Helpful Score: 1
Robert Heinlien always writes an excellent story. From his first serialized articles in Sci-Fi mags to the "Methuselah's Children" series of Lazarus Long's adventures of a man who lived over 3000 years, I have enjoyed them all. I met Bob and his wife Ginny at a book signing in Rochester, NY when I was 15. I had bought a copy of his "Future History Stories", and despite Bob having a cold at the time (and seemed very grumpy), he was very gracious and friendly to me. I think his books will be reprinted for many decades to come, despite his science/technology being dated by the advances in tech we have seen since his death in 1983.
A science fiction classic! Compelling reading!
This is another of Heinlein's "Future History" series---a short novel, and a very good one!
From the back cover:
Three Centures Past Tomorrow
The Place is Earth--an Earth just beyond the horizon, free of poverty, pain, disease. This is the story of some people who live in that near-perfect world. This is the story of the discontented ones who want to change Utopia through the modern techniques of science or the age-old tactic of revolution...
Three Centures Past Tomorrow
The Place is Earth--an Earth just beyond the horizon, free of poverty, pain, disease. This is the story of some people who live in that near-perfect world. This is the story of the discontented ones who want to change Utopia through the modern techniques of science or the age-old tactic of revolution...
This is one of Heinlein's best stories, in my opinion. Against the current background of almost daily DNA discoveries and esoteric financial schemes, the story is all the more amazing considering it was originally published in 1942. The main character is the product of thirty generations of selective breeding and is, for all intents and purposes, a "super" man. His first problem is that he can see no reason that this breeding program should go on with his assistance any longer. The story only gets better from that point. Mr. Heinlein puts forth, among other things, a global economic scheme that makes quite a bit of good sense. I enjoyed this story immensely when I first read it forty years ago. I revisited the story just recently and have not changed my opinion. It is a thought provoking and entertaining read.
Utopia has been achieved. Disease, hunger, poverty and war are found only in the history tapes, and applied genetics has brought a lifespanof over a century.
But Hamilton Felix is bored. And he is the culmination of a star line; each of his last thirty ancestors chosen for superior genes. He is, as far as genetics can produce one, the ultimate man, yet sees no meaning in life.
However, his life is about to become less boring. A secret cabal of revolutionaries are planning to revolt and seize control. Knowing of Hamilton's disenchantment with the modern world, the want him to join their Glorious Revolution. Big mistake! The revolutionaries are about to find out that recruiting a superman was definitely not a good idea....
But Hamilton Felix is bored. And he is the culmination of a star line; each of his last thirty ancestors chosen for superior genes. He is, as far as genetics can produce one, the ultimate man, yet sees no meaning in life.
However, his life is about to become less boring. A secret cabal of revolutionaries are planning to revolt and seize control. Knowing of Hamilton's disenchantment with the modern world, the want him to join their Glorious Revolution. Big mistake! The revolutionaries are about to find out that recruiting a superman was definitely not a good idea....
