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Starman Jones

by Robert A. Heinlein

Cover artist: John Berkey

Publisher: Dell

Pub year: 1968

Cover price: 60¢

 

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Book detail for Starman Jones

Cover tagline

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Back cover text

"That's not any sky I ever saw before...." He finally looked up from the charts with a face greenish white. "Not a word to anybody," he said. "That's an order — and I'll bust any man who slips. I'll be in the Captain's cabin." He went below to tell Blaine that the Asgard had come out in unknown space — was lost.

Max Jones inherits his uncle's library and an intense determination to follow in his footsteps, but the Astrogator's Guild is restricted to hereditary membership, son following father, and Max is denied acceptance. Stunned and angered by his rejection and by the confiscation of his precious books, Max runs away and gains illegal entry on board the Asgard, scheduled for a long space voyage. But his spiteful action results in more than he bargained for as the ship becomes lost in space and faces a forced landing on an unknown star.

"...vigor, poise.... His skillful picture of organization on a spaceship is convincing."
—Christian Science monitor

"Starman Jones is the best yet...."
—The New York Herald Tribune

"Carefully plotted, lucidly and beautifully written, here is superior science-fiction."
—The New York Times

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Interior text

Starman Jones

Max Jones, whose interest is astrogation, leaves home to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and finds his way onto a space ship in a rather unconventional manner. At first the voyage seems comparatively uneventful, except for Max's introduction to a strangely fascinating little Animal — a spider puppy named Mr. Chips. Then events take a terrifying and totally unexpected turn as his ship is lost in the endless void of the universe.

Robert A. Heinlein is one today's outstanding science-fiction writers. His stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. He wanted first to be an astronomer, and this interest in the stars persisted through his training at Annapolis and his service in the Navy. He brings to his writing a knowledge of naval aviation, space flight formulas which are mathematically correct, and the ability to hold the reader spellbound from first chapter to last. He divides his time between California and Colorado. He is the author of many science-fiction novels including Farmer in the Sky and The Star Beast.

Laurel-Leaf Mayflower Books are a new series designed especially to entertain and enlighten young people. The finest contemporary mystery, adventure, romance and action novels, as well as exciting nonfiction, form a singular list of books for leisure reading. The series is prepared under the direction of M. Jerry Weiss, Chairman, English Department, Jersey City State College; Charles Reasoner, Associate Professor, Elementary Education, New York University; and Ned E. Hoopes, Associate Professor of English, Pace College.