The Rolling Stones

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

One of Heinlein's best-loved works, The Rolling Stones follows the rollicking adventures of the Stone family as they tour the solar system.

It doesn't seem likely for twins to have the same middle name. Even so, it's clear that Castor and Pollux Stone both have "Trouble" written in that spot on their birth certificates. Of course, anyone who's met their grandmother Hazel would know they came by it honestly.

Join the Stone twins as they connive, cajole, and bamboozle their way across the solar system in the company of the most high-spirited and hilarious family in all of science fiction.... It all starts when the twins decide that life on the lunar colony is too dull and buy their own spaceship to go into business for themselves. Before long they are headed for the furthest reaches of the stars, with stops on Mars, some asteroids, Titan, and beyond.

This lighthearted tale has some of Heinlein's sassiest dialogue - not to mention the famous flat cats incident. Oddly enough, it's also a true example of real family values, for when you're a Stone, your family is your highest priority.

©2009 Robert A. Heinlein (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

old school sci fi

I had forgotten how enjoyable a solid Heinlein story could be. Not one of the tales that caught the world's attention just good old fashioned story telling with the usual Heinlein perspective but without the slightly manifesto quality some of his more serious work have.

Great Family Sci-fi

Not all Sci-fi needs to be depressing and out to discourage us from the future. I'd never heard of this before but absolutely loved it. Great characters with great hidden love for each other. Great, start to finish j. Performance is top notch as well. Overall enjoyable!

Fun

Just want a quick fun listen? This is it. Think of it as a scifi harlingquin novel

Dated, but very enjoyable children's book

This isn't a sophisticated, modern science fiction book, but I enjoyed it's humor and the predictions Heinlein made for life in the future.

A great classic

A great classic SciFi tale. A great treatise on what makes explorers tick, how they are crucial to the human race. How critical it is that we get to Mars and beyond while we can.
And why you shouldn’t feed flat cats. :)

Like a boring Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The Stone family leaves their home on a moon colony and sets out on an extended vacation to Mars and beyond. The characters are likeable, but the plot seems to be a series of irritating roadblocks to their travel that they always eventually overcome. It's a repetitive cycle of problem/complaining/waiting/good idea/problem solved/on to the next problem. We don't have a good spaceship, people on a neighboring spaceship are sick, no one on Mars wants to buy our products, rent is too high on Mars, our pets won't stop breeding. It was kind of like HItchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with much of the originality and sense of fun sucked out. Not terrible, but I moved on to a new book without finishing it.

Entertaining, amusing, not deep

Would you listen to The Rolling Stones again? Why?

I found the story to be an overall entertaining experience, but relatively simplistic plot makes this a one-time listen.

What other book might you compare The Rolling Stones to and why?

Very reminiscent of Scott Meyer stories. Or, rather, since this book predates Off to be the Wizard by some 60 years, I guess Meyers' writing style is reminiscent of this. Because of the similarity of style, I kept imagining this would be a perfect fit read by Luke Daniels. Weiner does a fine job, but I just kept coming back to imagining Daniels as the narrator.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Tom Weiner?

I would give it a go.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Because it wasn't a deep, involved story, it actually lends itself to listening in small bits. Ideal for my 20 minute commute to work.

Family Friendly Space Journey

Any additional comments?

The reader was fantastic. Usually men do a poor job with the female voices but this reader did a great job with both the male and female characters. Great story.

a great classic

I loved it. This is a classic from 1952 but I guarantee that you will recognize Star Treks "The Trouble with Tribbles" A true gem.

lovely story

better read this one. liked it 40 years ago. love it now. mars here we come. go kids go.