Play Audiobook Sample
Variable Star Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.01) - 2,587 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Upon his death in 1988, Robert A. Heinlein left a legacy of novels and short stories that almost single-handedly defined modern science fiction. But one of Heinlein's masterpieces was never finished. In 1955, he began work on Variable Star, a powerful and passionate tale of two young lovers driven apart by pride, power, and the vastness of interstellar time and space. Then he set it aside to focus on other novellas.
The detailed outline and notes he created for this project lay forgotten for decades, only to be rediscovered almost a half-century later. Now the Heinlein estate has authorized award-winning author Spider Robinson to expand that outline into a full-length novel. The result is vintage Heinlein, faithful in style and spirit to the Grand Master's original vision.
When Joel Johnston first met Jinny Hamilton, it seemed like a dream come true. And when she finally agreed to marry him, he felt like the luckiest man in the universe. There was just one small problem—he was broke. His only goal in life was to become a composer, and he knew it would take years before he was earning enough to support a family.
But Jinny wasn't willing to wait, and when Joel asked her what they were going to do for money, she gave him a most unexpected answer. She told him that her name wasn't really Jinny Hamilton—it was Jinny Conrad, and she was the granddaughter of Richard Conrad, the wealthiest man in the solar system.
Now that she was sure Joel loved her for more than just her wealth, she revealed her family's plans for him: he would be groomed for a place in the vast Conrad empire and sire a dynasty to carry on the family business.
Most men would have jumped at the opportunity. But Joel Johnston wasn't most men. To Jinny's surprise, and even his own, he turned down her generous offer and then set off on the mother of all benders—and woke up on a colony ship heading out into space. There he found himself torn between regret over his rash decision and his determination to forget Jinny and make a life for himself among the stars.
He was on his way to succeeding when his plans—and the plans of billions of others—were shattered by a cosmic cataclysm so devastating it would take all of humanity's strength and ingenuity just to survive.
Download and start listening now!
"I started reading this book expecting it to be like a Heinlein novel from the early days, since it was based on RAH's notes for a novel he never quite got around to writing. Not being familiar with Spider Robinson's work, I had no preconceived notions about his own writing style. I enjoyed the story and the characters. The style was a little more adult that I was expecting (use of language, in particular), but it wasn't overboard. At the end, I was left wanting more. I hope Spider continues with some more books in this slightly diverged Heinlein-like universe."
— Jan (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“His narration feel like a friend telling you the most incredible story about where he’s been the last few years…Spider Robinson is a top-notch narrator, and this audiobook is a whole lot of fun. Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
“The trademark Heinlein quips, space-travel motifs…are all here in a faithful, if technologically updated, pastiche of the late master’s style and storytelling genius.”
— Booklist -
“This book is a delight and I love you for doing it. I love you even more for doing it so damned well. Thank you.”
— David Crosby, member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash -
“Robert A. Heinlein apparently isn’t really dead. He was obviously standing at the side of Spider Robinson as he wrote this book, guiding his hand. Variable Star will delight the fans of the greatest science-fiction writer who ever lived.”
— John Varley, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author
Awards
-
Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
Variable Star Listener Reviews
-
" Miss the original "Juvenille" Heinlein's? Like "Time for the Stars"... Robinson has taken an incomplete manuscript and turned out a Good, Classic Heinlein for the Ages "
— Chris, 2/16/2014 -
" Another terrific SciFi yarn from Heinlein, even tho he's been dead. Spider Robinson does a good job of Heinlien's style of writing, w/o the social-political commentary. "
— George, 2/10/2014 -
" One of the best sci-fi I ve read in a long while. It had science and fiction instead of mostly fantasy. I loved it. It was very similar to Christopher Pike's The Starlight Crystal. It was an unusal ending but I won't spoil it. I give it five out of five. "
— Jamie, 2/9/2014 -
" Not really by Heinlein, this was written by Spider Robinson from a short outline found in the Heinlein family after his death. But, don't despair. It reads like other Heinlein space cadet novels. A real treasure. My only criticism: there is and will only be one master, Robinson did a great job, but used more words to paint this tale. "
— Doug, 2/6/2014 -
" it had many of his trace elements in the story; poor orphan made mega rich, self control and disciple gained, and friends with all the important people for no other reason than he was a "nice guy". I did like how the author took away the wealth card by blowing up the Sol system. Interesting way to level the playing field and let people show their true colors. "
— Bob, 2/6/2014 -
" According to Spider Robinson's intro, this was the first book Heinlein wrote and it was rejected by every publisher. It should have stayed that way. It preshadows some of his later books which tend towards lecturing. This one doesn't have the advantage of a decent story. "
— Mark, 1/19/2014 -
" This was GREAT! I think I'm going to like Spider Robinson as well. "
— Abby, 12/17/2013 -
" great book! Read by 1 of the 2 authors, who can also sing. captivating story with interesting plot twists and good science. really makes me want to pick up other juvenile Heinlein & Spider Robinson books. "
— Jannell, 11/9/2013 -
" Exciting ideas, yet told from a likable character who you want to win. Warmer than most sci/fi. "
— Bobbi, 10/31/2013 -
" I can't tell where Robert left off and Spider began. "
— Mel, 10/30/2013 -
" One of my favorite books, added bonus for music lovers! I've read this one 5 times! "
— Rondel, 7/7/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book. I miss Robert Heinlein's writing. He got me to enjoy reading as a young man. He had a sense of humor in his work. Spider Robinson did a good job of finishing Roberts work. "
— George, 6/25/2013 -
" Spider Robinson writes this based on RAH's notes. To escape Conrad of Conrad's power, Joel Johnston boards the interstellar flight to Brazil Novos. "
— Victoria, 6/20/2013 -
" SR did a good job. Reads like a 'juvenile' as SR said it appeared to him. Definitely an action SF read. For an RAH fan it was nostalgic a la Starship Troopers. "
— Tom, 3/18/2013 -
" It took a long time to get around to an abrupt ending. "
— John, 3/14/2013 -
" Wish the book included RAH's outline and index card notes. "
— pjreads, 2/12/2013 -
" Really good story. Weak ending. "
— JoEllen, 11/6/2012 -
" I really liked this book. I wasn't sure what I was going to think about it, being a big Heinlein fan, but it was very good. Lovely enough, it's a little less misogynistic than I would expect it to be had Heinlein written it. It was a highly enjoyable book. "
— Caroline, 9/9/2012 -
" I love Heinlein, but this wasn't Heinlein. Still a great story, and worth reading, but Spider Robinson proves that no one writes like Heinlein. "
— Eric, 3/23/2012 -
" One of my favorite sci-fi reads in recent memory. Lots of sci-fi, but still a great story, good ending. "
— Chris, 11/27/2011 -
" Exciting ideas, yet told from a likable character who you want to win. Warmer than most sci/fi. "
— Bobbi, 4/21/2011 -
" Wow, I listened to this as an audio book, only because it said Heinlein as the author. The bait-and-switch was bitterly disappointing. No Want It. "
— Malachi, 2/19/2011 -
" Old fashioned SF - in the best possible way. We're on a space ship, we have problems (personal and technical), we have issues, humanity's fate is at stake. Robinson has done a fine job of catching Heinlein's stance on the future - and also his narrative quirks. "
— Michael, 2/7/2011 -
" One of the best sci-fi I ve read in a long while. It had science and fiction instead of mostly fantasy. I loved it. It was very similar to Christopher Pike's The Starlight Crystal. It was an unusal ending but I won't spoil it. I give it five out of five. "
— Rainbowjay2, 1/23/2011 -
" I must say one of the best sci-fi I've read in a while. Its the old fashion type were there is actually science and fiction instead of just fantasy. "
— Rainbowjay2, 1/21/2011 -
" Realized again how much I love Robinson. Enough to go back and read some I missed. I'm not a die hard Heinlein fan but am an appreciator and I thoroughly enjoyed the witty homage and the references to the Heinlein canon. "
— Kate, 12/28/2010 -
" While this book did have a great deal of Heinlein flair to it, I wasn't too enthused by the abruptness of the ending, nor some of the unnecessary social commentary, but that is just me. I did enjoy the story and flew through just like I used to do with Heinlein in the old days. "
— David, 12/8/2010 -
" Minus the sexual deviance, I found this to be a good read. "
— wasmithee, 11/11/2010 -
" Quite astoundingly, this reads like pure heinlein. The pros, the style, the characters and the situation are all him. That can't have been easy (Robinson's afterword makes that clear) but the care, attention and love put into this work is sincerely and immediately obvious to any Heinlein fan. "
— Sean, 10/28/2010
About the Authors
Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) is widely recognized as one of the greatest science fiction authors of all time, a status confirmed in 1974 when the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America gave him their first Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. A four-time Hugo Award winner, he is best known for such works as Starship Troopers, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, and the sensational bestseller Stranger in a Strange Land. Several of his books were New York Times bestsellers, and his worldwide bestsellers have been translated into twenty-two languages.
Spider Robinson is renowned for his Callahan’s Place series of bestselling novels. With his late wife, Jeanne, he wrote the award-winning Stardance series. As an audiobook reader of his own and others’ work, he has won the Earphones Award and been a finalist for the Audie Awards. In 2008, he won the Robert A. Heinlein Award for Lifetime Excellence in Literature.