'' (also published under the name '''''Space Family Stone''''' in the United Kingdom) is a
1952 Science Fiction novel by
Robert A. Heinlein
This is a story about a family of "Loonies" (i.e.,
Lunar citizens with a sense of humor) who buy a used spaceship and go sightseeing around the solar system. The twin teenaged boys,
Castor And Pollux , buy used bicycles and hope to sell their cargo at a profit. Their sister sings on their radio show in the
Asteroid s. Their kid brother Buster has the highest
IQ of the whole family, and no one but granny Hazel can keep him in line. A Martian
Flatcat named Fuzzy Britches, born pregnant and producing a soothing vibration (compare the later
Tribble s), makes more trouble and more money than anyone thought possible. Then Buster and Hazel get lost in the Asteroid Belt, and Hazel almost dies before they are rescued by the twins.
A condensed version of the novel had been published earlier in ''Boy's Life'' under the title ''Tramp Space Ship''.
This book makes reference to Hazel Stone as an influential figure in the Lunar Revolution. Fourteen years later, Heinlein published ''
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress '', which tells the story of that revolution, including the small but vital role that Hazel played as a child. Hazel also reappears in ''
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls '' and ''
To Sail Beyond The Sunset ''.
Hazel Stone, Castor and Pollux reappear briefly in ''
The Number Of The Beast ''.
The British
Rock group
The Rolling Stones did not take their name from Heinlein's book. They named themselves after a
Muddy Waters song, after at least two other bands had considered and then discarded the name.
- June 1 , 1952 , Atheneum, library binding, ISBN 0684923033
- June 13 , 1985 , Del Rey, paperback reissue edition, 256 pages, ISBN 034532451X
- May 12 , 1977 , Del Rey, paperback, ISBN 0345260678
- February 12 , 1978 , Del Rey, paperback, ISBN 0345275810
- February 12 , 1982 , Del Rey, paperback, ISBN 0345303326
- February 2005 , Full Cast Audio, CD audio book, ISBN 1932076808
