trouble! Still recommended.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt this was one of the weaker juveniles. I didn't really care for any of the characters and the arc of the book seemed predictable, based on my knowledge of the other books in the series.

It was interesting to compare this with the training program described in Ender's Game. Whereas Card's Battle School is all about conflict, neither Heinlein's Space Patrol nor his Marines is specifically preparing for war (though the marines seem to lean more in that direction). Both Card and Heinlein devote significant time to discussing operating in zero gravity.

The Patrol is clearly based on the 20th century U.S. Navy (Heinlein attended the Naval Academy and served in the Navy until 1934), without many original aspects. There is some inclusion of psychological testing and misinformation, but unfortunately that possibly intriguing thread is abandoned. Once again, as with other Heinlein juveniles, we get some digs at the U.S. education system and his idea of a better way of imparting information.

Surprisingly, there are two examples of The Evil Sentence: "Matt realized that he had been holding his own breath." (p.26) and "He discovered presently that he had been holding his breath." (p.61).

[Walter Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’d probably pass this one up because of the title, but you’d be wrong. Yes, a lot of the plot is predictable, but it there is something interesting going on besides the regular academy and coming-of-age stuff. The Space Patrol is in charge of a global deterrent, orbiting nuclear weapons. The folk on the ground are so used to peace that even talking about the bombs is impolite. Could we make a lasting peace out of Mutually Assured Destruction? What kind of guardians would we need to make that work? The chill of the cold war spawns a bit of hope.

Heinlein’s Space Patrol has a lot in common with Doc Smith’s Galactic Patrol, but without the all-knowning Arisians to keep them on course. This time, it is all up to the humans.

Of course, Ender’s Game is the best space cadet novel of all time, but I think it is a lot stronger if you know which direction a space cadet story is supposed to go. There are always a couple of cadets who don’t make the grade because they aren’t moral enough, but we don’t expect them to be psychopaths. Space Cadet stands on its own, but if you haven’t read Ender’s Game, you now have another reason to read Heinlein first.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it young, enjoyed it...let me see. If Johnny in Starship Troopers had been able to join the space navy instead of the infantry and if he'd gone straight into officer's training...

Well not exactly, but close. Not a war going on...but good lessons on duty. Good teen read. (by the way, the meaning of the phrase that makes up the title has changed meaning quite a bit...LOL).

This is in some ways almost a companion piece to Starship Troopers, not that they actually tie together, but it gives you a (another?) look at Heinlein's view of the military, discipline, responsibility and maybe life. It tells a good story following "another" youth from his beginning steps away from "the nest" and on to responsible "young adulthood".

Pretty good.