| Farmer In The Sky |
Article Index for Farmer |
Website Links For Farmer |
Information AboutFarmer In The Sky |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FARMER IN THE SKY | |
| 1950 novels | |
| novels by robert a. heinlein | |
| science fiction novels | |
| scouting in popular culture | |
|
This novel appears to be a part of Heinlein's " Future History " series, as the lead character makes reference to the song " The Green Hills Of Earth " three times and to its author, Rhysling, once. In a future Earth where food is carefully rationed and teenagers fly Helicopter s, a widower takes his teenage son Bill, new bride and her daughter Peggy to a new colony and a new future. Bill saves his bunkmates from Asphyxiation when a meteor punctures their compartment by improvising a patch. To combat the boredom of the long journey, the Boy Scouts in the group form troops and the children attend classes. When the newcomers arrive, an unpleasant surprise awaits them. The group is much larger than the colony can handle. The farms they were promised do not yet exist. In fact, the "soil" has to be created from scratch by pulverizing rocks and seeding the resulting dust with carefully prepared organic material. While some predictably whine about the injustice, Bill lands a job with an already-established farmer and his family to learn the ropes, while his father signs on as an engineer in town. Peggy is unable to adjust to the low pressure atmosphere and has to live inside. The air is being thickened by "matter converters", but process is slow, given the size of the moon. Eventually, the family gets its own homestead, including a pressurized room for Peggy. One day, a rare alignment of Jupiter's moons causes an earthquake which depressurizes Peggy's room and knocks out the machines that maintain the colony's heat shield. The temperature drops rapidly and the family is lucky to make it to the safety of the town. Peggy dies, as do most of the colonists. The family considers returning to Earth, but in true pioneer spirit, decides to stay. The colony gradually recovers and a mapping expedition is organized. Bill goes along as a cook. He and a friend discover the remnants of an alien civilization, including a working land vehicle that uses legs. This proves fortuitous as they are left behind when Bill's appendix bursts and they miss the rendezvous. They travel cross country to the next landing point and save Bill's life. First appearance (in Heinlein's novels) of the concept of Ecology bringing on a war. EDITIONS
|
|
|