About this title: One of Heinlein's last novels, this one brings together some of his best loved characters--Lazarus Long and Adam Selene among others--in a cross-dimensional, time-travel adventure.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace, New York
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780441094998ISBN:0441094996
Description: Good. 0441094996 spine creasing, some edge wear; Dr. Richard Ames, ex-military man, sometime writer, and unfortunate victim of mistaken identity. When a stranger attempting to deliver a cryptic message is shot dead at his dinner table, Ames is thrown head first into danger, intrigue, and other dimensions where Lazarus Long still thrives, where Jubal Harshaw lives surrounded by beautiful women, and where a daring plot to rescue the sentient computer called Mike can change the direction of all ... read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace, New York
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780441094998ISBN:0441094996
Description: Good. 0441094996 spine creasing, some edge wear; Dr. Richard Ames, ex-military man, sometime writer, and unfortunate victim of mistaken identity. When a stranger attempting to deliver a cryptic message is shot dead at his dinner table, Ames is thrown head first into danger, intrigue, and other dimensions where Lazarus Long still thrives, where Jubal Harshaw lives surrounded by beautiful women, and where a daring plot to rescue the sentient computer called Mike can change the direction of all ... read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace Books
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780441094998ISBN:0441094996
Description: Good. No Jacket. Markings Inside Front Cover, Spine Creased/Sm. Tear, Corners/Edges Worn, Covers Lightly Creased, Text Is Unmarked, Good Copy. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780441094998ISBN:0441094996
Description: Acceptable. Overall below average used book. May have highlighting, underlining, notes, price sticker on cover, or be an ex-library book. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ace
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780441094998ISBN:0441094996
Description: Acceptable. Well used. Still readable but not for the collector. All orders processed within 2 business days. Ships from Foxboro MA. read more
Description: VG+ Used, Like New in VG+ jacket. PAPERBACK, VG+/VG+, Ace, 1988, 1.12 in. H x 6.89 in. L x 4.18 in. W, 7.1 oz. This copy has very minimal signs of use, appears to have been very lightly read, is in Excellent Condition Overall. Note: expect tanning of any paperback more than a few years old, regardless of condition. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Ace Books
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780441094998ISBN:0441094996
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Great reading condition, remainder mark, paperback, spine crease, dog eared, edge wear, cover has shelf wear, pages clean to read, Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 400 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
"Almost 5 stars. I practically inhaled this book; it grabbed my attention immediately and I loved the two main characters. The only thing keeping it from getting the 5th star is the tiny problem I had with male characters being seriously tempted by 12-year-old girls."
"My third favorite Heinlein book. His are often hit or miss with me in a big way...I love Stranger in a Strange Land, and To Sail Beyond the Sunset, but I'm reading Number of the Beast right now and I can barely get into it. This one is a solid entry in the same series as To Sail, being part of the Lazarus Long series. Very action-oriented and fun to read."
"At some distant point in time down the road, a fan of mine will stumble onto my goodreads account and read my reviews. This fan will notice that of all of the Heinlein books, only one book was given a five star review. This fan will wonder why.
Unfortunately, when this fan reads this review of the book, he will find himself disappointed as I do not intend to explain why this book is getting the rating I'm giving it. The reason for the fifth star is just too personal.
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is a book you will either love or you will hate. For one thing, it is a Lazarus Long book. If you don't know who Lazarus Long happens to be, read my review of my much hated read of Time Enough for Love. Lazarus is a minor character, however, and the main character is Richard Ames. Richard Ames is a guy who went to dinner with his girl and ends up on a chain of really horrible events.
The story, however, starts to get really messed up and strange. I'm not sure strange alone justified what I'm talking about. Imagine going to a baseball game and during the middle of the fifth inning, the baseball fields morphs into a football field and bug-like creatures appear and start dancing the cha-cha. It goes that kind of strange.
Despite the strange divergence this story takes, it all fits in with the original plot and the direction of the characters. It continues forward to a conclusion that must happen the way that it does. You will be left with an ending that will make you ponder what happens next. The answer is there if you think about it even if it is not obvious.
Heinlein also deserves credit for the depth of his character. I loved Gwen and cannot begin to describe how happy I was to see a female character so well written by Heinlein. However, the character of Richard goes much deeper. I remember a scene where Richard is chastising Bill about why you must always pay for air. I wanted to strangle Heinlein for anti-socialistic rhetoric. This bothered me for a long time until Gwen and Lazarus get into an exchange with each other. During this exchange you see it isn't rhetoric but rather a deeply embedded culture belief of Richard that was masterfully pulled off by Heinlein.
In conclusion, I must re-iterate that the strangeness that transpires is not for everyone. You may not like what you read. You might not like that the "mystery" to this story is not so cut and dry. But you might just like the final destination of this story. I did."
"While I could step back and appreciate the "meta-ending" after it was over, it deprived me of any emotional catharsis, despite the "tragic" final chapter.
To be fair, I might need to return to the last quarter of this book after completing the Heinlein ouvre, as it is partly a tying together of all his literary characters into a single thread."
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