Rating: 
Summary: Recommended for junior high through adult
Review: Orphans of the Sky speculates an advanced culture's collapse and replacement with a feudal system. Although the story takes place in a spaceship, the occupants are unaware of the reality of their "universe." Because of a mutiny aboard ship generations before, the crew do not know that they are on a spaceship, nor do they believe the books describing space and terrestrial life. These have been re-interpreted or mythologized. Interesting to compare to modern society...do we re-interpret ancient men's perfectly accurate appraisal of their world to fit our world view and to make us comfortable with our choices? This book should be re-realeased.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Novel by Heinlein
Review: Robert A. Heinlein is easily one of the best authors that have published their works, science fiction or not. "Orphans of the Sky" was originally published as two short stories, titled "Universe" and "Common Sense." This novel puts the two works together so that they read like one novel, which the two stories really are once they are combined. This is one of Heinlein's juveniles and I have yet to read any of the books that he wrote during the second part of his career, but I really enjoy these books. Heinlein here doesn't get involved with his beliefs as the book is more plot oriented. This doesn't mean that there aren't lots of good messages to learn by reading this, though. Many, many years after Earth, there is a huge spaceship that flies throughout space. This space shuttle is made up of different stories and it is like a huge planets, with farms, homes, work areas, etcetera. On this planet are two types of people, the crew of the space shuttle, and people that are called "Muties" are the people that live on the upper parts of the ship and are sterotyped as to being violent and dirty people. The crew part of the ship has no clue that the shuttle is even moving and one man, Hugh, tries to tell the crew part of the ship the truth behind everything. The plot may not sound that it would be lots of fun, but it sure is. People on the space shuttle are brought up thinking that the shuttle is the only thing in existence and that there is nothing beyond it. Heinlein tries to teach in this novel that you must examine everything and every way possible to prove that something is either correct or incorrect. It took one person of the crew part of the ship to realize the truth, and this is the supreme example that Heinlein shows. This book also shows to fight for what you believe in and to not let anybody get in the way of your goals. These messages in a fiction book are what make Robert A. Heinlein's novels stand out. This is a very short read that can be quickly read in less than three sittings; for the people that read super fast you can get this done in one. Now that I have read this book I can officially call myself an RAH fan and I definitely rank him up there as one of my favorite science fiction novelists. This is a must read for any fan of science fiction or a fan of Robert A. Heinlein. Books this good shouldn't be passed up. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Novel by Heinlein
Review: Robert A. Heinlein is easily one of the best authors that have published their works, science fiction or not. "Orphans of the Sky" was originally published as two short stories, titled "Universe" and "Common Sense." This novel puts the two works together so that they read like one novel, which the two stories really are once they are combined. This is one of Heinlein's juveniles and I have yet to read any of the books that he wrote during the second part of his career, but I really enjoy these books. Heinlein here doesn't get involved with his beliefs as the book is more plot oriented. This doesn't mean that there aren't lots of good messages to learn by reading this, though. Many, many years after Earth, there is a huge spaceship that flies throughout space. This space shuttle is made up of different stories and it is like a huge planets, with farms, homes, work areas, etcetera. On this planet are two types of people, the crew of the space shuttle, and people that are called "Muties" are the people that live on the upper parts of the ship and are sterotyped as to being violent and dirty people. The crew part of the ship has no clue that the shuttle is even moving and one man, Hugh, tries to tell the crew part of the ship the truth behind everything. The plot may not sound that it would be lots of fun, but it sure is. People on the space shuttle are brought up thinking that the shuttle is the only thing in existence and that there is nothing beyond it. Heinlein tries to teach in this novel that you must examine everything and every way possible to prove that something is either correct or incorrect. It took one person of the crew part of the ship to realize the truth, and this is the supreme example that Heinlein shows. This book also shows to fight for what you believe in and to not let anybody get in the way of your goals. These messages in a fiction book are what make Robert A. Heinlein's novels stand out. This is a very short read that can be quickly read in less than three sittings; for the people that read super fast you can get this done in one. Now that I have read this book I can officially call myself an RAH fan and I definitely rank him up there as one of my favorite science fiction novelists. This is a must read for any fan of science fiction or a fan of Robert A. Heinlein. Books this good shouldn't be passed up. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Pioneering
Review: This entry in Gollancz's classic reprint series was originally published in two parts in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction back in 1941 and if you bear this in mind while reading it you'll appreciate what an achievement this was. Despite the efforts of H G Wells and others, science fiction was still very much in its infancy, and I would imagine that works of fiction that quoted Newton's inverse square law of gravitation (hilariously misinterpreted near the beginning of this book) or tried to compare the concepts of space travel with knitting a sweater or baking a cake must have been pretty thin on the ground. Read it with this in mind and you'll enjoy this rather brief tale of a starship community which has existed for generations, succeeded in misinterpreting its flight manuals and lost all concept of the fact that it is, in fact, flying through space. Don't worry, I haven't given anything away that isn't mentioned on practically the first page of a story which presumably inspired Brian Aldiss's later 'Non-Stop'- a novel which tells a similar tale though perhaps without quite so many slit throats and two-headed mutants. The attitude to women and to the ship's mutant community is what one would expect for the time in which it was written but doesn't serve to detract too much from Heinlein's rapid pacing. Probably ground breaking for its time and still a pretty good read today.
Rating: 
Summary: simply dreadful
Review: This is piece of excrement that should interest at all no one over the age of twelve with a modicum of taste and intelligence. On the other hand, it's also a...book (I hate to dignify it with this word) children should be discouraged from reading. Heinlein is a B science-fiction writer (at best--"Stranger in a Stranger Land"), but "Orphans of the Sky" is a Z work. AVOID IT.
Rating: 
Summary: good concept, executed poorly
Review: This is the only Heinlen book ive read and it will likely be the last. The story starts out interesting enough - the human race travelling through space in a giant starship that they believe IS the whole universe. Through the course of events, the main character, Hugh, learns the real nature of the ship and futilly attempts to educate the population of his discoveries due to everyone else's religious beliefs about the ship - the universe as they know it. This is another interesting concept, however, the story is marred with dull characters and a weak ending. I would recommend this book for children in grade school, but not for anyone who is looking for "serious" science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Great book from Heinline's good period
Review: This is the story of a youth and his discovery of what his world is all about. It is a similar to Tunnel in the Sky and Time for the Stars in style. Originally penned in 1940s so it is in the author's best period. As the other reviews have stated it covers a lost colony ship and the survivors. It is not a long work, but it is great. If you like Orphans of the Sky you may want to read "The World and Thorinn" by Damon Knight. It is a similar concept and is also well done.
Rating:
Summary: First of a Breed
Review: This may not be the first generation starship tale, but it's probably the first where the passengers have forgotten that they're in a ship and that its corridors and rooms are not the universe. This novel combines the story of Galileo with political intrigue and military conquest, all aboard a starship that has lapsed into feudalism after a mutiny in the crew long ago. After the mutiny, people forgot not only their mission to travel to Far Centaurus but that there was a universe outside the ship's hull. Books are still around, but physics and astronomy are treated like elaborate allegories by the "scientists" and not realities. Barbaric muties roam the upper decks, and cannibalism is not unknown, infantcide a common practice. Scientist novitiate Hugh Hoyland plays the Galileo role. He is captured by two-headed mutant Joe-Jim and, when he's not playing checkers with either of the twins, has the run of their library and the benefit of their intellects. It's from that unlikely source that Hoyland learns the truth about the ship and the world outside. And he begins to form a plan to complete the mission. First published in 1941 as two short stories, "Universe" and "Common Sense", this story still entertains with its heroism, intrigue, and action. They are, chronologically, also the last short stories in Heinlein's Future History.
Rating:
Summary: The first Heinlein I read, and I sure am happy I read it
Review: This was the first Robert Heinlein book that I read. I needed a book to use for a book report project in 8th grade, and I found this book in the school library. At the time I could have cared less about books. I followed the trend and thought books were stupid and boring, but after I read this book I really got into science fiction. This book was great. I dont want to give any of the story away like some people do in reviews, but I will say that it is really good. If you like Heinlein or just sci-fi, then I would recommend this book. This book introduced me to the greats such as Stranger In A Strange Land, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I really recommend Stranger In a Strange Land. I found that one in my dads book collection and that is Heinleins best work in my opinion. Anyway, it really is a good book I think so check it out.
Rating:
Summary: One of Heinlein's finest novels
Review: What would happen if a group of interstellar pioneers going on a multigenerational journey to another star system forgot they were on board a ship? Heinlein explores this possibility in action packed story.
Generations ago, a mutiny took place on the rocket ship (a very large ship - over 5 miles long) which ended with the deaths of all the astrogation officers. As a result, the ship has drifted aimlessly through space with little hope of it ever reaching its destination. The people currently on the ship have forgotten most of this history. And since none of them has ever been outside the ship, to them, the ship is their universe. They exist to farm, raise families and battle mutants that inhabit the upper levels of the ship. Hugh Hoyland, a young man intent on becoming a scientist is captured by mutants and presumed dead. Can Hugh unravel the mysteries of the upper decks of the ship and convince the crew to resume their journey?
Although it is a short novel, Heinlein packs a lot into it. He explores and reviles the prejudice shown towards the mutants in a way that was fairly revolutionary for 1951. He also explores the folly of blind loyalty to ideas and religion, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence that a person can see with his own eyes. The story moves along quickly and comes to a satisfying (if expected) conclusion. I think this is one of Heinlein's finest novels. Some readers may be put off by his portrayal of women in this novel (they are not even second class citizens).
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