Book Review: Citizen of the Galaxy

Citizen of the Galaxy, by Robert Heinlein, is a good little book- not too long (250 pages), a quick and easy read, and a fairly good story. It isn't going to blow you away, and the ending isn't that great, but it is a good book with some fairly good parts to it.

Like most Heinlein books, I feel that it sheds a good light on conservative characters, especially those who embrace libertarian ideals. His hero's embrace personal responsibility and hard work. They demand to read things before they sign them. They have skills in many different areas. And they are common people who look down on those more sophisticated people who would enslave them for their own petty goals.

The hero of the book is Thorby, who is a slave at the start of the book. He is adopted by a one-legged beggar named Baslim, who is more than he seems to be. The best part of the book is this beginning section, as Thorby learns how to beg and yet still have honor in the streets of slave-trading Saragon. Thorby though is soon forced to flee, and then he becomes a member of a trading group sailing between the planets. Lastly, Thorby finally learns his past, and the book ends with a nice finish.

The book is about doing the right thing- the main character does the right thing, even when it is hard, and even though other people don't. But he knows that justice is dealing fairly with everyone, not picking and choosing winners and losers, and not worrying about how others are dealing with you. Books like this one are good weekend reads, because they are enjoyable and have a message that your science-fiction son or daughter should be absorbing.