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Time for the Stars

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About this listen

Travel to other planets is now a reality, and with overpopulation stretching the resources of Earth, the necessity of finding habitable worlds is growing ever more urgent. There’s a problem though—because the spaceships are slower than light, any communication between the exploring ships and Earth would take years.

Tom and Pat are identical twin teenagers. As twins they’ve always been close, so close that it seemed like they could read each other’s minds. When they are recruited by the Long Range Foundation, the twins find out that they can, indeed, peer into each other’s thoughts. Along with other telepathic duos, they are enlisted to be the human transmitters and receivers that will keep the ships in contact with Earth. But there’s a catch: one of the twins has to stay behind—and that one will grow old—while the other explores the depths of space and returns as a young man still.

©1956 ; 1983 by Robert A. Heinlein; 2003 by the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Adventure Classics Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel

Critic reviews

“One of the superb Heinlein stories that has excitement, urbanity, humanity, rationality, pace, understanding, and is a joy to read.” ( New York Times)
“Rarely has Heinlein pushed his imagination further…A vivid, stirring experience.” ( Chicago Tribune)
“He showed us where the future is.” (Tom Clancy)
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Not the best compared to others I preferred, well read but I lost interest a few times during the story. Still a good book by the master though.

Not the best heinlein but ok

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Yes the dialogue is dated and a sexist product of its time, but wow! Heinlein never disappoints.

Dated, but brilliant!

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I am so glad I found the book, timeless story. Enjoyed it very much, a forgotten masterpiece.

Amazing Hidden Gem

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I loved this when I first read it as an adolescent, and was really pleased to find how well it has stood the test of time. Yes, there are a few jarring moments - it would be depressing if, so far in the future, women had still needed their husband's permission to do things - however, it didn't seriously mar my enjoyment. The characters and situations are still interesting and the premise of the story (telepathic communication) remains fresh and original. The narrator also does a good job. Very pleased I bought this one!

Still great!

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I found this to be an enjoyable story, like other Heinlein stories. Some parts of it stimulate thinking and imagination too.
It’s not one of his more adventurous books though, or one of the best.

Another solid Heinlein story

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