Podkayne of Mars is not one of Heinlein's great novels, but it might be one of his most unique, with a particularly interesting backstory on its publication. And since Heinlein seems incapable of writing anything poor, it's still quite good. The book follows the title protagonist, Podkayne "Poddy" Fries, who is 9 in Mars years, but slightly over 16 by Earth ones. After her parents have several unexpected new children, being accidentally unfrozen from a batch at the local nursery, she and her simultaneously genius and horrid younger brother Clark, accompany their awesome uncle Tom, an important Mars senator, on a sight-seeing excursion through the local planets. Podkayne of Mars was published during a transition period for Heinlein, 1963. Heinlein was no longer the gung-ho liberal socialist believing in the benevolence of big government that he had been in the 40s and 50s. Yet, neither was he quite the conservative libertarian who believed government was the greatest threat to humanity he would become starting with 1966's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Thus, there is a mixed view of government presented here. While providing certain benefits, it's an intrinsically flawed structure, whether on Mars or Venus. Society, too, is very imperfect, and many "old-fashioned" notions are shown to be better than "newer" ones. Tom, who it's mentioned survived through a Martian revolution, gives a world-weary sigh at the inevitability of it all. A central conflict is whether the governments of Mars and Venus will eventually join and be subsumed by the one on Earth, which is seen as a peril to avoid. This uncertain view is tangibly different from all the other Heinlein books (11, at this point) that I have read. Also unique is Heinlein writing from the first-person perspective of a teenage girl. The story switches to her brother Clark several times, but it's mostly the thoughts and feelings of Poddy. And I have to say that Heinlein does an excellent job in capturing her character. There is a certain degree of similarity to his other adolescent protagonists, but she is also distinctly original and feminine. Among other qualities, she feels a bit more compassionate and slightly less ambitious. Certainly, Heinlein would utilize a female main character and narrator again in his outstanding classic Friday, but this was his first use, and it works exceedingly well. The story resembles a so-called Heinlein juvenile in many ways, a series of young adult works Heinlein published for Scribner from 1947 to 1958, although Heinlein himself rejected that label for Podkayne of Mars. There is some neat world-building on Mars at the beginning, showing ways in which this future society is different and the same. Heinlein subtly notes that old ideas and attitudes never really die, whether worthwhile or not. For instance, Poddy's father, described as a romantic fellow fascinated with history, is a proponent of the "new school of raising children", which means beating them for misbehavior. (Spoiler- It works quite well!) While the Mars society appears to have moved beyond racial prejudice, and race is never mentioned in any context for most of the novel, Poddy discovers this isn't universally true, as two old, rich Earth women derisively insult her uncle amongst themselves, as he is a dark-skinned man with heavy Pacific Islander ancestry. Perhaps the most interesting society is found on Venus, which is run by a single corporation that employs every worker on the planet and relies on income from its fancy casino resorts, similar to Vegas. It's simultaneously the most free and repressive government imaginable, according to Senator Tom.The majority of the book is a fine, action-packed travelogue, and the central conflict doesn't kick in until about 50 pages before the final page. This is where it becomes especially unique and interesting. While the tone was very lighthearted up until then, the last act becomes grim and serious, with murder and torture becoming central elements. The finale is told by Poddy's younger brother, Clark, and completely alters the way in which we view him. This to me was the most evocative and memorable part of the story.Previously, we had seen him from Poddy's perspective as this incredibly brilliant, but utterly rude and reckless brat of a brother with seemingly no empathy for others. A charismatic, jolly devil of a 12 year-old who can get out of any jam. While that description is largely true, we learn that there is so much more to him than met his older sister's eyes. One the one hand, he is troubled and less capable and bullet-proof than what either Poddy or the reader believed. At the same time, he is a courageous, noble hero who recognizes and wishes to correct his flaws.However, when I read the final ending, I felt that something was wrong. The book was clearly foreshadowing a certain conclusion. In fact, it was the only logical one the story could have had. And yet, at the last moment, it veered away from it. Sure enough, reading up about it online, Heinlein had that logical conclusion in mind, but his publisher made him change it. It was only a page's worth of difference, but fundamentally alters the book. While railing against the meddling, the science fiction legend eventually acquiesced. The version of the book I read only had the original, publisher-tampered ending, but subsequent editions contain the ending as Heinlein intended, and which most fans, unsurprisingly, prefer. I would recommend getting the version (the 1993 Baen edition, for instance) with Heinlein's original ending, but regardless, this is a good, thoughtful work of science fiction, and of particular interest to fans of the author.
¿Buscáis un Heinlein CÓMICO, ÁCIDO Y EVASIVO (en lo referente a distracción), pero, como siempre, SIN ELUDIR LA CRÍTICA Y DENUNCIA SOCIAL?; éste es vuestro libro!.Pero voy allá con el argumento y demás observaciones respecto a la obra...Podkayne Fries, es una jovencita marciana (dejémoslo en eso..) , despierta, decidida y segura de sus armas femeninas, exótica, extrovertida, curiosa y descarada; pero sumamente sentimental y algo inocente. Con una pintoresca (y liosa) familia que completa el cuadro: un padre bondadoso y melancólico, profesor de historia terrestre, una madre autónoma y profesional, ingeniera y pionera de la reconstrucción planetaria, un hermano pequeño, Clark, inteligente, asocial y un sociópata en potencia y, por último, su tío Tom, un ex revolucionario y senador de Marte, que es un ávido jugador y un práctico pensador y filósofo de la vida.Poddy desea visitar por encima de todo, la Tierra (a parte de piloto espacial). A través de sus memorias, “más francas que modestas” (incluyendo sugerentes anotaciones de su hermanito), nos hablará de los suyos, sus deseos futuros a nivel profesional y sentimental, y del día a día , durante el transcurso de su viaje interplanetario con parte de su familia, lleno de líos y entuertos, experiencias aleccionadoras y giro inesperado de planes....Hija de Marte, empero de ser una obra destinada, y acertadamente (aunque recomendable para todo tipo de público), al público más joven, SIGUE LOS PRINCIPIOS DEL AUTOR EN SUS NARRACIONES: DIVERSIÓN A LA VEZ QUE CONOCIMIENTO CIENTÍFICO (aunque es un grado bastante bajo y básico), Y UNA FUERTE CARGA DE DISCURSO CRÍTICO, MEZCLADO DE MANERA INTELIGENTE, DE SOSLAYO, MEDIANTE LAS SITUACIONES DIARIAS DE LA PROTAGONISTA, SUS REFLEXIONES Y CONVERSACIONES CON OTROS.Redactado de manera FLUIDA, es una obra de AVENTURAS EN TONO MORDAZ, CON UNA COMICIDAD EN LO TOCANTE A LAS “SALIDAS” DE PODDY, DISTRAÍDA Y QUE NO DEJA A TÍTERE CON CABEZA. Éstos son algunos de los temas que cuestiona, plantea y / o critica, en sus apenas casi doscientas páginas:-tCuestiona que la raza humana sea originaria de la tierra (no estamos adaptados para vivir en ésta, nos lo dice nuestro cuerpo..), y su egocentrismo-tCuestiona la sobre-población, el sistema de vida y ecológico de la Tierra-tCrítica la lengua inglesa ( no es ninguna novedad en el autor)-tCritica las estafas de Duty- free-tCritica la inevitable negligencia médica -tPlantea la facilidad del soborno , y los tratos de favor-tCritica la publicidad engañosa, el abuso publicitario a cambio de concesiones y la explotación turística ( y de turistas)-tCritica la intolerancia humana frente a las situaciones de emergencia ( y su egoísmo)-tCritica el abuso de amabilidad que hacen algunas personas-tNos habla acerca de las paradojas de la libre empresa-tHace una visión de la política, en su aspecto más positivo y negativo (acuerdo y guerra)-tCritica el ostracismo de ideas, la superficialidad y pedantería de las personas-tCritica los prejuicios de todo tipo: raciales, locales, generacionales, vamos, el racismo inherente en parte de la población-tPlantea el peligro radiactivo frente a un sol cada vez más dañino y errático ( recordemos que está escrito en 1963)-tCritica la burocracia, los regímenes de gobierno (tiranías y “ democracias”)-tCritica los lujos para ciertos sectores de la población-tReflexiona acerca de la muerte y de la maldad humana-tReflexiona ( y mucho, tiene mucho peso) acerca de la natalidad, el modo de criar a los niños y el mejor sistema y época para ello -tHace alusión a la casa Blanca y su opulencia-tCritica la esclavitud del trabajador y el sistema laboral, que sirve al gobierno y los impuestos-tCritica el fascismo corporativo-tHabla acerca de la libertad y el liberalismo-tHace un canto a la mujer y el honor de serlo-tCritica la desigualdad laboral entre diferentes sexos-tNos habla acerca de la evolución antropológica de los hombres y mujeres; con el importante y decisivo papel de ésta última adquirido en la época moderna.-tPlantea la importancia de la definición y situación dentro del sistema político de planetas ( o en la tierra, en la realidad)No obstante, y conforme va desarrollándose la narración, no pierde su capacidad crítica, pero renuncia al aspecto “ más desenfadado” (si es que realmente hay desenfado aquí, pues es más seria de lo que a priori aparenta) para adentrarse en una última aventura decisiva, con un desenlace agridulce, que incluye UN MENSAJE ALECCIONADOR HACIA LOS PROGENITORES, ADEMÁS DE UN EPÍLOGO, MARCA DE LA CASA, CON UN FINAL “ ESPERANZADOR” PARA ALGUNO DE SUS PERSONAJES....y es que Heinlein, aunque realista con la humanidad, siempre es Positivo, ya que nunca se ha de dar por “pérdida” a una persona..:)Si tuviese de DEFINIR “Hija de Marte” CON UNA FRASE, sería: COMO UN BUEN LIBRO DE TEXTO, QUE TE HABLA Y PLANTEA DIVERSIDAD DE COSAS SIN APENAS DARTE CUENTA, por su ligereza narrativa (en el buen sentido del término).Una novela MERITORIA PARA SU ÉPOCA, POR SER DESTINADA AL PUBLICO MÁS JOVEN DE LOS SESENTA, y LA INFORMACIÓN QUE INTRODUCE.A pesar de no ser el mejor Heinlein, es RECOMENDABLE PARA ADENTRAR A LOS MÁS PEQUEÑOS EN LA LECTURA EN GENERAL, Y EN LA CIENCIA FICCIÓN EN ESPECIAL (si no han leído nada anteriormente). Y, por supuesto, RECOMENDADA PARA LOS QUE QUIERAN PASAR UN BUEN RATO, CON UNA LECTURA AMENA PERO CON FONDO:)
What do You think about Podkayne Of Mars (2005)?
I hate this book so much. It's absolutely fucking retarded. Which is kind of strange, considering the story is about a couple of genius teenagers. But I guess even genius teenagers have to go on and on about stupid shit all the time.This book is the first person journal of the 15-year-old Podkayne, or 'Pod', or as I like to call her 'Stupid Little Cunt'. She lives on Mars, but yearns to explore the galaxy. She pines for the stars constantly. And when her parents won't let her go on a voyage to Earth, she cries like a little girl and goes on and on about how her stupid life sucks. Awww. Shut the fuck up, you stupid teenage whore.But she gets lucky, and her uncle Tom takes her and her brother on a VIP trip around the galaxy in a luxury liner. Oh goodie! I finally get to see the galaxy and find even more things to bitch and moan about! Sweet!While they are getting on the luxury liner, Pod's sarcastic genius brother tells the check-in agent that he's got a couple kilos of 'happy dust', which in their world, is pretty much heroin. He doesn't really have any happy dust, he's just being a stupid fucking jackass. So of course, he's taken away and searched. Getting his asshole probed and tongued, as you do.But this was all part of his evil plan. You see, some fanatics paid him a shit-ton of money to smuggle a bomb onboard the ship. So, while Clark is being searched, Pod gets through the gate just fine, with the bomb secretly hidden in her luggage. Without her knowing, of course.When they get onboard, Clark explained his evil plan. "Oh that," he explains. "That's a nuclear bomb. But don't worry. I took it apart. You never know when you'll need a nuclear bomb."What? Seriously? Just get rid of the fucking thing. Damn. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Two teenagers with a nuclear bomb. Yeah, everything is going to be just fine. Sure.Then, the teenagers get kidnapped. Because uncle Tom is actually some huge Mars political figure, and he's about to give a speech at some bullshit conference. So his enemies use the teenagers as leverage to get the racist Tom to do their evil bidding at the summit.But not to worry. Clark had smuggled his nuclear bomb into his cell somehow. Apparently he has a very accommodating anus. So he assembles his bomb, and blows up everyone, including his sister, Pod. But saves himself, of course. Fucking asshole.My wife recommended this book to me. I decided that I wanted to read some Heinlein, and she said that I'd definately love this book. Fucking bullshit. I hated this book so much. From the very beginning. Just a whiney ass bitch going on and on about stupid teenage horseshit. Like I fucking care.But I pushed on. I continued reading it, just in hopes that there would be a glimmer of Heinlein genius buried deep in this fucking book. But there wasn't. Heinlein was a great writer, but his talents were completely wasted on this stupid book.
—Glenn Conley
Recently, a friend had some comments about Podkayne of Mars, and the discussion was so interesting that I felt compelled to re-read the book. And like some other older books that I've been rereading lately, I came out of it with distinctly mixed feelings.This was never one of my favorites, and time has not improved it. Heinlein takes his best shot at getting into the head of a sixteen-year-old girl, but he's never convincing. There's also not much of a story here. Poddy and her brother Clark take a spaceliner to Venus, where some bad things happen. The plot is a string of incidents, most of them minor, and Poddy is more of an observer than an instigator.There's a little more meat if you look at the book as a study of two very different characters: one bright but sentimental and the other brilliant but sociopathic. Heinlein seems driven to explore the very different ways that Poddy and Clark look at the world, but it's hard to see what conclusion he drew from how they interacted. Maybe he didn't know either. Podkayne of Mars has two endings, the second being a publisher-demanded rewrite that pulls the teeth out of the original ending. As for the original ending, it seems to come down hard against sentimentality, but it's one of the most frustrating and arbitrary endings in science fiction. I didn't like it then, I don't like it now, and I have trouble believing Heinlein liked it. It feels more like he took things to a more or less logical conclusion, shrugged his shoulders, and walked away.So, tough book. Not really fun, not one I want to read to my daughters. But it's an interesting book to study if you're trying to get into Heinlein's head.
—Chris Aylott
I'm giving this three stars, as there are two groups of people who shouldn't read this book: preteen girls, who might actually consider Podkayne a role model, and those who are Easily Outraged. To the second group I would point out the futility of expending a lot of feminist outrage, since author Robert Heinlein passed away in 1988 and wouldn't be a bit concerned.I think I understand what happened. By 1962, science fiction master Heinlein had written a dozen Young Adult novels, all starring boys, and his publishers pointed out that he had a female fan base as well. But he couldn't just slap a girl's name on a male character, could he? No, she would need to demonstrate her femininity, by showing her happily caring for infants, occasionally bursting into tears, discovering the thrill of properly applied make-up, and incessantly flirting or playing dumb around the numerous men-folk in her life, since (direct quote) "It does not do to let a male of any age know that one has brains..." Ouch.With all that girly stuff going on, Podkayne's initial aspiration of becoming a star-ship captain quickly fades into the background and eventually disappears all together.In Heinlein's defense, it's not as though he had a lot of contemporary material to study. This book was memorable because it was one of the handful of books of science fiction books that had a female protagonist at all. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by John Clute and Peter Nicholls (in print and online) provides interesting insight on this topic, under the listing "Women as Portrayed in Science Fiction."It is also possible that we are all missing the mark. Heinlein insisted Podkayne of Mars was not a Young Adult novel, but a social commentary. The above observations could be reconsidered in that light; however, to me this novel seems more straight-forward than satirical. Meanwhile, those (both women and men) who recommended this book to me remembered it fondly from their own Young Adult days, probably impressed by the fun space adventures encountered by spunky Podkayne and her super-genius younger brother Clark. I'm reluctant to stomp further on their nostalgic memories.So, enjoy this book like any other entertaining-yet-outdated science fiction or adventure story - laughing (or groaning) at the sexist and racist attitudes of an earlier era, while being grateful at the progress we've made since then. Don't take it too seriously, and you'll have more fun.
—Gail Ann Gibbs
