The Cat Who Walks through Walls

By: Robert Heinlein

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Robert A. Heinlein wrote some of the best-selling science-fiction novels of all time, including the beloved classic Stranger in a Strange Land. In The Cat Who Walks through Walls, he created his most compelling character ever: Dr. Richard Ames, ex-military man, sometime writer, and unfortunate victim of mistaken identity.

When a stranger attempting to deliver a cryptic message is shot dead at his dinner table, Ames is thrown headfirst into danger, intrigue, and other dimensions where Lazarus Long still thrives, where Jubal Harshaw lives surrounded by beautiful women, and where a daring plot to rescue the sentient computer called Mike can change the direction of all human history.

©1985 Robert Heinlein (P)2007 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

"Dialogue as witty as Oscar Wilde's, action as rollicking as Edgar Rice Burroughs', and satire as spicy as Jonathan Swift's." ( New York Times)

Audio is great on low volume

The narrator has an overly dramatic voice which lends the book to sound like a Guy Noir parody. BUT if you are like me and enjoy listening to books on very low volume this book as great recording quality. Many audiobooks have a popping or hissing effect in the narrators voice at 20% volume. I think it's because of the audio compression, but I don't. I gotta say, this is one of the few books I can leave on when I'm drifting off to sleep and there is zero degradation in the audio quality. The quality of the writing... eh, its classic Heinlein. He's always been a bit misogynist, depicting a future women are still second class citizens and have the emotional depth of a teaspoon.

I tried. I really tried.

Listen, I loved Stranger in a Strange Land and I can’t wait to listen to it again, but this was just grating. The narrator did an amazing job with what he had (5 stars to him). The dialogue between the two main characters felt like every sentence should end with “a fine how do you do”. I wanted to finish it, but nothing worth listening to was happening. I even tried listening at twice the speed just so I can say I finished it. Nope.

First half is great, then...

after a key moment half way through the story things go subways and very boring

A true classic from Heinlein. A must read.

A story that hold up against time. A funny and witty adventure set against the backdrop of a space station and the moon.

Great book! and then...

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, as long as you can deal with an abrupt and unfulfilled ending.

Would you be willing to try another book from Robert Heinlein? Why or why not?

Of course! Heinlein has some great material as long as you are willing to deal with his occasional lapses

What about Tom Weiner’s performance did you like?

Mr Weiner has a great range and is able to bring the characters to life. Even female roles which men usually have difficulty with. Making your voice high pitched doesn't always portray a sexy woman! Heinlein use's so many female roles that any performer wishing to read well is invariably going to have trouble. Weiner pulls it off nicely.

Was The Cat Who Walks through Walls worth the listening time?

Yes, but really? The ending was abrupt and I felt like Heinlein just got bored and ended it without much thought.

I laughed a lot.

What did you love best about The Cat Who Walks through Walls?

I liked the humor.

What did you like best about this story?

It was an interesting story.

Have you listened to any of Tom Weiner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. It was fine since it did not get in the way of the story.

Any additional comments?

The ending was disappointing. It was as if Heinlein didn't know how to end it.

the Multiverse primer

DC comicbook writers discovered Heinlein in the 80s apparently and started pulling his most epic ideas into how to fix up the storylines of comics. this is one of the core stories that help detail how to build a Multiverse while still holding a story that matters at the core.

Entertaining, With Little Substance

It's a Heinlein romp, but lacks much of Heinlein's usual thought-provoking explorations. It doesn't tell the story you'd think it would from reading the description, and the ending is a little frustrating. Still, it's a mostly fun read, and it's great to revisit Luna.

Great story

Mostly the ending is not very satisfying. But I always love Heinlein. And have read this book probably ten times.

Abstract storyline

If you could sum up The Cat Who Walks through Walls in three words, what would they be?

strange, fun, exciting

Who was your favorite character and why?

I honestly loved all the characters with the exception of one, who is a famous character from the "not so series" so ill say who i didn't like instead. Lassie long the annoying.....

What does Tom Weiner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

eh

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

prepare for the sequel

Any additional comments?

Although it strongly relies on other stories to finish its tale. This was a very fun odd book.I enjoyed it very much