Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Double Star

By: Robert A. Heinlein
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.35

Buy for $13.35

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Every stand-in dreamed of the starring role - but what actor would risk his life for the chance?

One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe is, as usual, in a bar, drinking away his troubles while watching his career circle the drain. Then a space pilot buys him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knows, he’s shanghaied to Mars. Smythe suddenly finds himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who has been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians is at stake, and failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war.

Smythe knows nothing of the issues concerning free interplanetary trade and equal rights for aliens and cares even less, but the handsome compensation is impossible to refuse. He soon realizes, however, that he faces a lifetime masquerade if the real politician never shows up.

©1956, 1984 by Robert A. Heinlein. © 2003 by the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust (P)2020 by Blackstone Publishing
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Double Star

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    704
  • 4 Stars
    191
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    692
  • 4 Stars
    133
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    633
  • 4 Stars
    172
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

it has a dated futuristic feel that is so good

This is of course a great book! it is of space but it has a flow and a feel that roots it in the era it was written .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very good read

My love affair with Robert Heinlein goes back to the 1980's My favorite would be , The Moon is a harsh mistress. I know he had many great works but that story was just fun to read. Re-education myself after years was a double pleasure

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

still a very good book

This book was very well written. The reading is excellently done and well acted too. enjoy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Many will recognize the movie that was made

A good performance, Bronson Pinchot, much better than I was expecting. Good story, and many will recognize it as the original basis for the movie “Dave”. And debatable about which one was better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great story, narrator is excellent

great work by Heinlein, but the narrator really brings his all and ties it together

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story and superb reading.

I absolutely recommend reading it and this is my second time through this story and I love it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Science Fiction?

Double Star is an extremely well written novel. Is it science fiction? Yes and no. It has the background of a science fiction story; rockets, ray guns(Life Wand), E.T.s, futuristic medicine(?), moon scenery, etc. However, this story could have happened in any time period. Heinlein is a very technical writer; his engineering and concepts of future life is engaging. But he is also very technical in politics. He ran and lost for some office; I can't remember which one. With Heinlein, you get great fiction, but also his beliefs in how a person should behave and think according to Heinlein. He lays it thick in all areas of his writing. I've come to expect an optimistic 'solution' to whatever problem he creates.

The narrator does an admirable job. I really admire a narrator who 'wears' many hats and faces. It's amazing how many characters differentiated themselves out of one narrator. The only hiccup may be Penny's. He made her 'feel' (to me) as if she only had one tone. Other than that, it was fine acting.

I didn't expect the 'solution' Heinlein chose. An actor who must 'act' a role for the rest of his life has to feel as if he is in prison. But we all have a role to play!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Solid entertaining SF

Good story and characters. A few surprises. Heinlein writes for everyone. Pinchot always reads well and this book is no exception. Well worth a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A true gem of a novel and audiobook...

I was quite impressed by this audio edition. The narrator does an excellent job on it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Recording of a Classic

This is one of my favorite Heinlein books, read by one of the top narrators in the business. I almost felt sorry for Pinchot as he strained to create a unique Martian accent. It was worth the effort.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!