This book is a sort of "kinder and gentler" version of Starship Troopers. Our hero, Matt Dodson, joins the "Patrol" and elite interplanetary UN force backed up by A-bombs that keeps the peace. The first half of the book describe the trials Matt goes through in his efforts to be accepted by the Patrol. It's interesting to watch Matt go through the weeding out process, and then, once he's accepted, surviving the rigors of the "academy in space"--training takes place in a space station in orbit where Matt is expected to learn so much that they have to hypnotize him to get everything into his brain!
In the second half of the book, Matt goes out on a training mission and we get to see what life is like working on a spaceship. But when a rescue mission goes wrong Matt and his friends are stuck on an unexplored section of Venus, where with no equipment or outside help they have to get a derilict spaceship working in order to get home.
Like most of Heinlein's early characters, Matt is squeaky clean and doesn't drink, smoke, or cuss, and most of the other characters, except for a good-naturedly hedonist named Tex, are equally bland. But if you can get past that it's an interesting story of adventure in space and being marooned on Venus.
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| Plot Summary of Space Cadet |
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"This was a great book about the space patrol!"
stan, Resident Scholar
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" This book is a sort of "kinder and gentler" version of Starship Troopers. Our hero, Matt Dodson,
joins the "Patrol" and elite interplanetary UN force backed up by A-bombs that keeps the peace.
The first half of the book describe the trials Matt goes through in his efforts to be accepted by the
Patrol. It's interesting to watch Matt go through the weeding out process, and then, once he's
accepted, surviving the rigors of the "academy in space"--training takes place in a space station in
orbit where Matt is expected to learn so much that they have to hypnotize him to get everything into
his brain!
In the second half of the book, Matt goes out on a training mission and we get to see what life is like
working on a spaceship. But when a rescue mission goes wrong Matt and his friends are stuck on
an unexplored section of Venus, where with no equipment or outside help they have to get a derilict
spaceship working in order to get home.
Like most of Heinlein's early characters, Matt is squeaky clean and doesn't drink, smoke, or cuss,
and most of the other characters, except for a good-naturedly hedonist named Tex, are equally
bland. But if you can get past that it's an interesting story of adventure in space and being
marooned on Venus. "
Steve, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Space Cadet |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- guardian of justice
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- generally friendly contact with alien(s)
- stranded on alien planet, fighting aliens to survive
Training/Apprent.
Yes
Working up the ranks of...
- armed forces
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- navy soldier
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
Setting
Terrain
- Jungle
Spaceship setting:
- futuristic human warship
- a space station
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- inhabited by friendly aliens
- empty, or nearly empty world
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
- some scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- mostly dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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