Every stand-in dreamed of the starring role—but what actor would risk his life for the chance?
One minute, down-and-out actor Lorenzo Smythe is, as usual, in a bar, drinking away his troubles while watching his career circle the drain. Then a space pilot buys him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knows, he's shanghaied to Mars. Smythe suddenly finds himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who has been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians is at stake, and failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war.
Smythe knows nothing of the issues concerning free interplanetary trade and equal rights for aliens and cares even less, but the handsome compensation is impossible to refuse. He soon realizes, however, that he faces a lifetime masquerade if the real politician never shows up.
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"Actors, Martians, pretending to be the President (well, presidential hopeful)...What's not to love? " — Janine (5 out of 5 stars)
"Actors, Martians, pretending to be the President (well, presidential hopeful)...What's not to love? "
“Lorenzo Smythe, an actor, is persuaded to impersonate the Chief Minister, Bonfort…After an intense briefing for his new post, Smythe is still not above detection—by the Emperor, and an attempted exposure by a newspaperman. But he is able to carry on and carry it off, so that when it is learned that Bonforte will never return—he is ready to keep his identity...Not too far flung nor far fetched.”
" Enjoyed this one. What does it mean and what does it take to impersonate another person? "
" the movie Dave, in space. Or rather, the movie Dave was "Double Star," on earth. Come to think of it, if Double Star is ever made into a movie, Kevin Kline would play the part of Lorenzo perfectly. "
" No better than decent. The protagonist and narrator is interesting and unique, but the story is unexceptional. Nothing really grips you about it. Not bad, but Heinlein has done much better. Must have been a weak year for it to have won the Hugo. "
" It was good and I liked it but it lacked something. It felt a bit flat at the end. I also didn't really get into the whole martian thing. Otherwise readable. "
" Fun fast read, good primer for my intended re-read of Ender's Game. "
" An enjoyable little sci-fi novel, with some characteristic Heinleinian insights into politics. "
Robert Anson Heinlein (1907–1988) was born in Missouri. He served five years in the US Navy and then attended graduate classes in mathematics and physics at UCLA. After a variety of jobs, he began to write science fiction in 1939. He is a four-time winner of the Hugo Award and a recipient of three Retro Hugos, and in 1975 he was named the first recipient of the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Several of his books were New York Times bestsellers, and his worldwide bestsellers have been translated into twenty-two languages.
Tom Weiner, a dialogue director and voice artist best known for his roles in video games and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Transformers, is the winner of eight Earphones Awards and Audie Award finalist. He is a former member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
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