Variable Star

Over at the Robert A. Heinlein society webpage I came upon a lengthy conversation about the Heinlein/Spider Robinson novel Variable Star. (Unfamiliar with the story here? Correct that.)

I expected to find there a healthy range of sentiments. I did not. On the reader-review-O-meter, the highest esteem I could hunt down in the thread might measure as high as "slightly tepid" or even "lukewarm." The first and most scathing comment of the bunch is so replete with negativity that my scale can't even measure it.

What the hell?

I can understand the high hopes of a die-hard Heinlein fan, of anyone who catches wind of newly discovered material from a favorite, long-dead artist. I also understand just how high those hopes can get, and how rarely they are ever met by the material. The memories of prior experience with an artist are often so vivid, so emotional, and above all so far removed from the actual work that anything 'new' from them cannot surpass or even meet expectations. The only thing better than the best book you've ever read is the quality of your memory of reading it.

Which is why these folks seem so disappointed by Variable Star. It is unfair to ask Spider Robinson to meet these unrealistic expectations. His burden was huge, however gladly he accepted it. Who are we to ask perfection of him? I came to the novel excited, with an open mind. I was not disappointed.

Even if, and this is a big if, someone could do a better job than Mr. Robinson did, they certainly haven't been born yet. I love Variable Star, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

So consider this my public hope that there are more out there who share my opinion than there are those who don't.