Good read but this is the 'edited version' of the book

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	• Red Planet Robert Heinlein Del Rey, 2006 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 44 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Good read but this is the 'edited version' of the book

I've been an Heinlein fan for most of my life and remember "Red Planet" with fondness. What most readers might not be aware of is that many of his "teen boy/boy scout" books were heavily edited by the publisher to make the content more suitable to teens. The most memorable event of that kind was in "Podkayne of Mars" where in the original story the protagonist died at the end of the book while in the original published version she survived. Many years ago Heinlein's estate rereleased the 'teen age' series with the original content intact. This book, unfortunatly is in the expurgated version and not the full version of the book, which is the one you will now find in current paperback editions. I found this out by getting the sample and was able to tell within 5 minutes that it was the edited edition.
Amazon should inform readers when the book is in the edited edition since many readers probably don't want that version.

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Martians

"Red Planet" by Robert A. Heinlein is part of his groundbreaking juvenile series from Charles Scribners Sons of the 40's and 50s. It is not the best of the series but significant when viewed from the perspective of the author's body of work.

James Marlowe, Frank Sutton live on Mars colony. This is Mars as viewed earlier in the twentieth century. It is inhabited by an ancient, `dying' race with abandoned cities and an extensive canal system. The colonists are working on an atmosphere project that will give Mars a breathable atmosphere for humans.

Jim and Frank have reached an age when they will have to be sent away to school. Jim has his own Martian roundhead, Willis. These creatures are rare, able to speak as well as accurately record/reproduce sounds. At rest, they resemble a large, furry ball. Along the way to school, Jim and Frank have an rare incredible encounter with one of the enigmatic Martians, Gekko.

When the boys arrive at school, a new headmaster makes life repressive for the students. The headmaster confiscates Willis. In the process of retrieving Willis, the boys find their families and neighbors are threatened. Escaping from school, they undertake a perilous journey to warn their parents.

There are two editions to this book. The first was never published until the 80s. The second is the original release after edited by Scribners. They are 98% in agreement. In both books, anyone above a certain age can have a gun. The colonists carry guns in order to protect themselves from some of the more voracious fauna native to Mars. Heinlein is quite vocal in his belief in the right to bear arms. Unfortunately in his original, he actually makes a case for gun control. Jim is careless with his weapon. He also seems a little trigger happy. This was changed in the original version.

Heinlein's most famous book is "Stranger in a Strange Land". This book is about a human raised by Martians. The `Martians' in this book are the same. They are still the coolest aliens in the history of science fiction. They stand around 12 feet high on three legs. The first rule any of the colonists learn is to leave the locals alone! They only look like a race in decline, spending part of their time on another plane of existence. Their most sacred bond is that of water brother.

As for Willis.........

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The classic and now uncut

When I read this as a child I just loved it how I wanted to go there. So I was worried rereading would ruin my love for the book. Well it holds up better than most of his works.
Ok, so we know Mars much better, it is still a fun read. I think they might of made a cartoon based on this book at some time, if not they should it make a great CGI for direct to DVD -IMHO.

Realistic Romance

In science fiction, planets go through phases. Take Mars, for example. By the early 1950s, the gaudy, exotic Mars of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Leigh Brackett was being replaced by a more "realistic" Mars. Beautiful Martian princesses, muscular warriers, ferocious multi-armed beasts, and lost cities were being replaced by lichens and runty aliens, a thin and barely breathable atmosphere, and plastic colonial domes. It was a world where there was a constant, harsh struggle for survival. It was the Mars of Arthur C. Clarke's _Sands of Mars_ (1951), C.M. Kornbluth and Judith Merrill's _Outpost Mars_ (1952), E.C. Tubb's _Alien Dust_ (1955), and Lester del Rey's _Police Your Planet_ (1956). It was also the world of Robert A. Heinlein's _Red Planet_ (1949).

And yet, you know, this realistic and scientific Mars could also be romantic in its own way. Heinlein starts by assuming that the Martian canals do exist and that they are filled with water. He imagines an ecosystem flourishing around the canals that include several hardy plants-- especially a type of giant cabbage-- and a variety of animal life forms: the deadly water-seekers, the Martian roundheads, and the ancient and civilized Martian natives. During part of the year, the canals are frozen, and colonists travel along them with ice skates. Both colonists and Martians have developed a system of underground tunnels for shelter and transportation.

_Space Cadet_ (1948) features a wise and heroic commandant. _Red Planet_ features a cowardly and villainous headmaster. Some Heinlein characters cause problems through selfishness and stupidity (two traits that Heinlein does not tolerate). But the villains in _Red Planet_ are ruthless and calculating. The heroes-- two boys and the Martian roundhead Willis-- must act against them in order to prevent genocide.

Heinlein has some shrewd things to say about leadership and friendship. Leaders, he says, should not assume that all problems can be solved with town hall meetings or that their enemies are essentially men of reason and good sense. And as for friends... The friendship between Jim and Willis is strong and true; and in the end, it is what saves the day. But there is something a little bit possessive and selfish about Jim's side of the relationship. He expects Willis to stay with him, to be his, to maintain that relationship forever. Even when it becomes clear to others that Willis is something more, Jim can never bring himself to admit it. We feel that Jim may come to accept the need for Willis to be free, but only on a gradual basis.

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Neat !

The book is the original text as it was written before it was edited (censored) for a 1950s audience. It was interesting to see the exapmle of the edit at the end of the book. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the story.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Jim Marlow and his strange-looking Martian friend Willis were allowed to travel only so far. But one day Willis unwittingly tuned into a treacherous plot that threatened all the colonists on Mars, and it set Jim off on a terrfying adventure that could save--or destroy--them all!

From the Paperback edition.

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