Citizen of the Galaxy
by Robert A. Heinlein
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert A. HeinleinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-05-17
ISBN: 1416505520
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Gallery Books
Book Reviews of Citizen of the Galaxy
Book Review: Another Classic from the Dean of Science Fiction Writers
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert A Heinlein was not called the "Dean of Science Fiction Writers" for nothing: like most (if not all) of his other books, in "Citizen of the Galaxy" he takes a concept - in this case slavery: deconstructs and analyzes it in many different ways, and presents his thoughts on each aspect of it to us in the context of a compelling and entertaining story.
The story centers on Thorby: a boy perhaps in his early teens, and of unknown parentage, who enters the story as a rebellious and angry young slave on the auction block. We follow his life through several major transitions as he is bought, then educated and finally freed by "Baslim the Cripple", a beggar with mysterious and very un-beggar-like qualities; through his escape from Baslim's murderers to live with the galaxy-roving "Free Traders". Then, after a brief stint in the military, he returns to Earth where he learns of his own origins and heritage, and eventually how and perhaps why he was sold into slavery. He also learns who Baslim really was, and finally takes on what he learns was Baslim's true mission as his own.
To me, like most of his books, one of the most interesting aspects of this story is how Heinlein illustrates and expands upon his central theme in so many different ways: At first we see Thorby in the role of a classic slave, with a master - Baslim, but with a twist, as Baslim is a man who bought Thorby purely because he detests slavery - and teaches Thorby that what makes a man free is his mind, not whether another claims to own and control his body in a physical sense.
Then, when Thorby finds his way to the Free Traders, we see a society that claims to be freer than any other in history - which is true in that they roam the entire galaxy at will - going where they want, when they want, without constraint. But, their life-long and crowded existence onboard their spaceships has created a society where tradition, familial, and social constraints limit them in ways more profound and limiting then Thorby had ever experienced before.
When he finally returns to Earth, Thorby finds that his place is at the pinnacle of power, wealth and fame - yet his wealth and power present new challenges: constraining his freedom in new and even more difficult to challenge ways.
In each of these situations, we see how Thorby uses the talents, skills and freedom he finds within himself, which Baslim had nurtured and trained, to overcome the challenges he is faced with: we also see how those around him are enslaved in ways both more subtle and more profound than Thorby had been when he had been "owned" by Baslim.
Heinlein presents slavery as a great evil that must be conquered and eliminated, and as a societal disease that can and will take root and flourish in many ways, in almost any society. He also shows us that slavery is less about the physical constraints and more about the enslavement of one's mind and spirit.
Through the experiences of Thorby, Heinlein shows us that true freedom exists only when a person is able to free their mind and rise above the shackles and constraints their day to day existence places upon them. That slavery is not just about the physical enslavement and exploitation of one person by another, but about enslavement of the mind and spirit.
As a teen, I did not find this particular book as appealing as I did most of the other works of young adult fiction written by Heinlein in the 1950's, such as "Between Planets", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", and "The Rolling Stones". Yet, now that I have re-read "Citizen of the Galaxy" as an adult, I find it to be a more mature, richer, thoughtful, subtle and thought-provoking work than many of his earlier work: I highly recommend it.
Summary of Citizen of the Galaxy
Science Fiction Grand Master ROBERT A. HEINLEIN CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY
In a distant galaxy, the atrocity of slavery was alive and well, and young Thorby was just another orphaned boy sold at auction. But his new owner, Baslim, is not the disabled beggar he appears to be: adopting Thorby as his son, he fights relentlessly as an abolitionist spy. When the authorities close in on Baslim, Thorby must ride with the Free Traders -- a league of merchant princes -- throughout the many worlds of a hostile galaxy, finding the courage to live by his wits and fight his way from society's lowest rung. But Thorby's destiny will be forever changed when he discovers the truth about his own identity....
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