Have Spacesuit, Will Travel by Robert
A. Heinlein
The Bug-Eyed Monster
A classic novel from the mind of the storyteller who captures the
imagination of readers from around the world, and across two
generationsFirst prize in the Skyway Soap slogan contest was an all-
expenses-paid trip to the Moon. The consolation prize was an authentic
space suit, and when scientifically minded high school senior Kip Russell
won it, he knew for certain he would use it one day to make a sojourn of
his own to the stars. But one day comes sooner than he thinks when he
tries on the suit in his backyard -- and finds himself worlds away, a
prisoner aboard a space pirates ship, and heading straight for what could
be his final destination....
Personal Review: Have Spacesuit, Will Travel by Robert A.
Heinlein

Have Space Suit - Will Travel (1958) is the twelfth SF novel in the Juvenile
series, following Citizen of the Galaxy. It is set in the near future when the
Federation has a base on the Moon and Luna City is growing rapidly.
Commercial travel to the Moon has just become available.
In this novel, Clifford Russell is a bright and industrious young man. He is
a senior at Centerville High. Kip works parttime at Charton's Pharmacy as
a soda jerk.
Samuel C. Russell is Kip's father. Sam is a very eccentric writer,
mathematician and former spy.
Patricia Wynant Reisfield is a very intelligent eleven year old girl. Peewee
is the daughter of an influential professor at the Institute for Advanced
Study.
The Mother Thing is an alien. She is a local cop for the Three Galaxies
confederation.
In this story, Kip wants to go to the Moon. He asks his father for advice
and is told to investigate the possibilities. He figures that the chances are
not good, but his best bet is to become an engineer. Then Skyway Soap
has a contest with the first prize being an all expenses paid trip to the
Moon.
At first, Kip is discouraged since he never wins any type of contest. He
has even given up matching pennies. But his father tells him that the best
prepared person is most likely to win. So he starts sending in slogans on
Skyway soap wrappers.
After mailing 5782 entries, Kip and his parents sit watching their antiquated
television set, waiting for the announcement of the final winner. After a
short interruption of service, the winning slogan is revealed. Kip has won!
Yet somebody else is declared the winner. Kip learns that he is one of
eleven who submitted the same slogan. The grand winner had an earlier
postmark than his own entry. Instead of a trip to the Moon, Kip has won an
spacesuit that had been used to build the second spacestation.
Despite his disappointment, Kip becomes intrigued by the spacesuit and
soon starts putting it into working order. The soap company has offered to
buy back the suit for $500, so he will probably send it back to the
manufacturer to get college tuition money. Still, he has restored the suit as
best he can and wears it one more time before shipping it back.
While out in the back pasture, someone interrupts his radio tests and asks
for landing instructions. He answers the call and is soon almost squashed
by a flying saucer landing where he had been. Some creature jumps out

of the ship and somebody else in a spacesuit follows. Then another flying
saucer lands and the creature is shot.
Kip lumbers over and discovers that the creature is a BEM. Later he
learns that she is the Mother Thing. Then something hits him between his
shoulder blades and he blacks out.
Upon awakening, he meets Peewee and learns about her family. He also
hears about her kidnapping on the Moon and finds out a little about the
Mother Thing. Then they are temporarily paralyzed and Peewee tries to
tell him about HIM, but cannot finish her warning.
He is taken out of the room by two men and taken to the control room.
There he is interrogated by Wormface, a very ugly and fearful alien.
Wormface has a very intimidating look and Kip finds himself unable to
protest or hold back any information.
This tale takes Kip, Peewee and the Mother Thing back to the Moon. Kip
learns more about the situation from Peewee and her friend. Then they
are taken to the Wormface base on Pluto.
This story is very different from the other books in this series. The aliens
are much more advanced technologically than in the other works. Even
the Wormfaces are more advanced than humans, but the Mother Thing
represents an extremely advanced society.
This is the last volume in the original series. The next book written by this
author for this series was rejected by the publisher. However, Starship
Troopers and other books for young adults were subsequently published
elsewhere (see my listmania).
Highly recommended for Heinlein fans and for anyone else who enjoys
tales of space adventures, alien cultures and persevering young folk.
-Arthur W. Jordin
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
Have Spacesuit, Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest
Price!