Farmer in the Sky Audiobook By Robert A. Heinlein cover art

Farmer in the Sky

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Farmer in the Sky

By: Robert A. Heinlein
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Farmer In The Sky is a 1953 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a teenage boy who emigrates with his family to Jupiter's moon Ganymede, which is in the process of being terraformed. A condensed version of the novel was published in serial form in 1950 in Boys' Life magazine (August, September, October, November), under the title "Satellite Scout".

©1955 Robert A. Heinlein (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc. Adventure Dystopian Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction
Compelling Characters • Thought-provoking Science • Wholesome Adventure • Pioneering Spirit • Timeless Classic
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I first read Farmer in the Sky about sixty years ago. As I listened to it just now, I realized how much this book, originally published in 1950, and others like it, were instrumental in sparking my lifelong interest in science and space travel.

Robert Heinlein, along with others with names like Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury and Sturgeon was among the writers from the so called "Golden Age." of Science Fiction.

Although much of the science in this book is now dated and obsolete, a lot of it was amazingly prescient. It is about a teenaged boy whose family left Earth to join a colony on Ganymede, one of the moons of Jupiter.

Farmer in the Sky was written for young people over a decade before Alan Shepherd was the first American to "blast off" to the edge of outer space.

I have little doubt that many of the scientists and engineers who made that possible were inspired by books like this one.

Back to the future.

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Bill is an eagle scout and troop leader who moves with his family to Ganymede the largest moon of Jupiter to colonize it as a new home for humans in an increasingly crowded solar system. I first read this novel as a teenager and have reread it many times over the last four decades. While the scientific capabilities are still well beyond us they were based on what was known at the time the novel was written and on that basis they are as accurate today as they were in 1953.
As I have grown to need reading glasses I splurged on the audiobook so I could enjoy listening to this favorite story while engaged in routine tasks and found the performance by the narrator delightfully entertaining. Highly recommended for parents who want to get their scouts interested in science.

A lifelong favorite, a scout colonizing Ganymede!

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Sci fi story about colonization to Jupiter's moon due to Earth being over populated based on a teenager's perspective. I enjoyed the tale and being a scouter appreciated the scout side of the story. I thought the narrator did a good job.

entertaining story

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Great visuals a good story and exciting events-- the tale of Bill and his family who emigrate to Ganymede and prove a farm and become true pioneers. the descriptions of the Moon Ganymede and The Moon rises over Jupiter, the speculative science on how Ganymede was terraformed are excellent. it's amazing how much visual information Heinlein was able to impart with economic writing style.

one of Heinlein's best juveniles

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Another good old fashion Heinlein Sci-Fi.
It's make you want to be there, to be one of them, to put your life on the whole pack.
A little bit dated, but who cares!

classic old Sci-Fi for teenagers

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Would you try another book from Robert A. Heinlein and/or Nick Podehl?

Heinlein, Yes! Nick Podehl, NO!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Farmer in the Sky?

the aftermath of the line up of the planets

Would you be willing to try another one of Nick Podehl’s performances?

No. not until he has more training

Do you think Farmer in the Sky needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. Heinlein is gon.

Any additional comments?

Scott Brick performed this book outstandinly. He is one of the best. I have to be more careful about verifying readers from one foremat to another.

the reader must be new. looses the story

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I likes the character development and it had a Hemingway - esque emphasis on self reliance and survival on one's own merit

An interesting story about a new world

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A very interesting and absorbing book as my first dipping into Heinlein either ever, or not since I was a teen. I did enjoy it. It is easy to say what I wanted more of or what didn't work as well as it may have in 1950, but it was enjoyable and well-written, plus very creative in its own way. The attitude toward women is extremely dated, and the scouting emphasis wasn't very appealing to me, but both understandable. The ending...while I was happy with the final choice, I would have enjoyed more farming and tree planting instead of what the author gave us. There is an entire two shelves of Heinlein in my home, so I may try another soon.

Absorbing, if dated and well-written, creative

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Great coming of age story about a city boy moving to a new colony and becoming a man by learning pioneering living in a farm.

A New Hope.

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This is a wonderful little book about pioneering. Definitely worth the price and a reread.

Classic

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